patth@columbia.edu (Patt Haring) (04/19/89)
From: cucard!ccnysci!patth@columbia.edu (Patt Haring)
[mod.note: I am posting this with great misgivings. The topic of
arms control is specifically mentioned in this group's charter; it
is forbidden save as it impinges military technology.
I'm making an exception in this case for two reasons: first, and
foremost, because soc.politics.arms-d is currently in limbo, until
Herb Lin (the moderator) gets himself straightened out (else I would
have referred to poster to that group); and second, because the article
is well-written, level-headed, and seems to me to be unbiased.
I urge anyone who disagrees with my posting this to send me mail; if
I get several dissenting opinions, I'll not allow this again. Otherwise,
be forewarned that I will reject *any* arms-control submission unless
it remains similarly unbiased and calm. Thanks. - Bill ]
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*CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT II
The Group of Scientific Experts had made considerable headway in its work
on a modern global network for the exchange of seismic data, including
wave-form data, she said. Such a network should, insofar as practicable,
incorporate small-aperture seismic arrays. In co-operation with the United
States, Norway had established two arrays of this kind: the Norwegian
Regional Seismic Array System (NORESS) in the southern part of the country,
and the Arctic Experimental Seismic System (ARCESS) in the north. Those
arrays incorporated the most recent scientific and technological
achievements. Data from those arrays would be made available to the Group of
Scientific Experts' large-scale international experiment on the exchange of
seismic wave-form data.
HENRYK JAROSZEK (Poland) said the Ad Hoc Committee on Chemical Weapons
should concentrate on a few, but important remaining questions: verification,
future organization, undiminished security during the transition period,
destruction of stocks and effective monitoring of non-production. Poland did
not underestimate existing difficulties but believed that a convention could
be completed this year. Poland was ready to accede to a chemical weapons
convention as soon as it was opened for signature. In the meantime, Poland
made necessary modifications of its internal law. At the beginning of January
1989, for instance, new strict regulations of the export of dual-purpose
chemical agents had been introduced.
There was a consensus of the world community that a complete ban on
nuclear-weapon tests would be the most effective way to halt the nuclear-arms
race, he said. It had long become a foregone conclusion that underground
tests were not indispensable for maintaining the credibility of existing
nuclear arsenals. Therefore, it had become clear that nuclear tests were used
to improve nuclear weapons and to invent new nuclear technologies with
military applications - x-ray laser, for instance. Could it be allowed that
that deadly game would continue? It was the firm and consistent belief of
Poland that the Conference on Disarmament should embark immediately upon
negotiations on a comprehensive nuclear-test ban.
Further and more intensive efforts were needed to prevent the extension
of an arms race into outer space, he said. It was high time to fill the
existing gaps through negotiating new legal instruments. The Conference on
Disarmament was an eminently qualified organ to do so. A number of valuable
and far-reaching proposals, such as a ban on anti-satellite weapons, traffic
rules in space, a space monitoring agency and an international inspectorate,
had already been put on the negotiating table. They should be closely looked
at and effectively considered.
In its foreign policy Poland attached special importance to the question
of peaceful stability in Europe, he said. Poland was taking concrete actions
aimed at reaching that goal. It had taken decisions on the unilateral
reduction of Polish armed forces, cuts in military spending and the
reorganization of the army structures. By 1991 Poland intended to reduce the
number of its armed forces by 40,000 soldiers, 850 main battle tanks,
900artillery pieces (guns and mortars), 700 armoured vehicles, 80 combat
planes as well as many other items of military technical equipment.
Poland was active at the Vienna negotiations of the groups of 23 and
35States, he said. It was actively developing a new approach to disarmament
matters as a contribution to the common disarmament efforts in Europe. The
main idea of the Jaruzelski Plan was aimed at reducing and dispersing
potentials in the central part of Europe, especially the most lethal types of
weapons with a capacity for aggressive operations and surprise attack, ad thus
to contribute to strengthening stability in an area of special significance
for the security of all of Europe.
PAUL JOACHIM VON STUELPNAGEL (Federal Republic of Germany) introduced a
document entitled "Report on a national trial inspection", carried out on
9February in a multipurpose facility. Careful preparation of the trial
inspection had made it possible to carry out within one day the work needed
under the facility attachment. That trial inspection had shown that, as a
rule, routine inspections were an appropriate means for verifying whether the
production in a chemical facility was not prohibited by the convention. The
following three problem areas had been of particular interest:
-- The inspection of a multipurpose facility posed certain problems
because the area to be inspected must be clearly delimited. The inspectors
needed to have a precise notion as to which parts of the plan they were
inspecting were actually involved in the production of the substance in
question.
-- On the subject of how to take account of legitimate concerns of the
company on protecting confidential information, during the trial inspection it
had become clear that Schedule (2) type of inspections had to be rather
intrusive. However, despite the intrusive character of the inspection, the
trial inspection had also demonstrated that it was possible to protect
commercial interests, like technological know-how and customer lists.
-- The trial inspection had clearly shown the need for a well-trained
and experienced inspection team. Five inspectors had been necessary for the
careful, rapid and proper implementation of the inspection. The training and
recruiting of inspectors required particular attention.
He said the Federal Republic of Germany was currently in the process of
preparing a trial inspection in form of an ad hoc check at a major chemical
plant. Upon conclusion of the series of national trial inspections it was
envisaged to carry out multilateral trial inspections. The German chemical
industry, with whom the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany had
co-operated closely in carrying out this trial inspection, had expressed its
willingness to also make a facility available for a multilateral trial
inspection.
NABIL ELARABY (Egypt) said the cessation of the nuclear-arms race and
nuclear disarmament were closely linked with the prohibition of nuclear
testing. No agreement had yet been reached on a mandate for an ad hoc
committee on a nuclear-test ban. The draft mandate tabled by the Group of 21
was best suited to accommodate the positions of all States and offered a sound
basis for developing a consensus. Egypt recognized the importance of other
attempts to break the deadlock, in particular the Czechoslovak draft mandate.
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