unitex@rubbs.fidonet.org (unitex) (10/25/89)
nuclear-weapon States to eliminate all nuclear weapons by the
year 2010 and ensure that non-nuclear-weapon States did not cross
the nuclear threshold.
Existing restraints on space-based weapons systems were
insufficient. The United States-Soviet moratorium on the
testing of anti-satellite weapons should be formalized. The
staggering sums spent on military research and development
should be spent instead on such scourges as hunger, poverty,
disease and environmental degradation. A deadline should be set
for the conclusion of a chemical weapons convention by the
Conference on Disarmament. He welcomed the United States and
Soviet proposals for the destruction of chemical weapons
stockpiles prior to the implementation of an actual convention.
Short-term approaches to preventing the spread of chemical
weapons, such as export controls, were inadequate. Only a
comprehensive ban would be effective. Multilateral disarmament
verification was crucial, as all States, big and small, had an
equal right to be assured that treaty obligations were being
complied with, he said.
FERENC SOMOGYI (Hungary) said the lack of multilateral
disarmament progress last year reflected not only technical
difficulties but insufficient political will. Only a universal
and verifiable treaty could achieve the comprehensive
prohibition of nuclear tests. Prohibition of radiological
weapons would be an important preventive measure, since they had
not yet appeared in national arsenals. To safeguard the
peaceful nuclear activities of non-nuclear-weapon States, a
treaty prohibiting attacks against nuclear facilities should be
concluded. He welcomed the Conference on Disarmament's
increasing use of technical experts and its work on creation of a
verification mechanism to prevent an arms race in outer space.
Outstanding progress towards prohibition of chemical weapon had
not included agreement on key elements of a draft convention.
There had been considerable progress in Soviet-United States
talks, but it was "hard to
reconcile" the reduction of chemical weapon stockpiles with the
production of chemical weapons. Hungary would abide by the
convention being elaborated even before its conclusion, and take
part in reciprocal on-site verification. There were no chemical
weapons in Hungary and no chemical plants capable of producing
them.
Agreement on conventional force reductions in Europe could
reasonably be expected within a year. That would diminish
military build-up, reduce potential threats, and contribute
towards withdrawal of foreign troops from the territories of
other countries. With some other Warsaw Treaty countries,
Hungary had announced unilateral disarmament measures and had
provided precise information on the structure and location of
its armed forces.
Verification was central to a European conventional force
reductions agreement, and Hungarian experts were working on
elaboration of verification methods. The United States "open
skies" proposal was "noteworthy" and there should be expert
consultations to explore the details of that initiative. He
also referred to recent proposal to create a regional security
zone along the common borders of Hungary, Austria and
Yugoslavia, and said that Hungary was ready to undertake
unilateral measures to further co-operation among the countries
concerned.
VLADIMIR KRAVETS (Ukraine) hoped a Soviet-United States accord
providing for 50 per cent reduction in the nuclear arsenals of
both countries could be signed in time for their summit next
summer. He urged the early convening of negotiations between
NATO and the Warsaw Treaty countries for the reduction and
elimination of tactical nuclear weapons. The Soviet Union was
prepared to place a moratorium on its nuclear tests if the
United States reciprocated. Complementary bilateral and
multilateral efforts should be pursued to achieve a
comprehensive ban on nuclear weapons testing. Furthermore, the
1963 partial test-ban treaty should be extended to include
underground testing. His country supported the convening of a
conference to that end.
He also expressed support for a ban on the production of
fissionable materials, redoubled efforts to preclude the
proliferation of nuclear weapons and the creation of
nuclear-weapon-free zones. All States should follow the lead of
China and the Soviet Union in renouncing the "first use" of
nuclear weapons. The momentum generated by the Paris and
Canberra conferences on chemical weapons should be exploited to
achieve the early conclusion of a chemical weapons convention.
The deployment of space weapons should also be renounced and
international space exploration projects should be promoted. He
regretted that negotiations had not commenced in the Conference
on Disarmament on prohibiting an outer space arms race.
It was very likely that the Vienna negotiations on mutual and
balanced force reduction in Europe would soon yield a stable and
verifiable balance of conventional armaments on that continent.
The Assembly should urge the participants to conclude an
agreement on European conventional arms as soon as possible. The
* Origin: UNITEX --> Toward a United Species (1:107/501)
---
Patt Haring | United Nations | Screen Gems in
patth@sci.ccny.cuny.edu | Information | misc.headlines.unitex
patth@ccnysci.BITNET | Transfer Exchange |
-=- Every child smiles in the same language. -=-