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. -=-