unitex@rubbs.fidonet.org (unitex) (10/17/89)
report covers such issues as the objectives, principles,
priorities and implementation of the programme as well as
specific measures relating to nuclear and conventional
disarmament, military budget reductions, confidence-building
measures, non-use of force and verification issues. The
Conference was urged to submit a complete draft to the Assembly
in time for the current session. However, the Committee reported
that a number of issues remained to be resolved and recommended
that it resume its work in the near future when circumstances
were more conducive to progress.
The Disarmament Commission informed the Assembly that it was
unable to complete its work relating to the Declaration of the
1990s as the Third Disarmament Decade. It invited the Assembly
to consider what further action should be taken on the matter.
The Committee is also expected to have before it a note by the
Secretary-General on the United Nations Institute for Disarmament
Research.
Indian Ocean as Zone of Peace
In 1971, the General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the
Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace and called upon the great
Powers, the littoral and hinterland States and other maritime
users of the Indian Ocean to enter into consultations with a
view to realizing the aims of the Declaration. At its following
session, it established an AdHoc Committee on the Indian Ocean,
which now consists of 49members.
At its thirty-third session, the Assembly decided to convene a
Meeting of the Littoral and Hinterland States of the Indian
Ocean in July 1979; and at its thirty-fourth session, it decided
to convene a Conference on the Indian Ocean during 1981 at
Colombo for the implementation of the Declaration. Since then,
however, the Conference has been postponed several times.
According to its report (document A/44/29), the AdHoc Committee
on the Indian Ocean was unable to achieve consensus on a draft
resolution to submit to the Assembly. It therefore decided that
its Chairman should conduct informal consultations in the
interim period "to facilitate adoption of a resolution" by the
Assembly at its current session.
Israeli Nuclear Armament
The question of Israeli nuclear armament has been on the
Assembly's agenda since 1979. In its consideration of the item,
the Committee will have before it a report of the
Secretary-General on Israeli nuclear activities.
Compliance with Arms Limitation and Disarmament Agreements
The item on compliance with arms limitation and disarmament
agreements has been considered by the Assembly since 1985, when
it was taken up as a sub-item of "General and complete
disarmament".
Last year, the Assembly again urged States parties to arms
limitation and disarmament agreements to implement fully and
comply with those agreements (resolution 43/81A). It recognized
that the United Nations could make a significant contribution in
the field of verification, and requested that the
Secretary-General undertake an in-depth study to identify and
review existing relevant activities of the United Nations;
assess the need for improvements and identify possible
additional activities; and provide specific recommendations for
future action by the United Nations in that context (resolution
43/81B).
Strengthening of Security and Co-operation in Mediterranean
Region
The question of security and co-operation in the Mediterranean
region was first considered by the General Assembly in 1981,
under its review of the implementation of the Declaration on the
Strengthening of International Security. At that time, the
Assembly considered that further efforts were needed to
transform the Mediterranean into a zone of peace.
Last year, the Assembly invited the Secretary-General to continue
to give attention to the matter, to render appropriate advice
and assistance to Mediterranean countries if requested to do so,
and to submit an updated report to the Assembly, based on ideas
and suggestions submitted by States and regional organizations.
The Secretary-General's report will be before the Committee.
Declaration on Strengthening of International Security
The strengthening of international security was first included in
the Assembly's agenda in 1969. At its following session, the
Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Strengthening of
International Security.
At its session last year, the Assembly invited Member States to
submit their views regarding the Declaration, and requested that
the Secretary-General submit a report to the Assembly on the
basis of the replies received. The Committee will consider the
Secretary-General's report.
Education and Information for Disarmament
An item entitled "Education and information for disarmament" has
been included in the Assembly's agenda this year at the request
of CostaRica (document A/44/194), and has been allocated to the
First Committee.
CostaRica's explanatory note states that, despite the "apparent
relaxation of tensions between the two great super-Powers, the
climate on the regional level is one of insecurity and
precarious balance".
Education for disarmament is essential, the note states,
especially in view of the probability that even more destructive
and deadly weapons systems may soon be available to States or
groups within States, "and the possibility that a mere accident
or error may at any moment plunge the world into an irreparable
chemical, bacteriological or nuclear disaster".
The weight of intellectual patterns and habits of thinking,
according to which resort to force is the only way of settling
disputes, together with mistrust and fears, "all give rise to
psychological obstacles which are more difficult to overcome
than those of a technical nature", according to the note.
Therefore, the note states, education and communication are
"essential factors in the process of combating the underlying
psychological and cultural causes of war, the arms mentality and
violence".
* Origin: UNITEX --> Toward a United Species (1:107/501)
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