EU Presidency Statement - General debate [1/2]

Mr. Chairman,

I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union. The countries of Central and Eastern Europe associated with the European Union, Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia, the associated countries of Cyprus and Malta, as well as the EFTA country member of the European Economic Area Norway, align themselves with this statement.

Allow me to congratulate you most sincerely on your election as Chairman of the First Committee. The European Union wishes to assure you of its wholehearted support in the discharge of your important responsibilities.

I would like to begin by referring to the events of 11 September, which have left us deeply shocked. The European Union condemns all forms of terrorism. It expresses its solidarity with the American people and the United States government. It considers that disarmament and non-proliferation on a multilateral and general basis are today more necessary than ever in order to prevent terrorists and their organizations having any access to more powerful means of conducting their abhorrent activities.

The European Union will continue to give its wholehearted support to international efforts in the areas of disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation, regarding both weapons of mass destruction and conventional weapons.

Mr. Chairman,

The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery is a major problem and is a matter for concern. The European Union calls for a continuing commitment on the part of the international community in the fight against such proliferation and in the efforts to achieve disarmament. The Göteborg European Council in June 2001 emphasized that the strengthening of international norms and political instruments for preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery is of prime importance for the Union, which is committed to strengthening multilateral disarmament and non-proliferation instruments.

For the European Union, the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) remains the cornerstone of the global non-proliferation regime and the essential foundation for the pursuit of nuclear disarmament. In this spirit, we support and encourage the implementation of the objectives laid down in the Treaty and the decisions of the 1995 NPT Review and Extension Conference and the results achieved by the 2000 Review Conference, as expressed in the final document adopted by consensus at that Conference. The countries of the European Union are determined to take part in their full implementation.

It is necessary to step up efforts to continue implementing the results of the NPT Review Conference held in 2000. In this context, the Union welcomes indications from the United States and the Russian Federation that these States are actively working to bring about a considerable reduction in their nuclear arsenals. It is of the utmost importance that these reductions are verifiable and irreversible. In preparation for the next meeting (2002) of the NPT Preparatory Committee, the Union calls on all States to make a success of this first Preparatory Committee following the Review Conference.

The European Union believes that universal accession is necessary in order to consolidate the objectives of ensuring non-proliferation and disarmament worldwide. Consequently, the EU calls on those four States that have not yet done so to accede to the NPT.

Mr. Chairman,

In this year when we are celebrating the fifth anniversary of the adoption of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty by the UN General Assembly on 10 September 1996, the Union wishes to reiterate that it has spared no efforts in promoting the early entry into force of the Treaty and universal accession to it. It has made over 70 representations and has also argued in support of the Treaty in all the appropriate international fora. It is firmly committed to persevering in this effort. It is with this in mind that the Union reiterates its full support for the efforts to establish the verification regime rapidly and in accordance with the Treaty. To ensure that the resolve of the international community does not weaken, it calls on all the States which have not yet done so to sign the CTBT without delay and unconditionally, particularly the [XXX] States on the list of 44 States whose ratification is required for the Treaty to enter into force. We welcome the ratification, since the last session of the General Assembly, by Croatia, Benin, Guiana, Malta, Namibia, Uganda, the Philippines, the Holy See, Saint Lucia, Sierra Leone, Ukraine and Uruguay.

In line with the commitments, which they assumed by signing and ratifying the CTBT, the EU Member States remain committed to the full implementation of the verification regime and the early entry into force of the Treaty. In this respect, the EU wishes to recall the statement made by the United States at the 15th CTBTO Preparatory Committee on 21 August. While noting with satisfaction the United States' intention to maintain its moratorium on nuclear tests, we can only regret its announcement that the United States will no longer take part in certain activities arising from the Treaty and that it is not intending to review its position regarding ratification. This is a matter of concern for us, especially since the United States has up to now played an important role in nuclear arms control, particularly in the framework of the CTBT.

Mr. Chairman,

The negotiation at the Conference on Disarmament of a non-discriminatory and universal Treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons and other nuclear explosives (FMCT) constitutes an essential stage in nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. The European Union regrets that a consensus has not yet been reached in the Conference on Disarmament in order to launch the negotiation with the mandate approved in 1995. We reiterate our call to the members of the CD to make every effort to attain the objective as soon as possible. The appointment of three special coordinators on the review of the CD's agenda, the expansion of its membership, and on the improvement of the efficiency of its functioning may contribute to improving the atmosphere within the Conference. Although limited in scope, this procedural decision might constitute the first step in a gradual process of working towards the adoption of a work programme. The European Union appeals for the work of the special coordinators to be continued and supports their re-appointment next year. Of course it is necessary to take into account the security concerns of all Member States if we are to overcome the obstacles to the effective launch of work within the Conference. In this respect, the Union restates its view that the work of the CD's subsidiary bodies should begin without delay on the basis of mandates which are sufficiently pragmatic and broad to be the subject of an agreement and cover the FMCT, nuclear disarmament and the prevention of the arms race in outer space.

Furthermore the EU would like to recall its attachment to the follow-up of the enlargement process of the Disarmament Conference which is the only multilateral negotiating forum for disarmament and arms control, and in particular to those members of the European Union which are not yet members of the Conference, as well as the Associated countries which have submitted their request for admission to this Conference.

Mr. Chairman,

In the same context, we repeat our appeal to the countries of South Asia to make every effort to prevent an arms race in the region. We ask India and Pakistan to cooperate in the efforts of the international community to strengthen the non-proliferation and disarmament regime. We repeat our call for them to implement the specific measures set out in United Nations Security Council Resolution 1172, in particular the signing and ratification of the CTBT.

The European Union remains concerned about the lack of significant progress in the implementation of the safeguards agreement with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and it urges the DPRK to comply fully with its safeguards agreement and to cooperate fully with the Director-General of the IAEA as soon as possible, particularly with regard to verification of its initial declaration. The European Union calls on the DPRK to implement without delay the specific programme which was established by the Agency and which proposes a set of preliminary stages in preparation for verification of the accuracy and exhaustiveness of the DPRK's initial declaration. The European Union recalls its financial and technical contribution to KEDO's activities in the Korean Peninsula. The European Union repeats its appeal to the DPRK to accede unconditionally to the CTBT without delay. The European Union also attaches great importance to the DPRK continuing its moratorium on missiles and expresses its concern with regard to DPRK exports of missiles and missile technology.

The EU remains committed to the resolution on the Middle East adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference and to its full implementation. We continue to support efforts to establish an effectively verifiable Middle East zone free of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems. We repeat our request to the only State in the region not to have acceded to the NPT to sign and ratify it. The European Union also believes that the accession of all States in the region to the conventions banning chemical and biological weapons would make an essential and extremely significant contribution to peace and to regional and global security. Furthermore, we call on all States in the region, which have not done so to conclude a full scope safeguards agreement with the IAEA.

As reaffirmed in the Principles and Objectives of 1995 and restated in the final document of the NPT Review Conference in May 2000, the European Union believes that the creation of internationally recognized nuclear-weapon-free-zones, based on arrangements freely concluded between the States of the region, strengthens regional and global peace and security. We look forward to the entry into force of the Treaty of Pelindaba in Africa.

Mr. Chairman,

The European Union attaches particular importance to the matter of compliance with the NPT. The situation in Iraq is also a matter of major concern for us. More than two years have now elapsed since the IAEA Action Team's departure from that country and inspections have still not resumed. Once again we call on Iraq to comply fully with all Security Council resolutions relating to it, to give the IAEA the access necessary for it to execute its mandate and to cooperate fully with it in order to update the technically consistent picture of its clandestine nuclear programme as established in 1998. The European Union notes with concern that the prolonged interruption of the inspections complicates the Agency's efforts to achieve as accurate a knowledge of Iraq's nuclear programme as it had achieved in 1998, and increases the time it will take to regain that level of knowledge. The Union notes that a routine inspection made it possible this year once again to carry out effective verification of the physical inventory of nuclear material in accordance with the safeguards agreement signed by Iraq under the NPT. This verification cannot, however, be a substitute for the activities, which the Agency needs to conduct under the relevant Security Council resolutions.

Mr. Chairman,

The effectiveness of this strengthened system of safeguards is of course closely linked to the objective of universality to which the European Union attaches the greatest importance, which is why I would like to congratulate all those States which have signed or ratified Additional Protocols since the last meeting of the General Conference. On 22 September 1998 each EU Member State signed an additional protocol. Since then, most Member States have already ratified and the others are currently completing the ratification process. The European Union repeats its call to those States parties to the NPT, which have not yet signed a full scope safeguards agreement to fulfill that obligation incumbent on them under Article III.

The European Union calls on all States, which have signed safeguards agreements with the IAEA to conclude and implement as soon as possible the additional protocols to those agreements and to implement the full scope safeguards agreements, granting these matters the desired priority. The EU also appeals to all States not party to the NPT to place all their nuclear activities under the supervision of the Agency.

Mr. Chairman,

Strengthening international norms and political instruments to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery is of prime importance to the EU. We have decided to step up our efforts in the fight against the proliferation of ballistic missiles. This is reflected in the conclusions of our General Affairs Council on 14 May 2001, the Declaration by the European Council in Göteborg on 15 and 16 June 2001 and the EU Common Position adopted on 23 July 2001 in Brussels. The European Union supports the universalization of the draft International Code of Conduct drawn up by the members of the Missile Technology Control Regime. An open and transparent ad hoc international negotiating process accessible to all has just been launched. A first preparatory meeting will be organized in France at the beginning of 2002. All States wishing to participate in the finalization of the International Code of Conduct will be able to do so on an equal footing and on a consensual basis. The Code should be ready for adoption at the end of 2002. We encourage all States concerned to take an active part in this process.

The draft International Code of Conduct against ballistic missile proliferation is the most concrete and the most advanced initiative in this field and as such offers the best chance of achieving results in the short term. This Code will be a politically binding document. The European Union considers that after its adoption the Code could be of interest to the United Nations and have a positive influence on other initiatives to address the proliferation of ballistic missiles such as, for example, the proposed Global Control System.

I would emphasize that the EU welcomes the creation of the United Nations group of missile experts further to Resolution 55/33A as a potentially useful forum for multilateral discussion of the missile question.

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