DYB2011-Part-II-web

United Nations Disarmament Yearbook 2011: Part II
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be a confidence-building measure and a step towards the implementation
by nuclear-weapon States of article VI of the NPT, relating to nuclear
disarmament.
It was recalled that the 2010 NPT Review Conference reaffirmed the
total elimination of nuclear weapons as the only absolute guarantee against
the use or threat of use of such weapons. It also reaffirmed the legitimate
interest of non-nuclear-weapon States to receive unequivocal and legally
binding security assurances from nuclear-weapon States so as to strengthen
the nuclear non-proliferation regime.
Reference was also made to the United Nations Security Council
resolution 984 (1995), notably on the nuclear-weapon States’ unilateral
statements in which they gave conditional or unconditional security assurances
against the use and the threat of use of nuclear weapons to non-nuclearweapon
States parties to the NPT. They also gave such assurances to States
parties to the relevant protocols established pursuant to nuclear-weapon-free
zones, recognizing that treaty-based security assurances were available to
such zones.
Agenda items 5 to 7
According to the schedules set by the three initial CD Presidents, debates
on agenda item 5 on “New types of weapons of mass destruction and new
systems of such weapons; radiological weapons”, item 6 on a “Comprehensive
programme of disarmament” and item 7 on “Transparency in armaments” were
held respectively on 17 February under the presidency of Marius Grinius, 22 on
17 March under the presidency of Pedro Oyarce23 and on 25 May under the
guidance of Mikhail Khvostov (Belarus), who was appointed coordinator24 of
the items.
While there was limited interest in these clustered issues, as witnessed
in previous years, members nevertheless noted the importance of keeping
the opportunity open for future discussions in the Conference. During
the discussion on the three agenda items, the delegations made use of the
opportunity to update and revalidate their positions.
Prevention of an arms race in outer space
In accordance with the schedules set by the three initial Presidents,
debates on the prevention of an arms race in outer space (PAROS) were held
on 8 February under the presidency of Marius Grinius, 25 on 8 March under the
22 CD/PV.1206.
23 CD/PV.1216.
24 CD/1907 and CD/1918.
25 CD/PV.1203.