DYB2011-Part-II-web

United Nations Disarmament Yearbook 2011: Part II
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• Slovenia, which had long supported the FMCT, believed that the treaty would
not only lead to a world free of nuclear weapons, but also complemented the
NPT and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. Pointing out the urgency
of commencing negotiations, Slovenia expressed regret that the original draft’s
paragraph 2, which would have requested the Secretary-General to establish a
group of governmental experts to identify options for an FMCT, was removed
in the final draft. In its view, that text would have provided new impetus to start
those long-awaited negotiations.
• Liechtenstein, expressing disappointment at the general lack of progress made
thus far by the CD, would have preferred to see an earlier version of the draft
resolution, which had called for a governmental expert group in the absence
of an agreed programme of work for the CD in due time. It hoped that, in the
next session of the General Assembly, different initiatives could be merged in
order to create one strong resolution that would carry multilateral disarmament
negotiations forward.
• China voted in favour of the draft resolution based on its consistent support
for the early commencement of negotiations on an FMCT. It also stressed that
the CD was the only appropriate forum for the negotiation and adoption of an
FMCT. Given that paragraphs 2 and 3 were inconsistent with that view, China
abstained in the voting on those paragraphs.
• Brazil stressed that negotiations on an FMCT should not be launched at the risk
of the CD’s future as the single legitimate multilateral forum for disarmament
negotiations. Furthermore, efforts should be made to hold negotiations or
deliberations on nuclear disarmament, negative security assurances and the
prevention of an arms race in outer space. It also did not encourage the future
establishment of parallel mechanisms to the CD. It was convinced that the best
solution was the convening of a fourth special session of the General Assembly
devoted to disarmament in order to have a true revision of the United Nations
disarmament machinery.
Five States, which abstained in the vote, delivered statements:
• The Islamic Republic of Iran pointed out that the General Assembly should
not be misused as leverage to prioritize the items on the Conference’s agenda.
It believed that starting negotiations in the CD on a phased programme for the
complete elimination of nuclear weapons within a specified timeline should
receive the highest priority on the agenda of the Conference. That programme
should include the conclusion of a nuclear weapons convention. The Islamic
Republic of Iran strongly believed that an FMCT should not be developed as
a mere non-proliferation instrument and must cover past and future production
of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices and
provide for their total destruction.
• Indonesia was not convinced that some new elements in this year’s draft
resolution would contribute positively to common efforts to urge the
Conference to meet its obligations as the sole multilateral negotiating forum
for disarmament, and disagreed that any issue before the Conference should be
taken outside the Conference before 2012. Such a deadline for discussing FMCT
issues outside the CD would also tip the already delicate balance between the
progress made on non-proliferation and on nuclear disarmament issues. It was