DYB2011-Part-II-web

Disarmament resolutions and decisions listed by chapter
opposed to taking only the FMCT outside the Conference, maintaining that the
Conference lacked political will not only on an FMCT, but also on the issues of
nuclear disarmament, negative security assurances and the prevention of an arms
race in outer space.
• Recalling the high-level meeting in September 2010 that underscored the
importance of the CD as the sole multilateral negotiating forum entrusted with
the consideration of disarmament issues, Libya stressed that seeking other
options for negotiations outside the CD would weaken the Conference. Secondly,
it believed that States should implement the resolution on the follow-up to the
high-level meeting on revitalizing the CD (A/RES/65/93), which was adopted by
consensus, before other mechanisms were sought outside the CD. Thirdly, it saw
a contradiction between paragraphs 1 and 2, since paragraph 1 requested the CD
to immediately implement a comprehensive programme of work on an FMCT,
while paragraph 2 resolved to consider various options. That would create a
duplication of the decisions of the Conference and other proposed mechanisms.
• Israel drew attention to the unproven utility of an FMCT in addressing the
current and growing proliferation challenges, including non-compliance by
States with their international obligations in the nuclear domain. It believed that
that was especially true for the Middle East, where several States had a poor
track record of compliance with their nuclear non-proliferation obligations. Israel
reiterated that its long-standing position was that the idea of a cut-off treaty was
subsumed in the concept of a zone free of weapons of mass destruction in the
Middle East—the central prerequisites for which were far from being fulfilled.
• Egypt believed that the CD was the sole multilateral negotiating forum
on disarmament and therefore opposed any potential encroachment on the
Conference or any risk of possible duplication of its work. Egypt stressed
that the lack of political will prevented the Conference from adopting a
comprehensive and balanced programme of work that would address its four
core issues equally. Having always considered an FMCT as a crucial step
towards nuclear disarmament, which it considered a top priority, Egypt had
engaged constructively with the main sponsor of the draft resolution to include
language that would address the issue of stockpiles of past fissile materials
production for military uses in any potential fissile materials treaty. However,
those suggestions were not adequately taken on board.
66/45. United action towards the total elimination of nuclear
weapons
By this annual resolution, the General
Assembly emphasized the importance of the
commitment by the nuclear-weapon States at
the 2010 NPT Review Conference to accelerate
concrete progress on the steps leading to nuclear
disarmament contained in the Final Document
of the 2000 NPT Review Conference in a way
that promoted international stability, peace and
undiminished and increased security, and the
call upon the nuclear-weapon States to report
Introduced by: Japan (14 Oct.)
GA vote: 169-1-11; 175-1-4, p.p. 9;
174-3-2, o.p. 2; 177-1-3, o.p. 8; 169-3-6,
o.p. 9; 172-1-5, o.p. 15 (2 Dec.)
1st Cttee vote: 156-1-15; 165-1-3,
p.p. 9; 166-3-2, o.p. 2; 167-1-3, o.p. 8;
161-3-7, o.p. 9; 164-1-5, o.p. 15 (26 Oct.)
For text, sponsors and voting pattern, see
Yearbook, Part I, pp. 104-114.
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