CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT MARKS ANNIVERSARY OF OTTAWA CONVENTION, DISCUSSES TRANSPARENCY IN ARMAMENTS

The Conference on Disarmament this morning heard 10 statements marking the eighth anniversary of the entry into force of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction, and discussing the issue of transparency in armaments.

On the 1 March anniversary of the entry into force of the Mine Ban Convention, Australia, Turkey, Canada, Indonesia, Algeria and Jordan discussed the accomplishments achieved under the treaty so far, and the challenges ahead. It was noted that anti-personnel mines remained a menace, taking the lives and livelihoods of innocent civilians around the world. Efforts to achieve universal adherence to the Convention were also taking time.

On the issue of transparency in armaments, Germany, speaking on behalf of the European Union, said transparency in the area of conventional arms, and in particular small arms and light weapons, was an essential component in fighting the uncontrolled proliferation of these weapons and in providing an atmosphere of confidence and security. The European Union believed that the use of Man Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS) by terrorists and other non-State actors warranted worldwide attention and sustained and comprehensive action. Turkey noted the close relationship between the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons and terrorism, adding that Turkey remained committed to the effective implementation and further strengthening of the UN Programme of Action on small arms and light weapons.

Japan spoke of the significant and substantial relationship between the UN Conventional Arms Register and efforts to create an Arms Trade Treaty within the UN framework, adding that they were closely connected as measures for enhancing international confidence building. Argentina, speaking on behalf of Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru, spoke about the 1999 Inter-American Convention for Transparency in the Acquisition of Conventional Arms, adding that the treaty was a tool for transparency which had led to confidence building among States in the region and had had a very positive impact on the regional and international arenas which went beyond armaments.

Venezuela said the United Nations Conventional Arms Register was a positive step forward in promoting confidence building to maintain transparency on the acquisition and sale of conventional weapons. But it was important to hold multilateral discussions on the Register in order to widen its scope because Venezuela considered that the categories of weapons included in the Register was discriminatory because it stressed one type of weapons and left out others which were a greater threat on security. Weapons of mass destruction should also be included on the Register to facilitate the move toward a full ban on these weapons.

Also today, the Conference approved a request from Jordan to participate in the work of the 2007 session of the Conference as an observer.

The next plenary of the Conference will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 6 March.

Statements

CAROLINE MILLAR (Australia) said as the President of the Seventh Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Convention, it was her pleasure to mark the eighth anniversary of the entry into force of the Convention. The Mine Ban Convention marked a fundamental shift in the international community’s approach to arms control. With Indonesia’s recent accession to the treaty, there were now 153 States committed to it. A huge amount had been achieved and States parties had destroyed about 38 million stockpiled landmines. But great challenges remained and there was still a considerable distance to travel to reach the goals. Antipersonnel mines remained a menace, taking the lives and livelihoods of innocent civilians around the world. Efforts to achieve universal adherence to the Convention were also taking time.

Australia, long committed to the aims of the Convention, took on the presidency conscious of these challenges and their implications. Among other steps, Australia had developed a mechanism to assist States that might need to apply mine clearance extensions that would help them meet their obligations under the Convention. As a mine action donor, Australia had also accelerated its assistance to mine-affected States.

BERNHARD BRASACK (Germany), speaking on behalf of the European Union, said increased openness and transparency in the field of armaments served among others to enhance confidence, ease tensions, strengthen regional and international peace and security and contributed to enhance responsibility in arms transfers. Measures of transparency should be designed at reducing and hopefully preventing aggravation of conflict situations. Transparency measures should be as practicable and as down to earth as possible. Universality of participation was essential. Transparency in armaments could play a vital role, in particular when it came to regional arrangements. The establishment of the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms constituted on the global level a significant and lasting step forward in the promotion of transparency in military matters. Another important measure in this area was the mechanism on “objective information on military measures, including transparency of military expenses”.

Transparency in the area of conventional arms, and in particular small arms and light weapons, was an essential component in fighting the uncontrolled proliferation of these weapons and in providing an atmosphere of confidence and security. The use of Man Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS) by terrorists and other non-State actors as a tool for threatening civil aviation, and also aviation involved in peacekeeping operations, warranted worldwide attention and sustained and comprehensive action. The European Union had been working with other States in the field of MANPADS destruction and stockpile and security management. It also fully supported intensifying efforts to prevent the illicit transfer and unauthorized access to and use of MANPADS. Transparency was a key concept for executing the arms control and disarmament agenda.

AHMET UZUMCU (Turkey) said during the informal discussions, Turkey had expressed its support for the Mine Ban Convention, which constituted a true landmark. More needed to be done in many areas covered by the Convention, however, the determination demonstrated by States parties to fulfill their obligations and commitments was encouraging.

The excessive accumulation and uncontrolled spread of small arms and light weapons posed a significant threat to peace and security, as well as to the social and economic development of many countries. There was also a close relationship between the illicit trade in such weapons and terrorism. Turkey remained committed to the effective implementation and further strengthening of the UN Programme of Action of small arms and light weapons. Another disarmament issue which warranted further attention was the illicit transfer and unauthorized access to and use of Man Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS). The proliferation and unauthorized use of MANPADS posed an imminent and acute threat to civil aviation and anti-terrorism operations. In the hands of trained terrorists, these weapons could cause substantial civilian casualties. The international
community had recognized the threat emanating from the unauthorized proliferation and use of MANPADS, and it now had to act decisively to improve stockpile security, airport security, aircraft protection, collection and destruction of old and surplus MANPADS and to strengthen export controls in countries that imported and manufactured those weapons.

Turkey supported all efforts in the field of sustaining international security through arms control, non-proliferation and disarmament. Being close to regions posing high risks of proliferation, Turkey took a firm stance against this threat. The basic precept in Turkey’s armament and export policies was zero tolerance for proliferation. Instruments and control regimes, when effectively implemented, went a long way to preventing weapons from finding their way into the hands of terrorists.

SUMIO TARUI (Japan) said enhancing the level of openness and transparency in armaments greatly contributed to building stronger confidence among States and could lead to the prevention of excessive accumulation of arms and arms races. From this perspective, Japan attached particular importance to transparency in armaments as a measure for promoting international peace and security. In the focused debate on transparency in armaments last year, Japan had made reference to the significant and substantial relationship between the UN Conventional Arms Register and efforts to create an Arms Trade Treaty within the UN framework. They were closely connected as measures for enhancing international confidence building. Japan strongly encouraged each country to submit to the United Nations its position and views on an Arms Trade Treaty.

Japan believed that the Conference should commence an earnest examination of its previous proposals of namely: one, initiating discussions to identify issues that required further action in the field of transparency in armaments, and two, developing a feedback mechanism concerning the actual accomplishments and activities on transparency in armaments between the Conference and other fora.

MARCELO VALLE FONROUGE (Argentina), speaking on behalf of Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru, said until the end of the Cold War, concerns about nuclear confrontation had overshadowed concern about proliferation and stockpiling of conventional weapons. The reduction of the nuclear threat had allowed the international community to look closely at the area of conventional weapons, an area of no less concern because of the deadly and destabilizing effect of these weapons. The huge stocks of conventional weapons had deviated funds from health and other important fields. The unlawful transfer of conventional weapons was also often linked to destabilizing results. In the early 1990s, an important instrument had emerged, the Conventional Weapons Register. Then in 1999, the Inter-American Convention for Transparency in the Acquisition of Conventional Arms was adopted. This instrument was created to build confidence among States is the region and it was an extremely important step forward. It was a tool for transparency which had led to confidence building among States in the region. It had had a very positive impact on the regional and international arenas which went beyond armaments.

Venezuela called, on behalf of the other States, on delegations to discuss at the Conference information about bilateral and regional instruments in this field. The Conference was a good place to discuss the identification of possible areas on confidence building measures concerning armaments.

ERIC WALSH (Canada) said 1 March marked the eighth anniversary of the entry into force of the Ottawa Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction. Ten years ago the Ottawa process began, and now, 153 countries, more than 80 per cent of the world, were party to the Convention. Numerous States not party to the Convention had effectively adopted its norms. At a time when the global multilateral framework was under considerable pressure, the Convention also provided a tangible example of effective multilateralism involving most of the world’s nations, UN agencies, international organizations and civil society. Today was an
opportunity to celebrate the collective accomplishments in mine action, and to reaffirm the commitment to continue pressing for a world completely free of anti-personnel mines, and to continue efforts to assist the people and communities that had been and continued to be victimized by this indiscriminate weapon.

MAKARIM WIBISONO (Indonesia) joined others in marking the anniversary of the entry into force of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and their Destruction (the Ottawa Convention) on 1 March. On 20 February, the Government of Indonesia deposited its instrument of ratification at the United Nations, thus becoming the 153rd State party to the Mine Ban Convention. Indonesia had been one of the original signatories of the Convention in 1997, but the process of ratification had been long and arduous, given the circumstances of the transition period in Indonesia during the last 10 years. By joining the Ottawa Convention, Indonesia was once again manifesting its firm commitment to achieving a global disarmament regime in general and to creating a mine-free world in particular. It was Indonesia’s fervent hope that this step would be followed by other countries that remained outside the Convention, most particularly in the southeast Asia region, which was considered as one of the most mine-affected regions of the world.

HAMZA KHELIF (Algeria) said Algeria congratulated the entire international community on the tenth anniversary of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and their Destruction (the Ottawa Convention). The Ottawa Convention was the optimal framework to deal with the issue of landmines comprehensively, in line with the expectations of the international community, in particular the victims of these weapons. The Convention was also the appropriate framework for a partnership between the affected countries and others, and between the different parties involved. The Convention would not bring back lost lives or limbs, but it was a cornerstone in stopping new victims from falling. Many achievements had been made, but what remained ahead was more important. The main challenge was that the adherence to the Convention was not yet universal and many States remained outside its regime. Algeria renewed its call to all countries that had not yet joined the Convention to do so in order to make these weapons history. The second challenge was the vast number of landmines that could still be found.

Algeria, as an affected country that after colonization had inherited millions of landmines on its eastern and western borders, deeply recognized the magnitude of this crisis. Algeria hoped that there would be more intensive cooperation and assistance to help countries to fulfill their obligations towards the Convention.

JUAN ARIAS PALACIOS (Venezuela) said the United Nations Conventional Arms Register was a positive step forward in promoting confidence building to maintain transparency on the acquisition and sale of conventional weapons. But it was important to hold multilateral discussions on this issue in order to widen its scope because Venezuela considered that the categories of weapons included in the Register was discriminatory. The Register stressed one type of weapons and left out others which were a greater threat on security. Weapons of mass destruction should also be included on the Register to facilitate the move toward a full ban on these weapons. Despite the existence of international agreements regulating weapons of mass destruction, the international community did not have details on existing stock. It was important to stress that the Register was a means of confidence building and that was how Venezuela understood it. At the same time, understanding must be given for legitimate concerns about national security and legitimate defense.

HUSSAM AL HUSSEINI (Jordan) said Jordan attached a great deal of importance to the issue of anti-personnel landmines. The intense suffering caused by these landmines and the resulting bodily harm was the main reason why the Convention was adopted so quickly. Jordan was making every effort at the national and international levels to end this suffering. Jordan would be hosting the Eighth Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Convention next November, the first Arab State to be hosting this meeting. This upcoming meeting
came after the tenth anniversary of the Ottawa Convention and would be a good opportunity to check achievements until today. With the ratification of Indonesia, the number of States parties to the Convention was 153, and up to 40 million landmines had been destroyed by States parties. Seven States had declared that they had accomplished the elimination of landmines from their territories, and a lot of progress had been made in other States parties. Not all the objectives had been achieved and there were still many challenges to take up. For Jordan, the issue of landmines continued to be a big problem which required every effort to be able to be solved nationally. Jordan hoped that the upcoming meeting would be a chance to review the challenges ahead and the best ways to overcome them.