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Mr. Chairman,
I have asked for the floor to introduce draft resolution contained in
document A/C-1/58/L.18 entitled “Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) in the
Regional and Sub-regional Context”. This, as can be seen, is a new initiative
and has been tabled to address multiple factors that affect peace and security.
While the UN Charter depicts the maintenance of peace and security at the global
level as the primary responsibility of the international community, in practice,
tensions at the regional and sub-regional levels constitute the main source of
instability. These tensions contribute to arms race, endangering not only
international peace and security, but also undermining efforts aimed at arms
control and disarmament. Consequently, spiraling arms race, particularly in the
regions of tension and conflict obstructs peaceful settlement of disputes
rendering their resolution even more difficult, widen poverty and spread despair
and anger.
2. Another reason that encouraged this delegation to table the draft resolution
is the availability of an overwhelming body of evidence which clearly
establishes that initiation of such CBMs in tension ridden regions has paid
tangible dividend for peace. By lowering tensions through CBMs and peaceful
dispute settlement, states can devote their resources and energies to the
socio-economic advancement of their people. Such an approach could also
supplement efforts for arms control and disarmament since most threats to peace
and security in the post Cold War era arise mainly among States located in the
same region or sub-region.
Mr. Chairman,
3. Regional arms race in the bane of development. Acquisition of military
arsenals beyond the legitimate security requirements is prime cause of economic
debilitation. There exists a symbiotic link between conflict and
underdevelopment; between war and poverty. This insidious relationship must be
broaden in order to put an end to the suffering of vast segments of mankind.
Regional arms race must stop through the achievement of security at the lowest
level of armaments.
4. Accordingly, a combination of political and military CBMs could help in
strengthening peace and security, and also encourage regions of tension to take
measures for arms control and disarmament.
5. As a result of open-ended consultations with Member States and taking
cognizance of many of their concerns, the draft resolution is representative of
the aspirations of a wide body of the international community. It highlights
several aspects of CBMs:
First: States locked in territorial and other disputes may adopt CBMs in order
to prevent armed
conflict either through bilateral, sub-regional or regional dialogue.
Second: Renunciation of use or threat of use of force and re-affirmation of the
Charter principles
listed under Chapter-VI may facilitate the pacific settlement of disputes among
states.
Third: Development of CBMs which encourage maintenance of military balance
amongst the
regional states in the acquisition, development and deployment of various weapon
systems.
Fourth: CBMs to strengthen peace along the borders to avoid conflict and prevent
the unintended
or accidental outbreak of hostilities, particularly in nuclearized theaters.
Mr. Chairman,
6. The preambular paragraphs of the draft resolution reiterate the basic
purposes and principles of the UN Charter as also the General Assembly and
Security Council resolutions relating to the prevention of armed conflicts; it
recognizes the need for peaceful dialogue in the regions of tension in order to
avert conflict; it welcomes the peace processes already initiated in various
regions to resolve disputes through peaceful means bilaterally or through
mediation by third parties; it also recognizes that regions which have already
developed CBMs at bilateral, sub-regional and regional levels in the political
and military fields, including arms control and disarmament, have greatly
improved the climate of peace and security in their regions and contributed to
the improvement of socio-economic conditions of their people.
Mr. Chairman,
7. The Operative paragraphs of the resolution call upon the Member States to
refrain from the use or threat of use of force; re-affirms its commitment to the
peaceful settlement of disputes under Chapter-VI of the UN Charter; calls upon
the Member States to open consultations and dialogue in the regions of tension
and conflict without pre-conditions; urges strict compliance with bilateral,
regional and international arms control and disarmament agreements to which the
contending states are parties; urges also the maintenance of military balance in
the regions of tension in the acquisition of weapons systems; encourages the
promotion of bilateral and regional CBMs to avoid conflict and prevent
unintended and accidental outbreak of hostilities.
8. The draft resolution also requests the Secretary General to consult the
regional states and ascertain their views with a view to promoting CBMs in the
regions of tension.
9. My delegation believes that the resolution serves as a platform for all
regions of tension and conflict by encouraging states to address their disputes
in a peaceful manner and to avert the specter of war and destruction. Therefore,
Mr. Chairman, my delegation hopes that the draft resolution contained in
document L.18 will be adopted with the full consent of this Committee.
I thank you, Mr. Chairman.