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Mr. Chairman,
Even as old disputes fester, new conflicts and tensions are emerging in several regions and sub-regions- from the Euro-Atlantic area to the Middle East and elsewhere. The promise of a new century for peace, stability and prosperity appears to be fading in a world beset by conflict and destruction, among and within States.
These trends underscore that most threats to peace and security continue to arise mainly among States located in the same region or sub-region. South Asia is being prevented from pursuit of peace and development by a policy of hegemony and intransigence, encouraged by some powerful states from outside the region.
The General Assembly has long recognized that global peace and security depends, in large measure, on stability at the regional and sub-regional levels. It is for this inseparable relationship between regional and international peace and security that the UN Charter itself recognizes and provides for regional arrangements.
The Final Document of SSOD-I, the UN Disarmament Commission and this Committee’s resolutions have repeatedly reaffirmed the need for simultaneous pursuit of regional and global approaches including agreements in the area of disarmament and arms limitation. The international community has endorsed through these mechanisms and normative framework two well-recognized and tested tools i.e. conventional arms control and confidence-building measures, particularly at the regional and sub-regional levels.
Mr. Chairman,
Several regions of the world have benefitted from the application of principles and guidelines in the areas of conventional arms control and CBMs evolved and agreed at the United Nations. It is important to recall and give concrete shape to some of these principles i.e. preservation of balance in the defence capabilities of States at the lowest level of armaments and military forces; the special responsibility of militarily significant States and States with larger military capabilities in promoting agreements for regional security, undiminished security, and pursuit of disarmament measures in an equitable and balanced manner.
Regional arrangements for disarmament and arms control should accord priority in addressing the most destabilizing military capabilities and imbalances in both conventional and non-conventional fields. In the regions marked with tense environment and disputes, achieving a stable balance of conventional forces and weapons through cooperative regional initiatives is essential.
Mr. Chairman,
Confidence building measures have proved their efficacy over the years at regional and sub-regional levels especially the area of arms control and disarmament. They also have a positive correlation with international peace and security.
As the General Assembly resolutions and UNDC guidelines have affirmed, CBMs at the regional level have to be tailored to the specifics of the region and should begin with simple arrangements on transparency, openness and risk reduction before the concerned states find themselves in a position to pursue more substantive arms control and disarmament measures.
Confidence-building measures are significant in that they can lead to the creation of favourable conditions for the peaceful settlement of existing international disputes and to facilitate the solution of any situation which might lead to international friction. However, confidence-building measures should not become an end in themselves.
CBMs should be pursued in conjunction with sincere efforts for the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with the United Nations Charter. They can significantly contribute towards a global political environment conducive to promoting international agreements on disarmament and arms limitation.
Regional disarmament and confidence-building measures have a special significance in the South Asian context. Without progress towards eliminating underlying disputes and causes of mistrust between states, the utility of confidence-building measures will diminish. Confidence-building measures alone can neither act as a substitute nor a precondition for steps towards peaceful settlement of disputes.
Mr. Chairman,
Pakistan feels privileged to have spearheaded initiatives on regional disarmament, conventional arms control and CBMs at the United Nations for several years now. A practical expression of Pakistan’s commitment towards promoting these globally agreed goals is reflected through the following resolutions which Pakistan tables every year in this First Committee i.e.:
As in previous years, Pakistan delegation has tabled draft resolutions on Regional Disarmament (A/C.1/70/L.32), Confidence-building measures in the regional and subregional context (A/C.1/70/L.31) and Conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels (A/C.1/70/L.34). These resolutions recognize the significance of regional approaches to arms control, disarmament and confidence building for international peace and stability and the complementarity between regional and global approaches. We look forward to the continued support of Member States in the adoption of these resolutions this year as well.
I thank you Mr. Chairman.