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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 USUN NEW YORK 001021 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CD CDG PARM PREL UNGA
SUBJECT: 63RD UNGA/FIRST COMMITTEE (UNFC): DAY EIGHT, NINE 
AND TEN OF THEMATIC DEBATE - DISARMAMENT MACHINERY 
 
 This is UNFC-10 
 
--------------------- 
C1 Days 8, 9, and 10 10-23, 10-24 and 10-27 Thematic Debate 
on Disarmament Machinery 
--------------------- 
 
¶1. (U) Summary: The First Committee on Disarmament and 
International Security conducted its thematic debate on 
disarmament machinery on October 23, 24, and 27.  This 
summary comprises all three days of the debate.  On the first 
day, representatives from the following states spoke: France 
on behalf of the European Union (EU), Brazil on behalf of the 
Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), Indonesia on behalf of the 
Nonaligned Movement (NAM), and Qatar on behalf of the Gulf 
Cooperation Council (GCC).  On the second day, 
representatives from the following states spoke: Netherlands, 
Venezuela, Turkey, and Norway.  Representatives from the 
following states concluded the debate on October 27: Cuba, 
Malaysia, Canada, India, Chile, and Nigeria on behalf of the 
African Group.  End Summary. 
 
--------------------- 
10-23, Day 8 - France on behalf of the EU, Brazil on behalf 
of MERCOSUR, Indonesia on behalf of the NAM, and Qatar on 
behalf of the GCC 
--------------------- 
 
¶2. (U) France on behalf of the EU: Emphasized that the 
Conference on Disarmament (CD) was the single forum for 
multilateral negotiations.  The EU found encouraging the work 
the CD undertook in 2008, since establishing the Six 
Presidents (P6) platform.  The EU stated that it could accept 
CD/1840 but added that it would have preferred a stronger 
emphasis on negotiation.  It also stated that it hoped to see 
the CD enlarge. The EU expressed hope that the United Nations 
Disarmament Commission (UNDC) could resume its role to 
realize its mandate as a consultative body. 
 
¶3. (U) Brazil on behalf of MERCOSUR:  Regretted that the UNDC 
concluded its triennial session without results and that nine 
years had passed without reaching consensus.  MERCOSUR stated 
that it was time to consider other ways to carry out the work 
of the UNDC.  MERCOSUR called for negotiations without delay 
on a Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty (FMCT).  It also 
requested that the CD initiate negotiations on a legally 
binding document to address the prevention of an arms race in 
outer space (PAROS). 
 
¶4. (U) Indonesia on behalf of the Nonaligned Movement (NAM): 
Stated that it would not support any 2009 UNDC agenda items 
that were inconsistent with General Assembly (GA) resolution 
52/492.  (Comment: The resolution states that at least one 
UNDC topic should concern nuclear disarmament.  End Comment.) 
 The NAM added that the next cycle of the UNDC should 
comprise recommendations for achieving the objectives of 
nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation, as well as a draft 
declaration of the 2010s as the fourth disarmament decade. 
The NAM urged the CD to create an ad hoc committee on nuclear 
disarmament. 
 
¶5. (U) Qatar on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council: 
Stated that the GCC states were coordinating to strengthen 
regional cooperation, including on improving border control. 
The GCC stated that member states had pursued measures to 
fulfill international and national obligations concerning 
nuclear disarmament, such as facilitating training for Gulf 
professionals and raising media awareness on implementation 
and verification. The GCC argued that Israel's accession to 
the NPT would contribute to preserving the disarmament 
machinery. 
 
--------------------- 
10-24, Day 9 - Netherlands, Venezuela, Turkey, and Norway 
--------------------- 
 
¶6. (U) Netherlands: Introduced a draft resolution on behalf 
of the extended bureau of the UNDC entitled "Report of the 
Disarmament Commission." The Netherlands noted that the UNDC 
held its organizational meeting in March and approved its 
general program of work (PoW) and established Group I and 
Group II to address achieving nuclear disarmament and 
nonproliferation, and pursuing CBMs in the field of 
conventional weapons, respectively. 
 
¶7. (U) Venezuela: As the last president of the CD in 2008, 
Venezuela introduced a draft resolution entitled "Report of 
the Conference on Disarmament."  Venezuela stated that the 
resolution would have the GA recognize the need to conduct 
multilateral negotiations with the aim of reaching agreement 
on issues.  It added that it would also call on the CD to 
intensify consultations.  Venezuela noted that the six chairs 
of 2009 were already in consultation with the current chairs. 
 
¶8. (U) Turkey: Reiterated it believed that members of the CD 
should start negotiations on an FMCT.   It added that the CD 
should undertake new initiatives, such as advancing negative 
security assurances (NSAs) and PAROS.  Turkey stated that it 
strongly believed that the P6 platform had been effective and 
welcomed the incoming presidents' intention to use it.  On 
expanding CD membership, it stated that it does not 
constitute a priority and added that it should be considered 
on a case-by-case basis.  (Note: a reference to Greek desires 
for membership.  End Note) 
 
¶9. (U) Norway: Advocated suggestions to improve the UNDC's 
working methods, to include shorter UNDC sessions, with a 
focus on one or two clearly defined topics.  Norway suggested 
that the UNDC issue a Chair's summary, rather than a 
negotiated document.  It expressed hope that the UNDC engage 
in self-evaluation. Norway advocated achieving consensus on 
modalities and format of an SSOD-IV.  To that end, it noted 
that it had previously provided funding.  Norway lamented the 
inability to negotiate an FMCT and called for more progress 
in the CD. 
 
--------------------- 
10-27, Day 10 - Cuba, Malaysia, Canada, India, Chile, and 
Nigeria on behalf of the African Group 
--------------------- 
 
¶10. (U) Cuba: Reiterated the NAM's call to establish an ad 
hoc committee on nuclear disarmament, adding that it should 
be the basis to reach consensus within the CD.   Also 
reiterated the NAM's recommendation for the next cycle of the 
UNDC to comprise recommendations on nuclear disarmament and 
nonproliferation, and a draft declaration of the 2010s as the 
fourth disarmament decade. It expressed hope that the latter 
could propel the disarmament community out of stagnation. 
 
¶11. (U) Malaysia: Deemed the 1996 International Court of 
Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion on the threat of nuclear 
weapons a milestone in efforts to address nuclear 
disarmament.  Malaysia stated that the message should 
resonate in states' actions to reinvigorate the multilateral 
process to pursue nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation. 
Malaysia introduced a draft resolution to follow up on the 
advisory opinion. 
 
¶12. (U) Canada: Noted that this year marked the 30th 
anniversary of the first special session of the UNGA on 
disarmament (SSOD-I).  It reiterated that the reason for a 
broad mandate was to revitalize the disarmament agenda. 
Canada stated that the Ottawa and Oslo processes represented 
successful alternatives.  It added that it was encouraged by 
the progresses since 2004, to make the First Committee a 
forum of discussion.  It stated that all states have 
collective ownership of the disarmament machinery and 
therefore hold responsibility to repair it. 
 
¶13. (U) India: Argued that the CD should continue to conduct 
its work by consensus, and added that although it was unable 
to reach consensus in the past, its deliberations were 
interesting and showed a desire to cooperate.  India stated 
that it attached importance to the UN Secretary General's 
(SYG) advisory board on disarmament matters and welcomed its 
report's call to strengthen the SYG's role in generating 
political will in the field.  India also welcomed the opening 
of the UN Regional Center for Peace and Disarmament in Asia 
and the Pacific, located in Kathmandu. 
 
¶14. (U) Chile: Called for greater democratization within the 
disarmament machinery.  It argued that the subsidiary bodies 
of the UN system were not an end to themselves, but resources 
that satisfied the political needs of the international 
community.  Chile also argued that disarmament, and not the 
CD, was a global public good.  Chile stated that the CD could 
be reformed and broadened to obtain transparency and 
legitimacy.  It praised the Ottawa and Oslo processes as 
examples of successful disarmament measures. 
 
¶15. (U) Nigeria on behalf of the African Group: Presented two 
draft resolutions, one on the UN Regional Center for Peace 
and Disarmament in Africa and the other on the UN disarmament 
fellowship, training, and advisory services. 
Khalilzad