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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 001023 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CD CDG PARM PREL UNGA
SUBJECT: 63RD UNGA/FIRST COMMITTEE (UNFC): DAY NINE OF 
THEMATIC DEBATE - REGIONAL DISARMAMENT AND SECURITY 
 
 This is UNFC-11 
 
--------------------- 
C1 Day 9 10-24 Thematic Debate on Regional Disarmament and 
Security 
--------------------- 
 
¶1. (U) Summary: The First Committee on Disarmament and 
International Security conducted its thematic debate on 
regional disarmament and security on October 24. 
Representatives from the following states spoke: Brazil on 
behalf of the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) and 
Associated States, Angola on behalf of the United Nations 
Standing Advisory Committee for Security Questions in Central 
Africa, Burma, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Colombia, Algeria, 
Malta, Peru, and Nepal.  End Summary. 
 
--------------------- 
10-24, Day 9 - Brazil on behalf of MERCOSUR and Associated 
States, Angola on behalf of the United Nations Standing 
Advisory Committee for Security Questions in Central Africa, 
Burma, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Colombia, Algeria, Malta, Peru, 
and Nepal 
--------------------- 
 
¶2. (U) Brazil on behalf of MERCOSUR and Associated States: 
Noted that the UN Regional Center in Latin America and the 
Caribbean (UN-LiREC) in Lima was the only one of three 
centers in the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (ODA) that 
has a mandate to address peace, disarmament, and 
socioeconomic development.  MERCOSUR stated that the Center 
had established cooperation with some UN agencies and civil 
society to help states implement disarmament.  It noted that 
the Center organized seminars, such as the June 2008 seminar 
in Rio de Janeiro on Developing Regional Instruments for 
Marking and Trafficking Weapons.  MERCOSUR highlighted the UN 
Secretary General's (SYG) proposal encouraging states to 
consider alternative ways to fund the Center. 
 
¶3. (U) Angola on behalf of the United Nations Standing 
Advisory Committee for Security Questions in Central Africa: 
The Committee highlighted its accomplishments, including the 
signing of a Non-Aggression Pact in Yaounde in 1996, as well 
as the creation of the Central African Multinational Force 
(FOMAC).   It noted that during its 27th Ministerial Meeting 
in Luanda last May, the Committee focused on strengthening 
cooperation in the sub-region, addressing the issue of small 
arms and light weapons (SA/LW), and elaborating the code of 
conduct for security and defense forces in Central Africa. 
It stated during the upcoming 28th Ministerial Meeting in 
Libreville that it would focus on the rationalization of the 
Committee and the May 2007 Sao Tome Initiative. 
 
¶4. (U) Burma: Commended work performed by the UN Regional 
Center for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific in 
Kathmandu to promote international and regional dialogue. 
Burma expressed hope that the Center would serve the needs of 
its 43 states and would act as the UN's primary entity for 
security, as well as organize meetings and conferences on 
security issues.  It stated that it shared the SYG's view 
that resource shortages affected the Center's ability to meet 
its mandate. 
 
¶5. (U) Pakistan: Argued that regional-level CBMs have to be 
tailored to the specific needs of the region and should begin 
with arrangements on transparency, openness, and risk 
reduction.  Pakistan added that CBMs should be pursued in 
conjunction with peaceful settlement of disputes, in 
accordance with the UN Charter.   It stated that in South 
Asia it is pursuing a "composite dialogue process" that 
includes CBMs in the nuclear and conventional fields.  To 
that end, it proposed establishing a Strategic Restraint 
Regime (SRR) in South Asia with three-interlocking elements: 
conflict resolution, nuclear and missile restraint, and 
conventional balance. 
 
¶6. (U) Azerbaijan: Argued that Armenia had been building-up 
arms in Nagorno-Karabakh and had hidden up to 316 tanks, 324 
armored combat vehicles, and 322 artillery systems in its 
occupied territories. Azerbaijan called on the international 
community to count those numbers toward Armenia's arms 
supplies.  It stated that the occupied territories gave 
Armenia territory to use repair facilities, and transfer and 
hide arms.  Azerbaijan stated that regardless of being 
involved in a war, it continued to destroy arms, in 
conformity with the Tashkent Agreement.  Azerbaijan added 
that any talks about stability would remain irrelevant unless 
Armenia became serious about resolving the conflict. 
 
¶7. (U) Colombia: Stated that UN-LiREC's activities, such as 
facilitating cooperation on training courses, have been 
valuable.  It highlighted its efforts to establish 
"synergies" among UN offices, noting that Colombia had 
started consultations in 2005 with the UN Program for 
Development and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). 
Colombia added that it had signed an agreement with UNODC 
that had resulted in facilitating training courses with 
funding and support from UN-LiREC.  It stated that the Center 
had played an increasingly active role in implementing the UN 
Program of Action (PoA) on SA/LW. 
 
¶8. (U) Algeria: Introduced a draft resolution entitled 
"Strengthening Security and Cooperation in the Mediterranean 
Region."  Algeria expressed hope that the resolution would 
encourage the Mediterranean states to strengthen further 
their cooperation in combating terrorism, international 
crime, illicit arms transfers, and illicit drug production, 
consumption, and trafficking.  It noted a new preambular 
paragraph that welcomed the adoption of the July Paris Summit 
joint declaration launching a reinforced partnership, the 
Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean. 
 
¶9. (U) Malta: Stated that Malta had actively participated in 
diverse regional institutions and initiatives, such as the 
United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) Mediterranean 
Action Plan and the Med Forum.  It added that it looked 
forward to working with European Union-Med partners in the 
Barcelona process.  Malta highlighted its hosting this year 
of the first ever EU-Arab League foreign affairs ministerial 
meeting and noted that it provided an opportunity for 
dialogue and increased cooperation.  Malta welcomed the 
adoption of the EU's Pact on Immigration and Asylum. 
 
¶10. (U) Peru: Praised the work of UN-LiREC, stating that 
UN-LiREC had established relations with several UN agencies, 
including UNODC and the Office of the High Commission for 
Human Rights.   Peru highlighted that the Center's activities 
had been possible due to voluntary contributions.  It 
introduced a draft resolution entitled "Regional Center of 
the United Nations for Peace, Disarmament and Development in 
Latin America and the Caribbean (GRULAC)."   It asked the SYG 
to provide for the biennial 2010-211, the necessary support 
to assure sustainability of the Center's activities and 
operations. 
 
¶11. (U) Nepal: Introduced a draft resolution entitled "United 
Nations Regional Center for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and 
the Pacific."  Nepal stated that as the Center's host it 
would commit its full support by consolidating the Katmandu 
process.  It urged member states to contribute generously to 
the Center's programs. 
Khalilzad