Nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East – First Cttee debate – Verbatim record (excerpts)

Official Records

General Assembly

Fifty-fifth session

First Committee

23rd meeting

Thursday, 26 October 2000, 10.30 a.m.

New York

President:  Mr. U Mya Than…………………….(Myanmar)

The meeting was called to order at 10.45 a.m.

Agenda items 65 to 81 (continued)

Action on all draft resolutions submitted under all items

The Chairman: As I mentioned at the Committee’s meeting yesterday, Wednesday, 25 October 2000, today the Committee will continue to take action on the draft resolutions that appear in informal working paper No.2/Rev.1 following the sequence indicated: cluster 1, nuclear weapons, A/C.1/55/L.16; cluster 4, conventional weapons, A/C.1/55/L.44; cluster 5, regional disarmament and security, A/C.1/55/L.35; cluster 6, confidence-building measures, including transparency in armaments, A/C.1/55/L.12; cluster 7, disarmament machinery, A/C.1/55/L.3/Rev.1, A/C.1/55/L.5, A/C.1/55/L.9, A/C.1/55/L.13, A/C.1/55/L.14/Rev.2, A/C.1/55/L.17, A/C.1/55/L.23, A/C.1/55/L.24, A/C.1/55/L.26 and A/C.1/55/L.33.

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Mr. Lin Kuo-chung (Secretary of the Committee): Draft resolution A/C.1/55/L.16, entitled “Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East”, was introduced by the representative of Egypt at the Committee’s 19th meeting, on 20 October 2000.

The Chairman: The sponsors of draft resolution A/C.1/55/L.16 have expressed the wish that it be adopted by the Committee without a vote. If I hear no objection, I shall take it that the Committee wishes to act accordingly.

Draft resolution A/C.1/55/L.16 was adopted.

The Chairman: I now call upon those representatives who wish to explain their position on the draft resolution just adopted.

Mr. Bar (Israel): Israel joined the consensus on draft resolution A/C.1/55/L.16, entitled “Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East”, as it has done in the case of corresponding draft resolutions for the past 20 years, notwithstanding substantive and important reservations regarding certain elements in the draft resolution.

The policy of Israel has always maintained that the nuclear issue, as well as all regional security issues, conventional and unconventional, should be dealt with in the full context of the peace process. Israel supports the eventual establishment of a mutual, verifiable nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East that should also be free of chemical and biological weapons, and their means of delivery. Israel believes that the political realities in the Middle East mandate a practical, step-by-step approach. We should begin with modest confidence-building measures, followed by the establishment of peaceful relations and reaching reconciliation, and possibly complemented by conventional and non-conventional arms control measures. This process could eventually lead to more ambitious goals, such as establishing a zone free of all weapons of mass destruction.

As the international community has recognized, the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone should be based on arrangements freely arrived at by all States of the region concerned. Israel believes that such a zone can be established only through direct negotiation between the States of the region after they recognize each other and have established full, peaceful and diplomatic relations between them. It cannot be established other than by the parties themselves, nor can it be established in a situation where some States maintain that they are in a state of war with each other and refuse in principle to maintain peaceful relations. In this context, it should be recalled that in the Middle East, unlike in other regions in the world where nuclear-weapon-free zones have been established, there is a continuing threat against the very existence of one State in the region, Israel. This has a critical impact on the region’s ability to establish such a zone.

The consensus we have maintained over the years reflects a delicate compromise that all the parties have managed to live with. This year a genuine effort was made by both Egypt and Israel to introduce new agreed language into the draft resolution. Eventually it was agreed to present the same language as in previous years. I can only speak on behalf of Israel and say that my delegation demonstrated a constructive approach during these deliberations. We feel that is a good example of how confidence could be built. Moreover, it is a key element for preserving consensus in the future.

The Chairman: We now come to cluster 4. If no delegations wish to make general comments or statements on draft resolutions contained in cluster 4, conventional weapons, the Committee will now proceed to take action on draft resolution A/C.1/55/L.44. I call first on those representatives wishing to explain their position or vote before a decision is taken.

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Mr. Itzchaki (Israel): My delegation wishes to explain its vote on draft resolution A/C.1/55/L.44, entitled “Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction”.

Israel supports the ultimate humanitarian goal of the Ottawa Convention, aimed at eliminating the consequences of the indiscriminate use of anti-personnel landmines. Towards that end Israel has begun taking concrete steps to lessen the proliferation and harmful effects of anti-personnel landmines in the Middle East and beyond. Israel has joined several international initiatives that share that aim. Only recently Israel ratified the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby Traps and Other Devices, as amended in May 1996, and therefore joined the sponsors of the draft resolution on the CCW contained in document A/C.1/55/L.50.

Israel is actively participating in the mine awareness project launched by the United Nations Children’s Fund  in Angola. Israeli volunteers are involved in the project, through direct, hands-on teaching of the population about mine awareness and enriching the wider educational system in this area. In addition, Israel has contributed to the financial needs of this important project. Additionally, in July 1994 Israel enacted a moratorium on the export of anti-personnel landmines. Last year we announced our decision to renew the moratorium until the year 2002. We are also considering favourably a permanent arrangement that will extend the moratorium indefinitely.

Israel supported the General Assembly’s call for a moratorium and hopes to contribute to an agreement banning all transfers of anti-personnel landmines. Along those lines, Israel ceased all production of such landmines. We hope that all our neighbours will enact a similar moratorium. Israel supports a gradual regional process in which each State in the Middle East will strive to reduce the indiscriminate use of landmines and move towards the eventual goal of a total ban. We believe that the best way to achieve this lies along the path of future regional cooperation. Israel has adopted this gradual approach because it is still required to resort to defensive operations against terrorists to prevent attacks on its civilians. Therefore, we remain unable at present to support the immediate enactment of a total ban on landmines because they remain necessary to ensure the safety of our troops and civilians. I would emphasize that the use and quantity of landmines are restricted and their use remains strictly within the constraints set by the amended Protocol II of the CCW.

For the reasons I mentioned earlier, Israel cannot lend its support to the draft resolution and therefore will abstain.

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The Chairman: The Committee has completed its consideration of and action on draft resolutions for this morning.

The meeting rose at 12.25 p.m.