UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY 56th SESSION

First Committee - General Debate

Statement by H.E. Mr John Dauth LVO, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations

11 October 2001

Mr Chairman

The Australian delegation congratulates you on your appointment as Chairman of this Committee. We look forward to working closely with you over the coming weeks.

Let me reiterate Australia's deep sympathy and solidarity with all those who suffered as a result of the atrocious terrorist attacks of 11 September. As these tragic events have demonstrated so dramatically, threats to international peace and security are not limited to wars between states, nor indeed to the kinds of dangers existing arms control and disarmament mechanisms have sought to address. However this should not discourage our multilateral efforts to promote peace and security. Rather, these terrible acts should serve as a catalyst for a renewed commitment by the international community to enhance cooperation, by strengthening existing multilateral mechanisms and by devising effective ways to address new security challenges.

The terrorist attacks in the United States have provoked speculation about the possible use of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons by a terrorist group. We can no longer assume that terrorist groups are not prepared to use such weapons. As the Secretary-General outlined in his address on 1 October 2001, there is much UN Member States can do, collectively and individually, to prevent any future terrorist attacks being carried out with weapons of mass destruction.

Mr Chairman

The threat posed by nuclear weapons is not new, but there is a lot of work still to be done in preventing their spread and working towards their elimination. The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) remains the foundation for these efforts. The outcome of the 2000 NPT Review Conference was a significant step forward. It is important that we now work towards a successful 2005 NPT Review Conference that will involve a fair and balanced review across the range of NPT activities.

Since the 2000 NPT Review Conference, some impatience has been expressed about the rate of progress in implementing the Conference outcome. Yet we should not disregard the significant progress achieved to date in the reduction of nuclear arsenals, although this progress may not have been entirely uniform. The 2005 NPT Review Conference will again provide an important opportunity for the nuclear weapon states to demonstrate commitment to meeting their Article VI obligations and the undertakings given at the 2000 Review Conference.

But the task is not one for the nuclear weapon states alone. It is equally important that non-nuclear weapon states - and for that matter States outside the NPT - contribute to a climate conducive to nuclear arms reductions by reinforcing the non-proliferation regime; the more so given that the kind of terrorist atrocities we have witnessed could one day involve weapons of mass destruction.

Mr Chairman

The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) is another key element of the nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation framework. The coming CTBT Article XIV Conference is an opportunity for the international community to send a strong message of support for the Treaty.

It is disappointing the Treaty is not yet in force. But with 161 signatories and 79 ratifiers there should be no doubt that the CTBT has firmly established a powerful international norm against nuclear testing. Australia encourages all ratifiers to consider what action they might take to promote the CTBT's entry into force. Australia recently made a further round of diplomatic representations to Asia-Pacific countries and Annex 2 countries whose ratification is required for entry into force, and will continue our efforts to this end. We urge once again those yet to sign or ratify the CTBT to do so without delay. Until the treaty enters into force the existing moratoriums on nuclear testing must be maintained.

Negotiation of an Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty (FMCT) is one of the most urgent disarmament and non-proliferation steps the international community should take, as reaffirmed by the 2000 NPT Review Conference. We are deeply disappointed that another Conference on Disarmament (CD) year has ended without a start to cut-off negotiations, despite the efforts of several states to build support for negotiations. In this regard, in May this year Australia co-sponsored, with Japan, a workshop on the role and significance of the cut-off treaty. Prior to the start of formal negotiations, Australia sees value in further informal work along these lines outside the CD. Pending negotiation of an FMCT, we call upon all relevant states to join a moratorium on production of fissile material for nuclear weapons.

Universal implementation of the IAEA's strengthened safeguards system is another key non-proliferation priority. Achieving this objective would substantially boost the mutual confidence-building essential for national, regional and international security. It would contribute significantly to a climate favourable to further cuts in nuclear arms. We are pleased to have been the first country to ratify and implement an Additional Protocol and urge all states yet to take this important step to do so as quickly as possible. Australia is helping a number of regional countries to ratify and implement Additional Protocols.

Mr Chairman

Australia remains strongly committed to the global bans on chemical and biological weapons.

The practical and normative value of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is clear. The moral and political force of the CWC will be enhanced by full implementation and universalisation of the Treaty. Australia urges countries which have not signed and ratified the CWC to do so as soon as possible. It is vital also that the OPCW functions in an effective manner. Australia is committed to working with the Director General and other States Parties to resolve the OPCW's current financial and administrative problems. Reforms must be carried through effectively and the Organisation's core verification activities must be preserved.

We are disappointed that a protocol to strengthen the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) has not been achieved after more than six years of negotiations in the Ad Hoc Group. Australia strongly supported the Chairman's composite text as a valuable, if imperfect, means of strengthening the BWC. In our view, the draft protocol would have provided security benefits for all. Now, it is vital that momentum towards strengthening the BWC be renewed, and this must begin at the Fifth BWC Review Conference in November. Australia urges all states to enhance their efforts to strengthen the BWC with practical and effective international measures.

Mr Chairman

While there remains much to be done, we should not forget that the past year has seen some notable achievements.

Australia welcomes the adoption of the Program of Action at the UN Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All its Aspects, held earlier this year. The Program of Action includes 85 practical measures for addressing the problems posed by small arms. We must now fully implement the Program. Australia's efforts will focus on encouraging implementation of the Program in our own region. A key objective will be to support the development of model legislation for a common approach to weapons control in the South Pacific, and to continue to provide practical assistance to facilitate more effective control over weapons stockpiles.

Australia also welcomes the strong growth in the number of States which have joined the Ottawa Convention on anti-personnel landmines over the past year. We remain firmly committed to universalisation of the Convention and are working closely with States Parties and the International Campaign to Ban Landmines to promote the Convention, with a particular focus on the South East Asian region. As the deadline for stockpile destruction draws near for many countries, we will also be working as co-chair of the Standing Committee on Stockpile Destruction to support this important obligation under the Convention.

Mr Chairman

Australia is pleased that its Ambassador for Disarmament, Mr Les Luck, has been nominated as President-designate of the Second Review Conference for the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) to be held in Geneva in December this year. We welcome the progress made at the three meetings of the Preparatory Commission and look forward to working cooperatively with all States Parties at the Review Conference as we consider a range of proposals to strengthen, or build on, the Convention's existing provisions. Australia is committed to universalisation of the CCW and calls on those countries which have yet to accede to the Convention, and its protocols, to take the opportunityof the Review Conference to do so.

Mr Chairman

The spread of technology associated with the means of delivery of weapons of mass destruction also threatens security. Australia shares the view that the proliferation of missiles, in particular long-range missiles capable of delivering WMD payloads, is inherently destabilising for regional and global security.

Australia strongly supports the adoption by the international community of an International Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation. We are pleased to be associated with the development of an augmented draft Code at the recent Missile Technology Control Regime meeting in Ottawa. The Code represents a genuine effort to increase transparency in relation to missile activities and to build confidence regarding the peaceful intentions of states. The Code will now be circulated among the international community for further negotiation and finalisation ahead of a proposed adoption conference in late 2002. We urge all States to subscribe to the Code as an important signal of the international community's commitment to ballistic missile non-proliferation. As a participant in the UN panel of experts on missiles, Australia is also working in that forum to develop practical recommendations to guide the international community's efforts to combat proliferation.

Mr Chairman

Australia, like all nations, was shocked by the events of 11 September. In the face of threats to international security our communities need to know that governments are cooperating to protect them. It is vital, therefore, that our multilateral institutions are working well and that international arms control and non-proliferation efforts continue to contribute to global and regional stability and security.

In a time of uncertainty, we must not falter. In this Committee we must be guided by the goal of mobilising international support for practical measures to address existing, new and emerging threats to security. The Australian delegation looks forward to supporting you and working with other delegations to this end.

Thank you Mr Chairman.