| Date | 29 November 2001 |
|---|---|
| Started | 10:00 |
| Ended | 11:50 |
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Reports of the First Committee
The President
The General Assembly will consider the reports of the First Committee on agenda items 64 to 84.
I request the Rapporteur of the First Committee, Mr. Sylvester Ekundayo Rowe of Sierra Leone, to introduce the reports of the First Committee in one intervention.
Mr. Rowe (Sierra Leone)
It is an honour for me to introduce to the General Assembly the reports of the First Committee on agenda items 64 to 84. Those reports are contained in documents A/56/526 to A/56/546.
I am pleased to inform the Assembly that in response to its appeal, the First Committee has fully utilized its existing resources and was able to conclude its work at the current session in four and a half weeks -- which is three days earlier than originally planned -- and in 24 formal meetings. The work of the Committee at the present session could be described as procedurally smooth and substantially constructive.
The First Committee had before it 45 draft resolutions and six draft decisions submitted under various disarmament and related international security agenda items. One draft resolution was subsequently withdrawn. A total of 45 draft resolutions and six draft decisions were adopted, almost 75 per cent of them, without a vote. As in previous sessions, the core issues related to nuclear and conventional weapons, including anti-personnel landmines. Twenty-six of the draft resolutions and decisions adopted were devoted to those core issues.
The disarmament calendars for 2000 and 2001 have been eventful. One can say without exaggeration that two events and their final declaration or programme of action clearly dominated discussions of the international disarmament agenda. These are the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and the 2001 United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects. At the same time, the terrorist attacks on 11 September had a significant impact on both the atmosphere and the content of the discussions. Under the circumstances, disarmament and international security assumed a new dimension. "New collective commitment", "a new sense of realism", "a new approach to international security", "new stimulus", "new impetus", to "re-energize, invigorate and galvanize our concerted efforts" -- these are some of the expressions that pervaded the entire atmosphere of the Committee's general debate. There was a renewed sense of urgency and readiness to cooperate, perhaps much more than before, in addressing all outstanding disarmament and related issues.
Delegations lauded the achievements of the NPT Review Conference and the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects. However, they also underscored the increasing concern of the peoples of the world over the dangers posed by existing stockpiles of weapons, in particular, weapons of mass destruction.
The urgent need for a more action-oriented approach to this phenomenon was evident in the course of discussions on the entire range of nuclear weapons. Member States focused on aspects of nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament that they believe should be addressed as a matter of priority in the immediate future. In this context, delegations paid particular attention to further efforts that are necessary to scale down nuclear weapons. They noted that in the prevailing atmosphere of high expectations following the conclusion of the NPT Review Conference and in the aftermath of 11 September, it is even more important to take a fresh look at nuclear disarmament in general, with a view to adopting new, bold and innovative approaches.
Here, theoretical underpinnings, such as fundamental reconsideration of strategic doctrines and operative military postures, as well as practical measures for preventing weapons from falling into the hands of terrorists, were clearly evident.
These concerns were reflected in a number of draft resolutions, such as those on the conclusion of a convention prohibiting the use of nuclear weapons, on reducing nuclear danger, on a path to the total elimination of nuclear weapons and on nuclear disarmament. Moreover, the Secretary-General's proposal for an international conference to deal with nuclear danger, as contained in his Millennium Report, was also welcomed.
In draft resolutions such as "Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia"; "Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East"; "Consolidation of the regime established by the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco)"; and "Nuclear-weapon-free southern hemisphere and adjacent areas", there was continued support for the existing nuclear-weapon-free zones. There were also calls for the creation of new zones as a step leading to a world without nuclear weapons.
Member States also expressed their hope for the early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), especially in the context of the forthcoming review conference of States parties to the CTBT.
The majority of delegations spoke of lost opportunities within the framework of the Conference on Disarmament. In particular, Member States expressed their disappointment over the inability of the Conference to take up nuclear issues in 2001 by establishing ad hoc committees to negotiate a fissile material cut-off treaty and security assurances to non-nuclear-weapon States. The need for further focused negotiations aimed at effective international arrangements in terms of a legally binding instrument on both these subjects remained at the forefront of the dialogue on security issues at this year's session.
However, despite the disappointment with the existing stalemate on negotiations on a fissile material cut-off treaty, many States expressed the hope that this issue would be resolved in new, propitious circumstances. Thus, the way will be paved for the possible establishment of the ad hoc committee by the Conference in order to start full-scale negotiations next year.
As far as other weapons of mass destruction were concerned, wide support had been expressed for measures to implement the Chemical Weapons Convention. At the same time, States were clearly disappointed at the failure to reach an agreement during the last stages of negotiations on the verification protocol to the Biological Weapons Convention. However, they continued to be hopeful in the light of the forthcoming Review Conference, which, inter alia, will address this issue as well.
The First Committee once again focused on the need to preserve and strengthen missile defence systems, especially the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, as a cornerstone of global strategic stability. In this context, the issue of the prevention of missile technology proliferation and the universalization of the existing missile technology control regime was duly emphasized.
The Committee's deliberations reveal that while retaining its traditional aspects, conventional disarmament has attained a new dimension, one which requires urgent and decisive action, with particular reference to the problem of small arms. The draft resolution to follow up the successful outcome of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All its Aspects received wide support. Speakers called on all States to implement the Programme of Action adopted by the Conference. The draft resolution asks the Assembly to convene a conference to review the implementation of that document.
Before concluding, I would like once again to refer to the sad events of 11 September and their impact on the work of the First Committee at this year's session. The Committee considered and adopted by consensus a draft resolution submitted by its Chairman, Ambassador André Erdös, entitled "Multilateral cooperation in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation and global efforts against terrorism". This draft resolution signalled the Committee's general agreement that the new challenges faced by the international community in the areas of, inter alia, disarmament and non-proliferation, international security and international terrorism require a common response. Furthermore, it reaffirmed that global threats to international peace and security could be effectively addressed only through concerted multilateral cooperation.
Let me now briefly turn to the reports of the First Committee and draw the Assembly's attention to some additions, as well as to a few technical errors that appear in the texts of the following documents.
First, in document A/56/539, on agenda item 77, page 1, paragraph 5, in the second line the definite article "the" before the words "States Members of the United Nations" should be deleted.
In document A/56/540, on agenda item 78, page 2, after the title "II. Consideration of draft resolution A/C.1/56/L.43", an asterisk should be added after document symbol L.43. In document A/56/544, on agenda item 82, page 1, paragraph 5, in the second line, the words "subsequently joined by Mongolia and Uruguay," and the surrounding commas should be deleted.
Under agenda item 68, in document A/56/530, page 2, at the end of paragraph 5, please add a new sentence to read as follows: "Subsequently, the United States of America joined in sponsoring the draft resolution".
Finally, under agenda item 75, in document A/56/537, page 5, the last word of the title of draft resolution A should read "Africa".
Next, I would like to draw the Assembly's attention to a number of what I would describe as mostly editorial errors that will require corrections in some of the reports. In order to save time, we will not take this up in the plenary this morning. Instead, we are asking the Secretariat to make the necessary corrections in due course.
Before concluding, I would like to draw the Assembly's attention to the text of an information document which has been reissued for technical reasons and circulated to all members this morning, contained in (document A/C.1/56/INF/3*). This document, as members know, has been made available by the Secretariat, following the past practice, for ease of reference only.
I should like to pay a well-deserved tribute to all delegations for their active participation in the work of the First Committee and for their spirit of cooperation in the common search for a safer and more secure world. I should like to express special gratitude to the Chairman of the First Committee, Ambassador André Erdös, who, with his thorough knowledge of disarmament and international security matters, as well as his diplomatic skills, led the proceedings of the Committee to a successful conclusion.
Let me also, on behalf of the Committee and on my own behalf, extend our sincere gratitude to the Committee's Vice-Chairmen, Ambassador Milos Alcalay of Venezuela, Mr. Stéphane De Loecker of Belgium and Mr. Lee Kie-cheon of the Republic of Korea, for their effective contribution to the work of the Committee.
I should also like to express my appreciation to the Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs, Mr. Dhanapala, and to Mr. Chen Jian, Under-Secretary-General for General Assembly Affairs and Conference Services, for their leadership of the Secretariat staff who provided invaluable assistance to the Bureau and to the Committee as a whole.
Moreover, special thanks go to the Secretary, Mr. Mohammad Sattar, whom we warmly welcomed back to the First Committee after a three-year absence. His experience and competence contributed significantly to the successful outcome of the Committee's work.
I should also like to express our gratitude to Mr. Timur Alasaniya, Mr. Saijin Zhang, Ms. Olga Sukovic and other officers of the Secretariat for their valuable assistance in the Committee.
With these remarks, I present to the Assembly for its consideration and approval the reports of the First Committee, as contained in documents A/56/526 to A/56/546.
The Acting President
If there is no proposal under rule 66 of the rules of procedure, I shall take it that the General Assembly decides not to discuss the reports of the First Committee which are before the Assembly today.
The Acting President
Statements will therefore be limited to explanations of vote or position.
The positions of delegations regarding the recommendations of the First Committee have been made clear in the Committee and are reflected in the relevant official records.
May I remind members that under paragraph 7 of decision 34/401, the General Assembly agreed that
"When the same draft resolution is considered in a Main Committee and in plenary meeting, a delegation should, as far as possible, explain its vote only once, i.e., either in the Committee or in plenary meeting unless that delegation's vote in plenary meeting is different from its vote in the Committee."
May I remind delegations that, also in accordance with General Assembly decision 34/401, explanations of vote are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats.
Before we begin to take action on the recommendations contained in the reports of the First Committee, I should like to advise representatives that we are going to proceed to take decisions in the same manner as was done in the First Committee, unless notified otherwise in advance. This means that where recorded or separate votes were taken, we will do the same. I should also hope that we may proceed to adopt without a vote those recommendations that were adopted without a vote in the First Committee.
The Acting President
The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the First Committee in paragraph 7 of its report.
The draft resolution is entitled "Objective information on military matters, including transparency of military expenditures".
The First Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I consider that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The Acting President
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 64?
Agenda item 65
Verification in all its aspects, including the role of the United Nations in the field of verification
Report of the First Committee (A/56/527)
The Acting President
The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the First Committee in paragraph 7 of its report.
The First Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I consider that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
The Acting President
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 65?
Agenda item 66
Implementation of the Declaration of the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace
Report of the First Committee (A/56/528)
The Acting President
The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the First Committee in paragraph 7 of its report.
| favour |
| against |
| abstain |
| absent |
The draft resolution was adopted by 110 votes to 3, with 41 abstentions (resolution 56/16).
favour=110 against=3 abstain=41 absent=36
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
The Acting President
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 66?
The Acting President
The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the First Committee in paragraph 8 of its report. The draft resolution is entitled "African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba)".
The First Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I consider that the Assembly too wishes to adopt the draft resolution?
The Acting President
May I take it that the Assembly wishes to conclude its consideration of agenda item 67?
Agenda item 68
Maintenance of international security -- good-neighbourliness, stability and development in South-Eastern Europe
Report of the First Committee (A/56/530)
The Acting President
The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the First Committee in paragraph 7 of its report.
The First Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I consider that the General Assembly wishes to adopt the draft resolution?
The Acting President
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 68?
Agenda item 69
Developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security
Report of the First Committee (A/56/533)
The Acting President
The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the First Committee in paragraph 9 of its report.
The First Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I consider that the Assembly wishes likewise to adopt the draft resolution?
The Acting President
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 69?
Agenda item 70
The role of science and technology in the context of international security and disarmament
Report of the First Committee (A/56/531)
The Acting President
The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the First Committee in paragraph 7 of its report.
| favour |
| against |
| abstain |
| absent |
The draft resolution was adopted by 92 votes to 46, with 17 abstentions (resolution 56/20).
favour=92 against=46 abstain=17 absent=35
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
The Acting President
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 70?
Agenda item 71
Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East
Report of the First Committee (A/56/532)
The Acting President
The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the First Committee in paragraph 7 of its report.
The First Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I consider that the Assembly too wishes to adopt the draft resolution?
The Acting President
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 71?
Agenda item 72
Conclusion of effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons
Report of the First Committee (A/56/534)
The Acting President
The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the First Committee in paragraph 7 of its report.
| favour |
| against |
| abstain |
| absent |
The draft resolution was adopted by 105 votes to none, with 54 abstentions (resolution 56/22).
favour=105 against=0 abstain=54 absent=31
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
The Acting President
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 72?
The Acting President
The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the First Committee in paragraph 7 of its report.
| favour |
| against |
| abstain |
| absent |
The draft resolution was adopted by 156 votes to none, with 4 abstentions (resolution 56/23).
favour=156 against=0 abstain=4 absent=30
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
The Acting President
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 73?
The Acting President
The Assembly has before it 23 draft resolutions recommended by the First Committee in paragraph 73 of its report and three draft decisions recommended by the First Committee in paragraph 74 of the same report.
In this connection, I should like to inform members that action on draft resolution U is postponed to a later date to allow time for the review of the programme budget implications by the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions and by the Fifth Committee. The Assembly will take action on the draft resolution as soon as the report of the Fifth Committee on the programme budget implications of draft resolution U is available.
I shall now put the 22 draft resolutions and the three draft decisions to the Assembly one by one. After all of the decisions have been taken, representatives will again have the opportunity to explain their vote.
To avoid any confusion, I should like to reiterate that I shall now put to the Assembly for action draft resolutions "A" TO "T" and "V" to "W", as well as draft decisions I to III, contained in paragraphs 73 and 74, respectively, under section III of the report, entitled "Recommendations of the First Committee".
Will delegations please turn to paragraph 73 of section III concerning the draft resolutions.
We turn first to draft resolution A, entitled "Preservation of and compliance with the Treaty on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems".
I give the floor to the representative of Venezuela, who wishes to speak in explanation of vote before the voting.
Mr. Alcalay (Venezuela)
Venezuela shares the concerns that have been raised with respect to this draft resolution. We are aware of the global ramifications that a unilateral modification of the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty would have for the strategic balance and for the overall body of international agreements in the area of disarmament and nuclear-arms control. Negotiations in recent days among the States parties to the Treaty did not arrive at the necessary agreement to resolve differences concerning the validity of this legal instrument, which is considered to be a pillar of the international disarmament architecture.
In view of uncertainty about the future of the Treaty, Venezuela believes that any relevant decision will have to be taken without jeopardizing the principles and integrity of, or compliance with, the Treaty. Venezuela will therefore vote in favour of the draft resolution contained in document A/C.1/56/L.1/Rev.1.
The Acting President
We shall now take action on the draft resolution.
| favour |
| against |
| abstain |
| absent |
The draft resolution was adopted by 82 votes to 5, with 62 abstentions (resolution 56/24A).
favour=82 against=5 abstain=62 absent=41
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
The Acting President
Draft resolution B is entitled "Missiles".
| favour |
| against |
| abstain |
| absent |
The draft resolution was adopted by 98 votes to none, with 58 abstentions (resolution 56/24B).
favour=98 against=0 abstain=58 absent=34
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
The Acting President
Draft resolution C is entitled "Effects of the use of depleted uranium in armaments".
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Draft resolution C was rejected by 54 votes to 45, with 45 abstentions.
favour=45 against=54 abstain=45 absent=46
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
The Acting President
Draft resolution D is entitled "Reducing nuclear danger".
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Draft resolution D was adopted by 98 votes to 45, with 14 abstentions (resolution 56/24 C).
favour=98 against=45 abstain=14 absent=33
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
The Acting President
Draft resolution E is entitled "Convening of the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament".
The First Committee adopted draft resolution E without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
The Acting President
Draft resolution F is entitled "Relationship between disarmament and development".
The First Committee adopted draft resolution F without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The Acting President
Draft resolution G is entitled "Observance of environmental norms in the drafting and implementation of agreements on disarmament and arms control".
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Draft resolution G was adopted by 154 votes to none, with 5 abstentions (resolution 56/24 F).
favour=154 against=0 abstain=5 absent=31
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
The Acting President
Draft resolution H is entitled "Nuclear-weapon-free southern hemisphere and adjacent areas".
Separate votes have been requested on the words "and South Asia" at the end of operative paragraph 3 and on operative paragraph 3 of draft resolution H.
If there is no objection to these requests, I shall first put to the vote the words "and South Asia" at the end of operative paragraph 3 of draft resolution H, on which a separate vote has been requested.
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The words "and South Asia" were retained by 140 votes to 2, with 8 abstentions.
favour=140 against=2 abstain=8 absent=40
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
The Acting President
I shall now put to the vote operative paragraph 3 as a whole, on which a separate vote has been requested.
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Operative paragraph 3, as a whole, was retained by 145 votes to 1, with 7 abstentions.
favour=145 against=1 abstain=7 absent=37
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leo