The Relationship with Development
Speaker: Under-Secretary General for Disarmament Affairs
Jayantha Dhanapala
INTRODUCTION:
The following quote from T.S. Eliot�s Four Quartets brings to the forefront the idea that what we do today is a legacy of the past and will impact the future.
�Time present and time past,
Are both perhaps present in time future.
And time future contained in time past.�
Applying this idea to disarmament could be helpful when taking steps towards lowering the number of small arms, stopping the proliferation of nuclear weapons, getting full support for banning biological and chemical weapons uses etc. by making it clear that to create the peaceful world we are striving for takes the acknowledgment of past mistakes, transparency of current positions and possessions, and by now doing what it takes to get to where we want to be in the future.
THE NUCLEAR NON PROLIFERATION TREATY
In 1978, a consensus was reached during a special session on disarmament (SSOD). The 10 issues identified at that time, as the agenda for the international community, remain valid today. The Nuclear Non proliferation Treaty was the treaty signed with the largest adherence; more than 140 states. Signed in 1968, it came into force in 1970. Countries classified as nuclear states agreed to not transfer any nuclear weapons or the technology to build such weapons to other states, whereas countries classified as non-nuclear weapon states agreed not to acquire them. This has therefore raised questions about the inequality between the 'haves' and the 'have not countries'.
THE UN DISARMAMENT MACHINERY
Conference on Disarmament (CD). This body has 66 members with others as observers. It negotiates treaties and conventions. Operates on consensus rule. Over the past several years has become more of a talk shop and has not been very active.
The First Committee of the GA (Disarmament and International Security): It consists of all member states and is the place where nations bring their concerns, expressing them in the form of resolutions (49 resolutions adopted). Some resolutions do not need to be voted on (21 out of 49), because everyone accepts them. However, the non-popular resolutions are voted on (28 out of 48).
Disarmament Commission: This organ meets for about two weeks a year and is focused on discussing 2 or 3 issues in great depth. The guidelines are agreed upon and serve as confidence building measures.
Advisory board on Disarmament Matters: Made functional in 1982, it is a group of 20 experts who assist the UN secretariat with carrying out research, information dissemination, etc.
The UN institute of Disarmament Research (UNIDIR): Created by the General Assembly and established on October 1, 1980. Its aims are to give objective information to the international community, assist in ongoing negotiations on disarmament, and promote informed participation by all states in disarmament affairs.
THE AGENDA:
Nuclear Weapons: The non-proliferation of these weapons is the priority disarmament issue. However, there are many challenges. First, the UN lacks accurate information: there are many questions about the actual number of nuclear weapons in any given area. Second, even though only 5 states are officially listed as possessors of nuclear weapons (US, Russia, China, Britain and France as of Jan 1967), there are now at least four others whose position must be taken into account. Third, the UN has to be aware of the danger of the threat of nuclear weapons theft by non-state actors such as terrorist groups.
Moreover, the test-ban treaty (CTBT), whose aims are to both protect the environment and prevent proliferation of weapons, has been bypassed or gotten around by laboratory tests [thus while not violating the letter of the treaty it violates the spirit].
Focusing on the delivery system of nuclear weapon is also a good way to have a control on nuclear weapons since they have to be transported in one or another.
Biological and Chemical treaties are not universal. Many states still remain non-parities. There is an effort underway to create a protocol for verification of the Biological Weapons Convention that will hopefully, once achieved, enhance the confidence of the international community in the full implementation of the obligations under the treaty.
Conventional weapons: These are the weapons that have killed the most since 1945. They are increasing in sophistication, range and lethality. Last year, the budget dedicated to conventional weapons increased by 2.1% reaching $780 billion. The manufacturing companies that benefit from these huge purchases are mainly American and British companies.
Land mines Convention: still striving to achieve full universality of membership. The United States for example is not a party to the treaty because it felt it needed to have landmines in the Korean region.
CONCLUSION
It is important to now take a look at what some of the issues are with regard to moving forward and progressing with the achievement of disarmament goals. First, because Article 51 gives a nation the right to defend itself, will the world ever be disarmed or can we at least reach the lowest possible level of arms? But here we must question, who decides what is an adequate level of arms possession?
Secondly, is it possible for 100% verification of compliance to treaties? How much can the world be satisfied with and is the mere fact that some verification will occur be satisfactory because it will at least serve as a deterrent to would-be cheater states? With this issue , a balance of sovereignty and verification is needed in order to make this work or accepted.
What are the ramifications of violators? Will the Security Council enforce compliance or will it do so only when its own interests will be best served?
These questions and many others loom around the issue of disarmament, but until countries become more transparent and thus create some level of confidence between nations, the work for this department of the United Nations will remain more challenging than it needs to be.