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Disarmament Keyword Index


THEMEKEYWORDS
Gender
NAM Involvement and Contributions
TPNW
Modernization and Development of Nuclear Weapons
Missiles
International Humanitarian Law and ICJ
Disarmament and the Environment
Disarmament and Nonproliferation
Arms Races
Bilateral Disarmament
Nuclear-Weapon States Obligations
Disarmament and Development
Verification
Nuclear Weapon Convention

On Disarmament


1st. Summit, Belgrade - 1961

Verification

 

(Final Document, Para 18) The participants in the Conference urge the Great Powers to sign without further delay a treaty for general and complete disarmament in order to save mankind from the scourge of war and to release energy and resources now being spent on armaments to be used for the peaceful economic and social development of all mankind. The participating countries also consider that: (a) The non-aligned nations should be represented at all future world conferences on disarmament; (b) All discussions on disarmament should be held under the auspices of the United Nations; (c) General and complete disarmament should be guaranteed by an effective system of inspection and control, the teams of which should include members of non-aligned nations. 

 

Disarmament and Development

 

(Final Document, Para 18) The participants in the Conference urge the Great Powers to sign without further delay a treaty for general and complete disarmament in order to save mankind from the scourge of war and to release energy and resources now being spent on armaments to be used for the peaceful economic and social development of all mankind. The participating countries also consider that: (a) The non-aligned nations should be represented at all future world conferences on disarmament; (b) All discussions on disarmament should be held under the auspices of the United Nations; (c) General and complete disarmament should be guaranteed by an effective system of inspection and control, the teams of which should include members of non-aligned nations. 

 

NAM Involvement and Contributions

 

(Final Document, Para 15) The participants in the Conference consider that disarmament is an imperative need and the most urgent task of mankind. A radical solution of this problem, which has become an urgent necessity in the present state of armaments, in the unanimous view of participating countries, can be achieved only by means of a general, complete and strictly internationally controlled disarmament. 

 

(Final Document, Para 16) The Heads of State or Government point out that general and complete disarmament should include the elimination of armed forces, armaments, foreign bases, manufacture of arms as well as elimination of institutions and installations for military training, except for purposes of internal security; and the total prohibition of the production, possession and utilization of nuclear and thermo-nuclear arms, bacteriological and chemical weapons as well as the elimination of equipment and installations for the delivery and placement and operational use of weapons of mass destruction on national territories. 

 

(Final Document, Para 18) The participants in the Conference urge the Great Powers to sign without further delay a treaty for general and complete disarmament in order to save mankind from the scourge of war and to release energy and resources now being spent on armaments to be used for the peaceful economic and social development of all mankind. The participating countries also consider that: (a) The non-aligned nations should be represented at all future world conferences on disarmament; (b) All discussions on disarmament should be held under the auspices of the United Nations; (c) General and complete disarmament should be guaranteed by an effective system of inspection and control, the teams of which should include members of non-aligned nations. 

 

(Final Document, Para 19) The participants in the Conference consider it essential that an agreement on the prohibition of all nuclear and thermonuclear tests should be urgently concluded. With this aim in view, it is necessary that negotiations be immediately resumed, separately or as part of the negotiations on general disarmament. Meanwhile, the moratorium on the testing of all nuclear weapons should be resumed and observed by all countries. 

 

(Final Document, Para 20) The participants in the Conference recommended that the General Assembly of the United Nations should, at its forthcoming Session, adopt a decision on the convening either of a special session of the General Assembly of the United Nations devoted to discussion of disarmament or the convening of a world disarmament conference under the auspices of the United Nations with a view to setting in motion the process of general disarmament. 

 

Nuclear-Weapon States Obligations

 

(Final Document, Para 18) The participants in the Conference urge the Great Powers to sign without further delay a treaty for general and complete disarmament in order to save mankind from the scourge of war and to release energy and resources now being spent on armaments to be used for the peaceful economic and social development of all mankind. The participating countries also consider that: (a) The non-aligned nations should be represented at all future world conferences on disarmament; (b) All discussions on disarmament should be held under the auspices of the United Nations; (c) General and complete disarmament should be guaranteed by an effective system of inspection and control, the teams of which should include members of non-aligned nations. 

 

(Final Document, Para 19) The participants in the Conference consider it essential that an agreement on the prohibition of all nuclear and thermonuclear tests should be urgently concluded. With this aim in view, it is necessary that negotiations be immediately resumed, separately or as part of the negotiations on general disarmament. Meanwhile, the moratorium on the testing of all nuclear weapons should be resumed and observed by all countries. 

 

Bilateral Disarmament

 

(Final Document, Para 18) The participants in the Conference urge the Great Powers to sign without further delay a treaty for general and complete disarmament in order to save mankind from the scourge of war and to release energy and resources now being spent on armaments to be used for the peaceful economic and social development of all mankind. The participating countries also consider that: (a) The non-aligned nations should be represented at all future world conferences on disarmament; (b) All discussions on disarmament should be held under the auspices of the United Nations; (c) General and complete disarmament should be guaranteed by an effective system of inspection and control, the teams of which should include members of non-aligned nations. 

 

2nd. Summit, Cairo - 1964

Nuclear-Weapon States Obligations

 

(Final Document, Para 2) The Conference notes with concern that the continuing arms race and the tremendous advances that have been made in the production of weapons of mass destruction and their stockpiling threaten the world with armed conflict and annihilation. The Conference urges the great Powers to take new and urgent steps towards achieving general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control. 

 

(Final Document, Para 3) The Conference, regrets that despite the efforts of the members of the 18-Nation Committee on Disarmament, and in particular those of the non-aligned countries, the results have not been satisfactory. It urges the great Powers, in collaboration with the other members of that Committee, to renew their efforts with determination a view to the conclusion of an agreement on general and complete disarmament. 

 

(Final Document, Para 7) The Conference appeals to the Great Powers to take the lead in giving effect to decisive and immediate measures which would make possible substantial reductions in their military budgets. 

 

(Final Document, Para 8) The Conference requests the Great Powers to abstain from all policies conducive to the dissemination of nuclear weapons and their by-products among those States which do not at present possess them. It underlines the great danger in the dissemination of nuclear weapons and urges all States, particularly those possessing nuclear weapons, to conclude non-dissemination agreements and to agree on measures providing for the gradual liquidation of the existing stock-piles of nuclear weapons. 

 

(Final Document, Para 10) The Conference welcomes the agreement of the Great Powers not to orbit in outer space nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction and expresses its conviction that it is necessary to conclude an international treaty prohibiting the utilisation of outer space for military purposes. The Conference urges full international co-operation in the peaceful uses of outer space. 

 

(Final Document, Para 14) The Conference also requests the nuclear Powers to respect these denuclearized zones. 

 

NAM Involvement and Contributions

 

(Final Document, Para 1) The Conference emphasizes the paramount importance of disarmament as one of the basic problems of the contemporary world, and stresses the necessity of reaching immediate and practical solutions which would free mankind from the danger of war and from a sense of insecurity. 

 

(Final Document, Para 3) The Conference, regrets that despite the efforts of the members of the 18-Nation Committee on Disarmament, and in particular those of the non-aligned countries, the results have not been satisfactory. It urges the great Powers, in collaboration with the other members of that Committee, to renew their efforts with determination a view to the conclusion of an agreement on general and complete disarmament. 

 

(Final Document, Para 4) The Conference calls upon all States to accede to the Moscow treaty partially banning the testing of nuclear weapons, and to abide by its provisions in the interests of peace and the welfare of humanity. 

 

(Final Document, Para 9) As part of these efforts, the Heads of State or Government declare their own readiness not to produce, acquire or test any nuclear weapons, and call on all countries including those who have not subscribed to the Moscow Treaty to enter into a similar undertaking and to take the necessary steps to prevent their territories, ports and airfields from being used by nuclear powers for the deployment or disposition of nuclear weapons. This undertaking should be the subject of a treaty to be concluded in an international Conference convened under the auspices of the United Nations and open to accession by all States. The Conference further calls upon all nuclear Powers to observe the spirit of this declaration. 

 

(Final Document, Para 12) The Conference considers that the declaration by African States regarding the denuclearization of Africa, the aspirations of the Latin American countries to denuclearize their continent and the various proposals pertaining to the denuclearization of areas in Europe and Asia are steps in the right direction because they assist in consolidating international peace and security and lessening international tensions. 

 

(Final Document, Para 13) The Conference recommends the establishment of denuclearized zones covering these and other areas and the oceans of the world, particularly those which have been hitherto free from nuclear weapons, in accordance with the desires expressed by the States and peoples concerned. 

 

(Final Document, Para 16) The Conference therefore urges the participating countries to take, at the forthcoming General Assembly of the United Nations, all the necessary steps for the holding of such a conference and of any other special conference for the conclusion of special agreements on certain measures of disarmament. 

 

Arms Races

 

(Final Document, Para 2) The Conference notes with concern that the continuing arms race and the tremendous advances that have been made in the production of weapons of mass destruction and their stockpiling threaten the world with armed conflict and annihilation. The Conference urges the great Powers to take new and urgent steps towards achieving general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control. 

 

Bilateral Disarmament

 

(Final Document, Para 2) The Conference notes with concern that the continuing arms race and the tremendous advances that have been made in the production of weapons of mass destruction and their stockpiling threaten the world with armed conflict and annihilation. The Conference urges the great Powers to take new and urgent steps towards achieving general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control. 

 

(Final Document, Para 3) The Conference, regrets that despite the efforts of the members of the 18-Nation Committee on Disarmament, and in particular those of the non-aligned countries, the results have not been satisfactory. It urges the great Powers, in collaboration with the other members of that Committee, to renew their efforts with determination a view to the conclusion of an agreement on general and complete disarmament. 

 

(Final Document, Para 7) The Conference appeals to the Great Powers to take the lead in giving effect to decisive and immediate measures which would make possible substantial reductions in their military budgets. 

 

(Final Document, Para 10) The Conference welcomes the agreement of the Great Powers not to orbit in outer space nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction and expresses its conviction that it is necessary to conclude an international treaty prohibiting the utilisation of outer space for military purposes. The Conference urges full international co-operation in the peaceful uses of outer space. 

 

3rd Summit, Lusaka - 1970

Nuclear-Weapon States Obligations

 

(Final Document, Para 6) The practice of interfering in the internal affairs of other states, and the recourse to political and economic pressure, threats of force and subversion are acquiring alarming proportions and dangerous frequency. Wars of aggression are raging in the Middle East and in Indo-China and are being prolonged in South Vietnam and have been extended to Cambodia. The presence of foreign forces in Korea is posing a threat to national independence and to international peace and security. The continued oppression and subjugation of the African peoples in Southern Africa by the racist and colonial minority regimes, apart from being a blot on the conscience of mankind, poses a serious threat to international peace and security. This situation is becoming dangerously explosive as a result of the collusion between certain developed countries of the West and the racist minority regimes in that part of the world. The continuing arms race is causing alarm and concern; it is rendering the possibility of a nuclear detente extremely precarious and is serving as a spur to limited wars. The balance of terror between the superpowers has not brought peace and security to the rest of the world. There are, however, welcome signs of a growing detente between the power blocs but the abatement of the cold war has not yet resulted in the disintegration of the military blocs formed in the context of great power conflicts. 

 

(Final Document, Para 7) International relations are entering a phase characterized by increasing interdependence and also by the desire of States to pursue independent policies. The democratization of international relations is therefore an imperative necessity of our times. But there is an unfortunate tendency on the part of some of the big powers to monopolise decision-making on world issues which are of vital concern to all countries. 

 

(Final Document, Para 12) The Conference declares that the following continue to be the aims of non-alignment: the pursuit of world peace and peaceful co-existence by strengthening the role of non-aligned countries within the United Nations so that it will be a more effective instrument against all forms of aggressive action and the threat or use of force against the freedom, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of any country; the fight against colonialism and racialism which are a negation of human equality and dignity; the settlement of disputes by peaceful means; the ending of the arms race followed by universal disarmament; opposition to great power military alliances and pacts; opposition to the establishment of foreign military bases and foreign troops on the soil of other nations in the context of great power conflicts and colonial and racist suppression; the universality of, and the strengthening of the efficacy of the United Nations; and the struggle for economic independence and mutual co-operation on a basis of equality and mutual benefit. What is needed is not redefinition of non-alignment but a rededication by all non-aligned nations to its central aims and objectives. 

 

(Final Document, Para 13) The participants in the Conference solemnly declare that they shall consistently adhere to these principles in their mutual relations and in their relations with other States. They have accordingly agreed to take the following measures: (a) to achieve full solidarity and to initiate effective and concrete measures against all forces that jeopardise and violate the independence and territorial integrity of the non-aligned countries; and for this purpose to co-operate with and consult each other as and when necessary; (b) to continue their efforts to bring about the dissolution of great power military alliances in the interest of promoting peace and relaxing international tensions, under circumstances ensuring the security of all states and peoples; to safeguard international peace and security through the development of social, economic, political and military strength of each country; (c) to assert the right of all countries to participate in international relations on an equal footing which is imperative for the democratization of international relations; (d) to offer determined support to the intensification of the work of all international bodies concerned with problems of disarmament, particularly in the preparations for and implementation of the programme of the Disarmament Decade as an integral part of general and complete disarmament; (e) to intensify and unite efforts among the developing countries and between them and the developed countries for the carrying out of urgent structural changes in the world economy and for the establishment of such international co-operation as will reduce the gap between developed and developing countries; (f) to intensify joint efforts for the liquidation of colonialism and racial discrimination; to this end to pledge their utmost possible moral, political and material support to national liberation movements and to ensure the implementation of international decisions, including measures by the Security Council in accordance with the relevant provisions of the United Nations Charter; (g) to continue their efforts toward strengthening the role and efficacy of the United Nations, to promote the achievement of the universality of the United Nations and to realise the urgent need for giving the People’s Republic of China her rightful place in the organization and the admission of other countries. While at the same time examining the modalities of enabling countries outside the United Nations, including those which are divided, to participate in the activities of the Organisation and its Agencies; (h) to strengthen steadily, and to expand the domain of mutual co-operation within international, regional and bilateral frameworks; (i) to ensure the continuity of action by holding periodic consultations of representatives of non-aligned countries at different levels and by convening summit conferences more frequently depending on the prevailing international situation. 

 

NAM Involvement and Contributions

 

(Final Document, Para 1) They exchanged views on the significance of non-alignment and the role of non-aligned countries in the present-day world with particular reference to safeguarding and strengthening world peace and security; ensuring national independence and full sovereignty of all nations on a basis of equality, the need to realise the right of all peoples to self-determination; the democratization of international relations; the promotion of rapid economic growth in the developing countries and to considering possibilities for greater consultation and co-operation among the non-aligned countries and to the strengthening of the United Nations. 

 

(Final Document, Para 2) Two and a half decades ago, the peoples of the United Nations inscribed in the Charter their desire to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war; to reaffirm their belief in fundamental human rights, in the dignity of the human person and in the equal rights of nations, large and small, to establish conditions under which justice and respect for obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained and to promote social justice and progress for all. The intervening period has confirmed the historic merit of these ideals and aspirations but, it has likewise demonstrated that many expectations have not been fulfilled and many problems have not been solved, notwithstanding the efforts of the non-aligned countries. 

 

(Final Document, Para 3) The policy of non-alignment has emerged from the determination of independent countries to safeguard their national independence and the legitimate rights of their peoples. The growth of non-alignment into a broad international movement cutting across racial, regional and other barriers, is an integral part of significant changes in the structure of the entire international community. It is the result of the world anti-colonial revolution and of the emergence of a large number of newly liberated countries which, opting for an independent political orientation and development, have refused to accept the replacement of centuries-old forms of subordination by new ones. At the root of these changes lies the ever more clearly expressed aspiration of member-nations for freedom, independence and equality, and their determination to resist all forms of oppression and exploitation. This has been the substance and meaning of our strivings and actions; this is a confirmation of the validity of the Belgrade and Cairo Declarations. At a time when the polarisation of the international community on a bloc basis was believed to be a permanent feature of international relations, and the threat of a nuclear conflict between the big powers an ever-present spectre hovering over mankind, the non-aligned countries opened up new prospects for the contemporary world and paved the way for relaxation of international tension. 

 

(Final Document, Para 4) Our era is at the crossroads of history; with each passing day we are presented with fresh evidence of the exceptional power of the human mind and also of the dangerous paths down which its imperfections may leads us. The epoch-making scientific and technological revolution has opened up unlimited vistas of progress but at the same time, prosperity has not come to everybody, and as a result, a major section of mankind still lives under conditions unworthy of man. Scientific discoveries and their application to technology have the possibility of welding the world into an integral whole, reducing the distance between countries and continents to a measure making international co-operation increasingly indispensable and ever more possible. Yet the states and nations comprising the present international community are still separated by political, economic and racial barriers. These barriers divide countries into developed and the developing, oppressors and the oppressed, the aggressors and the victims of aggression, into those who act from positions of strength, either military or economic, and those who are forced to live in the shadow of permanent danger of covert or overt assaults on their independence and security. In spite of the great achievements and aspirations of our generation, neither peace, nor prosperity, nor the right to independence and equality, have yet become the integral and indivisible attributes of all mankind. Our age, however, raises the greatest hopes and also presents the greatest challenges. 

 

(Final Document, Para 5) The immediate danger of a conflict between the super powers has lessened because their tendency to negotiate for the improvement of their mutual relations is strengthening. However, it has not yet contributed to the security of the small, medium-sized and developing countries, or prevented the danger of local wars. 

 

(Final Document, Para 6) The practice of interfering in the internal affairs of other states, and the recourse to political and economic pressure, threats of force and subversion are acquiring alarming proportions and dangerous frequency. Wars of aggression are raging in the Middle East and in Indo-China and are being prolonged in South Vietnam and have been extended to Cambodia. The presence of foreign forces in Korea is posing a threat to national independence and to international peace and security. The continued oppression and subjugation of the African peoples in Southern Africa by the racist and colonial minority regimes, apart from being a blot on the conscience of mankind, poses a serious threat to international peace and security. This situation is becoming dangerously explosive as a result of the collusion between certain developed countries of the West and the racist minority regimes in that part of the world. The continuing arms race is causing alarm and concern; it is rendering the possibility of a nuclear detente extremely precarious and is serving as a spur to limited wars. The balance of terror between the superpowers has not brought peace and security to the rest of the world. There are, however, welcome signs of a growing detente between the power blocs but the abatement of the cold war has not yet resulted in the disintegration of the military blocs formed in the context of great power conflicts. 

 

(Final Document, Para 7) International relations are entering a phase characterized by increasing interdependence and also by the desire of States to pursue independent policies. The democratization of international relations is therefore an imperative necessity of our times. But there is an unfortunate tendency on the part of some of the big powers to monopolise decision-making on world issues which are of vital concern to all countries. 

 

(Final Document, Para 8) The forces of racism, apartheid, colonialism and imperialism continue to bedevil world peace. At the same time classical colonialism is trying to perpetuate itself in the garb of neo-colonialism–a less obvious, but in no way less dangerous, means of economic and political domination over the developing countries. These phenomena of the present-day world tend not only to perpetuate the evils of the past but also to undermine the future. They retard the liberation of many countries still under colonial domination and jeopardise the independence and territorial integrity of many countries, especially those of the non-aligned and developing countries, thereby hampering their advancement, intensifying tension and giving rise to conflicts. 

 

(Final Document, Para 9) The economic gap between the developed and the developing countries is increasingly widening–the rich growing richer and the poor remaining poor. The developing countries are being denied their right to equality and to effective participation in international progress. The technological revolution, which is not the monopoly of the rich, should constitute one of the main opportunities for the progress of developing countries. World solidarity is not only a just appeal but an overriding necessity; it is intolerable today for some to enjoy an untroubled and comfortable existence in exchange for the poverty and misfortune of others. 

 

(Final Document, Para 10) Concerned by this state of affairs in the world, the participants have agreed to take joint action, and to unite their efforts towards the eradication of these ills. 

 

(Final Document, Para 11) The participants in the Conference of Non-Aligned reaffirm, and attach special importance to, the following principles; the right of the peoples who are not yet free to freedom, self-determination and independence; respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all States; the right of all States to equality and active participation in international affairs; the right of all sovereign nations to determine, in full freedom, the paths of their internal political, economic, social and cultural development; the right of all peoples to the benefit of economic development and the fruits of the scientific and technological revolution; refraining from the threat of use of force, and the principle of peaceful settlement of disputes. 

 

(Final Document, Para 12) The Conference declares that the following continue to be the aims of non-alignment: the pursuit of world peace and peaceful co-existence by strengthening the role of non-aligned countries within the United Nations so that it will be a more effective instrument against all forms of aggressive action and the threat or use of force against the freedom, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of any country; the fight against colonialism and racialism which are a negation of human equality and dignity; the settlement of disputes by peaceful means; the ending of the arms race followed by universal disarmament; opposition to great power military alliances and pacts; opposition to the establishment of foreign military bases and foreign troops on the soil of other nations in the context of great power conflicts and colonial and racist suppression; the universality of, and the strengthening of the efficacy of the United Nations; and the struggle for economic independence and mutual co-operation on a basis of equality and mutual benefit. What is needed is not redefinition of non-alignment but a rededication by all non-aligned nations to its central aims and objectives. 

 

(Final Document, Para 13) The participants in the Conference solemnly declare that they shall consistently adhere to these principles in their mutual relations and in their relations with other States. They have accordingly agreed to take the following measures: (a) to achieve full solidarity and to initiate effective and concrete measures against all forces that jeopardise and violate the independence and territorial integrity of the non-aligned countries; and for this purpose to co-operate with and consult each other as and when necessary; (b) to continue their efforts to bring about the dissolution of great power military alliances in the interest of promoting peace and relaxing international tensions, under circumstances ensuring the security of all states and peoples; to safeguard international peace and security through the development of social, economic, political and military strength of each country; (c) to assert the right of all countries to participate in international relations on an equal footing which is imperative for the democratization of international relations; (d) to offer determined support to the intensification of the work of all international bodies concerned with problems of disarmament, particularly in the preparations for and implementation of the programme of the Disarmament Decade as an integral part of general and complete disarmament; (e) to intensify and unite efforts among the developing countries and between them and the developed countries for the carrying out of urgent structural changes in the world economy and for the establishment of such international co-operation as will reduce the gap between developed and developing countries; (f) to intensify joint efforts for the liquidation of colonialism and racial discrimination; to this end to pledge their utmost possible moral, political and material support to national liberation movements and to ensure the implementation of international decisions, including measures by the Security Council in accordance with the relevant provisions of the United Nations Charter; (g) to continue their efforts toward strengthening the role and efficacy of the United Nations, to promote the achievement of the universality of the United Nations and to realise the urgent need for giving the People’s Republic of China her rightful place in the organization and the admission of other countries. While at the same time examining the modalities of enabling countries outside the United Nations, including those which are divided, to participate in the activities of the Organisation and its Agencies; (h) to strengthen steadily, and to expand the domain of mutual co-operation within international, regional and bilateral frameworks; (i) to ensure the continuity of action by holding periodic consultations of representatives of non-aligned countries at different levels and by convening summit conferences more frequently depending on the prevailing international situation. 

 

(Final Document, Para 14) The Heads of State or Government and leaders of participating countries resolve that this Declaration as well as statements and resolutions issued by this Conference shall be forwarded to the United Nations and brough to the attention of all the member States of the World Organisation. The present Declaration shall also be forwarded to all other States. 

 

(Final Document, Para 15) The participants in the Conference appeal to all nations and government, all peace and freedom-loving forces and to all people the world over for co-operation and joint efforts for the implementation of these objectives. At the same time, they declared that they shall support all international actions that are initiated in the interests of the progress of mankind. 

 

Arms Races

 

(Final Document, Para 6) The practice of interfering in the internal affairs of other states, and the recourse to political and economic pressure, threats of force and subversion are acquiring alarming proportions and dangerous frequency. Wars of aggression are raging in the Middle East and in Indo-China and are being prolonged in South Vietnam and have been extended to Cambodia. The presence of foreign forces in Korea is posing a threat to national independence and to international peace and security. The continued oppression and subjugation of the African peoples in Southern Africa by the racist and colonial minority regimes, apart from being a blot on the conscience of mankind, poses a serious threat to international peace and security. This situation is becoming dangerously explosive as a result of the collusion between certain developed countries of the West and the racist minority regimes in that part of the world. The continuing arms race is causing alarm and concern; it is rendering the possibility of a nuclear detente extremely precarious and is serving as a spur to limited wars. The balance of terror between the superpowers has not brought peace and security to the rest of the world. There are, however, welcome signs of a growing detente between the power blocs but the abatement of the cold war has not yet resulted in the disintegration of the military blocs formed in the context of great power conflicts. 

 

(Final Document, Para 12) The Conference declares that the following continue to be the aims of non-alignment: the pursuit of world peace and peaceful co-existence by strengthening the role of non-aligned countries within the United Nations so that it will be a more effective instrument against all forms of aggressive action and the threat or use of force against the freedom, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of any country; the fight against colonialism and racialism which are a negation of human equality and dignity; the settlement of disputes by peaceful means; the ending of the arms race followed by universal disarmament; opposition to great power military alliances and pacts; opposition to the establishment of foreign military bases and foreign troops on the soil of other nations in the context of great power conflicts and colonial and racist suppression; the universality of, and the strengthening of the efficacy of the United Nations; and the struggle for economic independence and mutual co-operation on a basis of equality and mutual benefit. What is needed is not redefinition of non-alignment but a rededication by all non-aligned nations to its central aims and objectives. 

 

Bilateral Disarmament

 

(Final Document, Para 5) The immediate danger of a conflict between the super powers has lessened because their tendency to negotiate for the improvement of their mutual relations is strengthening. However, it has not yet contributed to the security of the small, medium-sized and developing countries, or prevented the danger of local wars. 

 

(Final Document, Para 6) The practice of interfering in the internal affairs of other states, and the recourse to political and economic pressure, threats of force and subversion are acquiring alarming proportions and dangerous frequency. Wars of aggression are raging in the Middle East and in Indo-China and are being prolonged in South Vietnam and have been extended to Cambodia. The presence of foreign forces in Korea is posing a threat to national independence and to international peace and security. The continued oppression and subjugation of the African peoples in Southern Africa by the racist and colonial minority regimes, apart from being a blot on the conscience of mankind, poses a serious threat to international peace and security. This situation is becoming dangerously explosive as a result of the collusion between certain developed countries of the West and the racist minority regimes in that part of the world. The continuing arms race is causing alarm and concern; it is rendering the possibility of a nuclear detente extremely precarious and is serving as a spur to limited wars. The balance of terror between the superpowers has not brought peace and security to the rest of the world. There are, however, welcome signs of a growing detente between the power blocs but the abatement of the cold war has not yet resulted in the disintegration of the military blocs formed in the context of great power conflicts. 

 

4th. Summit, Algiers - 1973

NAM Involvement and Contributions

 

(Final Document, Para 61) It reaffirms the objective set in the Declaration of the Third Summit of non-aligned countries regarding the dismantling of all military bases and the withdrawal of foreign troops from all parts of the world. 

 

(Final Document, Para 62) It gives its support to countries struggling for the removal of military bases established on their soil under unequal treaties and maintained against the wishes of their peoples. 

 

(Final Document, Para 63) The Heads of State or Government of the non-aligned countries emphasize that the strengthening of international security forms an integral part of the programme and actions for achieving peace and progress for all peoples and all countries. This aim can be reached only by constructing an international security which would cover all parts of the world and which would be equal for all peoples and all countries. 

 

(Final Document, Para 70) The participants devoted particular attention to the strengthening of the security and to the defence of the non-aligned countries against all dangers from outside. They expressed their countries’ determination to increase their mutual solidarity and assistance in the case of threats to their independence and territorial integrity. 

 

(Final Document, Para 77) The Conference recalls the Declaration on the United Nations adopted by the Third Summit Conference of Non-Aligned Countries and reaffirms its devotion to the principles and objectives of the Charter. It considers that the United Nations could be an effective instrument for fostering international peace and security, increasing co-operation and safeguarding fundamental rights and freedoms. 

 

(Final Document, Para 78) The Conference reaffirms that the achievement of universality of membership in the United Nations is an essential ingredient for its effectiveness. In this connexion, it welcomes the restoration of the People’s Republic of China to its rightful place in the Organization, so long advocated by non-aligned countries, and the recommendation of the Security Council on the admission of both German States. 

 

(Final Document, Para 79) The Conference supports the admission into the United Nations of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh; a full and sovereign member of the family of non-aligned countries. It took note in this connexion that the conclusion of the recent agreement in New Delhi on 28 August 1973 has opened the way for the solution of the outstanding humanitarian problems for the establishment of durable peace in the South Asian continent. 

 

(Final Document, Para 80) However, current operational conditions in the Organization are not always in line with the new realities of international life and do not fully permit it to perform its mission of peace and development. 

 

(Final Document, Para 81) Disregard for United Nations decisions and the tendency of great Powers to monopolize the Organization’s activities, to render it inactive or to divert it to their own private interests, contradict the universal nature of the Organization and reduce its standing and prestige. 

 

(Final Document, Para 82) With a view to ensuring the effectiveness and authority of the United Nations, the non-aligned countries stress the need to improve the Organization. To this end, the Security Council, the organ primarily responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security, should not be prevented from exercising all the responsibilities conferred on it by the Charter. In this connexion, the Heads of State or Government invite all those upon whom the Charter has conferred a special responsibility to show wisdom and moral integrity in the exercise of their functions. 

 

(Final Document, Para 83) They consider it necessary that adequate, unequivocal decisions and resolutions, anchored in the principles of the charter, should be adopted by the United Nations bodies concerned and the respect for them assured. 

 

Disarmament and Development

 

(Final Document, Para 76) The Conference further emphasizes the enormous benefit to the well-being of all peoples and to the social and economic development of developing countries which could ensue from the peaceful use of nuclear technology and the releasing of resources resulting from disarmament. 

 

Nuclear-Weapon States Obligations

 

(Final Document, Para 60) The non-aligned countries stress the need for the détente initiated between great powers, already hailed by the Conference of Non-Aligned Countries, to lead to the effective breaking up of the military alliances stemming from the cold war. 

 

(Final Document, Para 81) Disregard for United Nations decisions and the tendency of great Powers to monopolize the Organization’s activities, to render it inactive or to divert it to their own private interests, contradict the universal nature of the Organization and reduce its standing and prestige. 

 

(Final Document, Para 82) With a view to ensuring the effectiveness and authority of the United Nations, the non-aligned countries stress the need to improve the Organization. To this end, the Security Council, the organ primarily responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security, should not be prevented from exercising all the responsibilities conferred on it by the Charter. In this connexion, the Heads of State or Government invite all those upon whom the Charter has conferred a special responsibility to show wisdom and moral integrity in the exercise of their functions. 

 

Bilateral Disarmament

 

(Final Document, Para 60) The non-aligned countries stress the need for the détente initiated between great powers, already hailed by the Conference of Non-Aligned Countries, to lead to the effective breaking up of the military alliances stemming from the cold war. 

 

5th. Summit, Colombo - 1976

Disarmament and Development

 

(Final Document, Para 136) The Conference declared that the arms race is inconsistent with efforts aimed at achieving the New International Economic Order in view of the urgent need to divert the resources utilized for the acceleration of the arms race towards socio-economic development, particularly of the developing countries. 

 

Arms Races

 

(Final Document, Para 136) The Conference declared that the arms race is inconsistent with efforts aimed at achieving the New International Economic Order in view of the urgent need to divert the resources utilized for the acceleration of the arms race towards socio-economic development, particularly of the developing countries. 

 

NAM Involvement and Contributions

 

(Final Document, Para 139) The Conference also recommended in the meantime, that Members of the Non-Aligned movement request holding of a Special Session of the General Assembly as early as possible and no later than 1978. The Agenda of the Special Session should include:- a. a review of the problem of disarmament, b. the promotion and elaboration of a programme, of priorities and recommendations in the field of disarmament, c. the question of convening a World Disarmament Conference. 

 

(Final Document, Para 140) The Conference emphasized the necessity to strengthen international peace and security and ratified their firm decision to reinforce solidarity and mutual assistance among the Non-Aligned Countries in order to confront more effectively threats, pressures, aggressions and other political or economic actions directed against them by imperialism. 

 

(Final Document, Para 141) In this sense, the Conference recalled that Resolution No. 3 concerning economic security and collective action adopted at the 4th Summit Conference in Algiers remains fully in force; as do the measures indicated in the strategy of the Lima Programme, whose aim is to guarantee full exercise of their sovereignty and independent development processes particularly in the case of aggressions, pressures or coercion. 

 

6th. Summit, Havana - 1979

Nuclear-Weapon States Obligations

 

(Final Document, Para 218) In this context, the Conference called for the urgent implementation, within a specific time frame, of the Programme of Action, particularly of the nuclear disarmament measures, contained in the Final Document of the special session. The Conference called for the immediate cessation of the qualitative improvement of nuclear weapons and their means of delivery, a halt in the production of fissionable material for weapons purposes and of all nuclear weapons, and the reduction of nuclear weapons stockpiles leading to their elimination. Pending the elimination of nuclear weapons, the nuclear-weapon States are called upon to renounce the threat or use of nuclear weapons and to cease the testing of nuclear weapons. 

 

(Final Document, Para 219) The Conference noted with concern the continuation of the arms race, mainly by the nuclear-weapon States, in particular the nuclear arms race and the development, manufacture and increased stockpiling of weapons of mass destruction. The Conference recognized, as was noted at the First Summit Conference in Belgrade, the special role and responsibility of the great Powers in halting and reversing the arms race and expressed its confidence that peace and security on a lasting basis could only be ensured by halting this process and through immediate and resolute implementation of disarmament measures with a view to achieving general and complete disarmament. The Conference declared that the most effective assurance of security against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is nuclear disarmament and prohibition of the use of nuclear weapons. The nuclear-weapon States must refrain from any activity in the nuclear field which would jeopardize the security and well-being of the peoples of non-nuclear-weapon States. The Conference noted with satisfaction that proposals on this subject have been submitted in the Committee on Disarmament and that there is no objection in principle in the Committee to an international convention to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons. The Conference welcomed the establishment of a Working Group to negotiate such a convention. The Conference recommended that negotiations should be continued at the next session of the Committee on Disarmament to elaborate a convention on this subject. 

 

(Final Document, Para 222) The Conference welcomed the signing of the agreement between the Soviet Union and the United States of America on the limitation of strategic nuclear weapons. The Conference noted with regret, however, that the agreement fell short of the expectations of the international community. It expressed the hope that the Soviet Union and the United States of America would urgently conclude a new agreement which would lead to genuine disarmament measures, particularly in the field of nuclear disarmament. 

 

(Final Document, Para 224) The Conference called upon all States, particularly the big military Powers, participants in the United Nations conference on the prohibition or restriction of the use of certain conventional weapons which may be deemed excessively injurious or to have indiscriminate effects, to be held in Geneva this year, to conclude agreements on the prohibition or restriction of the use of certain conventional weapons as well as an agreement on the appropriate mechanism for periodical revision of such agreements and consideration of new agreements of this type. 

 

(Final Document, Para 225) The Conference noted that the arms race is incompatible with and contrary to the efforts directed to the establishment of the New International Economic Order. It underscored again that increasing aerial and human potentials were being wasted through investment in armaments, which considerably diminishes the availability of resources indispensable for development. The Conference again urged the immediate reduction of expenditures for armaments, especially by the nuclear-weapon States and their allies, and called for concrete measures of disarmament the implementation of which would progressively enable a significant portion of the resources so diverted to be used for social and economic needs, particularly those of developing countries. 

 

NAM Involvement and Contributions

 

(Final Document, Para 217) The Conference reaffirmed the adherence of non-aligned countries to the objective of general and complete disarmament, in particular nuclear disarmament, under effective international control and their determination to act within the United Nations and other bodies to achieve this objective. It drew attention once again to the fact that the Final Document of the tenth special session of the United Nations General Assembly on disarmament, convened at the initiative of the non-aligned countries, represented a solid basis for setting in motion the process of real disarmament, relieving mankind from the horrors of war and eliminating the increasing threats to human survival. 

 

(Final Document, Para 218) In this context, the Conference called for the urgent implementation, within a specific time frame, of the Programme of Action, particularly of the nuclear disarmament measures, contained in the Final Document of the special session. The Conference called for the immediate cessation of the qualitative improvement of nuclear weapons and their means of delivery, a halt in the production of fissionable material for weapons purposes and of all nuclear weapons, and the reduction of nuclear weapons stockpiles leading to their elimination. Pending the elimination of nuclear weapons, the nuclear-weapon States are called upon to renounce the threat or use of nuclear weapons and to cease the testing of nuclear weapons. 

 

(Final Document, Para 220) The Conference reaffirmed the central role and the increased importance of the United Nations in the realization of the objectives of general and complete disarmament. The Conference noted with satisfaction that non-aligned countries have played an increasingly active role in the machinery created at the tenth special session of the United Nations General Assembly devoted to disarmament. In this connexion, the Conference attributed a particular importance to the work of the United Nations Disarmament Commission for the preparation of a comprehensive programme on disarmament. It also attached great important to and underlined the responsibility of the Committee on Disarmament, which has been reconstituted at the initiative of non-aligned countries on a more democratic basis, to facilitate the successful conclusion of the negotiations on disarmament. While reviewing the work of the Committee on Disarmament, the Conference expressed its regret over the fact that the trilateral negotiations between the Soviet Union, the United States of America and the United Kingdom have not so far led to a treaty on the comprehensive ban of nuclear weapons testing. The Conference called for the urgent conclusion of such a treaty, along with a treaty on the prohibition of the development, production and stockpiling of all chemical weapons and their destruction, and of other weapons of mass destruction. The Conference called upon all non-aligned countries to take an active part and contribute to the work of the United Nations Disarmament Commission and the Committee on Disarmament and to co-ordinate their efforts in these bodies. 

 

(Final Document, Para 221) The Conference affirmed that the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among the States of the region concerned constitutes an important disarmament measure. The progress of establishing such zones in different parts of the world should be encouraged with the ultimate objective of achieving a world entirely free of nuclear weapons. In the process of establishing such zones, the characteristics of each region should be taken into account. The States participating in such zones should undertake to comply fully with all the objectives, purposes and principles of the agreements or arrangements establishing the zones, thus ensuring that they are genuinely free from nuclear weapons. With respect to such zones, the nuclear-weapon States in turn are called upon to give undertakings: (a) To respect strictly the status of the nuclear-weapon-free zone and (b) To refrain from the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons against the States of the zone. The Heads of State or Government expressed grave concern that certain nuclear-weapon States have deployed or intend to deploy nuclear weapons in various regions of the world. 

 

(Final Document, Para 223) The Conference welcomed the decision to hold a second special session of the United Nations General Assembly devoted to disarmament in 1982 and called upon the non-aligned countries to take an active part in the preparation of that session in order to ensure the best results. It supported the proposal to call for a world disarmament conference at the appropriate time with universal participation and adequate preparation. 

 

(Final Document, Para 226) The Conference also examined and welcomed the proposal, submitted to the United Nations General Assembly at its thirty-third session, that the 1980s be proclaimed the Second Disarmament Decade. It appealed to the members of the Non-Aligned Movement to support this initiative and to spare no efforts in order to ensure the maximum possible success in the implementation of the programme within the framework of the Second Disarmament Decade. 

 

Disarmament and Development

 

(Final Document, Para 225) The Conference noted that the arms race is incompatible with and contrary to the efforts directed to the establishment of the New International Economic Order. It underscored again that increasing aerial and human potentials were being wasted through investment in armaments, which considerably diminishes the availability of resources indispensable for development. The Conference again urged the immediate reduction of expenditures for armaments, especially by the nuclear-weapon States and their allies, and called for concrete measures of disarmament the implementation of which would progressively enable a significant portion of the resources so diverted to be used for social and economic needs, particularly those of developing countries. 

 

Arms Races

 

(Final Document, Para 219) The Conference noted with concern the continuation of the arms race, mainly by the nuclear-weapon States, in particular the nuclear arms race and the development, manufacture and increased stockpiling of weapons of mass destruction. The Conference recognized, as was noted at the First Summit Conference in Belgrade, the special role and responsibility of the great Powers in halting and reversing the arms race and expressed its confidence that peace and security on a lasting basis could only be ensured by halting this process and through immediate and resolute implementation of disarmament measures with a view to achieving general and complete disarmament. The Conference declared that the most effective assurance of security against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is nuclear disarmament and prohibition of the use of nuclear weapons. The nuclear-weapon States must refrain from any activity in the nuclear field which would jeopardize the security and well-being of the peoples of non-nuclear-weapon States. The Conference noted with satisfaction that proposals on this subject have been submitted in the Committee on Disarmament and that there is no objection in principle in the Committee to an international convention to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons. The Conference welcomed the establishment of a Working Group to negotiate such a convention. The Conference recommended that negotiations should be continued at the next session of the Committee on Disarmament to elaborate a convention on this subject. 

 

(Final Document, Para 225) The Conference noted that the arms race is incompatible with and contrary to the efforts directed to the establishment of the New International Economic Order. It underscored again that increasing aerial and human potentials were being wasted through investment in armaments, which considerably diminishes the availability of resources indispensable for development. The Conference again urged the immediate reduction of expenditures for armaments, especially by the nuclear-weapon States and their allies, and called for concrete measures of disarmament the implementation of which would progressively enable a significant portion of the resources so diverted to be used for social and economic needs, particularly those of developing countries. 

 

Bilateral Disarmament

 

(Final Document, Para 222) The Conference welcomed the signing of the agreement between the Soviet Union and the United States of America on the limitation of strategic nuclear weapons. The Conference noted with regret, however, that the agreement fell short of the expectations of the international community. It expressed the hope that the Soviet Union and the United States of America would urgently conclude a new agreement which would lead to genuine disarmament measures, particularly in the field of nuclear disarmament. 

 

Modernization and Development of Nuclear Weapons

 

(Final Document, Para 218) In this context, the Conference called for the urgent implementation, within a specific time frame, of the Programme of Action, particularly of the nuclear disarmament measures, contained in the Final Document of the special session. The Conference called for the immediate cessation of the qualitative improvement of nuclear weapons and their means of delivery, a halt in the production of fissionable material for weapons purposes and of all nuclear weapons, and the reduction of nuclear weapons stockpiles leading to their elimination. Pending the elimination of nuclear weapons, the nuclear-weapon States are called upon to renounce the threat or use of nuclear weapons and to cease the testing of nuclear weapons. 

 

7th. Summit, New Delhi - 1983

Bilateral Disarmament

 

(Final Document, Para 37) The Heads of State or Government urged the major nuclear-weapon States to pursue their negotiations on arms limitation and disarmament with greater vigour. Bearing in mind the vital interest that all States have in disarmament, they urged these States to keep the United Nations informed of the progress achieved in the above-mentioned negotiations. 

 

Nuclear-Weapon States Obligations

 

(Final Document, Para 30) The Heads of State or Government reiterated their conviction that international peace and security can only be ensured through general and complete disarmament, in particular nuclear disarmament, under effective international control. In order to prevent effectively the horizontal and vertical proliferation of nuclear weapons, nuclear-weapon States should adopt urgent measures for halting and reversing the nuclear arms race. Pending the achievement of nuclear disarmament, the Heads of State or Government, in the name of humanity, demanded an immediate prohibition of the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons by all nuclear-weapon States. They further called for a freeze on the development, production, stockpiling and deployment of nuclear weapons and the speedy finalization of a comprehensive treaty banning the testing of nuclear weapons. They also reiterated that the nuclear-weapon States have an obligation to guarantee that non-nuclear-weapon States will not be threatened or attacked with nuclear weapons. The Heads of State or Government recommended that negotiations should proceed without delay for the conclusion of an agreed international instrument on effective international arrangements to insure all non-nuclear-weapon States, without any discrimination, against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons. 

 

(Final Document, Para 32) The Heads of State or Government expressed grave concern that certain nuclear-weapon States have deployed or intend to deploy nuclear weapons in various regions of the world. 

 

(Final Document, Para 34) The Heads of State or Government expressed their deep disappointment at the failure of the second special session of the United Nations General Assembly devoted to disarmament to achieve meaningful results. Efforts to adopt a comprehensive programme on disarmament and other measures for disarmament, particularly nuclear disarmament, failed due to the inflexible positions adopted by some of the major powers. The Heads of State or Government reaffirmed that the principles and priorities contained in the Final Document of the first special session of the United Nations General Assembly devoted to disarmament retained all their validity and that the objectives and measures containedtherein still represent a goal to be achieved, for which the non-aligned countries would continue to work untiringly. In this context, they welcomed and fully supported the World Disarmament Campaign launched during the second special session of the United Nations General Assembly devoted to disarmament. They also called for the early elaboration of the comprehensive programme of disarmament so as to ensure its adoption at the thirty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly. 

 

(Final Document, Para 37) The Heads of State or Government urged the major nuclear-weapon States to pursue their negotiations on arms limitation and disarmament with greater vigour. Bearing in mind the vital interest that all States have in disarmament, they urged these States to keep the United Nations informed of the progress achieved in the above-mentioned negotiations. 

 

Arms Races

 

(Final Document, Para 28) The Heads of State or Government consider that the greatest peril facing the world today is the threat to the survival of mankind from a nuclear war. Disarmament, in particular nuclear disarmament, is no longer a moral issue; it is an issue of human survival. Yet the renewed escalation in the nuclear arms race, both in its quantitative and qualitative dimension, as well as reliance on doctrines of nuclear deterrence, has heightened the risk of the outbreak of nuclear war and led to greater insecurity and instability in international relations. Nuclear weapons are more than weapons of war. They are instruments of mass annihilation. The Heads of State or Government therefore find it unacceptable that the security of all States and the very survival of mankind should be held hostage to the security interests of a handful of nuclear-weapon States. Measures for the prevention of nuclear war and of nuclear disarmament must take into account the security interests of nuclear-weapon and non-nuclear-weapon States alike and ensure that the survival of mankind is not endangered. They rejected all theories and concepts pertaining to the possession of nuclear weapons and their use under any circumstances. 

 

(Final Document, Para 29) The qualitative development of conventional weapons adds a new dimension to the arms race, especially among States possessing the largest military arsenals. New generations of nuclear weapons and chemical weapons with increased lethality and greater accuracy are being deployed and there is increasing danger of the extension of the arms race into outer space. All these developments have greatly aggravated the dangers to the survival of human civilization. 

 

(Final Document, Para 30) The Heads of State or Government reiterated their conviction that international peace and security can only be ensured through general and complete disarmament, in particular nuclear disarmament, under effective international control. In order to prevent effectively the horizontal and vertical proliferation of nuclear weapons, nuclear-weapon States should adopt urgent measures for halting and reversing the nuclear arms race. Pending the achievement of nuclear disarmament, the Heads of State or Government, in the name of humanity, demanded an immediate prohibition of the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons by all nuclear-weapon States. They further called for a freeze on the development, production, stockpiling and deployment of nuclear weapons and the speedy finalization of a comprehensive treaty banning the testing of nuclear weapons. They also reiterated that the nuclear-weapon States have an obligation to guarantee that non-nuclear-weapon States will not be threatened or attacked with nuclear weapons. The Heads of State or Government recommended that negotiations should proceed without delay for the conclusion of an agreed international instrument on effective international arrangements to insure all non-nuclear-weapon States, without any discrimination, against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons. 

 

Disarmament and Nonproliferation

 

(Final Document, Para 30) The Heads of State or Government reiterated their conviction that international peace and security can only be ensured through general and complete disarmament, in particular nuclear disarmament, under effective international control. In order to prevent effectively the horizontal and vertical proliferation of nuclear weapons, nuclear-weapon States should adopt urgent measures for halting and reversing the nuclear arms race. Pending the achievement of nuclear disarmament, the Heads of State or Government, in the name of humanity, demanded an immediate prohibition of the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons by all nuclear-weapon States. They further called for a freeze on the development, production, stockpiling and deployment of nuclear weapons and the speedy finalization of a comprehensive treaty banning the testing of nuclear weapons. They also reiterated that the nuclear-weapon States have an obligation to guarantee that non-nuclear-weapon States will not be threatened or attacked with nuclear weapons. The Heads of State or Government recommended that negotiations should proceed without delay for the conclusion of an agreed international instrument on effective international arrangements to insure all non-nuclear-weapon States, without any discrimination, against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons. 

 

Modernization and Development of Nuclear Weapons

 

(Final Document, Para 28) The Heads of State or Government consider that the greatest peril facing the world today is the threat to the survival of mankind from a nuclear war. Disarmament, in particular nuclear disarmament, is no longer a moral issue; it is an issue of human survival. Yet the renewed escalation in the nuclear arms race, both in its quantitative and qualitative dimension, as well as reliance on doctrines of nuclear deterrence, has heightened the risk of the outbreak of nuclear war and led to greater insecurity and instability in international relations. Nuclear weapons are more than weapons of war. They are instruments of mass annihilation. The Heads of State or Government therefore find it unacceptable that the security of all States and the very survival of mankind should be held hostage to the security interests of a handful of nuclear-weapon States. Measures for the prevention of nuclear war and of nuclear disarmament must take into account the security interests of nuclear-weapon and non-nuclear-weapon States alike and ensure that the survival of mankind is not endangered. They rejected all theories and concepts pertaining to the possession of nuclear weapons and their use under any circumstances. 

 

(Final Document, Para 30) The Heads of State or Government reiterated their conviction that international peace and security can only be ensured through general and complete disarmament, in particular nuclear disarmament, under effective international control. In order to prevent effectively the horizontal and vertical proliferation of nuclear weapons, nuclear-weapon States should adopt urgent measures for halting and reversing the nuclear arms race. Pending the achievement of nuclear disarmament, the Heads of State or Government, in the name of humanity, demanded an immediate prohibition of the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons by all nuclear-weapon States. They further called for a freeze on the development, production, stockpiling and deployment of nuclear weapons and the speedy finalization of a comprehensive treaty banning the testing of nuclear weapons. They also reiterated that the nuclear-weapon States have an obligation to guarantee that non-nuclear-weapon States will not be threatened or attacked with nuclear weapons. The Heads of State or Government recommended that negotiations should proceed without delay for the conclusion of an agreed international instrument on effective international arrangements to insure all non-nuclear-weapon States, without any discrimination, against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons. 

 

(Final Document, Para 32) The Heads of State or Government expressed grave concern that certain nuclear-weapon States have deployed or intend to deploy nuclear weapons in various regions of the world. 

 

NAM Involvement and Contributions

 

(Final Document, Para 34) The Heads of State or Government expressed their deep disappointment at the failure of the second special session of the United Nations General Assembly devoted to disarmament to achieve meaningful results. Efforts to adopt a comprehensive programme on disarmament and other measures for disarmament, particularly nuclear disarmament, failed due to the inflexible positions adopted by some of the major powers. The Heads of State or Government reaffirmed that the principles and priorities contained in the Final Document of the first special session of the United Nations General Assembly devoted to disarmament retained all their validity and that the objectives and measures containedtherein still represent a goal to be achieved, for which the non-aligned countries would continue to work untiringly. In this context, they welcomed and fully supported the World Disarmament Campaign launched during the second special session of the United Nations General Assembly devoted to disarmament. They also called for the early elaboration of the comprehensive programme of disarmament so as to ensure its adoption at the thirty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly. 

 

(Final Document, Para 35) In order to avoid a further deterioration of the situation, the Heads of State or Government called for urgent consideration by the world community of the proposals advanced by the non-aligned countries. 

 

(Final Document, Para 38) Reviewing the international situation, the Heads of State or Government expressed grave concern over the continuing existence and further aggravation of focal points of aggression and hotbeds of tension in different regions of the world. 

 

8th. Summit, Harare - 1986

Disarmament and Development

 

(Final Document, Para 30) The Heads of State or Government reaffirmed that disarmament, the relaxation of international tension, respect for the right to self-determination and national independence, the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the strengthening of international peace and security are closely related to each other. They stressed that progress in any of these spheres has a beneficial effect on all of them; in turn, failure in one sphere has a negative effect on others. 

 

(Final Document, Para 31) Historically, States have considered that they could achieve security through possession of arms. The advent of nuclear weapons, has, however, radically changed this situation. Nuclear weapons are more than weapons of war; they are instruments of mass annihilation. The accumulation of weapons, in particular nuclear weapons, constitutes a threat to the continued survival of mankind. It has therefore become imperative that States abandon the dangerous goal of unilateral security through armament and embrace the objective of common security through disarmament. 

 

(Final Document, Para 48) The Movement noted with satisfaction the initiative taken by the Heads of State or Government of Argentina, Greece, India, Mexico, Sweden and the United Republic of Tanzania in their joint declarations of 22 May 1984, 28 January 1985 and 7 August 1986, in which they called upon the nuclear-weapon States to halt all testing, production and deployment of nuclear weapons and their delivery systems, to be followed by substantial reductions in their nuclear forces. The six leaders had further urged that this reduction be followed by a continuing programme of reduction of armaments leading to general and complete disarmament and should be accompanied by measures to strengthen the United Nations system and to effect the urgently needed transfer of substantial resources from the arms race to social and economic development. The Delhi Declaration of 28 January 1985 had specified two steps which required special and urgent attention: the prevention of an arms race in outer space and the early conclusion of a comprehensive test-ban treaty. The Mexico Declaration of 7 August 1986 reiterated the need to adopt these measures. In addition, it urged the leaders of the United States of America and the Soviet Union to continue and re-invigorate the dialogue which they started last year, to set a firm date for a new meeting between them, and by an approach of mutual compromise and conciliation to ensure that such dialogue leads to practical results in the field of disarmament. The Heads of State or Government emphasized that these actions were in conformity with the basic approach of the non-aligned countries and showed the relevance of the principles of non-alignment and the positions of non-aligned countries for the international community at large. 

 

(Final Document, Para 54) In accordance with the criteria cited above, where the regional situation so permits at the initiative of any or all of the States so concerned and with their concurrence, States should consider and adopt measures at the regional level with a view to strengthening peace and security at a lower level of forces through the limitation and reduction of armed forces and conventional weapons. In this regard, the Heads of State or Government noted with satisfaction the unilateral, as well as recent regional and subregional, initiatives taken by some non-aligned countries to limit the acquisition of conventional arms and reduce military expenditures with a view to allocating the resources so released for the socio-economic development of their peoples. 

 

(Final Document, Para 60) The Heads of State or Government regretted that it had not been possible to convene an International Conference on the Relationship between Disarmament and Development in Paris in July 1986. They emphasized the importance of the Conference as marking the beginning of an intensive consideration of these problems by the entire international community and expressed the hope that the forty-first session of the United Nations General Assembly would take a decision on the dates and venue of the Conference in accordance with the decision of the resumed fortieth session of the General Assembly to convene it in 1987. They considered the Conference an urgent necessity for the appropriate and timely examination of the adverse consequences of steadily increasing arms expenditure on the global economy. They urged all States to participate in it at a high level and contribute to its success. It was essential that a remedy be found for the existing situation, in which hundreds of billions of dollars are spent annually on weapons while two-thirds of the world’s population lives in poverty and in some cases, misery. They attached particular importance to the Conference coming out with specific recommendations on the ways and means of releasing additional resources through disarmament measures for development purposes, in particular for the benefit of the developing countries. Expressing the conviction that the economic and social consequences of the arms race militate against the creation of the new international economic order, the Heads of State or Government declared that lasting peace could only be assured through a restructuring of the world economy with the objective of establishing the New Order and bridging the economic gap between developing and developed countries. The Heads of State or Government called for a demonstration of greater political will by the developed countries for the attainment of this end. 

 

Nuclear-Weapon States Obligations

 

(Final Document, Para 35) The Heads of State or Government were greatly perturbed by the announcement by the Government of the United States of America that it no longer considers itself bound by the provisions of the Second Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT II) of 1979. They urged the Government of the United States of America to reconsider its position. 

 

(Final Document, Para 37) They recalled the obligation of all States to refrain from the threat or use of force in their other space activities. They reiterated their view that the universally accepted objective of general and complete disarmament under effective international control demands that outer space should not be transformed into an area for pursuing the arms race. They therefore called on the Conference on Disarmament to commence negotiations urgently to conclude an agreement or agreements, as appropriate, to prevent the extension of the arms race in all its aspects into outer space and thus enhance the prospects of co-operation in the peaceful uses of outer space. In particular, they stressed the urgency of halting the development of anti-satellite weapons, the dismantling of the existing systems, the prohibition of the introduction of new weapon systems into outer space and of ensuring that the existing treaties safeguarding the peaceful uses of other space, as well as the 1972 Treaty on the Limitation of Antiballistic Missile Systems are fully honoured, strengthened and extended as necessary in light of recent technological advances. The Heads of State or Government invited the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Conference on Disarmament to explore the ways and means of bringing satellites for military purposes under international control, particularly when it puts at stake the security of non-aligned countries. 

 

(Final Document, Para 38) The Heads of State or Government called upon all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, to adhere strictly to the existing legal restrictions and limitations on space weapons, including those contained in the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (General Assembly resolution 2222 (XXI), annex) and the 1972 Soviet Union-United States Treaty on Antiballistic Missiles, and to refrain from taking any measures aimed at developing, testing or deploying weapons and weapons systems in outer space. Simultaneously, negotiations should be undertaken urgently with a view to concluding an agreement or agreements preventing the extension of the arms race into this area. Measures aimed at developing, testing or deploying weapons and weapons systems in outer space could, through a constant chain of action and reaction, lead to an escalation of the arms race in both “offensive” and “defensive” weapons, thus making the outbreak of nuclear conflict more likely. Such a situation would not only result in a quantum leap in the level of resources expended on armaments, but would also frustrate the efforts currently under way to achieve disarmament. 

 

(Final Document, Para 39) The Heads of State or Government noted that in their join statement issued in Geneva in November 1985, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the President of the United States of America agreed to speed up bilateral United States-Soviet negotiations on arms limitations with the declared objective of working out “effective agreements aimed at preventing an arms race in space and terminating it on Earth with the ultimate goal of achieving the complete elimination of nuclear arsenals everywhere”. In this regard, the Heads of State or Government called upon the leaders of the two countries to pursue without delay and in a spirit of goodwill the objectives they set themselves at Geneva, and urged that an early agreement be reached in these negotiations to refrain from extending the arms race to outer space and simultaneously to effect drastic reductions in their existing nuclear arsenals. 

 

(Final Document, Para 40) Noting in particular the statement that “a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought”, and its corollary, that neither side would ever wage such a war, the Heads of State or Government hoped that, as a demonstration of the sincerity of their declaration, the United States and the Soviet Union, together with the other nuclear-weapon States, would agree to sign a binding instrument foreswearing the use of nuclear weapons. 

 

(Final Document, Para 41) The Heads of State or Government urged the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, in their negotiations, constantly to take into account not only their own national interests but also the vital interests of all peoples of the world. They should keep the United Nations General Assembly and the Conference on Disarmament, as the sole multilateral negotiating forum on disarmament issues, duly informed of the progress and state of their negotiations. 

 

(Final Document, Para 48) The Movement noted with satisfaction the initiative taken by the Heads of State or Government of Argentina, Greece, India, Mexico, Sweden and the United Republic of Tanzania in their joint declarations of 22 May 1984, 28 January 1985 and 7 August 1986, in which they called upon the nuclear-weapon States to halt all testing, production and deployment of nuclear weapons and their delivery systems, to be followed by substantial reductions in their nuclear forces. The six leaders had further urged that this reduction be followed by a continuing programme of reduction of armaments leading to general and complete disarmament and should be accompanied by measures to strengthen the United Nations system and to effect the urgently needed transfer of substantial resources from the arms race to social and economic development. The Delhi Declaration of 28 January 1985 had specified two steps which required special and urgent attention: the prevention of an arms race in outer space and the early conclusion of a comprehensive test-ban treaty. The Mexico Declaration of 7 August 1986 reiterated the need to adopt these measures. In addition, it urged the leaders of the United States of America and the Soviet Union to continue and re-invigorate the dialogue which they started last year, to set a firm date for a new meeting between them, and by an approach of mutual compromise and conciliation to ensure that such dialogue leads to practical results in the field of disarmament. The Heads of State or Government emphasized that these actions were in conformity with the basic approach of the non-aligned countries and showed the relevance of the principles of non-alignment and the positions of non-aligned countries for the international community at large. 

 

(Final Document, Para 53) The Heads of State or Government noted with deep concern that the qualitative development of conventional weapons adds a new dimension to the arms race, especially among States possessing the largest conventional arsenals. They urged these States to restrain such development. They emphasized that, together with negotiations on nuclear disarmament, measures for the limitation and gradual reduction of armed forces and conventional weapons should be pursued resolutely within the framework of progress towards general and complete disarmament. States with the largest military arsenals have a special responsibility in this regard. The adoption of such disarmament measures should take place in an equitable and balanced manner in order to ensure the right of each State to security, and that no individual State or group of States may obtain advantages over others at any stage. At each stage, the objective should be undiminished security at the lowest level of armaments and armed forces. The Heads of State or Government emphasized that the adoption of disarmament measures should be based on full respect for the principles of non-intervention, non-interference in the internal affairs of other States and the peaceful solution of disputed in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations. 

 

(Final Document, Para 55) The Heads of State or Government called upon other States, in particular the major arms suppliers, to facilitate progress towards regional disarmament by refraining from any action, including the threat or use of force, that could impede the achievement of the objectives of such initiatives and by taking measures of positive co-operation for the attainment of this goal. 

 

(Final Document, Para 56) The Heads of State or Government expressed their conviction that the limitation and reduction of the military activities and rivalry of great Powers and blocs beyond their boundaries would significantly contribute to the strengthening of the security of non-aligned and other countries. They therefore called for the military withdrawal and disengagement of the great Powers and their military alliances from positions beyond their frontiers and the elimination of their military bases and facilities from the territories of the non-aligned countries. 

 

(Final Document, Para 60) The Heads of State or Government regretted that it had not been possible to convene an International Conference on the Relationship between Disarmament and Development in Paris in July 1986. They emphasized the importance of the Conference as marking the beginning of an intensive consideration of these problems by the entire international community and expressed the hope that the forty-first session of the United Nations General Assembly would take a decision on the dates and venue of the Conference in accordance with the decision of the resumed fortieth session of the General Assembly to convene it in 1987. They considered the Conference an urgent necessity for the appropriate and timely examination of the adverse consequences of steadily increasing arms expenditure on the global economy. They urged all States to participate in it at a high level and contribute to its success. It was essential that a remedy be found for the existing situation, in which hundreds of billions of dollars are spent annually on weapons while two-thirds of the world’s population lives in poverty and in some cases, misery. They attached particular importance to the Conference coming out with specific recommendations on the ways and means of releasing additional resources through disarmament measures for development purposes, in particular for the benefit of the developing countries. Expressing the conviction that the economic and social consequences of the arms race militate against the creation of the new international economic order, the Heads of State or Government declared that lasting peace could only be assured through a restructuring of the world economy with the objective of establishing the New Order and bridging the economic gap between developing and developed countries. The Heads of State or Government called for a demonstration of greater political will by the developed countries for the attainment of this end. 

 

Arms Races

 

(Final Document, Para 32) The Heads of State or Government therefore noted with grave concern the continuing escalation in the arms race, especially in nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, despite the fact that this increases the risk of nuclear war and endangers the survival of humanity. They reiterated their view that the greatest peril facing the world is the threat to survival of humanity posed by the existence of nuclear weapons. Since annihilation need to happen only once, removing the threat of nuclear catastrophe is not one issue among many, but the most acute and urgent task of the present day. The Heads of State or Government therefore emphasized the extreme urgency of adopting immediate measures for the prevention of nuclear war and for nuclear disarmament. 

 

(Final Document, Para 34) The Heads of State or Government expressed deep concern at the rapid acceleration of the arms race, in particular with regard to nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. They were especially concerned that newly-emerging technologies were producing a new generation of weapons of mass destruction, both nuclear and non-nuclear whose effects were so similar as to obscure the distinction between nuclear and conventional weapons and thus legitimize the possession of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction. In the same vein, new technologies are being applied in preparation for the development of new weapons and weapons systems in outer space, adding a new dimension of grave import to the arms race. 

 

(Final Document, Para 36) The Heads of State or Government expressed deep concern at the preparations under way for the extension of the arms race in all its aspects into outer space. They strongly reaffirmed the principle that outer space, which is the common heritage of mankind, should be used exclusively for peaceful purposes and for the benefit and in the interest of all countries, regardless of their level of economic or scientific development, and that it should be open to all States. 

 

(Final Document, Para 37) They recalled the obligation of all States to refrain from the threat or use of force in their other space activities. They reiterated their view that the universally accepted objective of general and complete disarmament under effective international control demands that outer space should not be transformed into an area for pursuing the arms race. They therefore called on the Conference on Disarmament to commence negotiations urgently to conclude an agreement or agreements, as appropriate, to prevent the extension of the arms race in all its aspects into outer space and thus enhance the prospects of co-operation in the peaceful uses of outer space. In particular, they stressed the urgency of halting the development of anti-satellite weapons, the dismantling of the existing systems, the prohibition of the introduction of new weapon systems into outer space and of ensuring that the existing treaties safeguarding the peaceful uses of other space, as well as the 1972 Treaty on the Limitation of Antiballistic Missile Systems are fully honoured, strengthened and extended as necessary in light of recent technological advances. The Heads of State or Government invited the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Conference on Disarmament to explore the ways and means of bringing satellites for military purposes under international control, particularly when it puts at stake the security of non-aligned countries. 

 

(Final Document, Para 38) The Heads of State or Government called upon all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, to adhere strictly to the existing legal restrictions and limitations on space weapons, including those contained in the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (General Assembly resolution 2222 (XXI), annex) and the 1972 Soviet Union-United States Treaty on Antiballistic Missiles, and to refrain from taking any measures aimed at developing, testing or deploying weapons and weapons systems in outer space. Simultaneously, negotiations should be undertaken urgently with a view to concluding an agreement or agreements preventing the extension of the arms race into this area. Measures aimed at developing, testing or deploying weapons and weapons systems in outer space could, through a constant chain of action and reaction, lead to an escalation of the arms race in both “offensive” and “defensive” weapons, thus making the outbreak of nuclear conflict more likely. Such a situation would not only result in a quantum leap in the level of resources expended on armaments, but would also frustrate the efforts currently under way to achieve disarmament. 

 

(Final Document, Para 39) The Heads of State or Government noted that in their join statement issued in Geneva in November 1985, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the President of the United States of America agreed to speed up bilateral United States-Soviet negotiations on arms limitations with the declared objective of working out “effective agreements aimed at preventing an arms race in space and terminating it on Earth with the ultimate goal of achieving the complete elimination of nuclear arsenals everywhere”. In this regard, the Heads of State or Government called upon the leaders of the two countries to pursue without delay and in a spirit of goodwill the objectives they set themselves at Geneva, and urged that an early agreement be reached in these negotiations to refrain from extending the arms race to outer space and simultaneously to effect drastic reductions in their existing nuclear arsenals. 

 

(Final Document, Para 44) A comprehensive test ban, which has been pursued for the past 25 years, is a matter of the highest priority for non-aligned countries. A ban on all nuclear-weapon tests would de-escalate the nuclear arms race and greatly reduce the risk of nuclear war. The continuance of nuclear-weapon testing fuels the nuclear arms race and increases the danger of nuclear war. In this regard, the Heads of State or Government emphasized the pressing need to negotiate and conclude a comprehensive multilateral nuclear test-ban treaty prohibiting all nuclear-weapon tests by all States in all environments for all time. The existing means of verification are adequate to ensure compliance with a nuclear test ban. Assertions about the absence of means of verification should not be used as an excuse for the further development and refinement of nuclear weapons. The Heads of State or Government deplored the fact that, owing to the persistent obstruction of a few States, the Conference on Disarmament had been unable to embark upon the multilateral negotiations for a Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, the cessation of the nuclear arms race, and nuclear disarmament. 

 

(Final Document, Para 47) The Heads of State or Government reiterated that the use of nuclear weapons, besides being a violation of the Charter of the United Nations, would also be a crime against humanity. In this regard, they urged nuclear-weapon States to agree, pending the achievement of nuclear disarmament, to the conclusion of an international treaty on the prohibition of the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons. They considered an important step in this direction to be the early entry of all nuclear-weapon States into an internationally-binding commitment not to be the first to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons. They called for a freeze on the development, production, stock-piling and deployment of nuclear weapons. The freeze of nuclear weapons should, inter alia, provide for the simultaneous stoppage and discontinuance of any further production of nuclear weapons and for a complete cut-off of the production of fissionable material for weapons purposes. 

 

(Final Document, Para 48) The Movement noted with satisfaction the initiative taken by the Heads of State or Government of Argentina, Greece, India, Mexico, Sweden and the United Republic of Tanzania in their joint declarations of 22 May 1984, 28 January 1985 and 7 August 1986, in which they called upon the nuclear-weapon States to halt all testing, production and deployment of nuclear weapons and their delivery systems, to be followed by substantial reductions in their nuclear forces. The six leaders had further urged that this reduction be followed by a continuing programme of reduction of armaments leading to general and complete disarmament and should be accompanied by measures to strengthen the United Nations system and to effect the urgently needed transfer of substantial resources from the arms race to social and economic development. The Delhi Declaration of 28 January 1985 had specified two steps which required special and urgent attention: the prevention of an arms race in outer space and the early conclusion of a comprehensive test-ban treaty. The Mexico Declaration of 7 August 1986 reiterated the need to adopt these measures. In addition, it urged the leaders of the United States of America and the Soviet Union to continue and re-invigorate the dialogue which they started last year, to set a firm date for a new meeting between them, and by an approach of mutual compromise and conciliation to ensure that such dialogue leads to practical results in the field of disarmament. The Heads of State or Government emphasized that these actions were in conformity with the basic approach of the non-aligned countries and showed the relevance of the principles of non-alignment and the positions of non-aligned countries for the international community at large. 

 

(Final Document, Para 53) The Heads of State or Government noted with deep concern that the qualitative development of conventional weapons adds a new dimension to the arms race, especially among States possessing the largest conventional arsenals. They urged these States to restrain such development. They emphasized that, together with negotiations on nuclear disarmament, measures for the limitation and gradual reduction of armed forces and conventional weapons should be pursued resolutely within the framework of progress towards general and complete disarmament. States with the largest military arsenals have a special responsibility in this regard. The adoption of such disarmament measures should take place in an equitable and balanced manner in order to ensure the right of each State to security, and that no individual State or group of States may obtain advantages over others at any stage. At each stage, the objective should be undiminished security at the lowest level of armaments and armed forces. The Heads of State or Government emphasized that the adoption of disarmament measures should be based on full respect for the principles of non-intervention, non-interference in the internal affairs of other States and the peaceful solution of disputed in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations. 

 

(Final Document, Para 57) The Heads of State or Government underlined the central role and primary responsibility of the United Nations in the field of disarmament. They stressed that all the peoples of the world have a vital interest in disarmament negotiations, the right to participate on an equal footing in disarmament negotiations affecting national security, and an inherent right to contribute to their success. Bilateral and multilateral negotiations on disarmament should mutually facilitate and complement, and not hinder or preclude, each other. The Conference on Disarmament should therefore be kept informed of all developments in bilateral negotiations, and it should be enabled to fulfil its mandate as the sole, multilateral negotiating body in the field of disarmament and to adopt concrete measures of disarmament, in particular measures for nuclear disarmament and for the prevention of an arms race in outer space. 

 

(Final Document, Para 58) The Heads of State or Government noted with satisfaction the present world-wide campaign against the nuclear arms race. They expressed their conviction that such movements can play an influential role in promoting nuclear disarmament and preventing nuclear catastrophe. They emphasized the extreme importance of encouraging and rendering all possible assistance to that process. In this connection, the Heads of State or Government reaffirmed the three objectives of the World Disarmament Campaign, namely, to inform, to educate and to develop public understanding of the support for United Nations objectives in the field of disarmament. They reaffirmed the need to strengthen the role of regional bodies in mobilizing support for this campaign and the realization of its objectives. In this context, the Heads of State or Government welcomed the establishment at Lome, Togo, of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa. They further welcomed the offer of the Government of Peru to establish in Lima a Regional Centre for Disarmament, Security, Peace and Development with the responsibility of disseminating in Latin America the objectives of the United Nations in the field of disarmament. 

 

(Final Document, Para 60) The Heads of State or Government regretted that it had not been possible to convene an International Conference on the Relationship between Disarmament and Development in Paris in July 1986. They emphasized the importance of the Conference as marking the beginning of an intensive consideration of these problems by the entire international community and expressed the hope that the forty-first session of the United Nations General Assembly would take a decision on the dates and venue of the Conference in accordance with the decision of the resumed fortieth session of the General Assembly to convene it in 1987. They considered the Conference an urgent necessity for the appropriate and timely examination of the adverse consequences of steadily increasing arms expenditure on the global economy. They urged all States to participate in it at a high level and contribute to its success. It was essential that a remedy be found for the existing situation, in which hundreds of billions of dollars are spent annually on weapons while two-thirds of the world’s population lives in poverty and in some cases, misery. They attached particular importance to the Conference coming out with specific recommendations on the ways and means of releasing additional resources through disarmament measures for development purposes, in particular for the benefit of the developing countries. Expressing the conviction that the economic and social consequences of the arms race militate against the creation of the new international economic order, the Heads of State or Government declared that lasting peace could only be assured through a restructuring of the world economy with the objective of establishing the New Order and bridging the economic gap between developing and developed countries. The Heads of State or Government called for a demonstration of greater political will by the developed countries for the attainment of this end. 

 

Bilateral Disarmament

 

(Final Document, Para 35) The Heads of State or Government were greatly perturbed by the announcement by the Government of the United States of America that it no longer considers itself bound by the provisions of the Second Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT II) of 1979. They urged the Government of the United States of America to reconsider its position. 

 

(Final Document, Para 37) They recalled the obligation of all States to refrain from the threat or use of force in their other space activities. They reiterated their view that the universally accepted objective of general and complete disarmament under effective international control demands that outer space should not be transformed into an area for pursuing the arms race. They therefore called on the Conference on Disarmament to commence negotiations urgently to conclude an agreement or agreements, as appropriate, to prevent the extension of the arms race in all its aspects into outer space and thus enhance the prospects of co-operation in the peaceful uses of outer space. In particular, they stressed the urgency of halting the development of anti-satellite weapons, the dismantling of the existing systems, the prohibition of the introduction of new weapon systems into outer space and of ensuring that the existing treaties safeguarding the peaceful uses of other space, as well as the 1972 Treaty on the Limitation of Antiballistic Missile Systems are fully honoured, strengthened and extended as necessary in light of recent technological advances. The Heads of State or Government invited the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Conference on Disarmament to explore the ways and means of bringing satellites for military purposes under international control, particularly when it puts at stake the security of non-aligned countries. 

 

(Final Document, Para 38) The Heads of State or Government called upon all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, to adhere strictly to the existing legal restrictions and limitations on space weapons, including those contained in the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (General Assembly resolution 2222 (XXI), annex) and the 1972 Soviet Union-United States Treaty on Antiballistic Missiles, and to refrain from taking any measures aimed at developing, testing or deploying weapons and weapons systems in outer space. Simultaneously, negotiations should be undertaken urgently with a view to concluding an agreement or agreements preventing the extension of the arms race into this area. Measures aimed at developing, testing or deploying weapons and weapons systems in outer space could, through a constant chain of action and reaction, lead to an escalation of the arms race in both “offensive” and “defensive” weapons, thus making the outbreak of nuclear conflict more likely. Such a situation would not only result in a quantum leap in the level of resources expended on armaments, but would also frustrate the efforts currently under way to achieve disarmament. 

 

(Final Document, Para 39) The Heads of State or Government noted that in their join statement issued in Geneva in November 1985, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the President of the United States of America agreed to speed up bilateral United States-Soviet negotiations on arms limitations with the declared objective of working out “effective agreements aimed at preventing an arms race in space and terminating it on Earth with the ultimate goal of achieving the complete elimination of nuclear arsenals everywhere”. In this regard, the Heads of State or Government called upon the leaders of the two countries to pursue without delay and in a spirit of goodwill the objectives they set themselves at Geneva, and urged that an early agreement be reached in these negotiations to refrain from extending the arms race to outer space and simultaneously to effect drastic reductions in their existing nuclear arsenals. 

 

(Final Document, Para 40) Noting in particular the statement that “a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought”, and its corollary, that neither side would ever wage such a war, the Heads of State or Government hoped that, as a demonstration of the sincerity of their declaration, the United States and the Soviet Union, together with the other nuclear-weapon States, would agree to sign a binding instrument foreswearing the use of nuclear weapons. 

 

(Final Document, Para 41) The Heads of State or Government urged the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, in their negotiations, constantly to take into account not only their own national interests but also the vital interests of all peoples of the world. They should keep the United Nations General Assembly and the Conference on Disarmament, as the sole multilateral negotiating forum on disarmament issues, duly informed of the progress and state of their negotiations. 

 

(Final Document, Para 45) While negotiations are under war for such a treaty, there should be a moratorium on all nuclear testing and the production and deployment of nuclear weapons. In this regard, the Heads of State or Government noted the appeal made by the leaders of Argentina, Greece, India, Mexico, Sweden and the United Republic of Tanzania to the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in October 1985 and reiterated in February, April and August 1986, to put an end to all nuclear testing, as well as their concrete offer of assistance to achieve adequate verification arrangements to monitor such a moratorium. They welcomed the unilateral moratorium on nuclear testing declared by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in August 1985 and extended by it a number of times since then, including the most recent extension until 1 January 1987. They called upon the United States of America as one of the two super Powers which, together, are responsible for the bulk of nuclear-weapon tests, to join the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in the moratorium and upon the Soviet Union to continue it. 

 

(Final Document, Para 48) The Movement noted with satisfaction the initiative taken by the Heads of State or Government of Argentina, Greece, India, Mexico, Sweden and the United Republic of Tanzania in their joint declarations of 22 May 1984, 28 January 1985 and 7 August 1986, in which they called upon the nuclear-weapon States to halt all testing, production and deployment of nuclear weapons and their delivery systems, to be followed by substantial reductions in their nuclear forces. The six leaders had further urged that this reduction be followed by a continuing programme of reduction of armaments leading to general and complete disarmament and should be accompanied by measures to strengthen the United Nations system and to effect the urgently needed transfer of substantial resources from the arms race to social and economic development. The Delhi Declaration of 28 January 1985 had specified two steps which required special and urgent attention: the prevention of an arms race in outer space and the early conclusion of a comprehensive test-ban treaty. The Mexico Declaration of 7 August 1986 reiterated the need to adopt these measures. In addition, it urged the leaders of the United States of America and the Soviet Union to continue and re-invigorate the dialogue which they started last year, to set a firm date for a new meeting between them, and by an approach of mutual compromise and conciliation to ensure that such dialogue leads to practical results in the field of disarmament. The Heads of State or Government emphasized that these actions were in conformity with the basic approach of the non-aligned countries and showed the relevance of the principles of non-alignment and the positions of non-aligned countries for the international community at large. 

 

(Final Document, Para 56) The Heads of State or Government expressed their conviction that the limitation and reduction of the military activities and rivalry of great Powers and blocs beyond their boundaries would significantly contribute to the strengthening of the security of non-aligned and other countries. They therefore called for the military withdrawal and disengagement of the great Powers and their military alliances from positions beyond their frontiers and the elimination of their military bases and facilities from the territories of the non-aligned countries. 

 

Modernization and Development of Nuclear Weapons

 

(Final Document, Para 33) For approximately 40 years, the survival of mankind has been held hostage to the perceived security interests of a few nuclear-weapon States, in particular thesuper Powers and their allies. To rely on nuclear leverage is to accept a perpetual community of fear that contradicts the Charter of the United Nations, and the approach and principles of the Final document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly (resolution S-10/2), the first special session devoted to disarmament and those contained in the declarations of the conference of Heads of State or Government of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries. The idea that world peace can be maintained through nuclear deterrence, a doctrine that lies at the root of the continuing escalation in the quantity and quality of nuclear weapons and which has, in fact, led to greater insecurity and instability in international relations than ever before, is the most dangerous myth in existence. 

 

(Final Document, Para 34) The Heads of State or Government expressed deep concern at the rapid acceleration of the arms race, in particular with regard to nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. They were especially concerned that newly-emerging technologies were producing a new generation of weapons of mass destruction, both nuclear and non-nuclear whose effects were so similar as to obscure the distinction between nuclear and conventional weapons and thus legitimize the possession of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction. In the same vein, new technologies are being applied in preparation for the development of new weapons and weapons systems in outer space, adding a new dimension of grave import to the arms race. 

 

(Final Document, Para 38) The Heads of State or Government called upon all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, to adhere strictly to the existing legal restrictions and limitations on space weapons, including those contained in the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (General Assembly resolution 2222 (XXI), annex) and the 1972 Soviet Union-United States Treaty on Antiballistic Missiles, and to refrain from taking any measures aimed at developing, testing or deploying weapons and weapons systems in outer space. Simultaneously, negotiations should be undertaken urgently with a view to concluding an agreement or agreements preventing the extension of the arms race into this area. Measures aimed at developing, testing or deploying weapons and weapons systems in outer space could, through a constant chain of action and reaction, lead to an escalation of the arms race in both “offensive” and “defensive” weapons, thus making the outbreak of nuclear conflict more likely. Such a situation would not only result in a quantum leap in the level of resources expended on armaments, but would also frustrate the efforts currently under way to achieve disarmament. 

 

(Final Document, Para 44) A comprehensive test ban, which has been pursued for the past 25 years, is a matter of the highest priority for non-aligned countries. A ban on all nuclear-weapon tests would de-escalate the nuclear arms race and greatly reduce the risk of nuclear war. The continuance of nuclear-weapon testing fuels the nuclear arms race and increases the danger of nuclear war. In this regard, the Heads of State or Government emphasized the pressing need to negotiate and conclude a comprehensive multilateral nuclear test-ban treaty prohibiting all nuclear-weapon tests by all States in all environments for all time. The existing means of verification are adequate to ensure compliance with a nuclear test ban. Assertions about the absence of means of verification should not be used as an excuse for the further development and refinement of nuclear weapons. The Heads of State or Government deplored the fact that, owing to the persistent obstruction of a few States, the Conference on Disarmament had been unable to embark upon the multilateral negotiations for a Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, the cessation of the nuclear arms race, and nuclear disarmament. 

 

(Final Document, Para 47) The Heads of State or Government reiterated that the use of nuclear weapons, besides being a violation of the Charter of the United Nations, would also be a crime against humanity. In this regard, they urged nuclear-weapon States to agree, pending the achievement of nuclear disarmament, to the conclusion of an international treaty on the prohibition of the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons. They considered an important step in this direction to be the early entry of all nuclear-weapon States into an internationally-binding commitment not to be the first to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons. They called for a freeze on the development, production, stock-piling and deployment of nuclear weapons. The freeze of nuclear weapons should, inter alia, provide for the simultaneous stoppage and discontinuance of any further production of nuclear weapons and for a complete cut-off of the production of fissionable material for weapons purposes. 

 

(Final Document, Para 48) The Movement noted with satisfaction the initiative taken by the Heads of State or Government of Argentina, Greece, India, Mexico, Sweden and the United Republic of Tanzania in their joint declarations of 22 May 1984, 28 January 1985 and 7 August 1986, in which they called upon the nuclear-weapon States to halt all testing, production and deployment of nuclear weapons and their delivery systems, to be followed by substantial reductions in their nuclear forces. The six leaders had further urged that this reduction be followed by a continuing programme of reduction of armaments leading to general and complete disarmament and should be accompanied by measures to strengthen the United Nations system and to effect the urgently needed transfer of substantial resources from the arms race to social and economic development. The Delhi Declaration of 28 January 1985 had specified two steps which required special and urgent attention: the prevention of an arms race in outer space and the early conclusion of a comprehensive test-ban treaty. The Mexico Declaration of 7 August 1986 reiterated the need to adopt these measures. In addition, it urged the leaders of the United States of America and the Soviet Union to continue and re-invigorate the dialogue which they started last year, to set a firm date for a new meeting between them, and by an approach of mutual compromise and conciliation to ensure that such dialogue leads to practical results in the field of disarmament. The Heads of State or Government emphasized that these actions were in conformity with the basic approach of the non-aligned countries and showed the relevance of the principles of non-alignment and the positions of non-aligned countries for the international community at large. 

 

NAM Involvement and Contributions

 

(Final Document, Para 43) In this connection, the Heads of State or Government welcomed the comprehensive and timelyprogramme for nuclear disarmament in a phased, time-bound framework recently put forward by the Soviet Union. The objectives and priorities of this programme, which aimed at the complete elimination of nuclear weapons from the face of the earth by all nuclear-weapon States by the end of this century, were largely in line with the stance which the non-aligned countries have consistently taken on these matters. 

 

(Final Document, Para 45) While negotiations are under war for such a treaty, there should be a moratorium on all nuclear testing and the production and deployment of nuclear weapons. In this regard, the Heads of State or Government noted the appeal made by the leaders of Argentina, Greece, India, Mexico, Sweden and the United Republic of Tanzania to the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in October 1985 and reiterated in February, April and August 1986, to put an end to all nuclear testing, as well as their concrete offer of assistance to achieve adequate verification arrangements to monitor such a moratorium. They welcomed the unilateral moratorium on nuclear testing declared by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in August 1985 and extended by it a number of times since then, including the most recent extension until 1 January 1987. They called upon the United States of America as one of the two super Powers which, together, are responsible for the bulk of nuclear-weapon tests, to join the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in the moratorium and upon the Soviet Union to continue it. 

 

(Final Document, Para 48) The Movement noted with satisfaction the initiative taken by the Heads of State or Government of Argentina, Greece, India, Mexico, Sweden and the United Republic of Tanzania in their joint declarations of 22 May 1984, 28 January 1985 and 7 August 1986, in which they called upon the nuclear-weapon States to halt all testing, production and deployment of nuclear weapons and their delivery systems, to be followed by substantial reductions in their nuclear forces. The six leaders had further urged that this reduction be followed by a continuing programme of reduction of armaments leading to general and complete disarmament and should be accompanied by measures to strengthen the United Nations system and to effect the urgently needed transfer of substantial resources from the arms race to social and economic development. The Delhi Declaration of 28 January 1985 had specified two steps which required special and urgent attention: the prevention of an arms race in outer space and the early conclusion of a comprehensive test-ban treaty. The Mexico Declaration of 7 August 1986 reiterated the need to adopt these measures. In addition, it urged the leaders of the United States of America and the Soviet Union to continue and re-invigorate the dialogue which they started last year, to set a firm date for a new meeting between them, and by an approach of mutual compromise and conciliation to ensure that such dialogue leads to practical results in the field of disarmament. The Heads of State or Government emphasized that these actions were in conformity with the basic approach of the non-aligned countries and showed the relevance of the principles of non-alignment and the positions of non-aligned countries for the international community at large. 

 

(Final Document, Para 54) In accordance with the criteria cited above, where the regional situation so permits at the initiative of any or all of the States so concerned and with their concurrence, States should consider and adopt measures at the regional level with a view to strengthening peace and security at a lower level of forces through the limitation and reduction of armed forces and conventional weapons. In this regard, the Heads of State or Government noted with satisfaction the unilateral, as well as recent regional and subregional, initiatives taken by some non-aligned countries to limit the acquisition of conventional arms and reduce military expenditures with a view to allocating the resources so released for the socio-economic development of their peoples. 

 

(Final Document, Para 56) The Heads of State or Government expressed their conviction that the limitation and reduction of the military activities and rivalry of great Powers and blocs beyond their boundaries would significantly contribute to the strengthening of the security of non-aligned and other countries. They therefore called for the military withdrawal and disengagement of the great Powers and their military alliances from positions beyond their frontiers and the elimination of their military bases and facilities from the territories of the non-aligned countries. 

 

(Final Document, Para 58) The Heads of State or Government noted with satisfaction the present world-wide campaign against the nuclear arms race. They expressed their conviction that such movements can play an influential role in promoting nuclear disarmament and preventing nuclear catastrophe. They emphasized the extreme importance of encouraging and rendering all possible assistance to that process. In this connection, the Heads of State or Government reaffirmed the three objectives of the World Disarmament Campaign, namely, to inform, to educate and to develop public understanding of the support for United Nations objectives in the field of disarmament. They reaffirmed the need to strengthen the role of regional bodies in mobilizing support for this campaign and the realization of its objectives. In this context, the Heads of State or Government welcomed the establishment at Lome, Togo, of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa. They further welcomed the offer of the Government of Peru to establish in Lima a Regional Centre for Disarmament, Security, Peace and Development with the responsibility of disseminating in Latin America the objectives of the United Nations in the field of disarmament. 

 

(Final Document, Para 60) The Heads of State or Government regretted that it had not been possible to convene an International Conference on the Relationship between Disarmament and Development in Paris in July 1986. They emphasized the importance of the Conference as marking the beginning of an intensive consideration of these problems by the entire international community and expressed the hope that the forty-first session of the United Nations General Assembly would take a decision on the dates and venue of the Conference in accordance with the decision of the resumed fortieth session of the General Assembly to convene it in 1987. They considered the Conference an urgent necessity for the appropriate and timely examination of the adverse consequences of steadily increasing arms expenditure on the global economy. They urged all States to participate in it at a high level and contribute to its success. It was essential that a remedy be found for the existing situation, in which hundreds of billions of dollars are spent annually on weapons while two-thirds of the world’s population lives in poverty and in some cases, misery. They attached particular importance to the Conference coming out with specific recommendations on the ways and means of releasing additional resources through disarmament measures for development purposes, in particular for the benefit of the developing countries. Expressing the conviction that the economic and social consequences of the arms race militate against the creation of the new international economic order, the Heads of State or Government declared that lasting peace could only be assured through a restructuring of the world economy with the objective of establishing the New Order and bridging the economic gap between developing and developed countries. The Heads of State or Government called for a demonstration of greater political will by the developed countries for the attainment of this end. 

 

International Humanitarian Law and ICJ

 

(Final Document, Para 47) The Heads of State or Government reiterated that the use of nuclear weapons, besides being a violation of the Charter of the United Nations, would also be a crime against humanity. In this regard, they urged nuclear-weapon States to agree, pending the achievement of nuclear disarmament, to the conclusion of an international treaty on the prohibition of the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons. They considered an important step in this direction to be the early entry of all nuclear-weapon States into an internationally-binding commitment not to be the first to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons. They called for a freeze on the development, production, stock-piling and deployment of nuclear weapons. The freeze of nuclear weapons should, inter alia, provide for the simultaneous stoppage and discontinuance of any further production of nuclear weapons and for a complete cut-off of the production of fissionable material for weapons purposes. 

 

Verification

 

(Final Document, Para 44) A comprehensive test ban, which has been pursued for the past 25 years, is a matter of the highest priority for non-aligned countries. A ban on all nuclear-weapon tests would de-escalate the nuclear arms race and greatly reduce the risk of nuclear war. The continuance of nuclear-weapon testing fuels the nuclear arms race and increases the danger of nuclear war. In this regard, the Heads of State or Government emphasized the pressing need to negotiate and conclude a comprehensive multilateral nuclear test-ban treaty prohibiting all nuclear-weapon tests by all States in all environments for all time. The existing means of verification are adequate to ensure compliance with a nuclear test ban. Assertions about the absence of means of verification should not be used as an excuse for the further development and refinement of nuclear weapons. The Heads of State or Government deplored the fact that, owing to the persistent obstruction of a few States, the Conference on Disarmament had been unable to embark upon the multilateral negotiations for a Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, the cessation of the nuclear arms race, and nuclear disarmament. 

 

(Final Document, Para 45) While negotiations are under war for such a treaty, there should be a moratorium on all nuclear testing and the production and deployment of nuclear weapons. In this regard, the Heads of State or Government noted the appeal made by the leaders of Argentina, Greece, India, Mexico, Sweden and the United Republic of Tanzania to the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in October 1985 and reiterated in February, April and August 1986, to put an end to all nuclear testing, as well as their concrete offer of assistance to achieve adequate verification arrangements to monitor such a moratorium. They welcomed the unilateral moratorium on nuclear testing declared by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in August 1985 and extended by it a number of times since then, including the most recent extension until 1 January 1987. They called upon the United States of America as one of the two super Powers which, together, are responsible for the bulk of nuclear-weapon tests, to join the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in the moratorium and upon the Soviet Union to continue it. 

 

(Final Document, Para 46) The Heads of State or Government rejected the view that the negotiation of a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty should wait until issues relating to verification had been resolved. They stressed that the formulation and modalities of a verification system depended on the purposes, scope and nature of the corresponding agreement and, therefore, the requirements of a verification system acceptable to all parties should be considered in the context of negotiations. They were deeply concerned with the view taken by a nuclear-weapon State that a nuclear-weapon-test ban was a long-term objective for it. 

 

Missiles

 

(Final Document, Para 37) They recalled the obligation of all States to refrain from the threat or use of force in their other space activities. They reiterated their view that the universally accepted objective of general and complete disarmament under effective international control demands that outer space should not be transformed into an area for pursuing the arms race. They therefore called on the Conference on Disarmament to commence negotiations urgently to conclude an agreement or agreements, as appropriate, to prevent the extension of the arms race in all its aspects into outer space and thus enhance the prospects of co-operation in the peaceful uses of outer space. In particular, they stressed the urgency of halting the development of anti-satellite weapons, the dismantling of the existing systems, the prohibition of the introduction of new weapon systems into outer space and of ensuring that the existing treaties safeguarding the peaceful uses of other space, as well as the 1972 Treaty on the Limitation of Antiballistic Missile Systems are fully honoured, strengthened and extended as necessary in light of recent technological advances. The Heads of State or Government invited the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Conference on Disarmament to explore the ways and means of bringing satellites for military purposes under international control, particularly when it puts at stake the security of non-aligned countries. 

 

(Final Document, Para 38) The Heads of State or Government called upon all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, to adhere strictly to the existing legal restrictions and limitations on space weapons, including those contained in the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (General Assembly resolution 2222 (XXI), annex) and the 1972 Soviet Union-United States Treaty on Antiballistic Missiles, and to refrain from taking any measures aimed at developing, testing or deploying weapons and weapons systems in outer space. Simultaneously, negotiations should be undertaken urgently with a view to concluding an agreement or agreements preventing the extension of the arms race into this area. Measures aimed at developing, testing or deploying weapons and weapons systems in outer space could, through a constant chain of action and reaction, lead to an escalation of the arms race in both “offensive” and “defensive” weapons, thus making the outbreak of nuclear conflict more likely. Such a situation would not only result in a quantum leap in the level of resources expended on armaments, but would also frustrate the efforts currently under way to achieve disarmament. 

 

9th. Summit, Belgrade - 1989

Nuclear-Weapon States Obligations

 

(Final Document, Para 2) They noted that since the last Summit Conference in Hararesignificant events have taken place with bearing on international security,establishingnew trends in international relations. Conflicts and hostilitiesare giving way to negotiations, understanding and cooperation in a number of instances. The responsibilities and obligations of all states to speed up the emerging process and to channel it in a direction that wouldbenefitall,was underlined. Lasting peace and security can only be achieved by pooling the efforts of the entire international community and will all countriesparticipating andcontributing on the basis of equality. 

 

(Final Document, Para 3) They noted that super-power detente will not by itself resolve the conflicts which exist in various parts of the world. Indeed, such conflicts could become aggravated unless they are speedily resolved on the basis of the principles of the United Nations Charter. 

 

(Final Document, Para 5) The Heads of State or Government underlined in particular that general and complete disarmament under effective international control is by its very nature unattainable unless all countries joined in its implementation. They stressed that the use of nuclear weapons could lead to the extinction of human life on earth. Since nuclear war threatens the very right to live, all nations have an equal stake in preventing it. They were of the view that the on-going process of disarmament could bequickened and its coverage widened through the commonendeavour of the entire international community.Clearly, the disarmament process cannot be carried out without a contribution by all States and especially by the Great Powers and their military alliances, which have the greatest responsibility in that regard. The Heads of State or Government expressed the firm resolve of their countries to continue to constructively encourage disarmament. They stressed that the strengthening of international security through disarmament and restraints of the qualitative and quantitative escalation of arms race,remains one of the most significantobjectives and motives of the Movement’s constant commitment. Proceeding from the view that disarmament is acomponent of detente and security, including the national security of Non-Aligned Countries as a group and each of them individually, they stressed that the policy and practice of non-alignment stands for disarmament as the most tangible form of negation of military might and the use of force in international relations. 

 

(Final Document, Para 8) They stressed that fora number of reasons conditions today are morefavourable for disarmament.The five USSR and USA summits in the last four years have had a positive effect on world developments as a whole. The USSR and USA have, for the first time in history, signed a treaty toeliminate some of the existing nuclear weapons. The Heads of Stateor Government welcomed this step and reiterated their expectation that it would be a precursor to the adoption of concrete disarmament measures leading to the complete elimination of nuclear weapons. In that sense, they attached particular importance to the current negotiations between the USSR and the USA on a considerable reduction of strategic offensive nuclear arsenals and hoped that the current delay would beovercome and the treaty signed at the earliest date. This process should be followed by the incorporation of other nuclear-weapon States into the process of nuclear disarmament. They wished to stressin particular that the world of today but also the world of tomorrow requires that doctrines of power policies be replaced by a policy of cooperation, aimed at fulfilling the legitimate expectations of the entire international community. 

 

(Final Document, Para 9) The Heads of State or Government, however, noted that while the overall international climate is positive, there is still much to be done to halt the arms race. Even if the current goals in East-West arms negotiations are achieved, the two blocs will retain significant nuclear and conventional arsenals. They emphasized the extreme urgency of adopting measures for achieving nuclear disarmament through a time-bound program for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, they reiterated the need for non-nuclear weapons states to be assured against the use or treat of use of nuclear weapons, and urged for the early conclusion of an international agreement for this purpose. In addition, they stressed the need for the conclusion of an international agreement prohibiting all use of nuclear weapons under any circumstances. They reiterated the urgency of preventing the arms race in outer space, which should be used exclusively for peaceful purposes. They further stressed the importance of naval disarmament. They also underlined the need to prevent the arms race in its qualitative aspects. 

 

(Final Document, Para 11) The Heads of State or Government noted that this Summit is taking place a year before the 4th Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation Treaty and called on the three depositary states of NPT to be forthcoming on nuclear disarmament matters. For the credibility of the NPT regime, these States should fulfill their obligations by agreeing to negotiate a Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty which is absolutely essential for the preservation of the Non-Proliferation regime embodied in the NPT. Nuclear-weapon states have a responsibility to assure all non-nuclear weapon states, whether parties or non-parties of NPT, against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons by concluding an Agreement to this effect. They, however, remained convinced that the most effective measure to assure non-nuclear weapon states against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is complete cessation of nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmament. 

 

Arms Races

 

(Final Document, Para 5) The Heads of State or Government underlined in particular that general and complete disarmament under effective international control is by its very nature unattainable unless all countries joined in its implementation. They stressed that the use of nuclear weapons could lead to the extinction of human life on earth. Since nuclear war threatens the very right to live, all nations have an equal stake in preventing it. They were of the view that the on-going process of disarmament could be quickened and its coverage widened through the common endeavour of the entire international community. Clearly, the disarmament process cannot be carried out without a contribution by all States and especially by the Great Powers and their military alliances, which have the greatest responsibility in that regard. The Heads of State or Government expressed the firm resolve of their countries to continue to constructively encourage disarmament. They stressed that the strengthening of international security through disarmament and restraints of the qualitative and quantitative escalation of arms race, remains one of the most significant objectives and motives of the Movement’s constant commitment. Proceeding from the view that disarmament is a component of detente and security, including the national security of Non-Aligned Countries as a group and each of them individually, they stressed that the policy and practice of non-alignment stands for disarmament as the most tangible form of negation of military might and the use of force in international relations. 

 

(Final Document, Para 6) The Heads of State or Government were convinced that their countries must participate actively in any process designed to achieve general and complete disarmament. As a means of avoiding wasteful expenditures on armaments and contributing to peace and security, they undertook to contribute to disarmament and to halting and reversing the arms race. 

 

(Final Document, Para 9) The Heads of State or Government, however, noted that while the overall international climate is positive, there is still much to be done to halt the arms race. Even if the current goals in East-West arms negotiations are achieved, the two blocs will retain significant nuclear and conventional arsenals. They emphasized the extreme urgency of adopting measures for achieving nuclear disarmament through a time-bound program for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, they reiterated the need for non-nuclear weapons states to be assured against the use or treat of use of nuclear weapons, and urged for the early conclusion of an international agreement for this purpose. In addition, they stressed the need for the conclusion of an international agreement prohibiting all use of nuclear weapons under any circumstances. They reiterated the urgency of preventing the arms race in outer space, which should be used exclusively for peaceful purposes. They further stressed the importance of naval disarmament. They also underlined the need to prevent the arms race in its qualitative aspects. 

 

(Final Document, Para 11) The Heads of State or Government noted that this Summit is taking place a year before the 4th Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation Treaty and called on the three depositary states of NPT to be forthcoming on nuclear disarmament matters. For the credibility of the NPT regime, these States should fulfill their obligations by agreeing to negotiate a Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty which is absolutely essential for the preservation of the Non-Proliferation regime embodied in the NPT. Nuclear-weapon states have a responsibility to assure all non-nuclear weapon states, whether parties or non-parties of NPT, against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons by concluding an Agreement to this effect. They, however, remained convinced that the most effective measure to assure non-nuclear weapon states against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is complete cessation of nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmament. 

 

(Final Document, Para 14) They pointed out that the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, the singe multilateral disarmament negotiating forum, is the confirmation of the view of the international community that disarmament cannot be left exclusively to the most powerful. They, however, noted with regret that the Conference has still not submitted to the UN General Assembly any draft agreement on questions being negotiated in Geneva. They felt in particular that there was no justification for further postponing the initiation of substantive negotiations on all issues related to nuclear disarmament and on preventing the arms race in outer space. Furthermore, they reaffirmed that multilateral and bilateral negotiations should complement each other. They expressed their hope that the decision to expand the membership of the Conference on Disarmament would be implemented soon. 

 

(Final Document, Para 20) The Heads of State or Government acknowledged the negative implications for international peace of arms supplies in the areas of tension, particularly illegal arms trafficking, a phenomenon that further aggravates tensions, undermines internal security in some States and regional security and strengthens forces opposed to the disarmament process. The issue of international arms transfers should be addressed in conjunction with the question of reducing international tensions, enhancing confidence, promoting the peaceful settlement of conflict, checking the arms race and realizing disarmament under effective international control. 

 

(Final Document, Para 26) The Heads of State or Government wished to stress that the world has a rare opportunity to expand and strengthen the positive aspects of present-day international relations. They felt that the prospects for disarmament need to be widened in scope and provide for all the members of the United Nations to participate in and accelerate the initiated process. They stressed in particular that the world of today necessitates realistic and constructive universal action. They declared that the time has come for the arms race to be replaced by competition in furthering common objectives which carry the promise of a safer future for all. 

 

Bilateral Disarmament

 

(Final Document, Para 1) The Heads of State or Government stressed that since the very first meeting in Belgrade the strengthening of international security through disarmament has remained at the very core of the policy and practice of Non-Alignment. The Movement has constructively contributed to the process of disarmament by promoting dialogue between the two Great Powers, by attempting to shape a consensus in multilateral disarmament fora and by increasing public awareness of the threat of war, particularly nuclear war. The Heads of State or Government noted with satisfaction that the change in the positions of the Great Powers could be perceived as a response to the longstanding appeals of the Movement.They also expressed their strong expectation that future Great Powers negotiations would also be geared towards the well-being of all countries, in accordance with the principle of sovereign equality and the United Nations Charter. 

 

(Final Document, Para 3) They noted that super-power detente will not by itself resolve the conflicts which exist in various parts of the world. Indeed, such conflicts could become aggravated unless they are speedily resolved on the basis of the principles of the United Nations Charter. 

 

(Final Document, Para 5) The Heads of State or Government underlined in particular that general and complete disarmament under effective international control is by its very nature unattainable unless all countries joined in its implementation. They stressed that the use of nuclear weapons could lead to the extinction of human life on earth. Since nuclear war threatens the very right to live, all nations have an equal stake in preventing it. They were of the view that the on-going process of disarmament could be quickened and its coverage widened through the common endeavour of the entire international community. Clearly, the disarmament process cannot be carried out without a contribution by all States and especially by the Great Powers and their military alliances, which have the greatest responsibility in that regard. The Heads of State or Government expressed the firm resolve of their countries to continue to constructively encourage disarmament. They stressed that the strengthening of international security through disarmament and restraints of the qualitative and quantitative escalation of arms race, remains one of the most significant objectives and motives of the Movement’s constant commitment. Proceeding from the view that disarmament is a component of detente and security, including the national security of Non-Aligned Countries as a group and each of them individually, they stressed that the policy and practice of non-alignment stands for disarmament as the most tangible form of negation of military might and the use of force in international relations. 

 

(Final Document, Para 8) They stressed that for a number of reasons conditions today are more favourable for disarmament. The five USSR and USA summits in the last four years have had a positive effect on world developments as a whole. The USSR and USA have, for the first time in history, signed a treaty to eliminate some of the existing nuclear weapons. The Heads of State or Government welcomed this step and reiterated their expectation that it would be a precursor to the adoption of concrete disarmament measures leading to the complete elimination of nuclear weapons. In that sense, they attached particular importance to the current negotiations between the USSR and the USA on a considerable reduction of strategic offensive nuclear arsenals and hoped that the current delay would be overcome and the treaty signed at the earliest date. This process should be followed by the incorporation of other nuclear-weapon States into the process of nuclear disarmament. They wished to stress in particular that the world of today but also the world of tomorrow requires that doctrines of power policies be replaced by a policy of cooperation, aimed at fulfilling the legitimate expectations of the entire international community. 

 

(Final Document, Para 9) The Heads of State or Government, however, noted that while the overall international climate is positive, there is still much to be done to halt the arms race. Even if the current goals in East-West arms negotiations are achieved, the two blocs willretain significant nuclear and conventional arsenals. They emphasized the extreme urgency of adopting measures for achieving nuclear disarmament through a time-bound program for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, they reiterated the need for non-nuclear weapons states to be assured against the use or treat of use of nuclearweapons, and urged for the early conclusion of an international agreement for this purpose. In addition, they stressed the need for the conclusion of an international agreement prohibiting all use of nuclear weapons under any circumstances. They reiterated the urgency of preventing the arms race in outer space, which should be used exclusively for peaceful purposes. They further stressed the importance of naval disarmament. They also underlined the need to preventthe arms race in its qualitative aspects. 

 

(Final Document, Para 18) They drew attention to the fact that attacks on the independence and integrity of countries are mostfrequently carried out with conventional weapons. The sophistication of these kinds of weapons by the most powerful countries is acquiring alarming proportions. Theystressed that conventional disarmament isan important component of general and complete disarmament, and that the Great Powers and their respective alliances have special responsibilities in that regard as well. The Non-Aligned Countries also expressed their readiness to fully contribute to the initiation and realization of the process of conventional disarmament on the global,regional and subregional levels. In this connection, they pointed out that the cessation of all acts of aggression against Non-Aligned Countries, the strict observance of the principles of non-intervention and non-interference in the internal affairs of States, non-use or threat of use of force in international relations, peaceful settlement of disputes, self-determination,self-defence, and the removal of all economic and political pressures against Non-Aligned Countries will make it possible for all of them to contribute effectively to the process of disarmament. 

 

NAM Involvement and Contributions

 

(Final Document, Para 1) The Heads of State or Government stressed that since the very first meeting in Belgrade the strengthening of international security through disarmament has remained at the very core of the policy and practice ofNon-Alignment. The Movement has constructively contributed to the process of disarmament by promoting dialogue between the two Great Powers, byattempting to shape a consensus in multilateral disarmament fora and by increasing public awareness of the threat of war, particularly nuclear war. The Heads of State or Government noted with satisfaction that the change in the positions of the Great Powers could be perceived as a response to the longstanding appeals of the Movement. They also expressed their strong expectation that future Great Powers negotiations would also be geared towards the well-being of all countries,in accordance with the principle of sovereign equality and the United Nations Charter. 

 

(Final Document, Para 5) The Heads of State or Government underlined in particular that general and complete disarmament under effective international control is by its very nature unattainable unless all countries joined in its implementation. They stressed that the use of nuclear weapons could lead to the extinction of human life on earth. Since nuclear war threatens the very right to live, all nations have an equal stake in preventing it. They were of the view that the on-going process of disarmament could be quickened and its coverage widened through the common endeavour of the entire international community. Clearly, the disarmament process cannot be carried out without a contribution by all States and especially by the Great Powers and their military alliances, which have the greatest responsibility in that regard. The Heads of State or Government expressed the firm resolve of their countries to continue to constructively encourage disarmament. They stressed that the strengthening of international security through disarmament and restraints of the qualitative and quantitative escalation of arms race, remains one of the most significant objectives and motives of the Movement’s constant commitment. Proceeding from the view that disarmament is a component of detente and security, including the national security of Non-Aligned Countries as a group and each of them individually, they stressed that the policy and practice of non-alignment stands for disarmament as the most tangible form of negation of military might and the use of force in international relations. 

 

(Final Document, Para 6) The Heads of State or Government were convinced that their countries must participate actively in any process designed to achieve general and complete disarmament. As a means of avoiding wasteful expenditures on armaments and contributing to peace and security, they undertook to contribute to disarmament and to halting and reversing the arms race. 

 

(Final Document, Para 18) They drew attention to the fact that attacks on the independence and integrity of countries are most frequently carried out with conventional weapons. The sophistication of these kinds of weapons by the most powerful countries is acquiring alarming proportions. They stressed that conventional disarmament is an important component of general and complete disarmament, and that the Great Powers and their respective alliances have special responsibilities in that regard as well. The Non-Aligned Countries also expressed their readiness to fully contribute to the initiation and realization of the process of conventional disarmament on the global, regional and subregional levels. In this connection, they pointed out that the cessation of all acts of aggression against Non-Aligned Countries, the strict observance of the principles of non-intervention and non-interference in the internal affairs of States, non-use or threat of use of force in international relations, peaceful settlement of disputes, self-determination, self-defence, and the removal of all economic and political pressures against Non-Aligned Countries will make it possible for all of them to contribute effectively to the process of disarmament. 

 

(Final Document, Para 24) They recalled that on a number of occasions the Movement has called on the Great Powers to undertake military disengagement from the territories of other countries, to renounce from undertaking military maneouvres in the vicinity of Non-Aligned Countries, and dismantle military bases on foreign territories. The Heads of State or Government stressed the importance of the negotiations on conventional disarmament and on confidence- and security-building measures in Europe which in view of their political as well as military implications should have a positive impact, particularly on the adjoining regions and on internationalrelations as a whole. They expressed the hope that this would result in the dismantling of the two major military alliances. 

 

(Final Document, Para 25) The Heads of State or Government reaffirmed the positions and declarations adopted by successive Summit Conference and Ministerial Meetings of the Movement which supported the transformation of the Mediterranean region in a region of peace, security and cooperation, free from conflict and confrontation. They noted with satisfaction the growing awareness of the need for joint efforts as manifested by the unanimous adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of Resolution 43/84 and by the constructive contribution of the Neutral and Non-Aligned Countries of Europe in the CSCE framework. They strongly reaffirmed that the security of the Mediterranean is closely linked with security in Europe and with international peace and security. In this context, they welcomed the readiness among European Mediterranean States for dialogue and cooperation with the Non-Aligned Mediterranean countries and hoped that the CSCE Meeting on the Mediterranean in Palma de Mallorca in 1990 will contribute to the strengthening of confidence and security in the Mediterranean region. They welcomed the decision to hold the next Ministerial Meeting of the Mediterranean Members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries in Algiers in early 1990. 

 

(Final Document, Para 26) The Heads of State or Government wished to stress that the world has a rare opportunity to expand and strengthen the positive aspects of present-day international relations. They felt that the prospects for disarmament need to be widened in scope andprovide for all the members of the United Nations toparticipate in and accelerate the initiated process.They stressed in particular that the world of today necessitates realistic and constructive universal action. They declared that the time has come for the arms race to be replaced by competition in furthering commonobjectives which carry the promise of a safer future for all. 

 

Verification

 

(Final Document, Para 13) The Heads of State or Government reiterated that the United Nations has the central role and primary responsibility in the area of disarmament, which should be discharged with all the authority that the World Organization commands. They considered that further strengthening of multilateral efforts in disarmament within the United Nations could be facilitate, inter alia, by the establishment of an integrated multilateral verification system. They further expressed their conviction that, when circumstances were propitious, Special Sessions of the United Nations General Assembly on Disarmament should be convened. 

 

Disarmament and Development

 

(Final Document, Para 4) Disarmament, the relaxation of international tension, respect for the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, especially the principles of the sovereign equality of States, the peaceful settlement of disputes and the injunction to refrain from the use or threat of force in international relations; respect for the right to self-determination and national independence, economic and social development, the complete eradication of colonialism, apartheid and all other forms of racism and racial discrimination, aggression and occupation; the respect for human rights, and the strengthening of international peace and security are closely related to each other. 

 

(Final Document, Para 7) The Heads of State or Government further underlined that universal peace and security are unattainable without economic and social development of the entire international community. The aggravation of development problems, particularly in the developing countries, could jeopardize the positive achievements in international relations and is emerging as the greatest single potential threat to world stability. Stressing the close link between disarmament and development, they reaffirmed the Action Program adopted at the International Conference on the Relationship between Disarmament and Development, held in 1987, and considered that it provided a valuable framework for future action. 

 

Disarmament and Nonproliferation

 

(Final Document, Para 5) The Heads of State or Government underlined in particular that general and complete disarmament under effective international control is by its very nature unattainable unless all countries joined in its implementation. They stressed that the use of nuclear weapons could lead to the extinction of human life on earth. Since nuclear war threatens the very right to live, all nations have an equal stake in preventing it. They were of the view that the on-going process of disarmament could be quickened and its coverage widened through the common endeavour of the entire international community. Clearly, the disarmament process cannot be carried out without a contribution by all States and especially by the Great Powers and their military alliances, which have the greatest responsibility in that regard. The Heads of State or Government expressed the firm resolve of their countries to continue to constructively encourage disarmament. They stressed that the strengthening of international security through disarmament and restraints of the qualitative and quantitative escalation of arms race, remains one of the most significant objectives and motives of the Movement’s constant commitment. Proceeding from the view that disarmament is a component of detente and security, including the national security of Non-Aligned Countries as a group and each of them individually, they stressed that the policy and practice of non-alignment stands for disarmament as the most tangible form of negation of military might and the use of force in international relations. 

 

(Final Document, Para 11) The Heads of State or Government noted that this Summit is taking place a year before the 4th Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation Treaty and called on the three depositary states of NPT to be forthcoming on nuclear disarmament matters. For the credibility of the NPT regime, these States should fulfill their obligations by agreeing to negotiate a Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty which is absolutely essential for the preservation of the Non-Proliferation regime embodied in the NPT. Nuclear-weapon states have a responsibility to assure all non-nuclear weapon states, whether parties or non-parties of NPT, against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons by concluding an Agreement to this effect. They, however, remained convinced that the most effective measure to assure non-nuclear weapon states against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is complete cessation of nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmament. 

 

Modernization and Development of Nuclear Weapons

 

(Final Document, Para 5) The Heads of State or Government underlined in particular that general and complete disarmament under effective international control is by its very nature unattainable unless all countries joined in its implementation. They stressed that the use of nuclear weapons could lead to the extinction of human life on earth. Since nuclear war threatens the very right to live, all nations have an equal stake in preventing it. They were of the view that the on-going process of disarmament could be quickened and its coverage widened through the common endeavour of the entire international community. Clearly, the disarmament process cannot be carried out without a contribution by all States and especially by the Great Powers and their military alliances, which have the greatest responsibility in that regard. The Heads of State or Government expressed the firm resolve of their countries to continue to constructively encourage disarmament. They stressed that the strengthening of international security through disarmament and restraints of the qualitative and quantitative escalation of arms race, remains one of the most significant objectives and motives of the Movement’s constant commitment. Proceeding from the view that disarmament is a component of detente and security, including the national security of Non-Aligned Countries as a group and each of them individually, they stressed that the policy and practice of non-alignment stands for disarmament as the most tangible form of negation of military might and the use of force in international relations. 

 

(Final Document, Para 9) The Heads of State or Government, however, noted that while the overall international climate is positive, there is still much to be done to halt the arms race. Even if the current goals in East-West arms negotiations are achieved, the two blocs will retain significant nuclear and conventional arsenals. They emphasized the extreme urgency of adopting measures for achieving nuclear disarmament through a time-bound program for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, they reiterated the need for non-nuclear weapons states to be assured against the use or treat of use of nuclear weapons, and urged for the early conclusion of an international agreement for this purpose. In addition, they stressed the need for the conclusion of an international agreement prohibiting all use of nuclear weapons under any circumstances. They reiterated the urgency of preventing the arms race in outer space, which should be used exclusively for peaceful purposes. They further stressed the importance of naval disarmament. They also underlined the need to prevent the arms race in its qualitative aspects. 

 

10th. Summit, Jakarta - 1992

Disarmament and Development

 

(Final Document, Para 40) The new international order to sustain a world free from all nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction should be based inter alia on the principles of peaceful coexistence, the prohibition of the use or the threat or use of force, non-intervention and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries and the right of every State to pursue its own path of development. Theseprinciples which have guided NAM since its inception, have become even more relevant today when we are searching for the establishment of a just, democratic, equitable and non-violent world order. 

 

(Final Document, Para 41) They were furthermore of the view that in a world of increasing interdependence of States and inter-relations of issues, security can no longer be defined solely in military terms. The vast array of non-military threats in such forms as underdevelopment and sharply curtailed prospects for economic growth, impending resource depletion, food scarcity, population pressures and sever environmental degradation that make up the global agenda are the determining components of a stable and peaceful world. Interdependence also calls for a recognition of the mutuality of interests among nations in each other’s stability and security. Genuine and lasting security must therefore be universal and comprehensive, operating on an equal basis for all States and encompassing all spheres of international relations. 

 

(Final Document, Para 42) The Heads of State or Government recognized that security problems which are region-specific are best addressed within an appropriate regional context. They noted efforts such as those in Latin and Central America as well as in South-East Asia and the Pacific, which have highlighted, among others, the validity of confidence-building measures, particularly in regions of high tension; balanced security at the lowest possible level of armaments and armed forces; and the elimination of destabilizing military capabilities and imbalances. In this context, they called for the holding of regional dialogues where appropriate on security and cooperation to providean appropriate framework for endeavours to promote security, and enhance economic, environmental, social and cultural cooperation, taking into account the particular characteristics of each region. Such an approach, based on geopolitical, historical, cultural and other factors, can lead to channels of communication between adversaries and promote confidence-building measures which could facilitate the initiation of arms reduction talks in some regions. Global and regional approached to disarmament complement each other and should be pursued simultaneously to promote regional and international peace and security. 

 

(Final Document, Para 53) The Heads of State or Government underscored the depressing impact of military expenditure on the world economy and national economies, especially those of the developing countries. Excessive military outlays stifle economic growth and adversely affect the scope and content of international economic cooperation.In this context they stressed that resolution of regional disputes is essential for the creation of conditions which would enable States to divert their resources from armament to economic growth and development. 

 

Nuclear-Weapon States Obligations

 

(Final Document, Para 38) The Heads of State or Government noted that significant changes have occurred in international relations and that a process of gradual transformation of military structures is now underway. They hoped that these positive developments, which are creating a new global environment, will lead to the renunciation of strategic doctrines based on the use of nuclear weapons and to the elimination of weapons of mass destruction and thereby making a real contribution to global security. 

 

(Final Document, Para 43) The Heads of State or Government welcomed a number of positive developments since the Ninth Summit in the field of nuclear, chemical and conventional disarmament, including agreements reached in bilateral arms reductions between the United States and the Russian Federation. They attached particular importance to the June 1992 Agreement between the United States and the Russian Federation in Washington, D.C. and expressed the hope that the implementation of the far-reaching reductions will be successfully carried out, so that the ultimate goal of the complete elimination of nuclear arsenals will be attained within a specific time-frame. They called upon the other nuclear-weapon States to actively participate in this endeavour and thereby rid the world of the dangers posed by the nuclear menace. 

 

(Final Document, Para 48) The Heads of State or Government, while noting that China and France had acceded to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) expressed concern over the failure of some Depository States to demonstrate a genuine commitment with regard to complete nuclear disarmament within a time bound framework under Article VI of the NPT, and credible security assurances and adequate technical assistance to all non-nuclear weapon states. Recognizing that States Parties will hold a Conference in 1995 to review the Treaty and to determine the period of its extension, they called for a fresh appraisal of the implementation of the commitments undertaken by nuclear-weapon states. They resolved that a member of the Non-Aligned Movement should be presented as a candidate, after consultation, for the Chairmanship of the Conference in 1995. In this context they urged the nuclear-weapon states to support the ongoing efforts of the Amendment Conference on the Partial Test Ban Treaty, with a view to the conclusion of an agreement prohibiting the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons against all non-nuclear weapons states, and the establishment of nuclear weapons-free zones taking into account the characteristics of the region and on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among the states of the region concerned; and to ensure the availability of nuclear materials, equipment and technology for peaceful purposes on a non-discriminatory, predictable and long-term basis. 

 

(Final Document Para 49) The Heads of State or Government called for a cessation of nuclear testing by all States for all time in all environments as a vital global objective to be pursued at various levels, but especially at the multilateral level. In this respect, they welcomed the moratorium declared by certain nuclear-weapon States and urged other nuclear-weapon States to follow suit as a first step. The Amendment Conference of the State Parties to the Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and Under Water held in January 1991 had contributed in an important way to that objective by bringing States Parties together for the first time to discuss the obstacles to an agreement on the discontinuation of test explosions. 

 

Bilateral Disarmament

 

(Final Document, Para 43) The Heads of State or Government welcomed a number of positive developments since the Ninth Summit in the field of nuclear, chemical and conventional disarmament, including agreements reached in bilateral arms reductions between the United States and the Russian Federation. They attached particular importance to the June 1992 Agreement between the United States and the Russian Federation in Washington, D.C. and expressed the hope that the implementation of the far-reaching reductions will be successfully carried out, so that the ultimate goal of the complete elimination of nuclear arsenals will be attained within a specific time-frame. They called upon the other nuclear-weapon States to actively participate in this endeavour and thereby rid the world of the dangers posed by the nuclear menace. 

 

(Final Document, Para 44) The Heads of State or Government also welcomed the broadening and deepening of the dimensions of disarmaments. Far from the mere regulation of armaments and the arms race, agreements now include the destruction of existing arsenals, as well as limiting future production. They also noted with satisfaction the decisive progress achieved in the complex field of verification and in the on-site inspection provisions which are now included to ensure compliance with agreements. In this context, they called for the establishment of a multilateral satellite verification system under the auspices of the United Nations to facilitate such processes on a secure and permanent basis which would ensure equal access to information for all States. 

 

(Final Document, Para 46) The Heads of State or Government reaffirmed that the United Nations has a unique role and primary responsibility on all issues of disarmament. They re-emphasized the right and duty of all States to participate in multilateral efforts on disarmament on the basis of equality and mutual benefit in order to promote universal adherence. The Conference on Disarmament as the sole multilateral negotiating forum in the field of disarmament has been engaged in intense activity with respect to negotiations on some of the items on its agenda. They noted with regret, however, that it has failed to discharge its mandate on issues related to nuclear disarmament. Bilateral and multilateral approaches to disarmament must complement each other. Bilateral negotiations, however, cannot replace multilateral efforts in the disarmament field. In this context, they welcomed the Global Convention on the Prohibition of Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and called for its speedy entry intro force as a meaningful step forward towards the elimination of all weapons of mass destruction in all regions and towards the shared objective of general and complete disarmament. They called upon all developed countries to adopt measures promoting universal adherence to the Chemical Weapons Convention, through transfer of technology, materials and equipment for peaceful purposes in the chemical field and removing all existing unilateral discriminatory and ad hoc restrictions which ran counter to this undertaking. 

 

Modernization and Development of Nuclear Weapons

 

(Final Document, Para 39) The Heads of State or Government observed that the objective of seeking unilateral security through armaments has proved to be a dangerous illusion. The build-up of military power undermines rather than strengthens security. Neither quantitative additions nor qualitative improvements to weapons have reduced a state’s vulnerability or led to absolute security. It is also self-evident that political objectives can no longer be achieved by military means. In this context, they called for enhancement of security to be pursued not at the cost of other countries but in concert with them. Hence, the rational option is to seek security for all through total nuclear disarmament, elimination of all other weapons of mass destruction, and through the balanced and progressive reductions of conventional armaments at the global and regional levels. 

 

(Final Document, Para 44) The Heads of State or Government also welcomed the broadening and deepening of the dimensions of disarmaments. Far from the mere regulation of armaments and the arms race, agreements now include the destruction of existing arsenals, as well as limiting future production.They also noted with satisfaction the decisive progress achieved in the complex field of verification and in the on-site inspection provisions which are now included to ensure compliance with agreements. In this context, they called for the establishment of a multilateral satellite verification system under the auspices of the United Nations to facilitate such processes on a secure and permanent basis which would ensure equal access to information for all States. 

 

(Final Document, Para 45) Despite the end of the cold war and East-West confrontation, the Heads of State or Government deplored the lack of progress on measures to provide assurances to all non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons. Strategic doctrines continue to cast their shadow across the globe, while the world is still threatened by existing nuclear arsenals, which are being further refined and increased. They warned that while many other contentious issues still remain unresolved, continuing insistence to promote anti-missile defences and other weapon systems is fraught with potentially disastrous consequences including the extension of the arms race to outer space and will increase the North-South divide further. 

 

Verification

 

(Final Document, Para 44) The Heads of State or Government also welcomed the broadening and deepening of the dimensions of disarmaments. Far from the mere regulation of armaments and the arms race, agreements now include the destruction of existing arsenals, as well as limiting future production. They also noted with satisfaction the decisive progress achieved in the complex field of verification and in the on-site inspection provisions which are now included to ensure compliance with agreements. In this context, they called for the establishment of a multilateral satellite verification system under the auspices of the United Nations to facilitate such processes on a secure and permanent basis which would ensure equal access to information for all States. 

 

Disarmament and the Environment

 

(Final Document, Para 41) They were furthermore of the view that in a world of increasing interdependence of States and inter-relations of issues, security can no longer be defined solely in military terms. The vast array of non-military threats in such forms as underdevelopment and sharply curtailed prospects for economic growth, impending resource depletion, food scarcity, population pressures and sever environmental degradation that make up the global agenda are the determining components of a stable and peaceful world. Interdependence also calls for a recognition of the mutuality of interests among nations in each other’s stability and security. Genuine and lasting security must therefore be universal and comprehensive, operating on an equal basis for all States and encompassing all spheres of international relations. 

 

Arms Races

 

(Final Document, Para 44) The Heads of State or Government also welcomed the broadening and deepening of the dimensions of disarmaments. Far from the mere regulation of armaments and the arms race, agreements now include the destruction of existing arsenals, as well as limiting future production.They also noted with satisfaction the decisive progress achieved in the complex field of verification and in the on-site inspection provisions which are now included to ensure compliance with agreements. In this context, they called for the establishment of a multilateral satellite verification system under the auspices of the United Nations to facilitate such processes on a secure and permanent basis which would ensure equal access to information for all States. 

 

(Final Document, Para 45) Despite the end of the cold war and East-West confrontation, the Heads of State or Government deplored the lack of progress on measures to provide assurances to all non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons. Strategic doctrines continue to cast their shadow across the globe, while the world is still threatened by existing nuclear arsenals, which are being further refined and increased. They warned that while many other contentious issues still remain unresolved, continuing insistence to promote anti-missile defences and other weapon systems is fraught with potentially disastrous consequences including the extension of the arms race to outer space and will increase the North-South divide further. 

 

(Final Document, Para 47) They called upon all States to give priority to negotiations on the other items on the agenda of the Conference on Disarmament, such as a Nuclear Test Ban, cessation of the nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmament, prevention of nuclear war, security assurances for all non-nuclear weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, and measures for the prevention of an arms race in outer space. They emphasized the need to reinvigorate multilateral disarmament endeavoursand in this context called for the enlargement and broader participation of NAM countries in the Conference on Disarmament. 

 

Missiles

 

(Final Document, Para 45) Despite the end of the cold war and East-West confrontation, the Heads of State or Government deplored the lack of progress on measures to provide assurances to all non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons. Strategic doctrines continue to cast their shadow across the globe, while the world is still threatened by existing nuclear arsenals, which are being further refined and increased. They warned that while many other contentious issues still remain unresolved, continuing insistence to promote anti-missile defences and other weapon systems is fraught with potentially disastrous consequences including the extension of the arms race to outer space and will increase the North-South divide further. 

 

NAM Involvement and Contributions

 

(Final Document, Para 40) The new international order to sustain a world free from all nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction should be based inter alia on the principles of peaceful coexistence, the prohibition of the use or the threat or use of force, non-intervention and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries and the right of every State to pursue its own path of development. These principles which have guided NAM since its inception, have become even more relevant today when we are searching for the establishment of a just, democratic, equitable and non-violent world order. 

 

(Final Document, Para 47) They called upon all States to give priority to negotiations on the other items on the agenda of the Conference on Disarmament, such as a Nuclear Test Ban, cessation of the nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmament, prevention of nuclear war, security assurances for all non-nuclear weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, and measures for the prevention of an arms race in outer space. They emphasized the need to reinvigorate multilateral disarmament endeavoursand in this context called for the enlargement and broader participation of NAM countries in the Conference on Disarmament. 

 

(Final Document, Para 48) The Heads of State or Government, while noting that China and France had acceded to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) expressed concern over the failure of some Depository States to demonstrate a genuine commitment with regard to complete nuclear disarmament within a time bound framework under Article VI of the NPT, and credible security assurances and adequate technical assistance to all non-nuclear weapon states. Recognizing that States Parties will hold a Conference in 1995 to review the Treaty and to determine the period of its extension, they called for a fresh appraisal of the implementation of the commitments undertaken by nuclear-weapon states. They resolved that a member of the Non-Aligned Movement should be presented as a candidate, after consultation, for the Chairmanship of the Conference in 1995. In this context they urged the nuclear-weapon states to support the ongoing efforts of the Amendment Conference on the Partial Test Ban Treaty, with a view to the conclusion of an agreement prohibiting the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons against all non-nuclear weapons states, and the establishment of nuclear weapons-free zones taking into account the characteristics of the region and on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among the states of the region concerned; and to ensure the availability of nuclear materials, equipment and technology for peaceful purposes on a non-discriminatory, predictable and long-term basis. 

 

11th. Summit, Cartagena - 1995

Nuclear-Weapon States Obligations

 

(Final Document, Para 85) They expressed their concern at the limited and slow progress achieved in the negotiations aimed at reducing, and ultimately eliminating, nuclear arsenals pursuant to the objectives of general and complete disarmament. They urged all the other Nuclear-Weapon States to join the ongoing efforts of the two countries possessing the largest nuclear weapons arsenals to speed up the process for the complete elimination of this category of arms. 

 

(Final Document, Para 90) They firmly rejected all kinds of nuclear testing which are being carried out regardless of their serious environmental consequences and their contrary effects to peace, security and international stability. They strongly deplored the resumption and continuation of nuclear testing and called upon all the Nuclear-Weapon States to act in a manner consistent with the negotiations and objectives of a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty, and cease conducting any nuclear testing. They supported the total elimination of all nuclear testing without any exception. They welcomed the efforts to conclude negotiations on a Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) by 1996 and emphasized that any activity relating to further research and development on nuclear arsenals, or their production, would run contrary to the spirit of the CTBT. They emphasized that the CTBT, to be meaningful in the context of a disarmament treaty must be considered an important step in the process leading to the complete elimination of all nuclear weapons within a specific time-frame. 

 

(Final Document, Para 93) The Heads of State or Government Parties to the NPT strongly deplored that the Nuclear-Weapon States have not fulfilled up to now the obligations contained in Article VI of the NPT and reiterated the urgent need to achieve the total elimination of all existing nuclear weapons as an indispensable step towards general and complete disarmament under strict and efficient international control. They called for the determined pursuit by the Nuclear- Weapon States of systematic and progressive efforts in this regard. They also urged the Nuclear-Weapon States to end immediately the qualitative improvement, development and production of nuclear weapons. 

 

(Final Document, Para 95) Consistent with the decisions adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, the Heads of State or Government Parties to the NPT called upon all States and in particular, the Nuclear-Weapon States to wholly fulfill their commitments. Namely: a)achievement of universality of the Treaty; b)the completion of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty before the end of 1996; c) the conclusion of legally binding instruments to assure the Non-Nuclear-Weapons States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons; d)the ban on fissile materials and other nuclear devices for weapon purposes; e) the elimination of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction; f) the establishment of nuclear free zones, and g) the unimpeded and non-discriminatory transfer of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes to all States Parties without exception. 

 

Bilateral Disarmament

 

(Final Document, Para 85) They expressed their concern at the limited and slow progress achieved in the negotiations aimed at reducing, and ultimately eliminating, nuclear arsenals pursuant to the objectives of general and complete disarmament. They urged all the other Nuclear-Weapon States to join the ongoing efforts of the two countries possessing the largest nuclear weapons arsenals to speed up the process for the complete elimination of this category of arms. 

 

Disarmament and Development

 

(Final Document, Para 83) The Heads of State or Government reaffirmed their conviction that the new world environment offers today better opportunities for dealing effectively with all the problems related to disarmament and international security and promoting a more secure world, free of weapons of mass destruction. They continued to seek general and complete disarmament under effective international control as an ultimate objective to be attained within a specific time frame through the elimination of all nuclear arsenals and all other weapons of mass destruction as well as through gradual and balanced reductions of conventional arms. 

 

(Final Document, Para 100) The Heads of State or Government stressed the urgency of the need to curb the excessive production, development and build-up of conventional armaments, taking into account the legitimate requirement of States for self-defense and the specific characteristics of each region. In this context, they stressed that peaceful resolution of regional and inter-State disputes is essential for the creation of conditions which would enable States to divert their resources from armaments to economic growth and development. 

 

(Final Document, Para 109) The Heads of State or Government reiterated their concern over the fact that the arms race absorbs an important proportion of human, financial, material and technological resources in today’s world, imposes a heavy burden on the economies of all countries, in particular Non-Aligned Countries and other developing countries, and affects international trade, financial and technological flows. Furthermore, they expressed concern over the dramatic contrast between world military expenditures and the impact of underdevelopment, with its sequel of misery and poverty affecting more than two thirds of humankind. The Heads of State or Government urged the international community to devote part of the resources made available by the implementation of disarmament and arms limitation agreements to economic and social development, with a view to reduce the ever widening gap between developed and developing countries. 

 

Arms Races

 

(Final Document, Para 82) Matters related to disarmament, arms limitation and control and international security have acquired a totally new dimension with the disappearance of the East-West confrontation. Nuclear deterrent scenarios of the past are no longer relevant. In the post-Cold War era there is no justification whatsoever, if there was ever any, to maintain nuclear arsenals and much less to add new ones as a continuation of the arms race. The time has come for the entire stockpiles of these deadly weapons of mass destruction to be destroyed once and for all. The non-proliferation regime will not be successful without a clear perspective on nuclear disarmament. They called for a renunciation of strategic doctrines based upon the use of nuclear weapons and called for the adoption of an action plan for elimination of all nuclear weapons, within a time-bound framework. They reiterated their belief that general and complete disarmament under effective international control remains the ultimate objective to be achieved for which a comprehensive, non-discriminatory and balanced approach towards international security should be adopted. 

 

(Final Document, Para 109) The Heads of State or Government reiterated their concern over the fact that the arms race absorbs an important proportion of human, financial, material and technological resources in today’s world, imposes a heavy burden on the economies of all countries, in particular Non-Aligned Countries and other developing countries, and affects international trade, financial and technological flows. Furthermore, they expressed concern over the dramatic contrast between world military expenditures and the impact of underdevelopment, with its sequel of misery and poverty affecting more than two thirds of humankind. The Heads of State or Government urged the international community to devote part of the resources made available by the implementation of disarmament and arms limitation agreements to economic and social development, with a view to reduce the ever widening gap between developed and developing countries. 

 

Disarmament and Nonproliferation

 

(Final Document, Para 82) Matters related to disarmament, arms limitation and control and international security have acquired a totally new dimension with the disappearance of the East-West confrontation. Nuclear deterrent scenarios of the past are no longer relevant. In the post-Cold War era there is no justification whatsoever, if there was ever any, to maintain nuclear arsenals and much less to add new ones as a continuation of the arms race. The time has come for the entire stockpiles of these deadly weapons of mass destruction to be destroyed once and for all. The non-proliferation regime will not be successful without a clear perspective on nuclear disarmament. They called for a renunciation of strategic doctrines based upon the use of nuclear weapons and called for the adoption of an action plan for elimination of all nuclear weapons, within a time-bound framework. They reiterated their belief that general and complete disarmament under effective international control remains the ultimate objective to be achieved for which a comprehensive, non-discriminatory and balanced approach towards international security should be adopted. 

 

International Humanitarian Law and ICJ

 

(Final Document, Para 97) They urged the negotiation of an international convention prohibiting the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons under any circumstances and took note of the Resolution 49/75K, “Request for an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on the legality of the threat or use of nuclear weapons”, adopted by the General Assembly at its forty-ninth regular session. 

 

(Final Document, Para 105) The Heads of State or Government expressed serious concern over the indiscriminate use of anti-personnel mines in contravention of international humanitarian law which has caused civilian casualties on a large scale. They took note of the decision of several countries to adopt moratoria on the production of certain kinds of anti-personnel land-mines. They also took note of the results achieved recently at the Review Conference of the 1980 Convention on Prohibitions or Restriction on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons. They reiterated their support for the creation of the United Nations fund for the clearance of mines and called for the urgent provision of resources to the fund, particularly by the exporting countries of such devices. They expressed the hope that the resumed session of the Conference in Geneva would adopt additional measures concerning the prohibition and use of certain types of anti-personnel mines, as well as additional limitations and restrictions on the use of weapons covered under the convention, along with specific measures to ensure full and unimpeded access to material equipment and technology for mine-clearance. 

 

Modernization and Development of Nuclear Weapons

 

(Final Document, Para 82) Matters related to disarmament, arms limitation and control and international security have acquired a totally new dimension with the disappearance of the East-West confrontation. Nuclear deterrent scenarios of the past are no longer relevant. In the post-Cold War era there is no justification whatsoever, if there was ever any, to maintain nuclear arsenals and much less to add new ones as a continuation of the arms race. The time has come for the entire stockpiles of these deadly weapons of mass destruction to be destroyed once and for all. The non-proliferation regime will not be successful without a clear perspective on nuclear disarmament. They called for a renunciation of strategic doctrines based upon the use of nuclear weapons and called for the adoption of an action plan for elimination of all nuclear weapons, within a time-bound framework. They reiterated their belief that general and complete disarmament under effective international control remains the ultimate objective to be achieved for which a comprehensive, non-discriminatory and balanced approach towards international security should be adopted. 

 

(Final Document, Para 93) The Heads of State or Government Parties to the NPT strongly deplored that the Nuclear-Weapon States have not fulfilled up to now the obligations contained in Article VI of the NPT and reiterated the urgent need to achieve the total elimination of all existing nuclear weapons as an indispensable step towards general and complete disarmament under strict and efficient international control. They called for the determined pursuit by the Nuclear- Weapon States of systematic and progressive efforts in this regard. They also urged the Nuclear-Weapon States to end immediately the qualitative improvement, development and production of nuclear weapons. 

 

NAM Involvement and Contributions

 

(Final Document, Para 98) The Heads of State or Government signatories to the Treaty took note of the work carried out by the Preparatory Committee of the Organization of the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and expressed their concern at the lack of progress in its negotiations on various issues. These included the delay by major possessors of chemical weapons stockpiles to move towards ratification and on Article 11 of the Convention relating to economic and technical cooperation in the chemical sector. These would entail negative implications for the future of the Chemical Weapons Convention, inter alia, onits effective implementation, universal adherence and timelycoming into force. They therefore reiterated the need for active participation and a more coordinated position of Non-Aligned Countries signatory to the Chemical Weapons Convention in the meetings of the OPCW as well as in the course ofthe United Nations General Assembly sessions. Likewise, they called on the developed countries to promote international cooperation through the transfer of technology, materialand equipment for peaceful purposes in the chemical fields and removal of all existing multilateral as well as national discriminatory restrictions that are contrary to the letter and spirit of the convention. 

 

(Final Document, Para 107) They welcomed the establishment by the Non-Aligned Movement Coordinating Bureau in New York of a Working Group on Disarmament with the task of coordinating a common position on all issues related to disarmament, so as to enable the Movement to formulate a unified stance in pursuing general and complete disarmament under effective international control. 

 

(Final Document, Para 110) The Heads of State or Government called for the expansion of the membership of the Conference on Disarmament at the earliest possible date and welcomed the recent statement of the Moroccan Chairman of the Conference on Disarmament on this issue. 

 

12th. Summit, Durban - 1998

Nuclear Weapon Convention

 

(Final Document, Para 113) The Heads of State or Government reiterated that with the end of the Cold War, there is no justification for the maintenance of nuclear arsenals, or concepts of international security based on promoting and developing military alliances and policies of nuclear deterrence. They noted and welcomed the various international initiatives, which stress that with the end of the Cold War the opportunity now exists for the international community to pursue nuclear disarmament as a matter of the highest priority. They also noted that the present situation whereby Nuclear Weapon States insist that nuclear weapons provide unique security benefits, and yet monopolise the right to own them, is highly discriminatory, unstable and cannot be sustained. These weapons continued to represent a threat to the survival of the mankind. The Heads of State or Government recalled their principled positions on nuclear disarmament and the related issues of nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear tests. They expressed their concern at the slow pace of progress towards nuclear disarmament, which constitutes their primary disarmament objective. They noted the complexities arising from nuclear tests in South Asia, which underlined the need to work even harder to achieve their disarmament objectives, including elimination of nuclear weapons. They considered positively the commitment by the parties concerned in the region to exercise restraint, which contributes to regional security, to discontinue nuclear tests and not to transfer nuclear weapons-related material, equipment and technology. They further stressed the significance of universal adherence to the CTBT, including by all Nuclear Weapon States, and commencement of negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament on fissile materials (decision CD/1547), which, inter-alia, should accelerate the process of nuclear disarmament. They also stressed their positions against unilateral, coercive or discriminatory measures which have been applied against Non-Aligned countries. They reiterated the need for bilateral dialogue to secure peaceful solutions on all outstanding issues and the promotion of confidence and security building measures and mutual trust. They recalled that the Cartagena Summit had called for the adoption of an action plan for the elimination of nuclear weapons within a time-bound framework. They once again called upon the international community to join them in negotiating and implementing universal, non-discriminatory disarmament measures and mutually agreed confidence-building measures. They called for an international conference, preferably in 1999, with the objective of arriving at an agreement, before the end of this millennium on a phased programme for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons with a specified framework of time to eliminate all nuclear weapons, to prohibit their development, production, acquisition, testing, stockpiling, transfer, use and threat of use, and to provide for their destruction. 

 

(Final Document, Para 114) The Heads of State or Government reiterated their call on the Conference on Disarmament to establish, as the highest priority, an ad hoc committee to start in 1998 negotiations on a phased programme for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons with a specified framework of time, including a Nuclear Weapons Convention. The Conference on Disarmament shall take into consideration all relevant views and proposals, regarding this issue that have been submitted to it. They also insisted on the need to conclude a universal and legally binding multilateral agreement committing all States to the complete elimination of nuclear weapons. In this context they regretted that some Nuclear Weapons States had adopted inflexible postures which prevented the Conference on Disarmament from commencing these negotiations. They underscored the flexibility, which on the other hand has been demonstrated by the members of the Non-Aligned Movement, members of the Conference on Disarmament, in accepting the proposal to establish an ad hoc committee under item 1 of the Conference on Disarmament’s agenda to negotiate a convention on the prohibition of the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices. They emphasised that this flexibility should be reciprocated by others through their agreement on the establishment of an ad hoc committee on nuclear disarmament as well as during the course of the negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament on fissile materials (Decision CD/1547). 

 

(Final Document, Para 119) The Heads of State or Government reiterated their conviction of the validity of the unanimous conclusion of the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice that “There exists an obligation to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control”, and recognised that the unanimous conclusion contained in the International Court of Justice’s Advisory Opinion has identified existing international law obligations. In this connection, they reiterated their call upon all States to immediately fulfil that obligation by commencing multilateral negotiations leading to an early conclusion of a nuclear weapons convention prohibiting the development, production, testing, deployment, stockpiling, transfer, threat or use of threat of nuclear weapons and providing for their elimination. 

 

(Final Document, Para 139) The Heads of State or Government welcomed the initiative by H E. Mohammed Hosni Mubarak, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, in June 1998, to achieve a world free from all weapons of mass destruction, in particular nuclear weapons and to convene as soon as possible an international conference to consider this issue. 

 

Nuclear-Weapon States Obligations

 

(Final Document, Para 113) The Heads of State or Government reiterated that with the end of the Cold War, there is no justification for the maintenance of nuclear arsenals, or concepts of international security based on promoting and developing military alliances and policies of nuclear deterrence. They noted and welcomed the various international initiatives, which stress that with the end of the Cold War the opportunity now exists for the international community to pursue nuclear disarmament as a matter of the highest priority. They also noted that the present situation whereby Nuclear Weapon States insist that nuclear weapons provide unique security benefits, and yet monopolise the right to own them, is highly discriminatory, unstable and cannot be sustained. These weapons continued to represent a threat to the survival of the mankind. The Heads of State or Government recalled their principled positions on nuclear disarmament and the related issues of nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear tests. They expressed their concern at the slow pace of progress towards nuclear disarmament, which constitutes their primary disarmament objective. They noted the complexities arising from nuclear tests in South Asia, which underlined the need to work even harder to achieve their disarmament objectives, including elimination of nuclear weapons. They considered positively the commitment by the parties concerned in the region to exercise restraint, which contributes to regional security, to discontinue nuclear tests and not to transfer nuclear weapons-related material, equipment and technology. They further stressed the significance of universal adherence to the CTBT, including by all Nuclear Weapon States, and commencement of negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament on fissile materials (decision CD/1547), which, inter-alia, should accelerate the process of nuclear disarmament. They also stressed their positions against unilateral, coercive or discriminatory measures which have been applied against Non-Aligned countries. They reiterated the need for bilateral dialogue to secure peaceful solutions on all outstanding issues and the promotion of confidence and security building measures and mutual trust. They recalled that the Cartagena Summit had called for the adoption of an action plan for the elimination of nuclear weapons within a time-bound framework. They once again called upon the international community to join them in negotiating and implementing universal, non-discriminatory disarmament measures and mutually agreed confidence-building measures. They called for an international conference, preferably in 1999, with the objective of arriving at an agreement, before the end of this millennium on a phased programme for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons with a specified framework of time to eliminate all nuclear weapons, to prohibit their development, production, acquisition, testing, stockpiling, transfer, use and threat of use, and to provide for their destruction. 

 

(Final Document, Para 114) The Heads of State or Government reiterated their call on the Conference on Disarmament to establish, as the highest priority, an ad hoc committee to start in 1998 negotiations on a phased programme for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons with a specified framework of time, including a Nuclear Weapons Convention. The Conference on Disarmament shall take into consideration all relevant views and proposals, regarding this issue that have been submitted to it. They also insisted on the need to conclude a universal and legally binding multilateral agreement committing all States to the complete elimination of nuclear weapons. In this context they regretted that some Nuclear Weapons States had adopted inflexible postures which prevented the Conference on Disarmament from commencing these negotiations. They underscored the flexibility, which on the other hand has been demonstrated by the members of the Non-Aligned Movement, members of the Conference on Disarmament, in accepting the proposal to establish an ad hoc committee under item 1 of the Conference on Disarmament’s agenda to negotiate a convention on the prohibition of the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices. They emphasised that this flexibility should be reciprocated by others through their agreement on the establishment of an ad hoc committee on nuclear disarmament as well as during the course of the negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament on fissile materials (Decision CD/1547). 

 

(Final Document, Para 115) In this connection, the Heads of State or Government reiterated that a number of Non-Aligned Movement countries had taken collective initiatives at the United Nations General Assembly sessions to underscore the need for urgent action in the field of nuclear disarmament, as mandated by the Cartagena Summit. They recognisedall of the constructive and useful proposals put forward by members of the Non-Aligned Movement in the Conference on Disarmament on the establishment of an Ad Hoc Committee on nuclear disarmament including the useful work done by Non-Aligned Movement members of the Conference on Disarmament and developing a Programme of Action for the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons within a time-bound framework. The Heads of State or Government took note of the Declaration issued on 9 June 1998 entitled - “Towards a World Free of Nuclear Weapons: Time for a New Agenda”, supported and responded to by a number of States including by some members of the Non-Aligned Movement. They recognised that this Declaration, as well as all other initiatives which have consistently been proposed by the Movement and its members are contributions to the goal of the complete elimination of nuclear weapons and called upon the Nuclear Weapon States to react positively to these initiatives. 

 

(Final Document, Para 116) The Heads of State or Government expressed concern over the failure of the Nuclear Weapon States to demonstrate a genuine commitment with regard to complete nuclear disarmament, and to provide universal, unconditional, and legally binding negative security assurances to all Non-Nuclear Weapon States, and urged the Nuclear Weapon States to immediately commence and conclude without delay negotiations on these assurances. 

 

(Final Document, Para 121) Consistent with the decisions taken by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the Heads of State or Government of States party to the NPT called upon all States party, particularly the Nuclear Weapon States, to fulfil their commitments, particularly those related to Article VI of the Treaty.  They also emphasised the need to ensure and facilitate the exercise of the inalienable right of all states to develop, produce and use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes without discrimination under IAEA safeguards. Undertakings to facilitate participation in the fullest possible exchange of equipment, material and scientific and technological information for the peaceful uses of nuclear energy should be fully implemented. 

 

(Final Document, Para 124) The Heads of State or Government of State signatory to the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty expressed their satisfaction that 150 States have signed the Treaty and 20 States have ratified it thus far. They further expressed their general satisfaction at the progress of establishing the international verification system thus far. They realised, the continued commitment of all State signatories, especially the Nuclear Weapon States, to nuclear disarmament would be essential. 

 

NAM Involvement and Contributions

 

(Final Document, Para 113) The Heads of State or Government reiterated that with the end of the Cold War, there is no justification for the maintenance of nuclear arsenals, or concepts of international security based on promoting and developing military alliances and policies of nuclear deterrence. They noted and welcomed the various international initiatives, which stress that with the end of the Cold War the opportunity now exists for the international community to pursue nuclear disarmament as a matter of the highest priority. They also noted that the present situation whereby Nuclear Weapon States insist that nuclear weapons provide unique security benefits, and yet monopolise the right to own them, is highly discriminatory, unstable and cannot be sustained. These weapons continued to represent a threat to the survival of the mankind. The Heads of State or Government recalled their principled positions on nuclear disarmament and the related issues of nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear tests. They expressed their concern at the slow pace of progress towards nuclear disarmament, which constitutes their primary disarmament objective. They noted the complexities arising from nuclear tests in South Asia, which underlined the need to work even harder to achieve their disarmament objectives, including elimination of nuclear weapons. They considered positively the commitment by the parties concerned in the region to exercise restraint, which contributes to regional security, to discontinue nuclear tests and not to transfer nuclear weapons-related material, equipment and technology. They further stressed the significance of universal adherence to the CTBT, including by all Nuclear Weapon States, and commencement of negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament on fissile materials (decision CD/1547), which, inter-alia, should accelerate the process of nuclear disarmament. They also stressed their positions against unilateral, coercive or discriminatory measures which have been applied against Non-Aligned countries. They reiterated the need for bilateral dialogue to secure peaceful solutions on all outstanding issues and the promotion of confidence and security building measures and mutual trust. They recalled that the Cartagena Summit had called for the adoption of an action plan for the elimination of nuclear weapons within a time-bound framework. They once again called upon the international community to join them in negotiating and implementing universal, non-discriminatory disarmament measures and mutually agreed confidence-building measures. They called for an international conference, preferably in 1999, with the objective of arriving at an agreement, before the end of this millennium on a phased programme for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons with a specified framework of time to eliminate all nuclear weapons, to prohibit their development, production, acquisition, testing, stockpiling, transfer, use and threat of use, and to provide for their destruction. 

 

(Final Document, Para 114) The Heads of State or Government reiterated their call on the Conference on Disarmament to establish, as the highest priority, an ad hoc committee to start in 1998 negotiations on a phased programme for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons with a specified framework of time, including a Nuclear Weapons Convention. The Conference on Disarmament shall take into consideration all relevant views and proposals, regarding this issue that have been submitted to it. They also insisted on the need to conclude a universal and legally binding multilateral agreement committing all States to the complete elimination of nuclear weapons. In this context they regretted that some Nuclear Weapons States had adopted inflexible postures which prevented the Conference on Disarmament from commencing these negotiations. They underscored the flexibility, which on the other hand has been demonstrated by the members of the Non-Aligned Movement, members of the Conference on Disarmament, in accepting the proposal to establish an ad hoc committee under item 1 of the Conference on Disarmament’s agenda to negotiate a convention on the prohibition of the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices. They emphasised that this flexibility should be reciprocated by others through their agreement on the establishment of an ad hoc committee on nuclear disarmament as well as during the course of the negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament on fissile materials (Decision CD/1547). 

 

(Final Document, Para 115) In this connection, the Heads of State or Government reiterated that a number of Non-Aligned Movement countries had taken collective initiatives at the United Nations General Assembly sessions to underscore the need for urgent action in the field of nuclear disarmament, as mandated by the Cartagena Summit. They recognisedall of the constructive and useful proposals put forward by members of the Non-Aligned Movement in the Conference on Disarmament on the establishment of an Ad Hoc Committee on nuclear disarmament including the useful work done by Non-Aligned Movement members of the Conference on Disarmament and developing a Programme of Action for the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons within a time-bound framework. The Heads of State or Government took note of the Declaration issued on 9 June 1998 entitled - “Towards a World Free of Nuclear Weapons: Time for a New Agenda”, supported and responded to by a number of States including by some members of the Non-Aligned Movement. They recognised that this Declaration, as well as all other initiatives which have consistently been proposed by the Movement and its members are contributions to the goal of the complete elimination of nuclear weapons and called upon the Nuclear Weapon States to react positively to these initiatives. 

 

(Final Document, Para 145) The Heads of State or Government expressed once again their support for the convening of the Fourth Special Session on the United Nations General Assembly devoted to Disarmament. They welcomed the adoption by the General Assembly, by consensus, of the resolution on the Convening of the IV Special Session of the General Assembly Devoted to Disarmament. They took note of the deliberations on the matter held by the United Nations Disarmament Commission and directed the Co-ordinating Bureau to entrust the Non-Aligned Movement Working Group on Disarmament with the task of pursuing further the holding of the Fourth Special Session and the related co-ordination during the preparatory process. In this context, they reaffirmed the need to continue to press for further steps leading to its convening with the participation of all Member States of the United Nations as well as the need for SSOD IV to review and assess the implementation of SSOD I. 

 

(Final Document, Para 147) The Heads of State or Government expressed their satisfaction with the work of the Non-Aligned Working Group on Disarmament under the co-ordination of Indonesia and encouraged delegations to continue their active work in this regard. 

 

Disarmament and Development

 

(Final Document, Para 142) The Heads of State or Government reaffirmed that global and regional approaches to disarmament are complementary and could be pursued simultaneously. They urged States in various regions of the world to negotiate agreements to promote greater balance in conventional armaments and restraint in the production and acquisition of conventional arms and, where necessary, for their progressive and balanced reduction, with a view to enhancing international and regional peace and security. They stressed that the peaceful resolution of regional and inter-State disputes is essential for the creation of conditions which would enable States to divert their resources from armaments to economic growth and development. Regional disarmament initiatives, to be practical, needed to take into account the special characteristics of each region and enhance the security of every State of the region concerned. The question of the accumulation of conventional weapons beyond the legitimate requirements of the States for self-defence should also be addressed, taking into account the special characteristics of each region. 

 

Arms Races

 

(Final Document, Para 118) The Heads of State or Government commended the establishment in the Conference on Disarmament of an ad hoc committee, under agenda item 1, entitled “The cessation of the nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmament”, to negotiate a convention on the prohibition of the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices and believe that the proposed convention must constitute a nuclear disarmament measure and not only a non-proliferation measure, and must be an integral step leading to the total elimination of nuclear weapons. The treaty should also promote international cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and should not hinder access to nuclear technology, equipment and material for peaceful purposes by developing countries. 

 

Bilateral Disarmament

 

(Final Document, Para 113) The Heads of State or Government reiterated that with the end of the Cold War, there is no justification for the maintenance of nuclear arsenals, or concepts of international security based on promoting and developing military alliances and policies of nuclear deterrence. They noted and welcomed the various international initiatives, which stress that with the end of the Cold War the opportunity now exists for the international community to pursue nuclear disarmament as a matter of the highest priority. They also noted that the present situation whereby Nuclear Weapon States insist that nuclear weapons provide unique security benefits, and yet monopolise the right to own them, is highly discriminatory, unstable and cannot be sustained. These weapons continued to represent a threat to the survival of the mankind. The Heads of State or Government recalled their principled positions on nuclear disarmament and the related issues of nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear tests. They expressed their concern at the slow pace of progress towards nuclear disarmament, which constitutes their primary disarmament objective. They noted the complexities arising from nuclear tests in South Asia, which underlined the need to work even harder to achieve their disarmament objectives, including elimination of nuclear weapons. They considered positively the commitment by the parties concerned in the region to exercise restraint, which contributes to regional security, to discontinue nuclear tests and not to transfer nuclear weapons-related material, equipment and technology. They further stressed the significance of universal adherence to the CTBT, including by all Nuclear Weapon States, and commencement of negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament on fissile materials (decision CD/1547), which, inter-alia, should accelerate the process of nuclear disarmament. They also stressed their positions against unilateral, coercive or discriminatory measures which have been applied against Non-Aligned countries. They reiterated the need for bilateral dialogue to secure peaceful solutions on all outstanding issues and the promotion of confidence and security building measures and mutual trust. They recalled that the Cartagena Summit had called for the adoption of an action plan for the elimination of nuclear weapons within a time-bound framework. They once again called upon the international community to join them in negotiating and implementing universal, non-discriminatory disarmament measures and mutually agreed confidence-building measures. They called for an international conference, preferably in 1999, with the objective of arriving at an agreement, before the end of this millennium on a phased programme for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons with a specified framework of time to eliminate all nuclear weapons, to prohibit their development, production, acquisition, testing, stockpiling, transfer, use and threat of use, and to provide for their destruction. 

 

Disarmament and Nonproliferation

 

(Final Document, Para 113) The Heads of State or Government reiterated that with the end of the Cold War, there is no justification for the maintenance of nuclear arsenals, or concepts of international security based on promoting and developing military alliances and policies of nuclear deterrence. They noted and welcomed the various international initiatives, which stress that with the end of the Cold War the opportunity now exists for the international community to pursue nuclear disarmament as a matter of the highest priority. They also noted that the present situation whereby Nuclear Weapon States insist that nuclear weapons provide unique security benefits, and yet monopolise the right to own them, is highly discriminatory, unstable and cannot be sustained. These weapons continued to represent a threat to the survival of the mankind. The Heads of State or Government recalled their principled positions on nuclear disarmament and the related issues of nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear tests. They expressed their concern at the slow pace of progress towards nuclear disarmament, which constitutes their primary disarmament objective. They noted the complexities arising from nuclear tests in South Asia, which underlined the need to work even harder to achieve their disarmament objectives, including elimination of nuclear weapons. They considered positively the commitment by the parties concerned in the region to exercise restraint, which contributes to regional security, to discontinue nuclear tests and not to transfer nuclear weapons-related material, equipment and technology. They further stressed the significance of universal adherence to the CTBT, including by all Nuclear Weapon States, and commencement of negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament on fissile materials (decision CD/1547), which, inter-alia, should accelerate the process of nuclear disarmament. They also stressed their positions against unilateral, coercive or discriminatory measures which have been applied against Non-Aligned countries. They reiterated the need for bilateral dialogue to secure peaceful solutions on all outstanding issues and the promotion of confidence and security building measures and mutual trust. They recalled that the Cartagena Summit had called for the adoption of an action plan for the elimination of nuclear weapons within a time-bound framework. They once again called upon the international community to join them in negotiating and implementing universal, non-discriminatory disarmament measures and mutually agreed confidence-building measures. They called for an international conference, preferably in 1999, with the objective of arriving at an agreement, before the end of this millennium on a phased programme for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons with a specified framework of time to eliminate all nuclear weapons, to prohibit their development, production, acquisition, testing, stockpiling, transfer, use and threat of use, and to provide for their destruction. 

 

(Final Document, Para 118) The Heads of State or Government commended the establishment in the Conference on Disarmament of an ad hoc committee, under agenda item 1, entitled “The cessation of the nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmament”, to negotiate a convention on the prohibition of the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices and believe that the proposed convention must constitute a nuclear disarmament measure and not only a non-proliferation measure, and must be an integral step leading to the total elimination of nuclear weapons. The treaty should also promote international cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and should not hinder access to nuclear technology, equipment and material for peaceful purposes by developing countries. 

 

International Humanitarian Law and ICJ

 

(Final Document, Para 119) The Heads of State or Government reiterated their conviction of the validity of the unanimous conclusion of the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice that “There exists an obligation to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control”, and recognised that the unanimous conclusion contained in the International Court of Justice’s Advisory Opinion has identified existing international law obligations. In this connection, they reiterated their call upon all States to immediately fulfil that obligation by commencing multilateral negotiations leading to an early conclusion of a nuclear weapons convention prohibiting the development, production, testing, deployment, stockpiling, transfer, threat or use of threat of nuclear weapons and providing for their elimination. 

 

13th. Summit, Kuala Lumpur - 2003

Nuclear-Weapon States Obligations

 

(Final Document, Para 69) The Heads of State or Government remained deeply concerned at strategic defence doctrines that set out rationales for the use of nuclear weapons. They remained deeply concerned over the "Alliance Strategic Concept" adopted by North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) in April 1999, which not only maintain unjustifiable concepts on international security based on promoting and developing military alliances and policies of nuclear deterrence, but also includes new elements aimed at opening even more the scope for possible use or threat of use of force by NATO. 

 

(Final Document, Para 70) In the context of the Nuclear Posture Review that has been undertaken by the United States of America, the Heads of State or Government expressed serious concern that the development of new types of nuclear weapons are being considered and reiterated that the provision for the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons against Non-Nuclear Weapon States is in contravention of the negative security assurances that have been provided by the Nuclear Weapons States. They restated that the development of new types of nuclear weapons is in contravention with the assurances provided by the Nuclear Weapons States at the time of the conclusion of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty that the Treaty would prevent the improvement of existing nuclear weapons and development of new types of nuclear weapons. 

 

(Final Document, Para 71) The Heads of State or Government reiterated their principled positions on nuclear disarmament and the related issue of nuclear non-proliferation. They also reiterated deep concern over the slow pace of progress towards nuclear disarmament which remains their highest priority. They also expressed their concern about the lack of progress by the Nuclear Weapon States to accomplish the elimination of their arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament. They stressed their concern at the threat to humanity derived from the continued existence of nuclear weapons and of their possible use or threat of use. The Heads of State or Government underscored the need to accomplish the total elimination of nuclear weapons and emphasised, in this regard, the urgent need to commence negotiations without delay. 

 

(Final Document, Para 79) The Heads of State or Government reiterated the Movement’s long-standing principled position for the total elimination of all nuclear testing. They stressed the significance of achieving universal adherence to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), including by all the Nuclear Weapons States, which, inter alia, should contribute to the process of nuclear disarmament. They expressed their satisfaction that 166 States have signed the Treaty and 97 States have ratified it thus far. They reiterated that if the objectives of the Treaty were to be fully realised, the continued commitment of all States signatories, especially the Nuclear Weapon States, to nuclear disarmament would be essential. 

 

(Final Document, Para 82) The Heads of State or Government of the States Parties to the NPT welcomed the outcome of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty. In this regard, they reiterated their call and the firm commitment by all States parties to the Treaty and called for the full implementation of the unequivocal undertaking given by the Nuclear Weapons States to the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals. They expected that this undertaking be demonstrated without delay through an accelerated process of negotiations and through the full implementation of the thirteen practical steps to advance systematically and progressively towards a nuclear-weapon-free world. Pending the total elimination of nuclear weapons, they also recalled that the 2000 Review Conference in its Final Document reiterated that legally binding security assurances by the five nuclear weapons states to the non-nuclear weapon States Parties to the Treaty strengthen the nuclear nonproliferation regime. They took note of the First Preparatory meeting for the 2005 NPT Review Conference and emphasised the need for a substantive interaction beyond formal exchange of views between the States Parties at these meetings. The issues raised at the Preparatory meetings need to be addressed so as to continue strengthening the implementation of the Treaty and the undertakings agreed upon at the 2000 NPT Review Conference, and also to lay the necessary foundation for the development of recommendations at the Third Preparatory session for the 2005 Review Conference. They recalled that specific time was made available at the 2000 Review Conference and its Third Preparatory session for the discussion on and consideration of proposals on the provisions in Article VI of the NPT and in paragraphs 3 and 4 (C) of the 1995 decision on "Principles and Objectives for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament", dealing with nuclear disarmament, as well as on the Resolution on the Middle East adopted at the 1995 Review and Extension Conference. In this context, they reaffirmed the importance to establish at the 2005 Review Conference a subsidiary body to Main Committee I to deliberate on practical steps for systematic and progressive efforts to eliminate nuclear weapons, as well as a subsidiary body to Main Committee II to consider and recommend proposals on the implementation of the resolution on the Middle East adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the NPT. In this regard, they emphasised the need for Preparatory Committee meetings to continue to allocate specific time for deliberations on nuclear disarmament, implementation of the 1995 resolution on the Middle East, and security assurances. They also welcomed the accession of Cuba to the NPT. 

 

Disarmament and Development

 

(Final Document, Para 99) The Heads of State or Government stressed the importance of the reduction of military expenditures, in accordance with the principle of undiminished security at the lowest level of armaments, and urged all States to devote resources made available therefrom to economic and social development, in particular in the fight against poverty. They expressed their firm support for unilateral, bilateral and multilateral measures adopted by some governments aimed at reducing military expenditures, thereby contributing to strengthening regional and international peace and security. They recognize that confidence building measures (CBMs) assist in this regard. They took note of the measures being examined by some governments such as the Andean Community of Nations. 

 

Nuclear Weapon Convention

 

(Final Document, Para 74) The Heads of State or Government reaffirmed the importance of the Conference on Disarmament as the sole multilateral negotiating body on disarmament. They regretted that the continued inflexible postures of some of the Nuclear Weapon States continue to prevent the Conference on Disarmament from establishing an Ad Hoc Committee on Nuclear Disarmament. They emphasised the necessity to start negotiations on a phased programme for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons with a specified framework of time, including a Nuclear Weapons Convention. They reiterated their call on the Conference on Disarmament to establish as soon as possible and as the highest priority, an Ad Hoc Committee on Nuclear Disarmament. They underlined once again the unanimous conclusion of the International Court of Justice that there exists an obligation to pursue in good faith and to bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control. In this regard, they regretted that no progress has been made in the fulfilment of this obligation despite the lapse of six years. 

 

(Final Document, Para 75) The Heads of State or Government again called for an international conference, at the earliest possible date, with the objective of arriving at an agreement on a phased programme for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons with a specified framework of time to eliminate all nuclear weapons, to prohibit their development, production, acquisition, testing, stockpiling, transfer, use or threat of use, and to provide for their destruction. In this context, they reiterated the resolve at the Millennium Summit by the Heads of State or Government as contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration to strive for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, in particular nuclear weapons, and to keep all options open for achieving this aim, including the possibility of convening an international conference to identify ways and means of eliminating nuclear dangers. 

 

Arms Races

 

(Final Document, Para 77) The Heads of State or Government continued to be concerned over the negative implications of the development and deployment of anti-ballistic missile defence systems and the pursuit of advanced military technologies capable of being deployed in outer space which have, inter alia, contributed to the further erosion of an international climate conducive to the promotion of disarmament and the strengthening of international security. The abrogation of the Treaty on the Limitation of Anti-ballistic Missiles (ABM) brings new challenges to strategic stability and the prevention of an arms race in outer space. They remained concerned that the implementation of a national missile defence system could trigger an arms race(s) and the further development of advanced missile systems and an increase in the number of nuclear weapons. In accordance with United Nations General Assembly Resolution 57/57, they emphasised the urgent need for the commencement of substantive work, in the Conference on Disarmament, on the prevention of an arms race in outer space. 

 

Bilateral Disarmament

 

(Final Document, Para 72) The Heads of State or Government, while noting the signing of the Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reduction between the Russian Federation and the United States on 24 May 2002, stressed that reductions in deployments and in operational status cannot substitute for irreversible cuts in, and the total elimination of, nuclear weapons. 

 

Disarmament and Nonproliferation

 

(Final Document, Para 71) The Heads of State or Government reiterated their principled positions on nuclear disarmament and the related issue of nuclear non-proliferation. They also reiterated deep concern over the slow pace of progress towards nuclear disarmament which remains their highest priority. They also expressed their concern about the lack of progress by the Nuclear Weapon States to accomplish the elimination of their arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament. They stressed their concern at the threat to humanity derived from the continued existence of nuclear weapons and of their possible use or threat of use. The Heads of State or Government underscored the need to accomplish the total elimination of nuclear weapons and emphasised, in this regard, the urgent need to commence negotiations without delay. 

 

(Final Document, Para 100) The Heads of State or Government expressed their satisfaction with the consensus among states on measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction. They welcomed the adoption by consensus of the General Assembly Resolution 57/83 entitled “Measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction” and underlined the need for this threat to humanity to be addressed within the United Nations framework and through international NAM. While stressing that the most effective way of preventing terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction is through the total elimination of such weapons, they emphasized that progress was urgently needed in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation in order to help maintain international peace and security and to contribute to global efforts against terrorism. They called upon all member states to support international efforts to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. They also urged all member states to take and strengthen national measures, as appropriate, to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction, their means of delivery and materials and technologies related to their manufacture. 

 

(Final Document, Para 101) The Heads of State or Government commended the co-ordination carried out by the NAM Working Group on Disarmament and encouraged delegations to continue their active work on issues of common concern to the Movement, particularly towards ensuring respect for the principles of multilateralism and transparency in the areas of disarmament and non-proliferation. 

 

International Humanitarian Law and ICJ

 

(Final Document, Para 74) The Heads of State or Government reaffirmed the importance of the Conference on Disarmament as the sole multilateral negotiating body on disarmament. They regretted that the continued inflexible postures of some of the Nuclear Weapon States continue to prevent the Conference on Disarmament from establishing an Ad Hoc Committee on Nuclear Disarmament. They emphasised the necessity to start negotiations on a phased programme for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons with a specified framework of time, including a Nuclear Weapons Convention. They reiterated their call on the Conference on Disarmament to establish as soon as possible and as the highest priority, an Ad Hoc Committee on Nuclear Disarmament. They underlined once again the unanimous conclusion of the International Court of Justice that there exists an obligation to pursue in good faith and to bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control. In this regard, they regretted that no progress has been made in the fulfilment of this obligation despite the lapse of six years. 

 

Modernization and Development of Nuclear Weapons

 

(Final Document, Para 70) In the context of the Nuclear Posture Review that has been undertaken by the United States of America, the Heads of State or Government expressed serious concern that the development of new types of nuclear weapons are being considered and reiterated that the provision for the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons against Non-Nuclear Weapon States is in contravention of the negative security assurances that have been provided by the Nuclear Weapons States. They restated that the development of new types of nuclear weapons is in contravention with the assurances provided by the Nuclear Weapons States at the time of the conclusion of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty that the Treaty would prevent the improvement of existing nuclear weapons and development of new types of nuclear weapons. 

 

(Final Document, Para 77) The Heads of State or Government continued to be concerned over the negative implications of the development and deployment of anti-ballistic missile defence systems and the pursuit of advanced military technologies capable of being deployed in outer space which have, inter alia, contributed to the further erosion of an international climate conducive to the promotion of disarmament and the strengthening of international security. The abrogation of the Treaty on the Limitation of Anti-ballistic Missiles (ABM) brings new challenges to strategic stability and the prevention of an arms race in outer space. They remained concerned that the implementation of a national missile defence system could trigger an arms race(s) and the further development of advanced missile systems and an increase in the number of nuclear weapons. In accordance with United Nations General Assembly Resolution 57/57, they emphasised the urgent need for the commencement of substantive work, in the Conference on Disarmament, on the prevention of an arms race in outer space. 

 

Missiles

 

(Final Document, Para 77) The Heads of State or Government continued to be concerned over the negative implications of the development and deployment of anti-ballistic missile defence systems and the pursuit of advanced military technologies capable of being deployed in outer space which have, inter alia, contributed to the further erosion of an international climate conducive to the promotion of disarmament and the strengthening of international security. The abrogation of the Treaty on the Limitation of Anti-ballistic Missiles (ABM) brings new challenges to strategic stability and the prevention of an arms race in outer space. They remained concerned that the implementation of a national missile defence system could trigger an arms race(s) and the further development of advanced missile systems and an increase in the number of nuclear weapons. In accordance with United Nations General Assembly Resolution 57/57, they emphasised the urgent need for the commencement of substantive work, in the Conference on Disarmament, on the prevention of an arms race in outer space. 

 

(Final Document, Para 78) The Heads of State or Government welcomed the report prepared by the Panel of Governmental Experts on the Issue of Missiles in all its aspects, which marked the first time the United Nations considered this issue. They noted with satisfaction the convening of another Panel of Governmental Experts to explore further the issue of missiles in all its aspects. They remained convinced of the need for a multilaterally negotiated, universal, comprehensive and non-discriminatory approach towards missiles in all its aspects as a contribution to international peace and security. Pending the achievement of such a universal mechanism related to delivery systems for weapons of mass destruction, any initiative to address these concerns effectively and in a sustainable and comprehensive manner should be through an inclusive process of negotiations in a forum where all States could participate as equals. They stressed the importance of the security concerns of all States at regional and international levels in any approach to the issue of missiles in all its aspects. In this context, they emphasised the role of the Conference on Disarmament as the sole multilateral disarmament negotiating body of the international community. 

 

NAM Involvement and Contributions

 

(Final Document, Para 67) The Heads of State or Government reaffirmed and reiterated the long-standing principled positions of the Movement on disarmament and international security, including the decisions taken at the XII Summit in Durban and the XIII Ministerial Conference in Cartagena. 

 

(Final Document, Para 92) The Heads of State or Government remained deeply concerned over the illicit transfer, manufacture and circulation of small arms and light weapons and their excessive accumulation and uncontrolled spread in many regions of the world. They welcomed the adoption by consensus of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects at the United Nations Conference held from 9 - 20 July 2001 in New York which outlines a realistic, achievable and comprehensive approach, to address the problems associated with the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons on the national, regional and global levels. They remained deeply concerned over the inability of the Conference to agree, due to the position of one State, on language recognising the need to establish and maintain controls over private ownership of small arms, and the need for preventing sales of such arms to non-State groups. They considered that these issues are directly related to the problems associated with the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons faced by many Members of the Movement. They reiterated their call on all States to ensure that the supply of small arms and light weapons is limited only to Governments or to entities duly authorised by Governments and to implement legal restrictions on the unrestricted trade in and ownership of small arms and light weapons. They emphasized the importance of early and full implementation of the Programme of Action. They welcomed the decision to convene the First United Nations Biennial Meeting of States on the Implementation of the Programme of Action of the United Nations Conference to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in all its Aspects in New York on 7 – 11 July 2003 to consider national, regional and global implementation of the Programme of Action. In this regard, they encouraged the Member States to continue to play an active role in defining and elaborating the objectives of all future Conferences. They encouraged all initiatives to mobilize resources and expertise to promote implementation of the Programme of Action and to provide assistance to States in their implementation of the Programme of Action. They also welcomed the decision of convening the Review Conference in 2006 and stressed the need for a representative of the Movement to preside over the Conference. 

 

(Final Document, Para 101) The Heads of State or Government commended the co-ordination carried out by the NAM Working Group on Disarmament and encouraged delegations to continue their active work on issues of common concern to the Movement, particularly towards ensuring respect for the principles of multilateralism and transparency in the areas of disarmament and non-proliferation. 

 

14th. Summit, Havana - 2006

Nuclear-Weapon States Obligations

 

(Final Document, Para 74) The Heads of State or Government reaffirmed the Movement’s principled positions on nuclear disarmament, which remains its highest priority, and on the related issue of nuclear non-proliferation in all its aspects and stressed the importance that efforts aiming at non-proliferation should be parallel to simultaneous efforts aiming at nuclear disarmament. They stressed their concern at the threat to humanity posed by the continued existence of nuclear weapons and of their possible use or threat of use. They reiterated deep concern over the slow pace of progress towards nuclear disarmament and the lack of progress by the nuclear weapons-States (NWS) to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals. They underscored the need for the NWS to implement the unequivocal undertaking that they provided in 2000 so as toaccomplish the total elimination of nuclear weapons and emphasised, in this regard, the urgent need to commence negotiations without delay. 

 

(Final Document, Para 75) The Heads of State or Government remained deeply concerned at strategic defence doctrines of NWS, including the “NATO Alliance Strategic Concept”, which not only set out rationales for the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, but also maintain unjustifiable concepts on international security based on promoting and developing military alliances and nuclear deterrence policies. 

 

(Final Document, Para 83) The Heads of State or Government stressed the significance of achieving universal adherence to the CTBT, including by all NWS, which, inter alia, should contribute to the process of nuclear disarmament. They reiterated that if the objectives of the Treaty were to be fully realised, the continued commitment of all States signatories, especially the NWS, to nuclear disarmament would be essential. 

 

(Final Document, Para 84) The Heads of State or Government, while noting the entry into force of the 2002 Moscow Treaty between the Russian Federation and the United States, stressed that reductions in deployments and in operational status cannot substitute for irreversible cuts in, and the total elimination of, nuclear weapons, and called on the United States and the Russian Federation to apply the principles of transparency, irreversibility and verifiability to further reduce their nuclear arsenals, both warheads and delivery systems, under the Treaty. 

 

(Final Document, Para 92) The Heads of State or Government of the States Parties to the NPT, while reaffirming the package of agreements of the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the NPT and the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the NPT, expressed their disappointment at the inability of the 2005 Review Conference of the NPT to agree on substantive recommendations. They reiterated their call for the firm commitment by all States parties to the Treaty to the implementation of all the provisions of the Treaty and called for the full implementation of the 13 practical steps for systematic and progressive efforts to implement Article VI of the Treaty, particularly an unequivocal undertaking by the NWS to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament. Pending the total elimination of nuclear weapons, they also recalled that the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the NPT reiterated that legally binding security assurances by the five NWS to the non-NWS parties to the Treaty strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation regime. They underlined the importance to establish subsidiary bodies to the relevant Main Committees of the 2010 Review Conference of the NPT to deliberate on practical steps for systematic and progressive efforts to eliminate nuclear weapons; to consider and recommend proposals on the implementation of the resolution on the Middle East adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the NPT; and to consider security assurances. In this regard, they emphasised the need for the Preparatory Committee meetings to continue to allocate specific time for deliberations on nuclear disarmament, implementation of the 1995 resolution on the Middle East and security assurances. They recalled the agreement that the Review Conference will be chaired by a representative from the Movement. 

 

Disarmament and Nonproliferation

 

(Final Document, Para 71) The Heads of State or Government expressed deep concern over the current difficult and complex situation in the field of disarmament and international security. In this regard, they called for renewed efforts to resolve the current impasse in achieving nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation in all its aspects. 

 

(Final Document, Para 72) While reaffirming the absolute validity of multilateral diplomacy in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation, the Heads of State or Government expressed their determination to promote multilateralism as the core principle of negotiations in the area of disarmament and nonproliferation, and in this regard, they welcomed the adoption of General Assembly Resolution 60/59 on Promotion on multilateralism in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation. 

 

(Final Document, Para 74) The Heads of State or Government reaffirmed the Movement’s principled positions on nuclear disarmament, which remains its highest priority, and on the related issue of nuclear non-proliferation in all its aspects and stressed the importance that efforts aiming at non-proliferation should be parallel to simultaneous efforts aiming at nuclear disarmament. They stressed their concern at the threat to humanity posed by the continued existence of nuclear weapons and of their possible use or threat of use. They reiterated deep concern over the slow pace of progress towards nuclear disarmament and the lack of progress by the nuclear weapons-States (NWS) to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals. They underscored the need for the NWS to implement the unequivocal undertaking that they provided in 2000 so as toaccomplish the total elimination of nuclear weapons and emphasised, in this regard, the urgent need to commence negotiations without delay. 

 

(Final Document, Para 77) The Heads of State or Government emphasised that progress in nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation in all its aspects is essential to strengthening international peace and security. They reaffirmed that efforts toward nuclear disarmament, global and regional approaches and confidence building measures complement each other and should, wherever possible, be pursued simultaneously to promote regional and international peace and security. 

 

(Final Document, Para 88) The Heads of State or Government believed that the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones (NWFZs) created by the treaties of Tlatelolco, Rarotonga, Bangkok, Pelindaba and Mongolia’s nuclear-weapon-free-status are positive steps and important measures towards strengthening global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. They welcomed the signing of the Treaty on a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia in Semipalatinsk on 8 September 2006 by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, and considered the establishment of that zone as an effective contribution to strengthening regional and global peace and security. They reiterated that in the context of nuclear-weapon-free zones (NWFZs), it is essential that NWS should provide unconditional assurances against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons to all States of the zone. They urged States to conclude agreements freely arrived at among the States of the region concerned with a view to establishing new NWFZs in regions where they do not exist, in accordance with the provisions of the Final Document of the First Special Session of the General Assembly devoted to Disarmament (SSOD-I) and the principles adopted by the 1999 UN Disarmament Commission. They noted with satisfaction the convening of the First Conference of the States Parties and Signatories to Treaties that Establish Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones, held in Tlatelolco, Mexico, from 26 to 28 April 2005, and in this context, called on the States parties and signatories to the Treaties of NWFZs to implement further ways and means of co-operation among themselves, their treaty agencies and other interested States. 

 

NAM Involvement and Contributions

 

(Final Document, Para 70) The Heads of State or Government reaffirmed and reiterated the long-standing principled positions of the Movement on disarmament and international security, including the decisions taken at the XII Summit in Durban in 1998, the XIII Summit in Kuala Lumpur in 2003, the XIII Ministerial Conference in Cartagena in 2000, the XIV Ministerial Conference in Durban in 2004 and the Ministerial Meeting held in Putrajaya, Malaysia, in May 2006. 

 

(Final Document, Para 110) The Heads of State or Government emphasized the importance of early and full implementation of the Programme of Action, and in this regard, stressed that international assistance and cooperation is an essential aspect in the full implementation of the Programme of Action. They expressed disappointment at the inability of the UN Conference to Review the Progress made in the Implementation of the Program of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in SALW in All Its Aspects, held in New York, from 26 June to 7 July 2006, to agree on a final document. They reaffirmed the total validity of the Programme of Action and encouraged the NAM delegations to coordinate efforts in the UN with a view to reaching agreement on a follow-up to the Programme of Action in order to ensure its full implementation. They called for the full implementation of the international instrument to enable States to identify and trace in a timely and reliable manner the illicit small arms and light weapons, which was adopted by the General Assembly. 

 

(Final Document, Para 116) The Heads of State or Government commended the continued work of the NAM Working Group on Disarmament, under the chairmanship of Indonesia, in coordinating issues of common concern to the Movement in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation. They encouraged all NAM delegations to actively participate at the international disarmament meetings with a view to promote and achieve the objectives of the Movement. 

 

(Final Document, Para 117) Consistent with and guided by the aforementioned principled positions and affirming the need to promote, defend and preserve these positions, the Heads of State or Government agreed to:  

117.1. Continue to pursue the positions and priorities of the Movement, as appropriate, in the relevant international fora;  

117.2. Task the NAM Coordinating Bureau to undertake efforts, as appropriate, with a view to achieving the objectives of the Movement at disarmament and international security meetings. 

 

Disarmament and Development

 

(Final Document, Para 115) The Heads of State or Government stressed the importance of the symbiotic relationship between disarmament and development and the important role of security in this connection, and expressed concern at the increasing global military expenditure, which could otherwise be spent on development needs. They further stressed the importance of the reduction of military expenditures, in accordance with the principle of undiminished security at the lowest level of armaments, and urged all States to devote resources made available from there to economic and social development, in particular in the fight against poverty. They expressed firm support for unilateral, bilateral, regional and multilateral measures adopted by some governments aimed at reducing military expenditures, thereby contributing to strengthening regional and international peace and security and recognised that confidence building measures assisted in this regard. 

 

Bilateral Disarmament

 

(Final Document, Para 84) The Heads of State or Government, while noting the entry into force of the 2002 Moscow Treaty between the Russian Federation and the United States, stressed that reductions in deployments and in operational status cannot substitute for irreversible cuts in, and the total elimination of, nuclear weapons, and called on the United States and the Russian Federation to apply the principles of transparency, irreversibility and verifiability to further reduce their nuclear arsenals, both warheads and delivery systems, under the Treaty. 

 

Disarmament and the Environment

 

(Final Document, Para 90) The Heads of State or Government emphasised the importance of the observance of environmental norms in the preparation and implementation of disarmament and arms limitation agreements. They reaffirmed that international disarmament forums should take fully into account the relevant environmental norms in negotiating treaties and agreements on disarmament and arms limitation and that all States, through their actions, should contribute fully to ensuring compliance with the aforementioned norms in the implementation of treaties and conventions to which they are parties. 

 

Nuclear Weapon Convention

 

(Final Document, Para 79) The Heads of State or Government reaffirmed the importance of the Conference on Disarmament (CD) as the sole multilateral negotiating body on disarmament, and reiterated their call on the CD to agree on a balanced and comprehensive program of work by establishing, inter alia, an ad hoc committee on nuclear disarmament as soon as possible and as the highest priority. They emphasised the necessity to start negotiations on a phased programme for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons with a specified framework of time, including a Nuclear Weapons Convention. They reaffirmed the importance of the unanimous conclusion of the ICJ that there exists an obligation to pursue in good faith and to bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control. 

 

(Final Document, Para 81) The Heads of State or Government again called for an international conference to identify ways and means of eliminating nuclear dangers, at the earliest possible date, with the objective of arriving at an agreement on a phased programme for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons with a specified framework of time to eliminate all nuclear weapons, to prohibit their development, production, acquisition, testing, stockpiling, transfer, use or threat of use, and to provide for their destruction. 

 

International Humanitarian Law and ICJ

 

(Final Document, Para 79) The Heads of State or Government reaffirmed the importance of the Conference on Disarmament (CD) as the sole multilateral negotiating body on disarmament, and reiterated their call on the CD to agree on a balanced and comprehensive program of work by establishing, inter alia, an ad hoc committee on nuclear disarmament as soon as possible and as the highest priority. They emphasised the necessity to start negotiations on a phased programme for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons with a specified framework of time, including a Nuclear Weapons Convention. They reaffirmed the importance of the unanimous conclusion of the ICJ that there exists an obligation to pursue in good faith and to bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control.  

 

Arms Races

 

(Final Document, Para 85) The Heads of State or Government continued to be concerned over the negative implications of the development and deployment of anti-ballistic missile (ABM) defence systems and the pursuit of advanced military technologies capable of being deployed in outer space which have, inter alia, contributed to the further erosion of an international climate conducive to the promotion of disarmament and the strengthening of international security. The abrogation of the ABM Treaty brings new challenges to strategic stability and the prevention of the arms race in outer space. They remained concerned that the implementation of a national missile defence system could trigger an arms race(s) and the further development of advanced missile systems and an increase in the number of nuclear weapons.  

 

(Final Document, Para 86) The Heads of State or Government recognised the common interest of all mankind in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, andemphasised that prevention of an arms race in outer space would avert a grave danger for international peace and security. They further emphasised the paramount importance of strict compliance with existing arms limitation and disarmament agreements relevant to outer space, including bilateral agreements, and with the existing legal regime concerning the use of outer space. They also emphasised the urgent need for the commencement of substantive work in the CD on the prevention of an arms race in outer space. 

 

Modernization and Development of Nuclear Weapons

 

(Final Document, Para 76) The Heads of State or Government reiterated that the improvement in the existing nuclear weapons and the development of new types of nuclear weapons as envisaged in the United States Nuclear Posture Review contravene the security assurances provided by the NWS. They further reaffirmed that these improvements as well as the development of new types of such weapons violate the commitments undertaken by the NWS at the time of the conclusion of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). 

 

(Final Document, Para 85) The Heads of State or Government continued to be concerned over the negative implications of the development and deployment of anti-ballistic missile (ABM) defence systems and the pursuit of advanced military technologies capable of being deployed in outer space which have, inter alia, contributed to the further erosion of an international climate conducive to the promotion of disarmament and the strengthening of international security. The abrogation of the ABM Treaty brings new challenges to strategic stability and the prevention of the arms race in outer space. They remained concerned that the implementation of a national missile defence system could trigger an arms race(s) and the further development of advanced missile systems and an increase in the number of nuclear weapons.  

 

Missiles

 

(Final Document, Para 85) The Heads of State or Government continued to be concerned over the negative implications of the development and deployment of anti-ballistic missile (ABM) defence systems and the pursuit of advanced military technologies capable of being deployed in outer space which have, inter alia, contributed to the further erosion of an international climate conducive to the promotion of disarmament and the strengthening of international security. The abrogation of the ABM Treaty brings new challenges to strategic stability and the prevention of the arms race in outer space. They remained concerned that the implementation of a national missile defence system could trigger an arms race(s) and the further development of advanced missile systems and an increase in the number of nuclear weapons. 

 

(Final Document, Para 87) The Heads of State or Government remained convinced of the need for a multilaterally negotiated, universal, comprehensive, transparent, and non-discriminatory approach toward missiles in all its aspects as a contribution to international peace and security. They expressed their support for efforts to be continued within the UN to explore further the issue of missiles in all its aspects. In this regard, they emphasised the need to keep the issue under the agenda of the UN General Assembly and that in accordance with its Resolution 59/67 a Panel of Governmental Experts on the issue of missiles in all its aspects would be established in 2007. Pending the achievement of such a universal mechanism related to delivery systems for weapons of mass destruction, any initiative to address these concerns effectively and in a sustainable and comprehensive manner should be through an inclusive process of negotiations in a forum where all States could participate as equals. They stressed the importance of the security concerns of all States at regional and global levels in any approach to the issue of missiles in all its aspects. 

 

15th. Summit, Sharm el Sheikh - 2009

Nuclear-Weapon States Obligations

 

(Final Document, Para 106) The Heads of State and Government reaffirmed the Movement’s principled positions on nuclear disarmament, which remains its highest priority, and on the related issue of nuclear non-proliferation in all its aspects and stressed the importance that efforts aiming at nuclear non-proliferation should be parallel to simultaneous efforts aiming at nuclear disarmament. They stressed their concern at the threat to humanity posed by the continued existence of nuclear weapons and of their possible use or threat of use. They reiterated deep concern over the slow pace of progress towards nuclear disarmament and the lack of progress by the Nuclear Weapons-States (NWS) to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals. They underscored the need for the NWS to implement the unequivocal undertaking that they provided in 2000 so as toaccomplish the total elimination of nuclear weapons and emphasized, in this regard, the urgent need to commence negotiations on nuclear disarmament without delay. 

 

(Final Document, Para 107) The Heads of State and Government, while noting the recent statements by NWS of their intention to pursue actions in achieving a world free of nuclear weapons, reaffirmed the need for urgent concrete actions by the NWS to achieve this goal. 

 

(Final Document, Para 109) The Heads of State and Government reiterated that improvements in existing nuclear weapons and the development of new types of nuclear weapons as envisaged in the United States Nuclear Posture Review contravene the security assurances provided by the NWS. They further reaffirmed that these improvements as well as the development of new types of such weapons violate the commitments undertaken by the NWS at the time of the conclusion of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). 

 

(Final Document, Para 117) The Heads of State and Government stressed the significance of achieving universal adherence to the CTBT, including by all NWS, which, inter alia, should contribute to the process of nuclear disarmament. They reiterated that if the objectives of the Treaty were to be fully realized, the continued commitment of all States signatories, especially the NWS, to nuclear disarmament would be essential. 

 

(Final Document, Para 118) The Heads of State and Government, while noting the entry into force of the 2002 Moscow Treaty between the Russian Federation and the United States, stressed that reductions in deployments and in operational status cannot substitute for irreversible cuts in, and the total elimination of, nuclear weapons, and called on the United States and the Russian Federation to apply the principles of transparency, irreversibility and verifiability to further reduce their nuclear arsenals, both warheads and delivery systems, under the Treaty. While taking note of the positive signals by the United States and the Russian Federation on their negotiations on the replacement of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I), which is due to expire by the end of 2009, the Heads of State and Government urged them to conclude such negotiations urgently in order to achieve further deep cuts in their strategic and tactical nuclear weapons. The Heads of State and Government further stressed that such cuts should be irreversible, verifiable and transparent. 

 

(Final Document, Para 128) The Heads of State and Government of the States Parties to the NPT, while reaffirming the package of agreements of the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the NPT and the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the NPT, reiterated their disappointment at the inability of the 2005 Review Conference of the NPT to agree on substantive recommendations. While recognizing the crucial role of the NPT in nuclear disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, the Heads of State and Government of the States Parties to the NPT agreed to make every effort to reach a successful outcome at the 2010 Review Conference of the NPT and called upon nuclear weapon States, to reiterate their full respect to their obligations under the Treaty, in particular in the area of nuclear disarmament, and the outcomes of its Review Conferences, in particular the 1995 Review and Extension Conference and the 2000 Review Conference and undertake practical measures thereto in order to arrive at a successful outcome of the 2010 Review Conference. 

 

Final Document, Para 129) The Heads of State and Government of the States Parties to the NPT reiterated their call for the firm commitment by all States parties to the Treaty to the implementation of all the provisions of the Treaty and called for the full implementation of the 13 practical steps for systematic and progressive efforts to implement Article VI of the Treaty, particularly an unequivocal undertaking by the NWS to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament. Pending the total elimination of nuclear weapons, they also recalled that the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the NPT reiterated that legally binding security assurances by the five NWS to the non-NWS parties to the Treaty strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation regime. They underlined the importance to establish subsidiary bodies to the relevant Main Committees of the 2010 Review Conference of the NPT to deliberate on practical steps for systematic and progressive efforts to eliminate nuclear weapons; to consider and recommend proposals on the implementation of the resolution on the Middle East adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the NPT; and to consider and adopt a legally binding international instrument on unconditional security assurances to non nuclear weapon states. In this regard, they emphasized the need for the Preparatory Committee meetings to continue to allocate specific time for deliberations on nuclear disarmament, implementation of the 1995 resolution on the Middle East and security assurances. They recalled the agreement that the Review Conference will be chaired by a representative from the Movement. 

 

Disarmament and Nonproliferation

 

(Final Document, Para 103) The Heads of State and Government reiterated their continued grave concern over the current difficult and complex situation in the field of disarmament and international security. In this regard, they called for renewed efforts to resolve the current impasse in achieving nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation in all its aspects. 

 

(Final Document, Para 104) While reaffirming the absolute validity of multilateral diplomacy in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation, the Heads of State and Government reiterated their determination to promote multilateralism as the core principle of negotiations in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation, and in this regard, they welcomed the adoption of General Assembly Resolution 63/50 on Promotion of multilateralism in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation. 

 

(Final Document, Para 106) The Heads of State and Government reaffirmed the Movement’s principled positions on nuclear disarmament, which remains its highest priority, and on the related issue of nuclear non-proliferation in all its aspects and stressed the importance that efforts aiming at nuclear non-proliferation should be parallel to simultaneous efforts aiming at nuclear disarmament. They stressed their concern at the threat to humanity posed by the continued existence of nuclear weapons and of their possible use or threat of use. They reiterated deep concern over the slow pace of progress towards nuclear disarmament and the lack of progress by the Nuclear Weapons-States (NWS) to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals. They underscored the need for the NWS to implement the unequivocal undertaking that they provided in 2000 so as toaccomplish the total elimination of nuclear weapons and emphasized, in this regard, the urgent need to commence negotiations on nuclear disarmament without delay. 

 

(Final Document, Para 110) The Heads of State and Government emphasized that progress in nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation in all its aspects is essential to strengthening international peace and security. They reaffirmed that efforts toward nuclear disarmament, global and regional approaches and confidence building measures complement each other and should, wherever possible, be pursued simultaneously to promote regional and international peace and security. 

 

(Final Document, Para 122) The Heads of State and Government believed that the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones (NWFZs) created by the treaties of Tlatelolco, Rarotonga, Bangkok, Pelindaba, the Central Asian nuclear-weapon-free zone treaty as well as Mongolia’s nuclear-weapon-free-status are positive steps and important measures towards strengthening global nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation and they welcomed the entry into force of the Treaty on a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia on 21 March 2009 as an effective contribution to strengthening regional and global peace and security. They reiterated that in the context of NWFZs, it is essential that NWS should provide unconditional assurances against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons to all States of the zone. They urged States to conclude agreements freely arrived at among the States of the region concerned with a view to establishing new NWFZs in regions where they do not exist, in accordance with the provisions of the Final Document of the First Special Session of the General Assembly devoted to Disarmament (SSOD-I) and the principles adopted by the 1999 UN Disarmament Commission. Recalling the convening and the outcome of the First Conference of the States Parties and Signatories to Treaties that Established Nuclear Weapon Free Zones held in Tlatelolco, Mexico, from 26 to 28 April 2005, the Heads of State and Government called on the States parties and signatories to the Treaties of NWFZs to implement further ways and means of co-operation among themselves, their treaty agencies and other interested States. In this regard, they took note of the Focal Points Meeting of NWFZ Treaties and Mongolia, held from 27-28 April 2009 in Ulaanbaatar. They expressed their support for Mongolia’s policy in institutionalizing its nuclear-weapon-free status. In this regard they welcomed the start of the talks by Mongolia with its two neighbours to conclude the required legal instrument and expressed their hope that it would soon result in the conclusion of an international instrument institutionalizing the status. 

 

(Final Document, Para 147) The Heads of State and Government expressed their satisfaction with the consensus among States on measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction. They welcomed the adoption by consensus of the General Assembly Resolution 63/60 entitled “Measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction” and underlined the need for this threat to humanity to be addressed within the UN framework and through international co-operation. While stressing that the most effective way of preventing terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction is through the total elimination of such weapons, they emphasized that progress was urgently needed in the area of disarmament and nonproliferation in order to help maintain international peace and security and to contribute to global efforts against terrorism. They called upon all Member States to support international efforts to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. They also urged all Member States to take and strengthen national measures, as appropriate, to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction, their means of delivery and materials and technologies related to their manufacture. 

 

NAM Involvement and Contributions

 

(Final Document, Para 102) The Heads of State and Government reaffirmed and reiterated the long-standing principled positions of the Movement on disarmament and international security, including the decisions taken at the XII Summit in Durban in 1998, the XIII Summit in Kuala Lumpur in 2003, the XIV Summit in Havana in 2006, the XIII Ministerial Conference in Cartagena in 2000, the XIV Ministerial Conference in Durban in 2004, the Ministerial Meeting held in Putrajaya, Malaysia, in 2006, and the XV Ministerial Conference held in Teheran, Islamic Republic of Iran, in 2008. 

 

(Final Document, Para 111) The Heads of State and Government reaffirmed the importance and the relevance of the UN Disarmament Commission (UNDC) as the sole specialised, deliberative body within the UN multilateral disarmament machinery. They continued to fully support the work of the UNDC and expressed regret that UNDC was unable to reach agreement on recommendations on its two agenda items during substantive sessions of its three-year cycle ending in April 2008 due to the lack of political will and inflexible positions of certain Nuclear Weapons States, despite NAM’s constructive role and concrete proposals throughout the deliberations, especially in the Working Group on “Recommendations for achieving the objective of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons”. The Heads of State and Government, while recalling the proposals submitted by the Movement, during the 2009 substantive session, called upon UN Member States to display the necessary political will and flexibility in order to achieve agreement on its recommendations in the UNDC’s future sessions. 

 

(Final Document, Para 113) The Heads of State and Government, reaffirming the importance of the Conference on Disarmament (CD), as the sole multilateral disarmament negotiating forum, noted the adoption of the Program of Work for the 2009 session (CD/1864) by the CD on 29 May 2009 after years of stalemate. They expressed their appreciation to the Members and Presidents of the Conference, in particular Algeria, for their tireless efforts in this regard. The Heads of State and Government agreed to continue coordination of efforts at the NAM Chapter in Geneva. 

 

(Final Document, Para 153) The Heads of State and Government emphasized the importance of a prompt and full implementation of the Programme of Action, and in this regard, stressed that international assistance and cooperation is an essential aspect in the full implementation of the Programme of Action. They expressed disappointment at the inability of the UN Conference to Review the Progress made in the Implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in SALW in All its Aspects, held in New York, from 26 June to 7 July 2006, to agree on a final Document. The Heads of State and Government noted the third Biennial Meeting of the States (BMS) held in New York, from 14 to 18 July 2008, which considered the national, regional and global implementation of the Programme of Action. They reaffirmed the total validity of the Programme of Action and encouraged the NAM delegations to coordinate efforts in the UN with a view to reaching agreement on a follow-up to the Programme of Action in order to ensure its full implementation. They called for the full implementation of the international instrument to enable States to identify and trace in a timely and reliable manner the illicit small arms and light weapons, which was adopted by the General Assembly. 

 

(Final Document, Para 162) The Heads of State and Government commended the continued work of the NAM Working Group on Disarmament, under the chairmanship of Indonesia, in coordinating issues of common concern to the Movement in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation. They encouraged all NAM delegations to actively participate at the international disarmament meetings with a view to promote and achieve the objectives of the Movement. 

 

(Final Document, Para 163) Consistent with and guided by the aforementioned principled positions and affirming the need to promote, defend and preserve these positions, the Heads of State and Government agreed to:  

163.1 Continue to pursue the positions and priorities of the Movement, as appropriate, in the relevant international fora; and  

163.2 Task the NAM Coordinating Bureau to undertake efforts, as appropriate, with a view to achieving the objectives of the Movement at disarmament and international security meetings. 

 

Verification

 

(Final Document, Para 118) The Heads of State and Government, while noting the entry into force of the 2002 Moscow Treaty between the Russian Federation and the United States, stressed that reductions in deployments and in operational status cannot substitute for irreversible cuts in, and the total elimination of, nuclear weapons, and called on the United States and the Russian Federation to apply the principles of transparency, irreversibility and verifiability to further reduce their nuclear arsenals, both warheads and delivery systems, under the Treaty. While taking note of the positive signals by the United States and the Russian Federation on their negotiations on the replacement of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I), which is due to expire by the end of 2009, the Heads of State and Government urged them to conclude such negotiations urgently in order to achieve further deep cuts in their strategic and tactical nuclear weapons. The Heads of State and Government further stressed that such cuts should be irreversible, verifiable and transparent. 

 

Disarmament and Development

 

(Final Document, Para 161) The Heads of State and Government stressed the importance of the symbiotic relationship between disarmament and development and the important role of security in this connection, and in this regard, they welcomed the adoption without a vote of General Assembly Resolution 63/52. They also expressed concern at the increasing global military expenditure, which could otherwise be spent on development needs. They further stressed the importance of the reduction of military expenditures, in accordance with the principle of undiminished security at the lowest level of armaments, and urged all States to devote resources made available from there to economic and social development, in particular in the fight against poverty. They expressed firm support for unilateral, bilateral, regional and multilateral measures adopted by some governments aimed at reducing military expenditures, thereby contributing to strengthening regional and international peace and security and recognised that confidence building measures assisted in this regard. 

 

Nuclear Weapon Convention

 

(Final Document, Para 112) The Heads of State and Government reaffirmed the importance of the Conference on Disarmament (CD) as the sole multilateral negotiating body on disarmament, and reiterated their call on the CD to agree on a balanced and comprehensive program of work by, inter alia, establishing an ad hoc committee on nuclear disarmament as soon as possible and as the highest priority. They emphasized the necessity to start negotiations on a phased programme for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons with a specified framework of time, including a Nuclear Weapons Convention. They reaffirmed the importance of the unanimous conclusion of the ICJ that there exists an obligation to pursue in good faith and to bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control. 

 

(Final Document, Para 115) The Heads of State and Government again called for an international conference to identify ways and means of eliminating nuclear dangers, at the earliest possible date, with the objective of arriving at an agreement on a phased programme for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons with a specified framework of time to eliminate all nuclear weapons, to prohibit their development, production, acquisition, testing, stockpiling, transfer, use or threat of use, and to provide for their destruction. 

 

Arms Races

 

(Final Document, Para 119) The Heads of State and Government continued to be concerned over the negative implications of the development and deployment of anti-ballistic missile (ABM) defence systems and the threat of weaponization of outer space which have, inter alia, contributed to the further erosion of an international climate conducive to the promotion of disarmament and the strengthening of international security. The abrogation of the ABM Treaty brings new challenges to strategic stability and the prevention of the arms race in outer space. They remained concerned that the implementation of a national missile defence system could trigger an arms race(s) and the further development of advanced missile systems and an increase in the number of nuclear weapons. 

 

Bilateral Disarmament

 

(Final Document, Para 118) The Heads of State and Government, while noting the entry into force of the 2002 Moscow Treaty between the Russian Federation and the United States, stressed that reductions in deployments and in operational status cannot substitute for irreversible cuts in, and the total elimination of, nuclear weapons, and called on the United States and the Russian Federation to apply the principles of transparency, irreversibility and verifiability to further reduce their nuclear arsenals, both warheads and delivery systems, under the Treaty. While taking note of the positive signals by the United States and the Russian Federation on their negotiations on the replacement of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I), which is due to expire by the end of 2009, the Heads of State and Government urged them to conclude such negotiations urgently in order to achieve further deep cuts in their strategic and tactical nuclear weapons. The Heads of State and Government further stressed that such cuts should be irreversible, verifiable and transparent. 

 

International Humanitarian Law and ICJ

 

(Final Document, Para 112) The Heads of State and Government reaffirmed the importance of the Conference on Disarmament (CD) as the sole multilateral negotiating body on disarmament, and reiterated their call on the CD to agree on a balanced and comprehensive program of work by, inter alia, establishing an ad hoc committee on nuclear disarmament as soon as possible and as the highest priority. They emphasized the necessity to start negotiations on a phased programme for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons with a specified framework of time, including a Nuclear Weapons Convention. They reaffirmed the importance of the unanimous conclusion of the ICJ that there exists an obligation to pursue in good faith and to bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control. 

 

Disarmament and the Environment

 

(Final Document, Para 126) The Heads of State and Government emphasized the importance of the observance of environmental norms in the preparation and implementation of disarmament and arms limitation agreements, and in this regard, they welcomed the adoption of General Assembly Resolution 63/51 on this matter for the first time without a vote. They reaffirmed that international disarmament forums should take fully into account the relevant environmental norms in negotiating treaties and agreements on disarmament and arms limitation and that all States, through their actions, should contribute fully to ensuring compliance with the aforementioned norms in the implementation of treaties and conventions to which they are parties. 

 

(Final Document, Para 160) The Heads of State and Government underlined the importance of the adoption by the General Assembly of resolution 63/54, taking into consideration the possible harmful effects to human health and the environment, caused by the use of weapons and munitions containing depleted uranium. 

 

Modernization and Development of Nuclear Weapons

 

(Final Document, Para 109) The Heads of State and Government reiterated that improvements in existing nuclear weapons and the development of new types of nuclear weapons as envisaged in the United States Nuclear Posture Review contravene the security assurances provided by the NWS. They further reaffirmed that these improvements as well as the development of new types of such weapons violate the commitments undertaken by the NWS at the time of the conclusion of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). 

 

(Final Document, Para 119) The Heads of State and Government continued to be concerned over the negative implications of the development and deployment of anti-ballistic missile (ABM) defence systems and the threat of weaponization of outer space which have, inter alia, contributed to the further erosion of an international climate conducive to the promotion of disarmament and the strengthening of international security. The abrogation of the ABM Treaty brings new challenges to strategic stability and the prevention of the arms race in outer space. They remained concerned that the implementation of a national missile defence system could trigger an arms race(s) and the further development of advanced missile systems and an increase in the number of nuclear weapons. 

 

(Final Document, Para 149) Mindful of the threat posed to humankind by the existing weapons of mass destruction and underlining the need for the total elimination of such weapons, the Heads of State and Government reaffirmed the need to prevent the emergence of new types of weapons of mass destruction and therefore supported the necessity of monitoring the situation and triggering international action as required. 

 

Missiles

 

(Final Document, Para 119) The Heads of State and Government continued to be concerned over the negative implications of the development and deployment of anti-ballistic missile (ABM) defence systems and the threat of weaponization of outer space which have, inter alia, contributed to the further erosion of an international climate conducive to the promotion of disarmament and the strengthening of international security. The abrogation of the ABM Treaty brings new challenges to strategic stability and the prevention of the arms race in outer space. They remained concerned that the implementation of a national missile defence system could trigger an arms race(s) and the further development of advanced missile systems and an increase in the number of nuclear weapons. 

 

(Final Document, Para 121) The Heads of State and Government remained convinced of the need for a multilaterally negotiated, universal, comprehensive, transparent, and non-discriminatory approach toward the issue of missiles in all its aspects as a contribution to international peace and security. They expressed their support for efforts to be continued within the UN to explore further the issue of missiles in all its aspects. In this regard, they emphasized the contribution of peaceful uses of space technologies, including space launch vehicle technologies, to human advancement, such as for telecommunications and data gathering on natural disasters. They also emphasized the need to keep the issue of missiles in all its aspects on the agenda of the UN General Assembly and welcomed that the Panel of Governmental Experts establishedin accordance with Resolution 59/67 successfully concluded its work in 2008 and submitted its report to the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly. Pending the achievement of such a universal approach related to delivery systems for weapons of mass destruction, any initiative to address these concerns effectively and in a sustainable and comprehensive manner should be through an inclusive process of negotiations in a forum where all States could participate as equals. They stressed the importance of the security concerns of all States at regional and global levels in any approach to the issue of missiles in all its aspects. 

 

16th. Summit, Tehran - 2012

Nuclear-Weapon States Obligations

 

(Final Document, Para 136) The Ministers reaffirmed the Movement’s principled positions on nuclear disarmament, which remains its highest priority, and on the related issue of nuclear non-proliferation in all its aspects and stressed the importance that efforts aiming at nuclear non-proliferation should be parallel to simultaneous efforts aiming at nuclear disarmament. They stressed their concern at the threat to humanity posed by the continued existence of nuclear weapons and of their possible use or threat of use. They reiterated deep concern over the slow pace of progress towards nuclear disarmament and the lack of progress by the Nuclear-Weapon States (NWS) to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals in accordance with their relevant multilateral legal obligations. They underscored the need for the NWS to implement the unequivocal undertaking that they provided in 2000 and further reiterated in 2010 so as toaccomplish the total elimination of nuclear weapons, and emphasized, in this regard, the urgent need to commence negotiations on comprehensive and complete nuclear disarmament without delay. 

 

(Final Document, Para 137) The Ministers, while noting the recent statements by NWS of their intention to pursue actions in achieving a world free of nuclear weapons, reaffirmed the need for urgent concrete actions by the NWS to achieve this goal in accordance with their nuclear disarmament legal obligations. 

 

(Final Document, Para 139) The Ministers reiterated that improvements in existing nuclear weapons and the development of new types of nuclear weapons as envisaged in the United States Nuclear Posture Review contravene the security assurances provided by the NWS. They further reaffirmed that these improvements as well as the development of new types of such weaponsviolate the commitments undertaken by the NWS at the time of the conclusion of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). 

 

(Final Document, Para 140) The Ministers emphasized that progress in nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation in all its aspects is essential to strengthening international peace and security. They reaffirmed that efforts toward nuclear disarmament, global and regional approaches and confidence building measures complement each other and should, wherever possible, be pursued simultaneously to promote regional and international peace and security. In this context, they stressed that nuclear disarmament, as the highest priority established by SSODI and as a multilateral legal obligation, should not be made conditional on confidence building measures or other disarmament efforts. 

 

(Final Document, Para 149) The Ministers stressed the significance of achieving universal adherence to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), including by all NWS, which, inter alia, should contribute to the process of nuclear disarmament. They reiterated that if the objectives of the Treaty were to be fully realized, the continued commitment of all States signatories, especially the NWS, to nuclear disarmament would be essential. 

 

(Final Document, Para 151) The Ministers, while noting the conclusion of the New START Treaty between the Russian Federation and the United States, stressed that reductions in deployments and in operational status cannot substitute for irreversible cuts in, and the total elimination of, nuclear weapons. In this context they called on the United States and the Russian Federation to apply the principles of transparency, irreversibility and verifiability to such cuts, to further reduce their nuclear arsenals, both warheads and delivery systems, thus contributing to the fulfilment of their nuclear disarmament obligations and facilitating the realisation of a world free of nuclear weapons at an earliest date. 

 

(Final Document, Para 152) The Ministers agreed that there remains an ever growing and most pressing need for concrete actions by Nuclear-Weapon States, to take further substantive and practical measures urgently, according to their multilaterally agreed commitments, to attain the goal of complete nuclear disarmament within a specified framework of time. 

 

(Final Document, Para 169) The Ministers of States Parties to the NPT reiterated their call for the firm commitment by all States Parties to the Treaty to the implementation of all the provisions of the Treaty and called for the full implementation of the 13 practical steps for systematic and progressive efforts to implement Article VI of the Treaty, particularly an unequivocal undertaking by the NWS to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament. Pending the total elimination of nuclear weapons, they also recalled that the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the NPT reiterated that legally binding security assurances by the five NWS to the non-NWS parties to the Treaty would strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation regime. They underlined the agreement by consensus at the 2010 Review Conference of the NPT on practical steps for systematic and progressive efforts to eliminate nuclear weapons; the implementation of the resolution on the Middle East adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the NPT; and on a legally binding international instrument on unconditional security assurances to non nuclear weapon states. 

 

Disarmament and Nonproliferation

 

(Final Document, Para 133) The Ministers reiterated their continued concern over the current difficult and complex situation in the field of disarmament and international security. In this regard, they called for renewed efforts to resolve the current impasse in achieving nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation in all its aspects. 

 

(Final Document, Para 134) Reaffirming the absolute validity of multilateral diplomacy in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation, the Ministers reiterated their determination to promote multilateralism as the core principle of negotiations in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation, and in this regard, they welcomed the adoption of General Assembly Resolution 65/54 on Promotion of multilateralism in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation. 

 

(Final Document, Para 136) The Ministers reaffirmed the Movement’s principled positions on nuclear disarmament, which remains its highest priority, and on the related issue of nuclear non-proliferation in all its aspects and stressed the importance that efforts aiming at nuclear non-proliferation should be parallel to simultaneous efforts aiming at nuclear disarmament. They stressed their concern at the threat to humanity posed by the continued existence of nuclear weapons and of their possible use or threat of use. They reiterated deep concern over the slow pace of progress towards nuclear disarmament and the lack of progress by the Nuclear-Weapon States (NWS) to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals in accordance with their relevant multilateral legal obligations. They underscored the need for the NWS to implement the unequivocal undertaking that they provided in 2000 and further reiterated in 2010 so as toaccomplish the total elimination of nuclear weapons, and emphasized, in this regard, the urgent need to commence negotiations on comprehensive and complete nuclear disarmament without delay. 

 

(Final Document, Para 140) The Ministers emphasized that progress in nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation in all its aspects is essential to strengthening international peace and security. They reaffirmed that efforts toward nuclear disarmament, global and regional approaches and confidence building measures complement each other and should, wherever possible, be pursued simultaneously to promote regional and international peace and security. In this context, they stressed that nuclear disarmament, as the highest priority established by SSODI and as a multilateral legal obligation, should not be made conditional on confidence building measures or other disarmament efforts. 

 

(Final Document, Para 156) The Ministers believed that the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones (NWFZs) created by the treaties of Tlatelolco, Rarotonga, Bangkok, Pelindaba, the Central Asian nuclear-weapon-free zone treaty as well as Mongolia’s nuclear-weapon-free-status are positive steps and important measures towards strengthening global nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation and they welcomed the entry into force of the Treaty on a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia on 21 March 2009 and the Treaty on a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Africa on 15 July 2009 which represented effective contributions to strengthening regional and global peace and security. They reiterated that in the context of NWFZs, it is essential that NWS should provide unconditional assurances against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons to all States of the zone. They urged States to conclude agreements freely arrived at among the States of the region concerned with a view to establishing new NWFZs in regions where they do not exist, in accordance with the provisions of the Final Document of the First Special Session of the General Assembly devoted to Disarmament (SSOD-I) and the principles adopted by the 1999 UN Disarmament Commission. 

 

(Final Document, Para 186The Ministers expressed their satisfaction with the consensus among States on measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction. They welcomed the adoption by consensus of the General Assembly Resolution 65/62 entitled “Measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction” and underlined the need for this threat to humanity to be addressed within the UN framework and through international co-operation. While stressing that the most effective way of preventing terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction is through the total elimination of such weapons, they emphasized that progress was urgently needed in the area of disarmament and non-proliferationin order to help maintain international peace and security and to contribute to global efforts against terrorism. They called upon all Member States to support international efforts to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. They also urged all Member States to take and strengthen national measures, as appropriate, to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction, their means of delivery and materials and technologies related to their manufacture. 

 

NAM Involvement and Contributions

 

(Final Document, Para 132) The Ministers reaffirmed and reiterated the long-standing principled positions of the Movement on disarmament and international security, including the decisions taken at the XII Summit in Durban in 1998, the XIII Summit in Kuala Lumpur in 2003, the XIV Summit in Havana in 2006, the XIII Ministerial Conference in Cartagena in 2000, the XIV Ministerial Conference in Durban in 2004, the Ministerial Meeting held in Putrajaya, Malaysia, in 2006, the XV Ministerial Conference held in Teheran, Islamic Republic of Iran, in 2008 and the XV Summit in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, in July 2009. 

 

(Final Document, Para 141) The Ministers reaffirmed the importance and the relevance of the UN Disarmament Commission (UNDC) as the sole specialised, deliberative body within the UN multilateral disarmament machinery. They continued to fully support the work of the UNDC and expressed regret that UNDC was unable to reach agreement on recommendations on its two agenda items during substantive sessions of its three-year cycle ending in April 2008 due to the lack of political will and inflexible positions of certain Nuclear Weapons States, despite NAM’s constructive role and concrete proposals throughout the deliberations, especially in the Working Group on “Recommendations for achieving the objective of nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation of nuclear weapons”. The Ministers, while recalling the proposals submitted by the Movement, during the 2009 and 2010 substantive sessions, called upon UN Member States to display the necessary political will and flexibility in order to achieve agreement on its recommendations in the UNDC’s 2011 sessions. 

 

(Final Document, Para 143) The Ministers, noted the adoption of the Program of Work for the 2009 session (CD/1864) by the CD on 29 May 2009 which was not implemented. They expressed their appreciation to the Members and Presidents of the Conference, in particular Algeria, for their tireless efforts in this regard and called on the Conference on Disarmament to agree by consensus on a balanced and comprehensive programme of work without further delay. The Ministers agreed to continue coordination of efforts at the NAM Chapter in Geneva. 

 

(Final Document, Para 145) The Ministers welcomed efforts of NAM Member States in advancing the goal of nuclear disarmament. In this regard, they noted the convening by the Islamic Republic of Iran of an International Conference on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation, in Tehran, on 17-18 April 2010, under the theme: "Nuclear Energy for everyone, Nuclear Weapon for no one." 

 

(Final Document, Para 146) The Ministers reiterated their support for the convening of the Fourth Special Session of the UN General Assembly devoted to Disarmament (SSOD-IV) and expressed their deep concern, over the fact that the SSOD IV is yet to be convened, despite efforts for many years in this regard. In this context, Theywelcomed the overwhelming support received by Non-Aligned Movement’s UNGA resolution 65/66 entitled “Convening of the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament” They urged the UN Secretary-General to make available all necessary technical, financial and human resources to implement the resolution. They stressed the importance of active participation in the open-ended working group established by the resolution to consider and reach consensus on the objectives and agenda, including the possible establishment of the preparatory committee for SSOD-IV. 

 

(Final Document, Para 165) The Ministers of the States Parties to the NPT commended the Chairmanship of H.E. Libran N. Cabactulan of the Philippines, of the 2010 NPT Review Conference and the active engagement of NAM States Parties to the Treaty in its deliberations. They highlighted the importance of implementing the action plans adopted by the conference on nuclear disarmament, on nuclear non-proliferation, on peaceful uses of nuclear energy and on the implementation of the 1995 resolution on the Middle East. The Ministers noted with concern the lack of agreement on a number of key priorities of NAM States Parties to the NPT, including inter alia, to begin negotiations on a Nuclear-Weapons-Convention and to commence negotiations on a legally binding instrument on unconditional Negative Security Assurances to Non-Nuclear-Weapon States. The Ministers of these States Parties to the NPT agreed to continue their collective efforts in pursuing the realization of the aforementioned NAM priorities in the next review process. 

 

(Final Document, Para 192) The Ministers emphasized the importance of a prompt and full implementation of the Programme of Action, and in this regard, stressed that international assistance and cooperation is an essential aspect in the full implementation of the Programme of Action. They expressed disappointment at the inability of the UN Conference to Review the Progress made in the Implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in SALW in All its Aspects, held in New York, from 26 June to 7 July 2006, to agree on a final Document.The Ministers noted the fourth Biennial Meeting of States held in New York, from 14 to 18 June 2010 which considered the national, regional and global implementation of the Programme of Action. They encouraged all States to consider, as appropriate, the recommendations of the Final Document of the aforementioned Meeting, while emphasizing that the procedure followed to adopt the BMS 4 final outcome should not represent a precedent for the future. They reaffirmed the total validity of the Programme of Action and encouraged the NAM delegations to coordinate efforts in the UN with a view to reaching agreement on a follow-up to the Programme of Action in order to ensure its full implementation. They called for the full implementation of the international instrument to enable States to identify and trace in a timely and reliable manner the illicit small arms and light weapons, which was adopted by the General Assembly. 

 

(Final Document, Para 202The Ministers commended the ongoing work of the NAM Working Group on disarmament, under the chairmanship of Indonesia, in coordinating issues of common concern to the Movement in the field of disarmament. They encouraged NAM delegations to continue to actively participate in the Working Group with a view to promote and achieve the objectives of the Movement. 

 

(Final Document, Para 203Consistent with and guided by the aforementioned principled positions and affirming the need to promote, defend and preserve these positions, the Ministers agreed to:  

203.1 Continue to pursue the positions and priorities of the Movement, as appropriate, in the relevant international fora; and  

203.2Task the NAM Coordinating Bureau to undertake efforts, as appropriate, with a view to achieving the objectives of the Movement at disarmament and international security meetings. 

 

Bilateral Disarmament

 

(Final Document, Para 151) The Ministers, while noting the conclusion of the New START Treaty between the Russian Federation and the United States, stressed that reductions in deployments and in operational status cannot substitute for irreversible cuts in, and the total elimination of, nuclear weapons. In this context they called on the United States and the Russian Federation to apply the principles of transparency, irreversibility and verifiability to such cuts, to further reduce their nuclear arsenals, both warheads and delivery systems, thus contributing to the fulfilment of their nuclear disarmament obligations and facilitating the realisation of a world free of nuclear weapons at an earliest date. 

 

Nuclear Weapon Convention

 

(Final Document, Para 142) The Ministers reaffirmed the importance of the Conference on Disarmament (CD) as the sole multilateral negotiating body on disarmament, and reiterated their call on the CD to agree on a balanced and comprehensive program of work by, inter alia, establishing an ad hoc committee on nuclear disarmament as soon as possible and as the highest priority. They emphasized the necessity to start negotiations without further delay on a phased programme for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons with a specified framework of time, including a Nuclear Weapons Convention. They reaffirmed the importance of the unanimous conclusion of the ICJ that there exists an obligation to pursue in good faith and to bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control. 

 

(Final Document, Para 147) The Ministers again called for an international conference to identify ways and means of eliminating nuclear dangers, at the earliest possible date, with the objective of an agreement on a phased programme for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons with a specified framework of time, to prohibit their development, production, acquisition, testing, stockpiling, transfer, use or threat of use, and to provide for their destruction. 

 

(Final Document, Para 165) The Ministers of the States Parties to the NPT commended the Chairmanship of H.E. Libran N. Cabactulan of the Philippines, of the 2010 NPT Review Conference and the active engagement of NAM States Parties to the Treaty in its deliberations. They highlighted the importance of implementing the action plans adopted by the conference on nuclear disarmament, on nuclear non-proliferation, on peaceful uses of nuclear energy and on the implementation of the 1995 resolution on the MiddleEast. The Ministers noted with concern the lack of agreement on a number of key priorities of NAM States Parties to the NPT, including inter alia, to begin negotiations on a Nuclear-Weapons-Convention and to commence negotiations on a legally binding instrument on unconditional Negative Security Assurances to Non-NuclearWeapon States. The Ministers of these States Parties to the NPT agreed to continue their collective efforts in pursuing the realization of the aforementioned NAM priorities in the next review process. 

 

Verification

 

(Final Document, Para 150) The Ministers reaffirmed the importance of the application of the principles of transparency, irreversibility and verifiability by NWS in all measures related to the fulfilment of their nuclear disarmament obligations. 

 

(Final Document, Para 151) The Ministers, while noting the conclusion of the New START Treaty between the Russian Federation and the United States, stressed that reductions in deployments and in operational status cannot substitute for irreversible cuts in, and the total elimination of, nuclear weapons. In this context they called on the United States and the Russian Federation to apply the principles of transparency, irreversibility and verifiability to such cuts, to further reduce their nuclear arsenals, both warheads and delivery systems, thus contributing to the fulfilment of their nuclear disarmament obligations and facilitating the realisation of a world free of nuclear weapons at an earliest date. 

 

International Humanitarian Law and ICJ

 

(Final Document, Para 142) The Ministers reaffirmed the importance of the Conference on Disarmament (CD) as the sole multilateral negotiating body on disarmament, and reiterated their call on the CD to agree on a balanced and comprehensive program of work by, inter alia, establishing an ad hoc committee on nuclear disarmament as soon as possible and as the highest priority. They emphasized the necessity to start negotiations without further delay on a phased programme for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons with a specified framework of time, including a Nuclear Weapons Convention. They reaffirmed the importance of the unanimous conclusion of the ICJ that there exists an obligation to pursue in good faith and to bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control. 

 

Disarmament and Development

 

(Final Document, Para 201The Ministers stressed the importance of the symbiotic relationship between disarmament and development and the important role of security in this connection, and in this regard, they welcomed the adoption without a vote of General Assembly Resolution 65/52. They also expressed concern at the increasing global military expenditure, which could otherwise be spent on development needs. They further stressed the importance of the reduction of military expenditures, in accordance with the principle of undiminished security at the lowest level of armaments, and urged all States to devote resources made available from there to economic and social development, in particular in the fight against poverty. They expressed firm support for unilateral, bilateral, regional and multilateral measures adopted by some governments aimed at reducing military expenditures, thereby contributing to strengthening regional and international peace and security and recognised that confidence building measures assisted in this regard. 

 

Arms Races

 

(Final Document, Para 153) The Ministers continued to be concerned over the negative implications of the development and deployment of anti-ballistic missile (ABM) defence systems and the threat of weaponization of outer space which have, inter alia, contributed to the further erosion of an international climate conducive to the promotion of disarmament and the strengthening of international security. The abrogation of the ABM Treaty brought new challenges to strategic stability and the prevention of the arms race in outer space. They remained seriously concerned at the negative security consequences of the deployment of strategic missile defence systems which could trigger an arms race(s) and lead to the further development of advanced missile systems and an increase in the number of nuclear weapons. 

 

(Final Document, Para 154) The Ministers recognized the common interest of all mankind in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, andemphasized that prevention of an arms race in outer space, including a ban to deploy or use weapons therein, would avert a grave danger for international peace and security. They further emphasized the paramount importance of strict compliance with existing arms limitation and disarmament agreements relevant to outer space, including bilateral agreements, and with the existing legal regime concerning the use of outer space. They also reemphasized the urgent need for the commencement of substantive work in the CD, inter alia, on the prevention of an arms race in outer space, taking note of the joint Russian-Chinese initiative of a draft treaty on the “Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space, the Threat or Use of Force Against Outer Space Objects” (PPWT) presented in the Conference on Disarmament on 12 February 2008. They noted that this initiative is a constructive contribution to the work of the Conference, and is a good basis for further discussion toward adopting an international binding instrument. 

 

Disarmament and the Environment

 

(Final Document, Para 161) The Ministers emphasized the importance of the observance of environmental norms in the preparation and implementation of disarmament and arms limitation agreements, and in this regard, they welcomed the adoption of General Assembly Resolution 65/53 on this matter without a vote. They reaffirmed that international disarmament forums should take fully into account the relevant environmental norms in negotiating treaties and agreements on disarmament and arms limitation and that all States, through their actions, should contribute fully to ensuring compliance with the aforementioned norms in the implementation of treaties and conventions to which they are parties. 

 

(Final Document, Para 200) The Ministers underlined the importance of the adoption by the General Assembly of resolution 65/55, taking into consideration the possible harmful effects to human health and the environment, caused by the use of weapons and munitions containing depleted uranium. 

 

Modernization and Development of Nuclear Weapons

 

(Final Document, Para 139) The Ministers reiterated that improvements in existing nuclear weapons and the development of new types of nuclear weapons as envisaged in the United States Nuclear Posture Review contravene the security assurances provided by the NWS. They further reaffirmed that these improvements as well as the development of new types of such weapons violate the commitments undertaken by the NWS at the time of the conclusion of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). 

 

(Final Document, Para 153) The Ministers continued to be concerned over the negative implications of the development and deployment of anti-ballistic missile (ABM) defence systems and the threat of weaponization of outer space which have, inter alia, contributed to the further erosion of an international climate conducive to the promotion of disarmament and the strengthening of international security. The abrogation of the ABM Treaty brought new challenges to strategic stability and the prevention of the arms race in outer space. They remained seriously concerned at the negative security consequences of the deployment of strategic missile defence systems which could trigger an arms race(s) and lead to the further development of advanced missile systems and an increase in the number of nuclear weapons. 

 

(Final Document, Para 188Mindful of the threat posed to humankind by the existing weapons of mass destruction particularly Nuclear Weapons and underlining the need for the total elimination of such weapons, the Ministers reaffirmed the need to prevent the emergence of new types of weapons of mass destruction and therefore supported the necessity of monitoring the situation and triggering international action as required. 

 

Missiles

 

(Final Document, Para 153) The Ministers continued to be concerned over the negative implications of the development and deployment of anti-ballistic missile (ABM) defence systems and the threat of weaponization of outer space which have, inter alia, contributed to the further erosion of an international climate conducive to the promotion of disarmament and the strengthening of international security. The abrogation of the ABM Treaty brought new challenges to strategic stability and the prevention of the arms race in outer space. They remained seriously concerned at the negative security consequences of the deployment of strategic missile defence systems which could trigger an arms race(s) and lead to the further development of advanced missile systems and an increase in the number of nuclear weapons. 

 

(Final Document, Para 155) The Ministers remained convinced of the need for a multilaterally negotiated, universal, comprehensive, transparent, and non-discriminatory approach toward the issue of missiles in all its aspects as a contribution to international peace and security. They expressed their support for efforts to be continued within the UN to explore further the issue of missiles in all its aspects. In this regard, they emphasized the contribution of peaceful uses of space technologies, including space launch vehicle technologies, to human advancement, such as for telecommunications and data gathering on natural disasters. They also emphasized the need to keep the issue of missiles in all its aspects on the agenda of the UN General Assembly and welcomed that the Panel of Governmental Experts establishedin accordance with Resolution 59/67 successfully concluded its work in 2008 and submitted its report to the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly. Pending the achievement of such a universal approach related to delivery systems for weapons of mass destruction, any initiative to address these concerns effectively and in a sustainable and comprehensive manner should be through an inclusive process of negotiations in a forum where all States could participate as equals. They stressed the importance of the security concerns of all States at regional and global levels in any approach to the issue of missiles in all its aspects. 

 

17th. Summit, Margarita - 2016

Nuclear-Weapon States Obligations

 

(Final Document, Para 169) The Heads of State or Government reiterated their deep concern over the slow pace of progress towards nuclear disarmament and the lack of progress by the Nuclear-Weapon States (NWS) to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals in accordance with their relevant multilateral legal obligations. They reaffirmed the importance of the unanimous conclusion of the ICJ that there exists an obligation to pursue in good faith and to bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control. They called upon the NWS to fulfill their multilateral legal obligations on nuclear disarmament and to implement the unequivocal undertaking they provided in 2000 and further reiterated in 2010 so as to accomplish the total elimination of nuclear weapons. They emphasized, in this regard, the urgent need to commence and to bring to a conclusion negotiations on comprehensive and complete nuclear disarmament without any further delay. 

 

(Final Document, Para 171) The Heads of State or Government, while noting the statements by NWS of their intention to pursue actions in achieving a world free of nuclear weapons, reaffirmed the need for urgent concrete actions by the NWS to achieve this goal in accordance with their nuclear disarmament legal obligations and commitments. They reaffirmed the importance of the application of the principles of transparency, irreversibility and verifiability by NWS in all measures related to the fulfillment of their nuclear disarmament obligations. 

 

(Final Document, Para 173) The Heads of State or Government reiterated, with concern, that improvements in existing nuclear weapons and the development of new types of nuclear weapons as provided for in the military doctrines of some NWS, including the United States Nuclear Posture Review, violate their legal obligations on nuclear disarmament, as well as the commitments made to diminish the role of nuclear weapons in their military and security policies and contravene the negative security assurances provided by the NWS. They stressed once again that these improvements as well as the development of new types of such weapons violate also the commitments undertaken at the time of the conclusion of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and at the NPT Review Conferences by the NWS. 

 

(Final Document, Para 186) The Heads of State or Government stressed the significance of achieving universal adherence to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, including by all NWS, which, inter alia, should contribute to the process of nuclear disarmament. They reiterated that if the objectives of the Treaty were to be fully realized, the continued commitment of all States signatories, especially the NWS, to nuclear disarmament would be essential. In this context, the ratification of the CTBT by Angola, Brunei Darussalam, Chad, Guinea-Bissau, Iraq, Congo and Niue was welcomed. In this regard, they also welcomed the adoption of a “Special Declaration on the 20 Years of the opening for signature of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty” during the Summit of Heads of State and Government of CELAC, held in Quito, Ecuador, the 27th January 2016. 

 

(Final Document, Para 187) The Heads of State or Government, while noting the conclusion and entry into force of the New START Treaty between the Russian Federation and the United States, stressed that reductions in deployments and in operational status, although they may contribute to risk reduction, cannot substitute for irreversible cuts in, and the total elimination of, nuclear weapons. In this context they called on the United States and the Russian Federation to apply the principles of transparency, irreversibility and verifiability to such cuts, to further reduce their nuclear arsenals, both warheads and delivery systems, thus contributing to the fulfillment of their nuclear disarmament obligations and facilitating the realization of a world free of nuclear weapons at the earliest date. 

 

(Final Document, Para 202) The Heads of State or Government of NAM States Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), while reaffirming the package of agreements of the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the NPT and the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the NPT, and recognizing the crucial role of the NPT in nuclear disarmament, nuclear non- proliferation and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, were of the view that the “Conclusions and Recommendations for Follow-on actions” of the 2010 Review Conference of the NPT, represent an outcome that can be built upon and further enhanced in the near future, to fully address the priorities of the Movement, in particular to realise a world free from nuclear weapons. They called upon NWS to implement fully and effectively their obligations under the Treaty, in particular in the area of nuclear disarmament, and the outcomes of its Review Conferences, in particular the 1995 Review and Extension Conference, the 2000 Review Conference and the 2010 Review Conference. 

 

(Final Document, Para 208) The Heads of State or Government of NAM States Parties to the NPT reiterated their call for the firm commitment by all States Parties to the Treaty to the full and indiscriminate implementation of all the provisions of the Treaty. They further called for the full implementation of the 13 practical steps for systematic and progressive efforts to implement Article VI of the Treaty, particularly an unequivocal undertaking by the NWS to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament. Pending the total elimination of nuclear weapons, they underlined the agreement by consensus at the 2010 Review Conference of the NPT, which reaffirmed the previous agreements, on practical steps for systematic and progressive efforts to eliminate nuclear weapons; the implementation of the resolution on the Middle East adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the NPT; and on providing effective, unconditional and non- discriminatory universal legally binding security assurances to all NNWS parties to the Treaty, which would strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation regime. 

 

Disarmament and Nonproliferation

 

(Final Document, Para 164The Heads of State or Government reiterated their continued concern over the current difficult and complex situation in the field of disarmament and international security. In this regard, they called for renewed efforts to resolve the current impasse in achieving nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation in all its aspects. 

 

(Final Document, Para 166) Reaffirming the absolute validity of multilateral diplomacy in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation, the Heads of State or Government reiterated their determination to promote multilateralism as the core principle of negotiations in the area of disarmament and nonproliferation. In this regard, they welcomed the adoption of General Assembly Resolution 70/31 on Promotion of multilateralism in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation. 

 

(Final Document, Para 168) The Heads of State or Government reaffirmed the Movement’s principled positions on nuclear disarmament, which remains its highest priority, and on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons in all its aspects.They stressed the importance of ensuring that efforts aimed at nuclear non-proliferation are parallel to simultaneous efforts aimed at nuclear disarmament. They expressed concern at the threat to humanity posed by the continued existence of nuclear weapons and of their possible use or threat of use. 

 

(Final Document, Para 174) The Heads of State or Government emphasized that progress in nuclear disarmament and nuclear non- proliferation in all its aspects is essential to strengthening international peace and security. They stressed the importance of ensuring that efforts aimed at nuclear non-proliferation are parallel to simultaneous efforts aimed at nuclear disarmament. They reaffirmed that efforts toward nuclear disarmament, global and regional approaches and confidence building measures complement each other and should, wherever possible, be pursued simultaneously to promote regional and international peace and security. Nevertheless, they stressed that nuclear disarmament, as the highest priority establishedby SSOD-I and as a multilateral legal obligation, should not be made conditional on confidence building measures or other disarmament efforts. 

 

(Final Document, Para 193) The Heads of State or Government believed that the establishment of Nuclear-Weapon-Free zones (NWFZs) created by the treaties of Tlatelolco, Rarotonga, Bangkok, Pelindaba, the Central Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone treaty as well as Mongolia’s Nuclear-Weapon-Free-Status are positive steps and important measures towards strengthening global nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation. They reiterated that in the context of NWFZs, it is essential that NWS should provide unconditional assurances against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons to all States of the zone. They urged States to conclude agreements freely arrived at among the States of the region concerned with a view to establishing new NWFZs in regions where they do not exist, in accordance with the provisions of the Final Document of the First Special Session of the General Assembly devoted to Disarmament (SSOD-I) and the Principles and Guidelines adopted by the UN Disarmament Commission in 1999. 

 

(Final Document, Para 202) The Heads of State or Government of NAM States Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), while reaffirming the package of agreements of the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the NPT and the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the NPT, and recognizing the crucial role of the NPT in nuclear disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, were of the view that the “Conclusions and Recommendations for Follow-on actions” of the 2010 Review Conference of the NPT, represent an outcome that can be built upon and further enhanced in the near future, to fully address the priorities of the Movement, in particular to realise a world free from nuclear weapons. They called upon NWS to implement fully and effectively their obligations under the Treaty, in particular in the area of nuclear disarmament, and the outcomes of its Review Conferences, in particular the 1995 Review and Extension Conference, the 2000 Review Conference and the 2010 Review Conference. 

 

(Final Document, Para 233) The Heads of State or Government expressed their satisfaction with the consensus among States on measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction. They welcomed the adoption by consensus of the General Assembly Resolution 70/36 entitled “Measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction” and underlined the need for this threat to humanity to be addressed within the UN framework and through international co-operation. While stressing that the most effective way of preventing terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction is through the total elimination of such weapons, they emphasized that progress was urgently needed in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation in order to help maintain international peace and security and to contribute to global efforts against terrorism. They called upon all Member States to support international efforts to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. They also urged all Member States to take and strengthen national measures, as appropriate, to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction, their means of delivery and materials and technologies related to their manufacture. 

 

International Humanitarian Law and ICJ

 

(Final Document, Para 165) The Heads of State or Government expressed their deepest concern over the immediate, indiscriminate, and massive death and destruction caused by any nuclear weapon detonation and its long term catastrophic consequences on human health, environment, and other vital economic resources, thus endangering the life of present and future generations. They reiterated further their deep concern at the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons, and in this context reaffirmed the need for all States at all times to comply with applicable international law, including international humanitarian law. They stressed the need to address this issue in the context of the efforts aimed at the realization of a nuclear-weapon-free world and in this regard, they noted continuing relevant international efforts, including the three International Conferences on the Humanitarian Consequences of Nuclear Weapons, held respectively in Norway in 2013, in Mexico in 2014 and in Vienna in 2014, and the important role of the humanitarian initiative in promoting progress towards a comprehensive nuclear weapons convention. 

 

(Final Document, Para 169) The Heads of State or Government reiterated their deep concern over the slow pace of progress towards nuclear disarmament and the lack of progress by the Nuclear-Weapon States (NWS) to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals in accordance with their relevant multilateral legal obligations. They reaffirmed the importance of the unanimous conclusion of the ICJ that there exists an obligation to pursue in good faith and to bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control.They called upon the NWS to fulfill their multilateral legal obligations on nuclear disarmament and to implement the unequivocal undertaking they provided in 2000 and further reiterated in 2010 so as to accomplish the total elimination of nuclear weapons. They emphasized, in this regard, the urgent need to commence and to bring to a conclusion negotiations on comprehensive and complete nuclear disarmament without any further delay. 

 

(Final Document, Para 242) The Heads of State or Government continued to deplore the use, in contravention of international humanitarian law of anti-personnel mines in conflict situations aimed at maiming, killing and terrorizing innocent civilians, denying them access to farmland, causing famine and forcing them to flee their homes eventually leading to de-population and preventing the return of civilians to their place of original residence. They called upon all States in the position to do so, to provide the necessary financial, technical and humanitarian assistance to landmine clearance operations, the social and economic rehabilitation of victims as well as to ensure full access of affected countries to material equipment, technology and financial resources for mine clearance. 

 

NAM Involvement and Contributions

 

(Final Document, Para 163) The Heads of State or Government reaffirmed and reiterated the long-standing principled positions of the Movement on disarmament and international security, including the decisions taken at the XII Summit in Durban in 1998 the XIII Summit in Kuala Lumpur in 2003, the XIV Summit in Havana in 2006, the XV Summit in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, in July 2009, the XVI Summit in Tehran in 2012, the XIII Ministerial Conference in Cartagena in 2000, the XIV Ministerial Conference in Durban in 2004, the Ministerial Meeting held in Putrajaya, Malaysia, in 2006, the XV Ministerial Conference held in Teheran, Islamic Republic of Iran, in 2008, and the XVI Ministerial Conference and Commemorative Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement held in Bali, Indonesia, in May 2011, and the XVII Ministerial Conference held in Algiers, Algeria in 2014. 

 

(Final Document, Para 170) The Heads of State or Government acknowledged the significant contribution towards realizing the objective of nuclear disarmament made by NAM Member and Observer States, including through the voluntary renunciation of the possession of nuclear weapons by Belarus, Kazakhstan, South Africa and Ukraine. 

 

(Final Document, Para 175) The Heads of State or Government reaffirmed the importance and the relevance of the UN Disarmament Commission (UNDC) as the sole specialized, deliberative body within the UN multilateral disarmament machinery and reiterated their full support for its work. They expressed regret that UNDC was unable to reach agreement on any recommendation since 2000 due to the lack of political will and inflexible positions of some Nuclear-Weapons States, despite NAM’s constructive role and concrete proposals throughout the deliberations, especially in the Working Group on “Recommendations for achieving the objective of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons”.They called upon UN Member States to display the necessary political will and flexibility in order to enable the Commission to agree on substantive outcomes in its current cycle. 

 

(Final Document, Para 177) The Heads of State or Government expressed their appreciation for the efforts undertaken, in particular by those representatives of Member States of the Non-Aligned Movement who served as the Presidents of the CD for the commencement of its substantive work, including negotiations. They noted the various proposals on the program of Work of the CD as contained in the documents CD/1864, a decision adopted by CD on 29 May 2009 but not implemented, CD/1933/Rev.1, CD/1952, and CD/1955 which were presented successively by Algeria, Egypt, Iran and Iraq between 2009 to 2013 sessions. They called on the CD to agree by consensus on a balanced and comprehensive programme of work without any further delay taking into account the security interests of all States.In this regard, the Heads of State or Government reaffirmed the importance of the principle contained in the final document of the SSOD-I that “The adoption of disarmament measures should take place in such an equitable and balanced manner as to ensure the right of each State to security and to ensure that no individual State or group of States may obtain advantages over others at any stage”. They agreed to continue coordination of efforts at the NAM Chapter in Geneva. 

 

(Final Document, Para 178) The Heads of State or Government commended the efforts of NAM Member States in advancing the goal of nuclear disarmament. In this regard, they welcomed the convening, at the initiative of NAM, of the first-ever high-level meeting of the General Assembly on nuclear disarmament on 26 September 2013, and underlined the strong support expressed at that meeting for taking urgent and effective measures to achieve the total elimination of nuclear weapons. 

 

(Final Document, Para 179) The Heads of State or Government, while recalling General Assembly resolution 68/32, expressed satisfaction at the adoption of resolutions 69/58 and 70/34 on the “follow-up to the 2013 high-level meeting of the General Assembly on nuclear disarmament” proposed by NAM, through which the Assembly:  

179.a Calls for the urgent commencement of negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament for the early conclusion of a comprehensive convention on nuclear weapons to prohibit their possession, development, production, acquisition, testing, stockpiling, transfer, use or threat of use and to provide for their destruction;  

179.b Recalls its decision to convene no later than 2018, a United Nations high-level international conference on nuclear disarmament to review the progress made in this regard; and  

179.c Welcomes the commemoration and promotion of the 26 September as the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons devoted to furthering this objective. 

 

(Final Document, Para 181) Moreover, the Heads of State or Government underlined the importance of UNGA resolutions 68/32, 69/58 and 70/34 as a roadmap on nuclear disarmament and accordingly stressed the need for an active participation of NAM Member States in all activities related to their implementation, including enhancing public awareness and education on this issue. They commended all efforts aiming at promoting the implementation of these resolutions, including those undertaken by the Group of 21 in the Conference on Disarmament. 

 

(Final Document, Para 186) The Heads of State or Government stressed the significance of achieving universal adherence to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, including by all NWS, which, inter alia, should contribute to the process of nuclear disarmament. They reiterated that if the objectives of the Treaty were to be fully realized, the continued commitment of all States signatories, especially the NWS, to nuclear disarmament would be essential. In this context, the ratification of the CTBT by Angola, Brunei Darussalam, Chad, Guinea-Bissau, Iraq, Congo and Niue was welcomed. In this regard, they also welcomed the adoption of a “Special Declaration on the 20 Years of the opening for signature of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty” during the Summit of Heads of State and Government of CELAC, held in Quito, Ecuador, the 27th January 2016. 

 

(Final Document, Para 190) The Heads of State or Government, while reaffirming the Declaration on Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) of the 17th Ministerial Conference of NAM held in Algeria in May 2014, and noting that considerable progress has been made in developing and applying the latest ICTs, they expressed concern that these technologies and means can potentially be used for purposes that are inconsistent with the objectives of maintaining international stability and security and may adversely affect the integrity of the infrastructure of States to the detriment of their security in both civil and military fields. They also noted with concern cases of illegal use of new ICTs to the detriment of Members States of the Movement, and expressed strong rejection to those violations. In this regard and while taking into account the ongoing efforts within the United Nations, they called upon Member States to further promote at multilateral levels the consideration of existing and potential threats from the malicious use of ICTs, as well as possible strategies to address these threats.They emphasized that ICT s should be utilized by Member States in a manner consistent with international law and the UN Charter. They called for the intensification of efforts towards safeguarding cyberspace from becoming an arena of conflict, and ensuring instead the exclusive peaceful uses which would enable the full realization of the potential of ICTs for contributing to social and economic development. They stressed that the development of any international legal framework to address issues related to the use of ICTs with implications on international peace and security should be pursued within the UN with the active and equal participation of all States. They highlighted the central role of governments in areas related to public policy aspects of ICT security. 

 

(Final Document, Para 204) The Heads of State or Government of NAM States Parties to the NPT reiterated the importance of the full implementation of the action plans adopted by the 2010 NPT Review Conference on nuclear disarmament, on nuclear non-proliferation, on peaceful uses of nuclear energy and on the implementation of the 1995 resolution on the Middle East. They expressed concern at the lack of agreement on a number of key priorities of NAM States Parties to the NPT and agreed to continue their collective efforts in pursuing the realization of their priorities at the NPT Review Conferences. 

 

(Final Document, Para 241) The Heads of State or Government noted the adoption, by vote, of the Arms Trade Treaty by the UN General Assembly on 2nd April 2013 and its entry into force on 24 December 2014. They also noted that the Treaty aims at regulating trade in conventional weapons, including small arms and light weapons. They called for balanced, transparent and objective implementation of the Treaty, in strict accordance with the principles of the UN Charter, and the inherent right of each State to security and to individual or collective self-defense. They also underscored that its implementation should, in no way, affect the sovereign right of States to acquire, manufacture, export, import and retain conventional arms and their parts and components for their self-defense, security needs and the maintenance of their territorial integrity. The Heads of State or Government of NAM States Parties to the ATT emphasized the importance of ensuring a leading role for NAM States Parties from those regions most affected by the illicit trade of conventional arms in the implementation of the Treaty, as well as in any future institutional arrangements of the Treaty. 

 

Final Document, Para 245) The Heads of State or Government of NAM States Parties to the Convention on Prohibition or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May be deemed to be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects (CCW) and its Protocols encouraged States to become parties to the Convention and its Protocols. NAM is of the view that Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems (LAWS) raise a number of ethical, legal, moral and technical, as well as international peace and security related questions which should be thoroughly deliberated and examined in the context of conformity to international law including international humanitarian law and international human rights law. In this regard, NAM States Parties to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) welcome the informal meetings of CCW experts on Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems held in Geneva in 2014, 2015 and 2016 and support continued deliberations on this issue in the CCW on the basis of an agreed mandate. NAM States Parties to CCW welcome the accession of Iraq to the Convention and its annexed protocols. 

 

(Final Document, Para 249) The Heads of State or Government commended the work of the NAM Working Group on Disarmament, under the chairmanship of Indonesia, in coordinating issues of common concern to the Movement in the field of disarmament. They encouraged NAM delegations to continue to actively participate in the Working Group with a view to promote and achieve the objectives of the Movement. 

 

(Final Document, Para 250) Consistent with and guided by the aforementioned principled positions and affirming the need to promote, defend and preserve these positions, the Heads of State or Government agreed to:  

250.1Continue to pursue the positions and priorities of the Movement, as appropriate, in the relevant international fora; and 

250.2 Task the NAM Coordinating Bureau to undertake efforts, as appropriate, with a view to achieving the objectives of the Movement at disarmament and international security meetings. 

 

Bilateral Disarmament

 

(Final Document, Para 187) The Heads of State or Government, while noting the conclusion and entry into force of the New START Treaty between the Russian Federation and the United States, stressed that reductions in deployments and in operational status, although they may contribute to risk reduction, cannot substitute for irreversible cuts in, and the total elimination of, nuclear weapons. In this context they called on the United States and the Russian Federation to apply the principles of transparency, irreversibility and verifiability to such cuts, to further reduce their nuclear arsenals, both warheads and delivery systems, thus contributing to the fulfillment of their nuclear disarmament obligations and facilitating the realization of a world free of nuclear weapons at the earliest date. 

 

Nuclear Weapon Convention

 

(Final Document, Para 176) The Heads of State or Government reaffirmed the importance of the Conference on Disarmament (CD) as the sole multilateral negotiating body on disarmament, and reiterated their call on the CD to agree on a balanced and comprehensive program of work by, inter alia, establishing an ad hoc committee on nuclear disarmament as soon as possible and as the highest priority. They emphasized the necessity to start negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament, without further delay, on a comprehensive nuclear weapons convention that sets, inter alia, a phased programme for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons with a specified framework of time. 

 

(Final Document, Para 179) The Heads of State or Government, while recalling General Assembly resolution 68/32, expressed satisfaction at the adoption of resolutions 69/58 and 70/34on the “follow-up to the 2013 high-level meeting of the General Assembly on nuclear disarmament” proposed by NAM, through which the Assembly:  

179.a Calls for the urgent commencement of negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament for the early conclusion of a comprehensive convention on nuclear weapons to prohibit their possession, development, production, acquisition, testing, stockpiling, transfer, use or threat of use and to provide for their destruction;  

179.b Recalls its decision to convene no later than 2018, a United Nations high-level international conference on nuclear disarmament to review the progress made in this regard; and  

179.c Welcomes the commemoration and promotion of the 26 September as the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons devoted to furthering this objective. 

 

Verification

 

(Final Document, Para 171) The Heads of State or Government, while noting the statements by NWS of their intention to pursue actions in achieving a world free of nuclear weapons, reaffirmed the need for urgent concrete actions by the NWS to achieve this goal in accordance with their nuclear disarmament legal obligations and commitments. They reaffirmed the importance of the application of the principles of transparency, irreversibility and verifiability by NWS in all measures related to the fulfillment of their nuclear disarmament obligations. 

 

(Final Document, Para 187) The Heads of State or Government, while noting the conclusion and entry into force of the New START Treaty between the Russian Federation and the United States, stressed that reductions in deployments and in operational status, although they may contribute to risk reduction, cannot substitute for irreversible cuts in, and the total elimination of, nuclear weapons. In this context they called on the United States and the Russian Federation to apply the principles of transparency, irreversibility and verifiability to such cuts, to further reduce their nuclear arsenals, both warheads and delivery systems, thus contributing to the fulfillment of their nuclear disarmament obligations and facilitating the realization of a world free of nuclear weapons at the earliest date. 

 

Disarmament and Development

 

(Final Document, Para 180) The Heads of State or Government welcomed UN meetings and activities for the commemoration of the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons on 26 September 2014. They invited Member States, the UN system and the civil society, including non-governmental organizations, academia, parliamentarians, the mass media and individuals, to commemorate and promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons through all means of educational and public awareness-raising activities. They also expressed their commitment to work together with the objective that the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons becomes one of the effective ways to focus international public attention on the dangers of nuclear weapons and the advantages of nuclear disarmament for development as well as for international peace and security. 

 

(Final Document, Para 248) The Heads of State or Government welcomed the adoption without a vote of General Assembly Resolution 70/32 on the relationship between disarmament and development. They also expressed concern at the increasing global military expenditure, which could otherwise be spent on development needs. They further stressed the importance of the reduction of military expenditures, in accordance with the principle of undiminished security at the lowest level of armaments, andurged all States to devote resources made available from there to economic and social development, in particular in the fight against poverty. They expressed firm support for the unilateral, bilateral, regional and multilateral measures aimed at reducing military expenditures, thereby contributing to strengthening regional and international peace and security and recognized that confidence building measures assisted in this regard. 

 

Arms Races

 

(Final Document, Para 188) The Heads of State or Government continued to be concerned over the negative implications of the development and deployment of anti-ballistic missile (ABM) defense systems and the threat of weaponization of outer space which have, inter alia, contributed to the further erosion of an international climate conducive to the promotion of disarmament and the strengthening of international security. The abrogation of the ABM Treaty brought new challenges to strategic stability and the prevention of an arms race in outer space. They remained seriously concerned at the negative security consequences of the deployment of strategic missile defence systems which could trigger an arms race(s) and lead to the further development of advanced missile systems and an increase in the number of nuclear weapons. 

 

(Final Document, Para 189) The Heads of State or Government recognized the common interest of all mankind and the inalienable, legitimate the sovereign rights of all State in the exploration and use of outer space for exclusively peaceful purposes, and reconfirmed their stand to oppose and reject any act denying or violating it and emphasized that prevention of an arms race in outer space, including a ban to deploy or use weapons therein, would avert a grave danger for international peace and security. They further emphasized the paramount importance of strict compliance with existing arms limitation and disarmament agreements relevant to outer space, including bilateral agreements, and with the existing legal regime concerning the use of outer space. They also reemphasized the urgent need for the commencement of substantive work in the CD, inter alia, on the prevention of an arms race in outer space, taking note of the joint Russian-Chinese initiative of a draft treaty on the “Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space, the Threat or Use of Force Against Outer Space Objects” (PPWT) presented in the Conference on Disarmament on 12 February 2008 and in 2014. They noted that this initiative is a constructive contribution to the work of the Conference, and is a good basis for further discussion toward adopting an international legally-binding instrument. In this context, they noted the adoption of General Assembly resolution 70/27 on no first emplacement of weapons in outer space with a view to ensuring its exclusive peaceful use. 

 

Disarmament and the Environment

 

(Final Document, Para 165) The Heads of State or Government expressed their deepest concern over the immediate, indiscriminate, and massive death and destruction caused by any nuclear weapon detonation and its long term catastrophic consequences on human health, environment, and other vital economic resources, thus endangering the life of present and future generations. They reiterated further their deep concern at the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons, and in this context reaffirmed the need for all States at all times to comply with applicable international law, including international humanitarian law. They stressed the need to address this issue in the context of the efforts aimed at the realization of a nuclear-weapon-free world and in this regard, they noted continuing relevant international efforts, including the three International Conferences on the Humanitarian Consequences of Nuclear Weapons, held respectively in Norway in 2013, in Mexico in 2014 and in Vienna in 2014, and the important role of the humanitarian initiative in promoting progress towards a comprehensive nuclear weapons convention. 

 

(Final Document, Para 200) The Heads of State or Government emphasized the importance of the observance of environmental norms in the preparation and implementation of disarmament and arms limitation agreements, and in this regard, they welcomed the adoption of General Assembly Resolution 70/30 on this matter without a vote. They reaffirmed that international disarmament forums should take fully into account the relevant environmental norms in negotiating treaties and agreements on disarmament and arms limitation and that all States, through their actions, should contribute fully to ensuring compliance with the aforementioned norms in the implementation of treaties and conventions to which they are parties. 

 

(Final Document, Para 247) The Heads of State or Government underlined the importance of the adoption by the General Assembly of resolution 69/57, taking into consideration the possible harmful effects to human health and the environment, caused by the use of weapons and munitions containing depleted uranium. 

 

Modernization and Development of Nuclear Weapons

 

(Final Document, Para 173) The Heads of State or Government reiterated, with concern, that improvements in existing nuclear weapons and the development of new types of nuclear weapons as provided for in the military doctrines of some NWS, including the United States Nuclear Posture Review, violate their legal obligations on nuclear disarmament, as well as the commitments made to diminish the role of nuclear weapons in their military and security policies and contravene the negative security assurances provided by the NWS. They stressed once again that these improvements as well as the development of new types of such weapons violate also the commitments undertaken at the time of the conclusion of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and at the NPT Review Conferences by the NWS. 

 

(Final Document, Para 188) The Heads of State or Government continued to be concerned over the negative implications of the development and deployment of anti-ballistic missile (ABM) defense systems and the threat of weaponization of outer space which have, inter alia, contributed to the further erosion of an international climate conducive to the promotion of disarmament and the strengthening of international security. The abrogation of the ABM Treaty brought new challenges to strategic stability and the prevention of an arms race in outer space. They remained seriously concerned at the negative security consequences of the deployment of strategic missile defence systems which could trigger an arms race(s) and lead to the further development of advanced missile systems and an increase in the number of nuclear weapons. 

 

(Final Document, Para 235) Mindful of the threat posed to humankind by the existing weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons and underlining the need for the total elimination of such weapons, the Heads of State or Government reaffirmed the need to prevent the emergence of new types of weapons of mass destruction and therefore supported the necessity of monitoring the situation and triggering international action as required. In this regard, the Heads of State or Government welcomed the adoption of the General Assembly Resolution 69/27 entitled “Prohibition of the development and manufacture of new types of weapons of mass destruction and new systems of such weapons: report of the Conference on Disarmament”. 

 

Missiles

 

(Final Document, Para 188) The Heads of State or Government continued to be concerned over the negative implications of the development and deployment of anti-ballistic missile (ABM) defense systems and the threat of weaponization of outer space which have, inter alia, contributed to the further erosion of an international climate conducive to the promotion of disarmament and the strengthening of international security. The abrogation of the ABM Treaty brought new challenges to strategic stability and the prevention of an arms race in outer space. They remained seriously concerned at the negative security consequences of the deployment of strategic missile defence systems which could trigger an arms race(s) and lead to the further development of advanced missile systems and an increase in the number of nuclear weapons. 

 

(Final Document, Para 192) The Heads of State or Government remained convinced of the need for a multilaterally negotiated, universal, comprehensive,transparent and non-discriminatory approach toward the issue of missiles in all its aspects as a contribution to international peace and security. They expressed their support for efforts to be continued within the UN to explore further the issue of missiles in all its aspects. In this regard, they emphasized the contribution of peaceful uses of space technologies, including space launch vehicle technologies, to human advancement, such as for telecommunications and data gathering on natural disasters. They also emphasized the need to keep the issue of missiles in all its aspects on the agenda of the UN General Assembly and welcomed that the Panel of Governmental Expertsestablishedin accordance with Resolution 59/67 successfully concluded its work in 2008 andsubmitted its report to the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly. While welcoming the consensus adoption of the UNGA decision 69/517 on “Missiles”, they encouraged follow up efforts to further examine the elements contained in the conclusions of the Secretary- General’s Report A/63/176. Pending the achievement of such a universal approach related to delivery systems for weapons of mass destruction, any initiative to address these concerns effectively and in a sustainable and comprehensive manner should be through an inclusive process of negotiations in a forum where all States couldparticipate as equals. They stressed the importance of the security concerns of all States at regional and global levels in any approach to the issue of missiles in all its aspects. 

 

18th. Summit, Baku - 2019

Nuclear-Weapon States Obligations

 

(Final Document, Para 206) The Ministers reiterated their deep concern over the slow pace of progress towards nuclear disarmament and the lack of progress by the Nuclear-Weapon States (NWS) to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals in accordance with their relevant multilateral legal obligations. They reaffirmed the importance of the unanimous conclusion of the ICJ that there exists an obligation to pursue in good faith and to bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control. They called upon the NWS to fulfill their multilateral legal obligations on nuclear disarmament and to implement the unequivocal undertaking they provided in 2000 and further reiterated in 2010 so as to accomplish the total elimination of nuclear weapons. They emphasized, in this regard, the urgent need to commence and to bring to a conclusion negotiations on comprehensive and complete nuclear disarmament without any further delay. 

 

(Final Document, Para 208) The Ministers, while noting the statements by NWS of their intention to pursue actions in achieving a world free of nuclear weapons, reaffirmed the need for urgent concrete actions by the NWS to achieve this goal in accordance with their nuclear disarmament legal obligations and commitments. 

 

(Final Document, Para 210) The Ministers reiterated, with concern, that improvements in existing nuclear weapons and the development of new types of nuclear weapons as provided for in the military doctrines of some NWS, including the United States Nuclear Posture Review, violate their legal obligations on nuclear disarmament, as well as the commitments made to diminish the role of nuclear weapons in their military and security policies and contravene the negative security assurances provided by the NWS. They stressed once again that these improvements as well as the development of new types of such weapons violate also the commitments undertaken at the time of the conclusion of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and at the NPT Review Conferences by the NWS. 

 

(Final Document, Para 224) The Ministers stressed the significance of achieving universal adherence to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, including by all NWS, which, inter alia, should contribute to the process of nuclear disarmament. They reiterated that if the objectives of the Treaty were to be fully realized, the continued commitment of all States signatories, especially the NWS, to nuclear disarmament would be essential. In this context, the ratification of the CTBT by Myanmar and Swaziland was welcomed. 

 

(Final Document, Para 225) The Ministers recalled the commitments made towards the full implementation of the New START Treaty between the Russian Federation and the United States, as well as the need for follow-up measures in order to achieve deeper reductions in their nuclear arsenals. They stressed that reductions in deployments and in operational status, although they may contribute to risk reduction, cannot substitute for irreversible cuts in, and the total elimination of, nuclear weapons. In this context, they called on the United States and the Russian Federation to apply the principles of transparency, irreversibility and verifiability to such cuts, to further reduce their nuclear arsenals, both warheads and delivery systems, thus contributing to the fulfillment of their nuclear disarmament obligations and facilitating the realization of a world free of nuclear weapons at the earliest date. 

 

(Final Document, Para 226) The Ministers took note of the successful completion of the commitments, by the Russian Federation and the United States, under the New START treaty, and called for the renewal of the commitments agreed within the framework of said Treaty. Nonetheless, they expressed their grave concern over the US Nuclear Posture Review and its National Security Strategy, which goes against legal obligations and undertakings to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals and threatens international peace and security. 

 

Disarmament and Nonproliferation

 

(Final Document, Para 201) The Ministers reiterated their continued concern over the current difficult and complex situation in the field of disarmament and international security. In this regard, they called for renewed efforts to resolve the current impasse in achieving nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation in all its aspects. 

 

(Final Document, Para 205) The Ministers reaffirmed the Movement’s principled positions on nuclear disarmament, which remains its highest priority, and on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons in all its aspects. They stressed the importance of ensuring that efforts aimed at nuclear nonproliferation are parallel to simultaneous efforts aimed at nuclear disarmament. They expressed concern at the threat to humanity posed by the continued existence of nuclear weapons and of their possible use or threat of use. 

 

(Final Document, Para 212) The Ministers emphasized that progress in nuclear disarmament and nuclear nonproliferation in all its aspects is essential to strengthening international peace and security. They stressed the importance of ensuring that efforts aimed at nuclear non-proliferation are parallel to simultaneous efforts aimed at nuclear disarmament. They reaffirmed that efforts toward nuclear disarmament, global and regional approaches and confidence building measures complement each other and should, wherever possible, be pursued simultaneously to promote regional and international peace and security. Nevertheless, they stressed that nuclear disarmament, as the highest priority established by SSOD-I and as a multilateral legal obligation, should not be made conditional on confidence building measures or other disarmament efforts. 

 

(Final Document, Para 232) The Ministers believed that the establishment of Nuclear-Weapon-Free zones (NWFZs) created by the treaties of Tlatelolco, Rarotonga, Bangkok,Pelindaba, the Central Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone treaty as well as Mongolia’s Nuclear-Weapon-Free-Status are positive steps and important measures towards strengthening global nuclear disarmament and nuclear nonproliferation. They reiterated that in the context of NWFZs, it is essential that NWS should provide unconditional assurances against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons to all States of the zone. They urged States to conclude agreements freely arrived at among the States of the region concerned with a view to establishing new NWFZs in regions where they do not exist, in accordance with the provisions of the Final Document of the First Special Session of the General Assembly devoted to Disarmament (SSOD-I) and the Principles and Guidelines adopted by the UN Disarmament Commission in 1999. They also called upon all the nuclear-weapon States to ratify related protocols to all treaties establishing nuclear-weapon-free zones, withdraw any reservations or interpretative declarations incompatible with their object and purpose, and respect the denuclearization status of these zones. 

 

(Final Document, Para 241) The Ministers of NAM States Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), while reaffirming the package of agreements of the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the NPT and the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the NPT, and recognizing the crucial role of the NPT in nuclear disarmament, nuclear nonproliferation and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, were of the view that the “Conclusions and Recommendations for Follow-on actions” of the 2010 Review Conference of the NPT, represent an outcome that can be built upon and further enhanced in the near future, to fully address the priorities of the Movement, in particular to realize a world free from nuclear weapons. They called upon NWS to implement fully and effectively their obligations under the Treaty, in particular in the area of nuclear disarmament, and the outcomes of its Review Conferences, in particular the 1995 Review and Extension Conference, and the 2000 and 2010 Review Conferences. 

 

(Final Document, Para 274) The Ministers expressed their satisfaction with the consensus among States on measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction. They welcomed the adoption by consensus of the General Assembly Resolution 72/42 entitled “Measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction” and underlined the need for this threat to humanity to be addressed within the UN framework and through international cooperation. While stressing that the most effective way of preventing terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction is through the total elimination of such weapons, they emphasized that progress was urgently needed in the area of disarmament and nonproliferationin order to help maintain international peace and security and to contribute to global efforts against terrorism. They called upon all Member States to support international efforts to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. They also urged all Member States to take and strengthen national measures, as appropriate, to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction, their means of delivery and materials and technologies related to their manufacture. 

 

(Final Document, Para 276) Mindful of the threat posed to humankind by the existing weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons and underlining the need for the total elimination of such weapons, the Ministers reaffirmed the need to prevent the emergence of new types of weapons of mass destruction and therefore supported the necessity of monitoring the situation and triggering international action as required. In this regard, the Ministers welcomed the adoption of the General Assembly Resolution 72/23 entitled “Prohibition of the development and manufacture of new types of weapons of mass destruction and new systems of such weapons: report of the Conference on Disarmament”. 

 

NAM Involvement and Contributions

 

(Final Document, Para 200) The Ministers reaffirmed and reiterated the long-standing principled positions of the Movement on disarmament and international security, including the decisions taken at the XII Summit in Durban in 1998 the XIII Summit in Kuala Lumpur in 2003, the XIV Summit in NAM 2018/CoB/Doc.1 71 Havana in 2006, the XV Summit in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, in July 2009, the XVI Summit in Tehran in 2012, the XVII Summit in Island of Margarita in 2016, the XIII Ministerial Conference in Cartagena in 2000, the XIV Ministerial Conference in Durban in 2004, the Ministerial Meeting held in Putrajaya, Malaysia, in 2006, the XV Ministerial Conference held in Teheran, Islamic Republic of Iran, in 2008, and the XVI Ministerial Conference and Commemorative Meeting of the Non- Aligned Movement held in Bali, Indonesia, in May 2011, and the XVII Ministerial Conference held in Algiers, Algeria in 2014. 

 

(Final Document, Para 207) The Ministers acknowledged the significant contribution towards realizing the objective of nuclear disarmament made by NAM Member and Observer States, including through the voluntary renunciation of the possession of nuclear weapons by Belarus, Kazakhstan, South Africa and Ukraine. 

 

(Final Document, Para 213) The Ministers reaffirmed the importance and the relevance of the UN Disarmament Commission (UNDC) as the sole specialized, deliberative body within the UN multilateral disarmament machinery and reiterated their full support for its work. They commended the UNDC for the successful adoption of the consensus recommendations on “Practical Confidence-Building Measures in the Field of Conventional Weapons” by the Commission in 2017. They expressed regret that since 2000 the UNDC was unable to reach agreement on the “Recommendations for achieving the objective of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons” due to the lack of political will and inflexible positions of some Nuclear-Weapons States, despite NAM’s constructive role and concrete proposals throughout the deliberations. They further called upon UN Member States to display the necessary political will and flexibility, in order to enable the Commission to agree on “Recommendations for achieving the objective of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons” in its current cycle. 

 

(Final Document, Para 215) The Ministers expressed their appreciation for the efforts undertaken, in particular by those representatives of Member States of the Non-Aligned Movement who served as the Presidents of the CD for the commencement of its substantive work, including negotiations. They noted the various proposals on the program of Work of the CD as contained in the documents CD/1864, a decision adopted by CD on 29 May 2009 but not implemented, CD/1933/Rev.1, CD/1952, and CD/1955 which were presented successively by Algeria, Egypt, Iran and Iraq between 2009 to 2013 sessions. They called on the CD to agree by consensus on a balanced and comprehensive programme of work without any further delay taking into account the security interests of all States. In this regard, the Ministers reaffirmed the importance of the principle contained in the final document of the SSOD-I that “The adoption of disarmament measures should take place in such an equitable and balanced manner as to ensure the right of each State to security and to ensure that no individual State or group of States may obtain advantages over others at any stage”. They agreed to continue coordination of efforts at the NAM Chapter in Geneva. 

 

(Final Document, Para 217) The Ministers commended the efforts of NAM Member States in advancing the goal of nuclear disarmament. In this regard, they welcomed the convening, at the initiative of NAM, under resolution 72/251, of the upcoming United Nations International High-Level Conference on Nuclear Disarmament, to be held on 14-16 May 2018, in New York, as a follow-up to the first-ever High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly on Nuclear Disarmament on 26 September 2013, to review the progress made in this regard. They encouraged all Member States of the United Nations and members of Specialized Agencies to participate in the Conference at the highest level. The Ministers expressed their hope that this International Conference can contribute to the goal of a nuclear weapons free world. 

 

(Final Document, Para 218) The Ministers welcomed UN annual meetings and activities for the commemoration of the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons on 26 September since 2014, as outlined in resolution 68/32. They invited Member States, the UN system and the civil society, including non-governmental organizations, academia, parliamentarians, the mass media and individuals, to commemorate and promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons through all means of educational and public awareness-raising activities. They also expressed their commitment to work together with the objective that the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons becomes one of the effective ways to focus international public attention on the dangers of nuclear weapons, the necessity for their total elimination and the advantages of nuclear disarmament for development as well as for international peace and security. 

 

(Final Document, Para 219) Moreover, the Ministers underlined the importance of UNGA resolutions 68/32, 69/58, 70/34, 71/71 and 72/251 as a roadmap on nuclear disarmament and accordingly stressed the need for an active participation of NAM Member States in all activities related to their implementation, including enhancing public awareness and education on this issue. They commended all efforts aiming at promoting the implementation of these resolutions, including those undertaken by the Group of 21 in the Conference on Disarmament and the NAM Chapter in Vienna. 

 

(Final Document, Para 224) The Ministers stressed the significance of achieving universal adherence to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, including by all NWS, which, inter alia, should contribute to the process of nuclear disarmament. They reiterated that if the objectives of the Treaty were to be fully realized, the continued commitment of all States signatories, especially the NWS, to nuclear disarmament would be essential. In this context, the ratification of the CTBT by Myanmar and Swaziland was welcomed. 

 

(Final Document, Para 236) The Ministers took into consideration the draft resolution tabled by the Syrian Arab Republic, on behalf of the Arab Group, before the Security Council on 29 December 2003 on the establishment of a zone free of all weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East. They welcomed the initiative presented in 1990 by the Arab Republic of Egypt on the establishment of a zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East, and its initiative presented before the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly on 28th September 2013 containing implementation steps in support of the establishment of the Zone. They also stressed that necessary steps should be taken in different international fora for the establishment of such a zone in the Middle East. They took note with appreciation of the letters sent, in 2013 and 2014, to the United Nations Secretary-General, renewing the support for the establishment of a zone free of all weapons of mass destruction, reflected in the note A/68/781 by the Secretary-General, by: Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. 

 

(Final Document, Para 283) The Ministers noted the adoption, by vote, of the Arms Trade Treaty by the UN General Assembly on 2nd April 2013 and its entry into force on 24 December 2014. They also noted that the Treaty aims at regulating trade in conventional weapons, including small arms and light weapons. They called for balanced, transparent and objective implementation of the Treaty, in strict accordance with the principles of the UN Charter, and the inherent right of each State to security and to individual or collective self-defense. They also underscored that its implementation should, in no way, affect the sovereign right of States to acquire, manufacture, export, import and retain conventional arms and their parts and components for their self-defense, security needs and the maintenance of their territorial integrity. The Ministers of NAM States Parties to the ATT emphasized the importance of ensuring a leading role for NAM States Parties from those regions most affected by the illicit trade of conventional arms in the implementation of the Treaty, as well as in any future institutional arrangements of the Treaty. 

 

(Final Document, Para 287) The Ministers of the NAM States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction (the Mine Ban Convention) welcomed the efforts of those parties who have recently completed their obligations under the Mine Ban Convention, including Algeria and Belarus, by having destroyed their stockpiles of anti-personnel mines and cleaned affected areas. 

 

(Final Document, Para 289) The Ministers of NAM States Parties to the Convention on Prohibition or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May be deemed to be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects (CCW) and its Protocols encouraged States to become parties to the Convention and its Protocols. NAM is of the view that Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems (LAWS) raise a number of ethical, legal, moral and technical, as well as international peace and security related questions which should be thoroughly deliberated and examined in the context of conformity to international law including international humanitarian law and international human rights law. In this regard, NAM States Parties to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) welcome the informal meetings of CCW experts on Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems held in Geneva in 2014, 2015 and 2016 and support continued deliberations on this issue in the CCW on the basis of an agreed mandateNAM States Parties to CCW welcome the accession of Iraq to the Convention and its annexed protocols. 

 

(Final Document, Para 293) The Ministers commended the work of the NAM Working Group on Disarmament, under the chairmanship of Indonesia, in coordinating issues of common concern to the Movement in the field of disarmament. They encouraged NAM delegations to continue to actively participate in the Working Group with a view to promote and achieve the objectives of the Movement. 

 

(Final Document, Para 294) Consistent with and guided by the aforementioned principled positions and affirming the need to promote, defend and preserve these positions, the Ministers agreed to:294.1. Continue to pursue the positions and priorities of the Movement, as appropriate, in the relevant international fora; and 294.2.Task the NAM Coordinating Bureau to undertake efforts, as appropriate, with a view to achieving the objectives of the Movement at disarmament and international security meetings. 

 

TPNW

 

(Final Document, Para 211) The Ministers welcomed the multilateral efforts towards nuclear disarmament and the total elimination of nuclear weapons. Moreover, they took note of the adoption of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons on 7 July 2017 at the United Nations conference to negotiate a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination. It is hoped that, when entered into force, the Treaty would contribute to furthering the objective of the total elimination of nuclear weapons. 

 

Gender

 

(Final Document, Para 222) The Ministers, while recalling the vital importance of the principles of equitable geographic representation and gender balance, called for the fair application of these principles in the appointment and recruitment to leadership, senior and managerial positions in the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs. The Ministers called also for transparency and balanced representation in the composition of the membership of the Groups of Governmental Experts established in the field of disarmament and international security. They also underlined the importance of transparency and openness of the work of such groups. 

 

Nuclear Weapon Convention

 

(Final Document, Para 202) The Ministers expressed their deepest concern over the immediate, indiscriminate, and massive death and destruction caused by any nuclear weapon detonation and its long-term catastrophic consequences on human health, environment, and other vital economic resources, thus endangering the life of present and future generations. They reiterated further their deep concern at the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons, and in this context reaffirmed the need for all States at all times to comply with applicable international law, including international humanitarian law. They stressed the need to address this issue in the context of the efforts aimed at the realization of a nuclear-weapon-free world and in this regard, they noted continuing relevant international efforts, including the three International Conferences on the Humanitarian Consequences of Nuclear Weapons, held respectively in Norway in 2013, in Mexico in 2014 and in Vienna in 2014, and the important role of the humanitarian initiative in promoting progress towards nuclear disarmament and the total elimination of nuclear weapons. They reiterated the call in General Assembly Resolution 72/251 for the commencement of negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament (CD) on a comprehensive convention on nuclear weapons. 

 

(Final Document, Para 214) The Ministers reaffirmed the importance of the Conference on Disarmament (CD) as the sole multilateral negotiating body on disarmament, and reiterated their call to the CD to agree on a balanced and comprehensive program of work by, inter alia, establishing an ad hoc committee on nuclear disarmament as soon as possible and as the highest priority. They emphasized the necessity to start negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament, without further delay, on further effective nuclear disarmament measures, in particular a comprehensive nuclear weapons convention that sets, inter alia, a phased programme for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons with a specified framework of time. 

 

(Final Document, Para 216) The Ministers called for the urgent commencement of negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament on further effective nuclear disarmament measures to achieve the total elimination of nuclear weapons, including, in particular, on a comprehensive convention on nuclear weapons. They further called for urgent compliance with legal obligations and the fulfillment of the commitments undertaken on nuclear disarmament. 

 

Verification

 

(Final Document, Para 208) The Ministers, while noting the statements by NWS of their intention to pursue actions in achieving a world free of nuclear weapons, reaffirmed the need for urgent concrete actions by the NWS to achieve this goal in accordance with their nuclear disarmament legal obligations and commitments. They reaffirmed the importance of the application of the principles of transparency, irreversibility and verifiability by NWS in all measures related to the fulfillment of their nuclear disarmament obligations. 

 

(Final Document, Para 225) The Ministers recalled the commitments made towards the full implementation of the New START Treaty between the Russian Federation and the United States, as well as the need for follow-up measures in order to achieve deeper reductions in their nuclear arsenals. They stressed that reductions in deployments and in operational status, although they may contribute to risk reduction, cannot substitute for irreversible cuts in, and the total elimination of, nuclear weapons. In this context, they called on the United States and the Russian Federation to apply the principles of transparency, irreversibility and verifiability to such cuts, to further reduce their nuclear arsenals, both warheads and delivery systems, thus contributing to the fulfillment of their nuclear disarmament obligations and facilitating the realization of a world free of nuclear weapons at the earliest date. 

 

Disarmament and Development

 

(Final Document, Para 218) The Ministers welcomed UN annual meetings and activities for the commemoration of the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons on 26 September since 2014, as outlined in resolution 68/32. They invited Member States, the UN system and the civil society, including non-governmental organizations, academia, parliamentarians, the mass media and individuals, to commemorate and promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons through all means of educational and public awareness-raising activities. They also expressed their commitment to work together with the objective that the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons becomes one of the effective ways to focus international public attention on the dangers of nuclear weapons, the necessity for their total elimination and the advantages of nuclear disarmament for development as well as for international peace and security. 

 

(Final Document, Para 292) The Ministers welcomed the adoption without a vote of General Assembly Resolution 72/46 on the relationship between disarmament and development. They also expressed concern at the increasing global military expenditure, which could otherwise be spent on development needs. They further stressed the importance of the reduction of military expenditures, in accordance with the principle of undiminished security at the lowest level of armaments, and urged all States to devote resources made available from there to economic and social development, in particular in the fight against poverty. They expressed firm support for the unilateral, bilateral, regional and multilateral measures aimed at reducing military expenditures, thereby contributing to strengthening regional and international peace and security and recognized that confidence building measures assisted in this regard. 

 

Arms Races

 

(Final Document, Para 227) The Ministers continued to be concerned over the negative implications of the development and deployment of anti-ballistic missile (ABM) defense systems and the threat of weaponization of outer space which have, inter alia, contributed to the further erosion of an international climate conducive to the strengthening of international security. The abrogation of the ABM Treaty brought new challenges to international peace and stability and the prevention of an arms race in outer space.They remained seriously concerned at the negative security consequences of the deployment of strategic missile defence systems which could trigger an arms race(s) and lead to the further development of advanced missile systems and an increase in the number of nuclear weapons. 

 

(Final Document, Para 228) The Ministers recognized the common interest of all humankind and the inalienable, legitimate sovereign rights of all States in the exploration and use of outer space for exclusively peaceful purposes, and reconfirmed their stand to oppose and reject any act denying or violating it and emphasized that prevention of an arms race in outer space, including a ban to deploy or use weapons therein, would avert a grave danger for international peace and security. They further emphasized the paramount importance of strict compliance with existing arms limitation and disarmament agreements relevant to outer space, including bilateral agreements, and with the existing legal regime concerning the use of outer space. They also reemphasized the urgent need for the commencement of substantive work in the CD, inter alia, on the prevention of an arms race in outer space, taking note of the joint Russian-Chinese initiative of a draft treaty on the “Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space, the Threat or Use of Force Against Outer Space Objects” (PPWT) presented in the Conference on Disarmament on 12 February 2008 and in 2014. They noted that this initiative is a constructive contribution to the work of the Conference, and is a good basis for further discussion toward adopting an international legally-binding instrument. In this context, they noted the adoption of General Assembly resolution 72/27 on no first emplacement of weapons in outer space with a view to ensuring its exclusive peaceful use. They also welcomed the adoption of General Assembly resolution 72/250 on “Further practical measures for the prevention of an arms race in outer space”, which calls for the establishment of a United Nations Group of Governmental Experts to consider and make recommendations on substantial elements of an international legally binding instrument on the prevention of an arms race in outer space, including, inter alia, on the prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space. They further urged all Member States, in particular those with major space capabilities, to contribute actively to the goal of preventing an arms race in outer space as an essential condition for the promotion of international cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes. They called for the promotion and strengthening of international cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes. 

 

Bilateral Disarmament

 

(Final Document, Para 225) The Ministers recalled the commitments made towards the full implementation of the New START Treaty between the Russian Federation and the United States, as well as the need for follow-up measures in order to achieve deeper reductions in their nuclear arsenals. They stressed that reductions in deployments and in operational status, although they may contribute to risk reduction, cannot substitute for irreversible cuts in, and the total elimination of, nuclear weapons. In this context, they called on the United States and the Russian Federation to apply the principles of transparency, irreversibility and verifiability to such cuts, to further reduce their nuclear arsenals, both warheads and delivery systems, thus contributing to the fulfillment of their nuclear disarmament obligationsand facilitating the realization of a world free of nuclear weapons at the earliest date. 

 

(Final Document, Para 226) The Ministers took note of the successful completion of the commitments, by the Russian Federation and the United States, under the New START treaty, and called for the renewal of the commitments agreed within the framework of said Treaty. Nonetheless, they expressed their grave concern over the US Nuclear Posture Review and its National Security Strategy, which goes against legal obligations and undertakings to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals and threatens international peace and security. 

 

Disarmament and the Environment

 

(Final Document, Para 202) The Ministers expressed their deepest concern over the immediate, indiscriminate, and massive death and destruction caused by any nuclear weapon detonation and its long term catastrophic consequences on human health, environment, and other vital economic resources, thus endangering the life of present and future generations. They reiterated further their deep concern at the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons, and in this context reaffirmed the need for all States at all times to comply with applicable international law, including international humanitarian law. They stressed the need to address this issue in the context of the efforts aimed at the realization of a nuclear-weapon-free world and in this regard, they noted continuing relevant international efforts, including the three International Conferences on the Humanitarian Consequences of Nuclear Weapons, held respectively in Norway in 2013, in Mexico in 2014 and in Vienna in 2014, and the important role of the humanitarian initiative in promoting progress towards nuclear disarmament and the total elimination of nuclear weapons. They reiterated the call in General Assembly Resolution 72/251 for the commencement of negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament (CD) on a comprehensive convention on nuclear weapons. 

 

(Final Document, Para 239) The Ministers emphasized the importance of the observance of environmental norms in the preparation and implementation of disarmament and arms limitation agreements, and in this regard, they welcomed the adoption of General Assembly Resolution 72/47 on this matter without a vote. They reaffirmed that international disarmament forums should take fully into account the relevant environmental norms in negotiating treaties and agreements on disarmament and arms limitation and that all States, through their actions, should contribute fully to ensuring compliance with the aforementioned norms in the implementation of treaties and conventions to which they are parties. 

 

(Final Document, Para 291) The Ministers underlined the importance of the adoption by the General Assembly of resolution 71/70, taking into consideration the possible harmful effects to human health and the environment, caused by the use of weapons and munitions containing depleted uranium. 

 

International Humanitarian Law and ICJ

 

(Final Document, Para 202) The Ministers expressed their deepest concern over the immediate, indiscriminate, and massive death and destruction caused by any nuclear weapon detonation and its long term catastrophic consequences on human health, environment, and other vital economic resources, thus endangering the life of present and future generations. They reiterated further their deep concern at the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons, and in this context reaffirmed the need for all States at all times to comply with applicable international law, including international humanitarian law. They stressed the need to address this issue in the context of the efforts aimed at the realization of a nuclear-weapon-free world and in this regard, they noted continuing relevant international efforts, including the three International Conferences on the Humanitarian Consequences of Nuclear Weapons, held respectively in Norway in 2013, in Mexico in 2014 and in Vienna in 2014, and the important role of the humanitarian initiative in promoting progress towards nuclear disarmament and the total elimination of nuclear weapons. They reiterated the call in General Assembly Resolution 72/251 for the commencement of negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament (CD) on a comprehensive convention on nuclear weapons. 

 

(Final Document, Para 206) The Ministers reiterated their deep concern over the slow pace of progress towards nuclear disarmament and the lack of progress by the Nuclear-Weapon States (NWS) to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals in accordance with their relevant multilateral legal obligations. They reaffirmed the importance of the unanimous conclusion of the ICJ that there exists an obligation to pursue in good faith and to bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control.They called upon the NWS to fulfill their multilateral legal obligations on nuclear disarmament and to implement the unequivocal undertaking they provided in 2000 and further reiterated in 2010 so as to accomplish the total elimination of nuclear weapons. They emphasized, in this regard, the urgent need to commence and to bring to a conclusion negotiations on comprehensive and complete nuclear disarmament without any further delay. 

 

Modernization and Development of Nuclear Weapons

 

(Final Document, Para 210) The Ministers reiterated, with concern, that improvements in existing nuclear weapons and the development of new types of nuclear weapons as provided for in the military doctrines of some NWS, including the United States Nuclear Posture Review, violate their legal obligations on nuclear disarmament, as well as the commitments made to diminish the role of nuclear weapons in their military and security policies and contravene the negative security assurances provided by the NWS. They stressed once again that these improvements as well as the development of new types of such weapons violate also the commitments undertaken at the time of the conclusion of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and at the NPT Review Conferences by the NWS. 

 

(Final Document, Para 227) The Ministers continued to be concerned over the negative implications of the development and deployment of anti-ballistic missile (ABM) defense systems and the threat of weaponization of outer space which have, inter alia, contributed to the further erosion of an international climate conducive to the strengthening of international security. The abrogation of the ABM Treaty brought new challenges to international peace and stability and the prevention of an armsrace in outer space. They remained seriously concerned at the negative security consequences of the deployment of strategic missile defence systems which could trigger an arms race(s) and lead to the further development of advanced missile systems and an increase in the number of nuclear weapons. 

 

(Final Document, Para 276) Mindful of the threat posed to humankind by the existing weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons and underlining the need for the total elimination of such weapons, the Ministers reaffirmed the need to prevent the emergence of new types of weapons of mass destruction and therefore supported the necessity of monitoring the situation and triggering international action as required. In this regard, the Ministers welcomed the adoption of the General Assembly Resolution 72/23 entitled “Prohibition of the development and manufacture of new types of weapons of mass destruction and new systems of such weapons: report of the Conference on Disarmament”. 

 

(Final Document, Para 277) The Ministers, while staying committed to the cause of prohibiting the development of new types of weapons of mass destruction, welcomed the adoption of General Assembly Resolution A/RES/72/23 “Prohibition of the development and manufacture of new types of weapons of mass destruction and new systems of such weapons: report of the Conference on Disarmament”, adopted on December 4, 2017, reiterated the adherence of their countries to and called on the international community to abide by the goals and principles set out therein. 

 

Missiles

 

(Final Document, Para 227) The Ministers continued to be concerned over the negative implications of the development and deployment of anti-ballistic missile (ABM) defense systems and the threat of weaponization of outer space which have, inter alia, contributed to the further erosion of an international climate conducive to the strengthening of international security. The abrogation of the ABM Treaty brought new challenges to international peace and stability and the prevention of an armsrace in outer space. They remained seriously concerned at the negative security consequences of the deployment of strategic missile defence systems which could trigger an arms race(s) and lead to the further development of advanced missile systems and an increase in the number of nuclear weapons. 

 

(Final Document, Para 231) The Ministers remained convinced of the need for a multilaterally negotiated, universal, comprehensive, transparent and non-discriminatory approach toward the issue of missiles in all its aspects as a contribution to international peace and security. They expressed their support for efforts to be continued within the UN to explore further the issue of missiles in all its aspects. In this regard, they emphasized the contribution of peaceful uses of space technologies, including space launch vehicle technologies, to human advancement, such as for telecommunications and data gathering on natural disasters. They also emphasized the need to keep the issue of missiles in all its aspects on the agenda of the UN General Assembly and welcomed that the Panel of Governmental Experts establishedin accordance with Resolution 59/67 successfully concluded its work in 2008 and submitted its report to the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly. While welcoming the consensus adoption of the UNGA decision 69/517 on “Missiles”, they encouraged follow up efforts to further examine the elements contained in the conclusions of the Secretary-General’s Report A/63/176. Pending the achievement of such a universal approach related to delivery systems for weapons of mass destruction, any initiative to address these concerns effectively and in a sustainable and comprehensive manner should be through an inclusive process of negotiations in a forum where all States could participate as equals. They stressed the importance of the security concerns of all States at regional and global levels in any approach to the issue of missiles in all its aspects.