Conference on Disarmament: 1998 Round-up Summary

The Conference on Disarmament (CD) closed on 9 September after adopting its report to the United Nations General Assembly. There was obvious relief that this year (unlike last) the CD would be able to report establishing committees to negotiate a ban on the production of fissile materials and to discuss negative security assurances. At the same time, there were frustrations and disappointments: frustration, that the CD report failed even to mention the Indian and Pakistan tests, which have dominated plenary sessions after May; and disappointment that one member blocked the anticipated decision to admit five new members.

Fissban committee agreed

Just weeks before closing, the CD managed to establish a committee to start negotiations on a fissile material treaty (FMT)(1), chaired by Ambassador Mark Moher of Canada. Although he served for only three weeks and many delegations wanted the CD to make the commitment to reconvene the negotiations under 'Chairman Moher' in 1999, no decision on this was possible. To enable negotiations to get started, long-standing conflicts over stockpiles and the purpose of the measure in relation to non-proliferation and/or nuclear disarmament, which had delayed the start of the negotiations, were postponed rather than resolved. All signs point to long and arduous negotiations over several years, but at least the CD feels that it will be at work once more.

Statements, July to September

The nuclear tests conducted by India and Pakistan continued to take up considerable time in the plenaries, with mentions from many participants and continuing justifications, arguments, and policy updates from Pakistan and India themselves. At the plenary on 30 July (2), Pakistan announced its willingness to let fissile materials negotiations get started in the CD, which several delegations, including France, Britain, the Netherlands, Belgium, the United States, Austria and Australia welcomed. The latter two countries focused the best part of their statements on the need to start FMT negotiations. Algeria gave a general statement that introduced a two-pronged action-proposal on fissile materials and nuclear disarmament (CD/1545).

The 6 August plenary was mainly taken up with attempting to reach a decision on starting FMT negotiations. Italy gave a general statement on nuclear issues, backing FMT negotiations and the Belgian proposal for the establishment of a CD forum to exchange information and facilitate dialogue between the nuclear and non-nuclear countries; and Bangladesh spoke forcefully of the need for early action on FMT, characterising it as a "step both intellectually and procedurally towards nuclear disarmament" (3). The 11 August plenary was devoted to the decision to establish the committee to negotiate an FMT, and the numerous reactions and views relating to this (see below)(4).

The 20 August plenary was addressed by Poland, who made a general statement welcoming the FMT decision. Mark Moher responded to his appointment as Chair of the FMT negotiations, promising to be a fair and neutral Chair, sensitive to CD members and the committee, not withstanding Canada's own strong national positions. There ensued some discussion initiated by Egypt and backed by South Africa, concerning what to call the fissban committee, convened under agenda item 1 to negotiate the fissile materials ban. In essence, they objected to use of the shorthand 'FMCT committee', as it appeared to prejudge the scope, despite assurances from the UK President, Ambassador Ian Soutar, that the informal shorthand was not intended to do so. (5)

The Year in Brief