News



CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT
                                               CD/1364
                                               26 September 1995
 
                                               Original:  ENGLISH
 
 
 
 
 
 
            REPORT OF THE CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT TO THE
                GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE UNITED NATIONS
 
 
                               CONTENTS

                                                Paragraph(s)     Page

 
 III.    SUBSTANTIVE WORK OF THE CONFERENCE DURING
    ITS 1995 SESSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 
                                                Paragraph(s)     Page
 
    B.   Cessation of the Nuclear Arms Race
         and Nuclear Disarmament . . . . . . . . . . . .25 - 26 134
 
         -    Prohibition of the production of
              fissile material for nuclear
              weapons or other nuclear explosive
              devices  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 - 30 134
 

...................

 Prohibition of the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other
 nuclear explosive devices
 
 27.     At the 703rd plenary meeting of the Conference on 23 March 1995, the
 Special Coordinator, Ambassador Shannon of Canada, presented his report on the
 outcome of his consultations "on the most appropriate arrangement to negotiate
 a treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or
 other nuclear explosive devices".  That Report (CD/1299) reads as follows:
 
         "At the beginning of last year's session, I was tasked with seeking
     the views of members of the most appropriate arrangement to negotiate a
     non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively
     verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear
     weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.
 
         As you know, I held numerous consultations, both bilaterally and
     with groups and reported formally to this plenary on five occasions
     in 1994.  Mid-way through the last session, consensus was reached that
     the CD was the appropriate forum to negotiate a treaty on this issue.  At
     the end of the session in September, while there was no agreement on a
     mandate for an ad hoc committee, there was agreement, in principle, that
     an ad hoc committee be established on this issue as soon as a mandate had
     been agreed.  At that time, the CD asked me to continue consultations on
     an appropriate mandate for an ad hoc committee in order to enable the
     convening of this Ad Hoc Committee as soon as possible.
 
         At the beginning of this year's session, the Conference decided to
     continue consultations on a mandate.
 
                  I have since held numerous consultations, and am pleased to report
     that delegations have agreed that the mandate for such a committee should
     be based on resolution 48/75L of the United Nations General Assembly, and
     reads as follows:
 
         1.   The Conference on Disarmament decides to establish an ad hoc
          committee on a 'ban on the production of fissile material for
          nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices'.
 
         2.   The Conference directs the Ad Hoc Committee to negotiate a
          non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and
          effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile
          material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.
 
         3.   The Ad Hoc Committee will report to the Conference on
          Disarmament on the progress of its work before the conclusion of
          the 1995 session.
 
         During the course of my consultations, many delegations expressed
     concerns about a variety of issues relating to fissile material,
     including the appropriate scope of the Convention.  Some delegations
     expressed the view that this mandate would permit consideration in the
     Committee only of the future production of fissile material.  Other
     delegations were of the view that the mandate would permit consideration
     not only of future but also of past production.  Still others were of the
     view that consideration should not only relate to production of fissile
     material (past or future) but also to other issues, such as the
     management of such material.
 
         It has been agreed by delegations that the mandate for the
     establishment of the Ad Hoc Committee does not preclude any delegation
     from raising for consideration in the Ad Hoc Committee any of the above
     noted issues.
 
         Delegations with strong views were able to join consensus so
     we could all move forward on this issue.  This means that an
     ad hoc committee on cut-off can be established and negotiations can
     begin on this important topic.  This has for some time been the common
     objective of all delegations of this Conference.
 
         I have appreciated the productive contribution and support of all
     delegations in arriving at this result."
 
 28.     At the same plenary meeting, the Conference adopted this report and
 decided to establish the Ad Hoc Committee.  The President announced that
 further consultations would be conducted in order to appoint the Chairman of
 the Ad Hoc Committee.  The Conference did not appoint the Chairman of this
 Committee.
 
 29.     The following documents dealing with this issue were presented to the
 Conference during its 1995 session:
 
    (a)  CD/1302, dated 30 March 1995, entitled "Letter dated 29 March 1995
 from the Permanent Representative of Canada addressed to the Deputy
 Secretary-General of the Conference on Disarmament transmitting a publication
 containing papers presented at the Cut-Off Convention Workshop held in
 Toronto, Ontario, from 16-19 January 1995".
 
    (b)  CD/1304, dated 4 April 1995, entitled "Letter dated 3 April 1995
 from the Deputy Permanent Representative of Canada addressed to the Deputy
 Secretary-General of the Conference on Disarmament transmitting a publication
 entitled 'Verifying a fissile materials cut-off:  an exploratory analysis of
 potential diversion scenarios'".
 
 30.     During plenary meetings of the Conference, delegations reaffirmed or
 further elaborated their respective positions on the issue.  These are duly
 recorded in plenary records.


..............