2004 World Conference against A & H Bombs

International Meeting
2004 World Conference against A & H Bombs

H.E. Hussein Haniff
Ambassador and permanent representative of Malaysia to the United Nations in Vienna


PERSPECTIVE FOR ABOLITION OF NUCLEAR WEAPON

General

1. Malaysia believes that nuclear disarmament is a paramount disarmament concern. The world community, especially the nuclear weapon states has the obligation to ensure the end of the nuclear arms race and the phasing-out of nuclear weapons.

2. Malaysia calls upon the nuclear weapon states to fulfill its obligation under Article VI of the NPT and live up to its commitments on nuclear disarmament. In this regard, it is important that the nuclear weapon states commit themselves to nuclear disarmament through a phased programme of reduction of their nuclear arsenals within a specified framework of time, culminating in their total elimination.

3. Malaysia views the NPT as a universal regime established by the international community to stem the spread of nuclear weapons. It sets the standard that considers weapons proliferation as a threat to international security. Malaysia is of the view that NPT States Parties should actively promote the universality of the Treaty, which is the cornerstone of international peace and security. We are of the view that it is the responsibility of all NPT States Parties to pursue activities aimed at the eventual universality of the Treaty.


Nuclear Disarmament

1. Malaysia is concerned over the slow pace of progress towards nuclear disarmament which remains its highest priority.

2. Malaysia expresses its concern on the lack of progress by the Nuclear Weapon States to accomplish the elimination of their arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament.

3. Malaysia underscores the need to accomplish the total elimination of nuclear weapons and emphasizes, in this regard, the urgent need to commence negotiations without delay.

Defence Doctrines

1. Malaysia remains deeply concerned at strategic defence doctrines that set out rationales for the use of nuclear weapons. The end of the Cold War has not removed the danger of nuclear catastrophe. In fact, in some situations and in the context of emerging security doctrines including pre-emptive doctrine, the risks of a conflict involving nuclear weapons may have increased.

2. With regard to the Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) undertaken by the US, Malaysia is seriously concerned over that the development of new types of nuclear weapons that are being considered under the NPR and wish to reiterate 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.

3. Malaysia emphasizes 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.

4. The Nuclear Weapon States must find other means of achieving security other than through doctrine of nuclear deterrence.

Moscow Treaty

1. Malaysia while noting the signing of the Strategic Offensive Reduction Treaty (SORT) between the Russian Federation and the United States (Moscow Treaty) on 24 May 2002, emphasizes that reductions in deployments and in operational status cannot substitute for irreversible cuts in, and the total elimination of, nuclear weapons. The treaty lacks timelines, verification and irreversible measures.


Conference on Disarmament

1. Malaysia reaffirms the importance of the Conference on Disarmament (CD) as the sole multilateral negotiating body on disarmament.

2. Malaysia deeply regrets 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. In this regard, Malaysia is disappointed that no progress has been made in the fulfillment of this obligation despite the lapse of eight years.

3. Malaysia underscores 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.

4. Malaysia calls on the CD to establish as soon as possible and as the highest priority, an Ad Hoc Committee on Nuclear Disarmament.


Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT)

1. Malaysia supports the establishment of an Ad Hoc Committee under agenda item 1 of the CD entitled gCessation of the nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmamenth which shall negotiate a non-discriminatory, multilateral, internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices. In this regard, Malaysia is of the view that the proposed FMCT should not only include future production of fissile material but also existing stocks.


ICJ Advisory Opinion

1. Malaysia underscores 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.

2. Malaysia again calls 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.

Security Assurances

1. Malaysia reiterates that the total elimination of nuclear weapons is the only absolute guarantee against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons.

2. Pending the total elimination of nuclear weapons, efforts for the conclusion of a universal, unconditional and legally binding instrument on security assurances to Non-Nuclear-Weapon States should be pursued as a matter of priority.

Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban-Treaty (CTBT)

1. Malaysia is opposed to nuclear tests undertaken by any country and strongly supports the overwhelming international opinion against such test.
2. Malaysia stresses the significance of achieving universal adherence to the CTBT, including by all the Nuclear Weapons States, which, interalia, should contribute to the process of nuclear disarmament.

3. Malaysia believes that if the objectives of the Treaty were to be fully realized, the continued commitment of all States signatories, especially the Nuclear Weapon States, to nuclear disarmament would be essential.


Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones

1. Malaysia believes that the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones will enhance global and regional peace, strengthens the nuclear non-proliferation regime and contributes towards realizing the objectives of nuclear disarmament.

2. Malaysia considers the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones (NWFZs) created by the treaties of Tlatelolco, Rarotonga, Bangkok and Pelindaba as a positive step towards attaining the objective of global nuclear disarmament.

3. Malaysia welcomes efforts aimed at establishing new nuclear-weapons-free zones in all regions based on agreements freely arrived at between the States of the region concerned.

4. In the context of nuclear-weapon-free zones, Malaysia believes that it is essential that Nuclear Weapon States provide unconditional assurances against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons to all States of the zone.

5. Malaysia calls upon States to conclude agreements with a view to establishing new nuclear-weapon-free zones in regions where they do not exist especially in volatile regions such as the Middle East, South Asia and North-East Asia.
6. Malaysia supports Mongoliafs nuclear-weapon-free status and considered that the institutionalization of that status would be an important measure towards strengthening the non-proliferation regime in that region.

7. Malaysia welcomes Cubafs ratification to the Tlatelolco Treaty which brought it into full force in its area of application.

8. Malaysia welcomes the on-going consultations between ASEAN and the Nuclear Weapons States (NWS) on the Protocol of Southeast Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) Treaty and urges the NWS to become parties to the Protocol of the Treaty as soon as possible.

9. Malaysia welcomes the decision by all five Central Asian States to sign the Central Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty as soon as possible.

10. Malaysia supports the initiative to convene an international conference of the States parties, ratifiers and signatories to the treaties of Tlatelolco, Rarotonga, Bangkok and Pelindaba to discuss and implement further ways and means of co-operation among themselves, their treaty agencies and other interested States, at an appropriate time.


Universality of the NPT

1. Malaysia calls upon the three countries remaining outside the NPT namely India, Israel and Pakistan to accede to the NPT as Non-Nuclear Weapon States.

Withdrawal of DPR Korea from the NPT

1. Malaysia is concerned over the withdrawal of DPRK from the NPT and the serious implications that would bring to the NPT following the withdrawal of the DPRK from the treaty.

2. Malaysia urges the Parties directly concerned to resolve the issue through peaceful dialogue and negotiations.


Hiroshima, Japan

2nd August 2004.

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