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
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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.
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