Statement by Pakistan on Thematic Debate on Regional Disarmament and Security
Mr. Chair,
1. We align ourselves with the statement delivered by Indonesia on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement.
2. The salience of regional approaches to regulate arms, build confidence and promote security has been consistently recognized by the international community.
3. The Final Document of SSOD-I, the UN Disarmament Commission guidelines of 1993, and this Committee’s resolutions have repeatedly reaffirmed the need for simultaneous pursuit of regional and global approaches including agreements in the area of disarmament and arms limitation.
4. This complementarity of global and regional approaches to arms control is based on the recognition that most threats to peace and security arise mainly among States located in the same region or sub-region.
5. Accordingly, a number of core principles have been evolved and agreed at the UN to shape these approaches. These include: preservation of balance in the defence capabilities of States at the lowest level of armaments and military forces; and, the special responsibility of militarily significant States and States with larger military capabilities in promoting agreements for regional security.
6. The UNDC Guidelines of 1993 also noted that the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the UN and other concrete actions to ease regional tensions and build confidence among the States of the region can create a political environment conducive to promoting agreements on disarmament and arms limitation.
7. The UNDC Guidelines had also reaffirmed that regional arrangements for disarmament and arms limitation should, take into account the specific conditions and characteristics of the region, and address in all its aspects the question of the accumulation of conventional weapons beyond the legitimate self-defence requirements of States.
8. Several regions of the world have benefitted from the application of these principles and guidelines in the areas of conventional arms control, risk reduction measures, confidence-building measures (CBMs), particularly at the regional and sub-regional levels.
Mr. Chair,
9. Over the years, Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) have also proven their utility and efficacy in several regions and sub-regions.
10. As the GA resolutions and UNDC guidelines have affirmed, CBMs at the regional level have to be tailored to the specifics of the region and should begin with simple arrangements on transparency, openness and risk reduction before the concerned states find themselves in a position to pursue more substantive arms control and disarmament measures. The ultimate aim of regional approaches should be to enhance regional and global peace and security.
11. CBMs are significant as they can lead to the creation of favorable conditions for the peaceful settlement of existing international problems and disputes. However, CBMs should not become an end in themselves. They also cannot act as a substitute nor a precondition for steps towards peaceful settlement of disputes.
12. Without progress towards eliminating underlying disputes and causes of mistrust between states, the utility of CBMs diminishes.
13. A stable balance of conventional forces and weapons is necessary to ensure strategic stability, particularly in regions mired in tensions. Preventing the possibility of military attack launched by surprise and to avoid aggression remain important goals of conventional arms control.
14. For several years, Pakistan has led initiatives at the UN to promote the goals of regional disarmament, conventional arms control, and CBMs. This year, Pakistan has again tabled its three traditional resolutions in this Committee on regional disarmament; confidence building measures in the regional and sub-regional context; and conventional arms control at regional and sub-regional levels.
15. These draft resolutions recognize the significance of and complementarity between regional and global approaches to arms control, disarmament and confidence building to promote international peace, security and stability. We look forward to the continued support of Member States for the adoption of these resolutions this year as well.
Thank you.