First Committee (Disarmament and International Security)
Note: A complete summary of today’s First Committee meeting will be made available after its conclusion.
Action, Conventional Weapons
The representative of the Russian Federation, explaining the delegation’s votes on the draft resolution titled “Lethal autonomous weapons systems” (document A/C.1/78/L.56), said that the text seeks to undermine what was created under the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, particularly the specialized Group of Governmental Experts, which is operating successfully. The Group is the sole ideal forum to discuss these weapons systems. Transferring the issue to any other is counterproductive. The Group has brought in key States taking an active role in scientific research and is successfully striking a reasonable balance between humanitarian concerns and countries’ legitimate defensive interests.
He said that the draft resolution is unbalanced in discussing only risks and challenges, even though these weapons can play an important role in defence and in fighting terrorists. These weapons systems can be more effective than a human operator and can reduce the possibility of error. Also, international law fully applies to these weapons systems and does not require any adaptation to these specific weapons. The Russian Federation opposes the development of any international legally binding instrument and a moratorium on developing and using these systems. The text will fragment discussions.
The representative of Cuba said his country will abstain on the draft resolutions, titled “Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction” (document A/C.1/78/L.39) and “The Arms Trade Treaty” (document A/C.1/78/L.42). On “L.39”, he said Cuba retains the right to use anti-personnel mines for defence purposes given that the country has been facing the hostile policy of the United States for six decades. On “L.42”, the Treaty was adopted prematurely, without consensus. It is an unbalanced instrument. Arms transfers can be manipulated for political purposes. Cuba disassociates itself from all provisions that refer to the Treaty.
On a point of order, the representative of Colombia asked to make a general statement on the conventional weapons cluster, which the Chair allowed.
The representative of the Russian Federation raised a point of order, advising the Chair to subsequently consult with delegates in such circumstances.
The Chair noted the remarks and agreed.
The representative of Colombia called for concerted action at all levels and collective support in order to combat the scourge of anti-personnel mines. She invited all members to support “L.39” on the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention. Her country is cognizant of the impact of these mines on lives and communities and hopes for a world free of them. “Signing it will save lives,” she said.
The representative of India, explaining the delegation’s abstention on “L.39”, supported the vision of a world free of anti-personnel mines and expressed commitment to their eventual elimination. India is a High Contracting Party to Additional Protocol II of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, which accounts for the legitimate defence requirements of States, especially those with long borders. India has fulfilled its obligations, including stopping the production of non-detectable mines and rendering all its anti-personnel mines detectable. India is also observing a moratorium on the export and transfer of anti-personnel landmines.
On its “L.42” abstention, the speaker said India subscribes to the Arms Trade Treaty’s objective, which its export control system meets. India submits an annual report under the UN Register of Conventional Arms and participates in the Wassenaar Arrangement. India continues to keep the Treaty under review from the perspective of the country’s defence, security and foreign policy interests.
The representative of Iran said his country will vote in favour of the draft resolution titled “Through-life conventional ammunition management” (document A/C.1/78/L.41). As both the Global Framework for Through-life Conventional Ammunition Management and the procedural report of the Open-Ended Working Group have explicitly stated, all conclusions, recommendations, and suggested actions within this framework are entirely voluntary and subject to the discretion of Member States. It is crucial, therefore, to underline that this document and all its provisions are purely voluntary and do not entail any binding obligations.
He said Iran will abstain on the draft resolution titled “Lethal autonomous weapons systems” (document A/C.1/78/L.56), citing several reasons, including that the definition and scope of the terminology “lethal autonomous weapons” in this proposal is not clearly defined. It is unnecessary to include the issue of human rights in preambular paragraph 6. His delegation does not support referencing an event that intentionally excludes certain Member States from participation in preambular paragraph 7. The Group of Governmental Experts operating under the scope of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons should focus on States parties.
The representative of the United States said her country supports “L.41” because, among other things, it recognizes the important role of cooperation among States and other stakeholders on through-life conventional ammunition management. On “L.56”, she said that although her delegation believes certain aspects could be further refined, it supports the text as it recognizes the contribution the Secretary-General’s reports can make on certain conventional weapons. On emerging technologies in lethal autonomous weapons systems, she said the views of all Member States should be taken into account. Her country does not support the creation of a parallel process on laws “or any other efforts that will seek to undermine the centrality of the CCW [Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons] Group of Governmental Experts on making of progress on this issue”.
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