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Disarmament DocumentationBack to Disarmament Documentation G8 Foreign Ministers Meeting, Paris, May 22-23'G8 Foreign Ministers Meeting, Paris, May 22-23, 2003: Summary of the G8 Presidency, May 23'; French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, http://www.france.diplomatie.fr. G8 Foreign Ministers met in Paris on 22 and 23 May 2003 to discuss major regional and international security issues. … Fight Against Terrorism G8 countries [Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, Russia, United Kingdom, United States] remained totally mobilised against international terrorism. We welcomed the principle of creating an action plan in support of the UN Counter Terrorism Committee. We emphasised that the various actions undertaken by the G8 regarding transport security, the financing of terrorism and institutional capacity by the countries to defend themselves against terrorism usefully supplemented the measures adopted since the Kananaskis Summit. We pledged to pursue our effort by further extending accession to the 12 UN conventions in this field and by supplementing measures relating to the financing of terrorism. Non-Proliferation Deep concern was expressed regarding the growing dangers posed by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and by the risk of their use by non-state actors. Ministers agreed to work towards defusing regional tensions that are often at the root of proliferation risks. They reaffirmed that the proliferation threat was to be met through a common and comprehensive approach relying on the international institutions, first and foremost among them the United Nations Security Council. Ministers pledged firmly to use and strengthen existing instruments, including the IAEA. The IAEA should be granted a budget allowing it to carry on its safeguards control missions, and have its efficiency and prioritisation improved. Ministers welcomed the progress of the Global Partnership launched at Kananaskis. Small Arms and Light Weapons G8 Foreign Ministers discussed the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. They stressed that the difficulties encountered in tension and post-conflict zones plagued with this trade could be better apprehended through a regional approach that would help achieve concrete results. They supported the Meeting of States on the illicit traffic in small arms to be held at the United Nations, in New York, in July 2003, under Japanese chairmanship. North Korea The North Korean nuclear issue constitutes a threat to international peace and stability. North Korea's compliance with its non-proliferation commitments is a matter of concern for the entire international community. The Security Council has been and remains seized of the matter and should play a constructive role. Ministers called on North Korea to respect its commitments, to refrain from any action that would aggravate the situation and to embark on the full, prompt, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of its nuclear weapons programme. They supported the efforts made by the different parties to seek a comprehensive solution by peaceful means to the North Korean nuclear issue and to other matters including unresolved humanitarian problems such as the abduction issue. The discussion process launched by the trilateral meeting held in Beijing on 23 and 24 April 2003 is a step toward this goal. Ministers called for this process to continue and to be opened up to the other countries most directly concerned, starting with the Republic of Korea, Japan and Russia. In this regard, they commended the role played by China in setting up a framework for multilateral discussions. They also supported the Peace and Prosperity Policy pursued by the Republic of Korea, and Japan-North Korea dialogue based on Japan-North Korea PyongYang Declaration. Iran Iran's nuclear program is a cause of concern. Ministers outlined that Iran had to allay these questions by building confidence, including by signing and implementing an additional protocol with the IAEA and by acceding to the international instruments to which it has not yet adhered. Ministers used all their opportunities to forward this message to Iran. Ministers called on Iran to pursue its efforts on the path of reforms and expressed the wish to maintain a constructive dialogue with it. They asked Iran to uphold its commitment to the fight against terrorism and to fully implement the relevant international resolutions and conventions. … India and Pakistan We welcomed efforts undertaken by both countries to normalise their bilateral relations, following the initiative taken by India and Pakistan's positive response. We solemnly called on the two Parties to continue on the path of bilateral dialogue and rapprochement, which they are ready to support. Ministers expressed the hope that a political process would develop between the two countries aimed at resolving all their differences through dialogue, in the spirit of the Simla and Lahore Agreements. … Iraq Ministers welcomed the agreement that has taken place in the Security Council on the resolution lifting the sanctions on Iraq. They stressed that this resolution made it possible to undertake the reconstruction and stabilisation of Iraq, after so many years of hardship and war, in a context agreed upon by the international community. We discussed the importance of determined action of all members of the international community and of the United Nations: to cope with humanitarian emergencies, especially in food and health care. to help Iraq adopt democratic and representative institutions, respecting human rights, and to recover its full sovereignty as soon as possible. to help this country rebuild its economy, while ensuring that its resources benefit all Iraqis. Ministers reaffirmed the importance of ensuring the unity, stability and territorial integrity of Iraq in order to facilitate its reintegration into its regional environment and into the international community. © 2003 The Acronym Institute. |