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Disarmament Documentation

President's Draft Negotiating Document for the High-Level Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly of September 2005, September 6, 2005

This document has been drafted by the President of the General Assembly Jean Ping of Gabon in preparation for the 2005 World Summit to be held at the UN from September 14 - 16, 2005. For further information on the summit see: http://www.acronym.org.uk/un.

To view the full text go to: http://www.acronym.org.uk/docs/0509/GA050906.pdf

To view the earlier drafts go to:

Excerpts from the Section on Peace and Collective Security

III. Peace and Collective Security

55. We recognize that we are facing a whole range of threats that require our urgent, collective and more determined response.

56. We also recognize that, in accordance with the Charter, addressing such threats requires cooperation among all the principal organs of the United Nations within their respective mandates.

57. We acknowledge that we are living in an interdependent and global world and that many of today's threats recognize no national boundaries, are interlinked and must be tackled at the global, regional and national levels in accordance with the Charter and international law.

58. We therefore reaffirm our commitment to work towards a security consensus based on the recognition that many threats are interlinked, that development, peace, security and human rights are mutually reinforcing, that no State can best protect itself by acting entirely alone and that all States need an effective and efficient collective security system, pursuant to the purposes and principles of the Charter.

59. [We resolve to take concerted action, through such a system of collective security, based on the Charter and respect for international law, so as to prevent, mitigate and remove threats to international peace and security, respond effectively to natural disasters and ensure economic development and the full enjoyment of human rights for all States and peoples.]

[Pacific settlement of disputes]

60. [We emphasize the obligation of States to settle their disputes by peaceful means in accordance with Chapter VI of the Charter, including, when appropriate, by the use of the International Court of Justice. All States should act consistent with the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States, in accordance with the Charter.]

61. We stress the importance of prevention of armed conflict in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter, and solemnly renew our commitment to promote a culture of prevention of armed conflict as a means of effectively addressing the interconnected security and development challenges faced by peoples throughout the world, as well as to strengthen the capacity of the United Nations for the prevention of armed conflict.

62. We further stress the importance of a coherent and integrated approach to the prevention of armed conflicts and the settlement of disputes, and the need for the Security Council, the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Secretary-General to coordinate their activities within their respective Charter mandates.

63. Recognizing the important role of the good offices of the Secretary-General, including in the mediation of disputes, we support the Secretary-General's efforts to strengthen his capacity in this area.

Use of force under the Charter

64. We reiterate [the obligation of all Member States] [the commitment] to refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force in any manner inconsistent with the Charter of the United Nations. We reaffirm that one of the purposes and principles guiding the United Nations is to maintain international peace and security, and to develop friendly relations among nations based on the respect for the principles of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and to take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace, and to that end we are determined to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, the adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations that might lead to a breach of the peace.

64 bis. [We reiterate the importance of promoting and strengthening the multilateral process, and addressing international challenges and problems by strictly abiding by the Charter and the principles of international law, and further stress our commitment to multilateralism. In this regard, we express our rejection of unilateralism, which is increasingly leading to the erosion and violation of international law, to the use and threat of use of force and to pressure and coercion in international relations.]

65. We also reaffirm that the relevant provisions of the Charter regarding the use of force are sufficient [to address the full range of threats to international peace and security] [and further affirm that the use of force should be considered an instrument of last resort.] We further reaffirm the [exclusive] authority of the Security Council to mandate coercive action to maintain and restore international peace and security. [We also stress the importance of acting in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter.] [We also stress the importance of the adherence to the principle of legality in the exercise of the functions of the Security Council, including acting in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter.]

65. bis. We reaffirm that the Security Council has primary responsibility in the maintenance of international peace and security. We also note the role of the General Assembly relating to the maintenance of international peace and security in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter.

66. ter. [We are determined to enhance the consistent application of the principle of non-use of force in international relations.]

67. [We recognize the need to continue discussing [principles] [criteria for consideration] for the use of force, including those identified by the Secretary-General.]

Disarmament and non-proliferation

{{The proposals which have been put forward have not generated consensus. This text lacks sufficient language on disarmament. Further proposals are needed to balance this text.}}

[68. We believe that the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, and the possibility that terrorists might acquire such weapons, remain [amongst] the greatest threats to international peace and security.] [We reaffirm our pledge to strive for general and complete disarmament, including the elimination of all weapons of mass destruction.]

[69. We urge all States Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) and Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) to comply fully with their obligations under those treaties.]

70. We resolve therefore to:

a) [Revitalize and enable, as appropriate, the Conference on Disarmament, the UN Disarmament Commission and the First Committee of the UN General Assembly to effectively address the existing and emerging challenges to regional and international security;]

b) [Urge the Conference on Disarmament to agree on a programme of work;]

c) [Improve the effectiveness and efficiency of International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, and to this end call on all States Parties to the NPT that have not yet done so to conclude and implement relevant Safeguards Agreements and also Additional Protocols, the standard for verification;]

d) [Support efforts by all prospective States parties and other interested countries [, in accordance with UN guidelines,] [, on a case-by-case basis,] towards the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones which contribute to restraining the spread of nuclear weapons;]

e) [Take effective measures to establish domestic controls, in accordance with Security Council resolution 1540, to prevent the proliferation of nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons and their means of delivery to non-state actors, including through national adoption and enforcement of appropriate controls over related materials, and appropriate effective laws which prohibit non-state actors from gaining access to such weapons and their means of delivery;]

f) Encourage States Parties to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) to seek early ratification of the amendment adopted on 8 July 2005, and also encourage those States which have not already done so to promptly accede to the Convention and ratify its amendment;

g) [Reconcile the right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy with compliance obligations under the NPT];

h) [Strengthen the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) through continued efforts to improve national implementation, and encourage all States Parties to submit information on confidence-building measures as required by the Review Conference of the BTWC;]

i) [Complete the destruction of chemical weapons consistent with the Chemical Weapons Convention;]

j) [We commit to improve the effectiveness of transfer controls over small arms and light weapons, including at the review conference of the UN Programme of Action, and recognize that development of international standards in arms transfers, including a common understanding of Governments' responsibilities, would be an important step towards tackling the undesirable proliferation of conventional weapons.]

71. We urge States parties to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention and Amended Protocol II to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons to fully implement their respective obligations. We also call upon States in a position to do so to provide greater technical assistance to mine-affected States.

[72. We urge all States to support current international, regional and national efforts to combat and prevent the illicit transfer of man-portable air defense systems and unauthorized access to and use of such weapons.]

Source: Reform the United Nations, http://www.reformtheun.org.