Position Paper for the Conference on Disarmament

The issues before the Conference on Disarmament include Transparency in Disarmament, the Changing Definition of International Security and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.  The Republic of Finland is a member of the European Union and was honored to hold the rotating presidency in 1999.  In addition, the Republic of Finland has been consistent in its efforts for multilateral peace and security and promotes the disarmament of Weapons of Mass Destruction and bringing to justice human rights abusers.

1.             Transparency in Disarmament

The Republic of Finland finds transparency in international arms a fundamental step towards international security.  Arms control mechanisms are vital in preventing the spread of WMDs.  The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty and Non-Proliferation Treaty are excellent examples of these means and the Republic of Finland encourages those states that have not yet ratified these treaties to do so.  This applies especially to the forty-four states listed in Annex B of the CTBT whose ratification is essential for the treaty’s entry into force.  Furthermore, the Republic of Finland while respecting the United States’ decision shares the European Union’s sadness at The United States’ determination to forgo ratification of the NPT.

Correspondingly, transparency in regards to small arms is necessary in the international community.  Small arms are often the weapons used in regional conflicts and repeatedly are the means by which human rights atrocities occur.  The Republic of Finland strongly encourages exporting nations to ensure that those states or actors with whom they trade are not human rights abusers and are in compliance with international law.  Furthermore, Finland calls upon nations to make these exchanges public and known and urges the international community to volunteer information of said trade to the Register created by Resolution 46/36 L from December 1991. Cooperation on a multilateral scale through a transparency of arms is the only way to prevent an arms race and ensure that weapons to not enter the hands of those who trespass on international law.

II.            The Role of the Conference of Disarmament and the Changing Definition of International Security

In recent years, it has become increasingly hard to define International Peace and Security.  The threats to World Peace since the end of the Cold War have become much more segmented and complex than the world has known.  Internal conflict is a huge threat to international security and can no longer be ignored by the outside world that once considered it an issue of sovereignty without giving it a second thought.

  The lines of communication need to be opened.  Internal wars in recent years have been the locations of genocide and large-scale human rights atrocities.  These outcomes are merely symptoms of problems that run very deep in a region.  The roots of these conflicts must be confronted before they can be resolved.

Therefore, the international community has a responsibility to step into potential situations of crisis.  A starting point would be to open the lines of communication because dialogue is necessary to fuel understanding and respect among civilizations.  It is the fear of the unknown that fosters the intolerance that all too often can lead to conflict.  Encouraging all-inclusive dialogue between civilizations would remind the international community of the inalienable rights granted to all of us and outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Furthermore, the international community should continue its efforts to encourage development in industry and education, simultaneously promoting efforts to eradicate plagues like HIV from the planet. 

III.          Peaceful Uses of Outer Space

The Utilization of Outer Space has many positive possible benefits to the international community.  Increased technology will expand the advantages outer space has to offer towards international development.  The practical uses of space include environmental management, natural resource monitoring, meteorology, satellite communication, Tele-education, navigation and natural disaster management.  The Republic of Finland strongly encourages employing space for these peaceful and developmental means. With the European Union, the Republic of Finland welcomes the results of UNISPACE III which could help narrow the gap between rich and poor states by providing a means in which developing nations could benefit from space technology.

However, simultaneously, it is imperative that multilateral effort is made to prevent an arms race in outer space.  The Republic of Finland is highly disappointed by the United States of America’s decision to withdraw from the ABM treaty.  We call upon the United States to reconsider their position and suggests negotiating amendments to the treaty so it can continue to hold its responsibility for international law.

 The Republic of Finland recognizes the International Agreement Against Arms and Military in Space signed in December of 1966.

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