Conference on Disarmament concludes first part of annual session.

The crisis in the Persian Gulf area was a poignant reminder of "the truth that peace and stability in international relations rest on full respect for the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations", Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar told the Geneva-based Conference on Disarmament, as the first part (22 January-28 March) of its three-part 1991 session opened.

In a message read by Conference Secretary-General Miljan Komatina, Mr. Perez de Cuellar said that developments in the field of arms limitation and disarmament had "created conditions for an enlarged and enhanced role for the United Nations in evolving new concepts of international security", one that should be "commensurate with its increased responsibilities in the peace-making and peace-keeping fields".

The 39-member body, which adopts its decisions by consensus, is the world's single multilateral negotiating body on disarmament. It is currently composed of the five nuclear-weapon States (China, France, Soviet Union, United Kingdom and United States) and 34 non-nuclear-weapon States.

On the Conference agenda are: nuclear-test ban, cessation of the nuclear-arms race and nuclear disarmament; prevention of nuclear war, including all related matters; chemical weapons; prevention of an arms race in outer space; effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons; new types of weapons of mass destruction and new systems of such weapons; radiological weapons; and a comprehensive programme of disarmament.

The Conference's Ad Hoc Committees on chemical weapons, radiological weapons, negative security assurances, a nuclear-test ban, and prevention of an arms race in outer space were re-established during the session.

The second and third parts of its 1991 session are scheduled for 14 May to 27 June and 23 July to 14 September, respectively.

Debate: Focus on Gulf

Addressing the Conference on 22 January, Maj. Britt Theorin, Chairman of the Swedish Disarmament Commission, noted the "irony of history" that weapons in Iraq's arsenal were being turned against some of their suppliers. Chemical weapons had to be destroyed "once and for all", she said, adding that a total ban on those weapons should be concluded urgently.

Ali Akbar Velayati, Iran's Foreign Minister, said on 14 February that the Persian Gulf had become the "test site" for the most destructive weapons of the present time. It was clear, he...