Two-session conference on conversion of partial-test-ban treaty asked by Assembly; co-operative climate in First Committee noted, nuclear issues dominate.

Co-operative climate in First Committee noted nuclear issues dominate

Stating that a comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty is the "highest priority step" towards nuclear disarmament, the General Assembly on 15 December recommended that a conference of States parties to the 1963 partial test-ban Treaty be convened in two sessions-in 1990 and 1991-to convert that agreement into a comprehensive ban on all nuclear-weapon testing, including underground explosions.

Resolution 44/106 was adopted by 127 votes to 2 United Kingdom, United States), with 22 abstentions, one of 59 texts on disarmament issues approved by the Assembly on the recommendation of its First Committee (Political and Security). Twenty-two of those texts were approved by consensus.

Committee Chairman Adolfo Taylhardat of Venezuela said the Committee's work had benefited from positive trends in the international arena, and had been carried out in a "constructive, co-operative climate", with "great flexibility" exercised. He noted the continuing reduction in the number of drafts considered, with 79 drafts in 1987, 74 in 1988 and 64 in 1989.

Under the terms of the 1963 Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and under Water, an amendment conference must be held if a third of States parties request it. By 15 December, a total of 44 countries had requested such a conference, 5 more than the 39 required.

The Assembly recommended that after preparatory work, the conference should be held from 4 to 8 June 1990 and from 7 to 18 January 1991.

Nuclear issues continued to dominate the First Committee's agenda, with some 20 texts adopted in that area. Conventional disarmament and a chemical weapons ban were also top priorities for most States. Other important topics were: regional disarmament, naval disarmament, prevention of an arms race in outer space, implications. of science and technology for security, arms transfers, confidence-building measures and dumping of radioactive wastes,

Action was taken on a number of new topics, including conversion of military resources, defensive security concepts and policies, education for disarmament, and transparency with regard to military expenditures.

As in the past, the Assembly called for both bilateral and multilateral solutions to disarmament and a more effective role for the UN in the sphere of disarmament. Mutually acceptable, verifiable and effective disarmament measures were desired.

The Disarmament Commission...