the other working groups each submitted papers on their own responsibility that were not binding on their groups.

Much of the 1991 session was devoted to defining the terms of debate on the four items. Lack of substantive agreement on any issue was a matter of concern to many delegations and caused two traditionally strong UNDC supporters, Canada and Australia, to record statements raising questions about the worth of the meetings.

Objective Information on Military Matters (OIMM). Discussion in this working group was organized around four items: objectives, principles, scope and mechanics. In 13 meetings, no consensus was reached on these areas. The chairman had hoped agreement would be fashioned to guide discussion for establishing OIMM guidelines in next year's session, the last in which OIMM can remain on the agenda. Though there is broad agreement that OIMM should not diminish national security, considerable difference remains on the scope of OIMM.

Process of Nuclear Disarmament in the Framework of International Peace and Security, with the Objective of the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons. Customary rhetoric was muted in this session, apparently because of recent bilateral progress by the United States and the U.S.S.R. on nuclear issues, but profound differences remained during the 11 meetings. Despite considerable progress on the nuclear disarmament front between the United States and the U.S.S.R., many countries passed over these accomplishments and pressed for a Comprehensive Test Ban (CTB) and stressed the dangers of nuclear war. The United States outlined recent accomplishments and once again highlighted the importance of nuclear deterrence in preventing war. An attempt by several countries to reshape the agenda for next year to focus on areas of possible agreement was unsuccessful.

Regional Approach to Disarmament Within the Context of Global Security. The working group on this item decided on five specific items for discussion: relationship between regional disarmament and global security and arms limitation and disarmament; principles and guidelines; ways and means; machineries and modalities; and the role of the United Nations. However, in 11 well attended meetings, major disagreement centered on whether global or regional disarmament should be the highest priority, with some major non-aligned nations strongly insisting on the former. The United States argued for regional arms control tailored to individual regions in lieu of unworkable universal solutions.

The Role of Science and Technology in the Context of International Security, Disarmament and Other Related Fields. Working group meetings emphasized "brainstorming" to provide the foundation for work on the issues to be discussed in the coming 2 years. In 11 meetings, 4 sub-topics were discussed: scientific and technological developments and their impact on international security; science and technology for disarmament; the role of science and technology in related fields; and the transfer of high technology with military applications. Although the chairman was able to win consensus for a procedural report, key delegations expressed widely divergent views on how science and technology pursued for security purposes should be viewed. The debate indicated that agreement on substance may continue to be elusive.

Conference on Disarmament

The Conference on Disarmament (CD) is a forum for the consideration of and, as appropriate, negotiation on, multilateral arms control and disarmament issues. It has 39 members-all 5 nuclear-weapon states and 34 other states. The CD is an autonomous body with its own rules of procedures, and it works by consensus. The Conference reports annually on its activities to the General Assembly, and resolutions adopted by the Assembly frequently request the Conference to consider specific disarma

ment matters.

The CD was in session January 22-March 28, May 14-June 27 and July 23-September 4. During this period, the CD held 29 formal plenary meetings and 18 informal meetings. Those issues receiving the most attention were: nuclear test ban, chemical weapons, new weapons of mass destruction and radiological weapons, outer space arms control, nuclear disarmament, prevention of nuclear war (including all related matters), negative security assurances and a comprehensive program of disarmament. Five ad hoc committees were reestablished on negative security assurances, radiological weapons, chemical weapons, arms control in outer space and nuclear test ban. During 1991 the United States proposed, and other members agreed, to attempt to accelerate discussions on chemical weapons.

Ad Hoc Committees

Negative Security Assurances. This Ad Hoc Committee was reestablished "to continue to negotiate with a view to reaching agreement on effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear weapon states against the use or threat of use of

nuclear weapons." It held 11 formal and 4 informal meetings. The Committee reaffirmed that "non-nuclear weapon states should be effectively assured by the nuclear weapon states against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons pending effective measures of nuclear disarmament." However, "differing perceptions of security interests of nuclear-weapon states and non-nuclear weapon states continued to persist, and the complex nature of the issue involved continued to prevent agreement on a 'common formula.""

The five nuclear-weapon states have offered unilateral assurances to the non-nuclear weapon states; the U.S. assurance, first offered in 1978, stands as a reliable statement of U.S. policy.

Chemical Weapons. The 1991 session of the CD opened with the rapid approval of a mandate and chairman for the Chemical Weapons Ad Hoc Committee. The mandate directed the Ad Hoc Committee to continue the full and complete process of negotiations with a view to completing the convention as soon as possible. In early February the CD approved a new "rolling text," which formed the basis for its continued work. In May President Bush announced an initiative to move negotiations forward with a goal of completing the treaty by mid-1992. Among the initiatives announced was a U.S. call for continuous session to resolve major issues by the end of the year.

Several critical issues remain. These include challenge inspection, verification of the chemical industry, composition and responsibilities of the Executive Council, cost of the convention and location of the Secretariat.

Informal CW bilateral discussions with the former Soviet Union continued during the year. These discussions are the result of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on chemical weapons signed in September 1989.

Comprehensive Program of Disarmament. The United States has participated in efforts to negotiate a Comprehensive Program of Disarmament (CPD) with a view to developing general guidelines for disarmament initiatives. CPD proponents, however, have attempted to develop a comprehensive disarmament agenda complete with prescribed measures and deadlines, an initiative the United States has not endorsed.

In its 1989 report to the UN General Assembly, the CD stated that the Ad Hoc Committee should "resume work with a view to resolving the outstanding issues in the future when circumstances are more conducive to making progress in this regard," i.e., when there is more agreement on work to be accomplished.

At the 584th plenary meeting on February 21, the CD President appointed a Special Coordinator charged with seeking consensus on an appropriate organizational arrangement for this agenda item. Consultations were inconclusive, however, and the time was not propitious for reestablishing an ad hoc committee under current circumstances. The United States believes that progress toward a CPD at this time is improbable.

Outer Space Arms Control. The Ad Hoc Committee on Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space was reestablished with a non-negotiating mandate in 1991. Seventeen substantive meetings were held, and the CD invited several states not members of the Conference to participate.

Activities in the Committee during 1991 tended to reflect a modest change in emphasis, moving away from specific legal propositions for outer space negotiations in favor of confidencebuilding measures. The U.S. members took an active part in discussions belying G-21 accusations that the West wished to hinder the work of the Committee.

Nuclear Test Ban. This Ad Hoc Committee met 17 times and thoroughly aired the views of all groups. G-21 countries again stressed their support for an immediate Nuclear Test Ban (NTB) and for giving the Committee a negotiating mandate. Generally backed by the Western Group, the United States maintained that a NTB was a long range goal, but that for the time being the most useful work on the issue could be done under a non-negotiating mandate. The United States noted that since nuclear weapons played a critical part in its security arrangements, it needed a means to test such weapons for safety and reliability in order to maintain their credibility. The United States noted that outside the framework of an NTB, the START and INF treaties represented advances in reducing the nuclear threat. The Committee agreed that its substantive work should continue and recommended its reestablishment in 1992.

In addition to the work of the ad hoc committees, the conference addressed a number of other issues.

Prevention of Nuclear War, Including All Related Matters. Following the procedure initiated in 1990, the Conference decided in its 582nd meeting, February 14, that informal meetings on the substance of this agenda item would be duly reflected in the annual report of the Conference to the General Assembly. In seven meetings, the Western Group continued to emphasize the need to prevent all wars, not just nuclear wars. It pointed to major strides made in bilateral negotiations, welcom

ing the START Treaty and progress made in the CSCE, including the signature of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe.

Cessation of Nuclear Arms Race and Nuclear Disarmament. Eight informal meetings were devoted to this subject and, as with the issue above, reported in the Conference's annual report. In contrast to previous years, the Group of 21 and others did not insist on establishing an ad hoc committee for these issues, although making clear their continued preference for such a committee. The United States emphasized the importance it attached to this agenda item, despite its preference for informal discussion. The Western Group underlined the importance of the Non-Proliferation Treaty for international security and stability. The United States pointed to real progress made in bilateral negotiations. This was further emphasized when the U.S. NST and Defense and Space Negotiator and his Soviet counterpart made well received presentations shortly before the signing of the START Treaty.

The

Membership. In 1983 the Conference accepted in principle a limited expansion in membership, not to exceed four states. During the 1991 session, Presidents of the Conference conducted continuing consultations with members, in accordance with established practice, on selection of additional members. Conference reaffirmed its decision that membership might be increased by not more than four states, and that candidates should be nominated-two by the Group of 21, one by the Group of East European and other States and one by the Western Group so as to maintain a balance in the Conference.

First Committee

The General Assembly adopted during its 1991 session a total of 39 resolutions and 3 decisions based on the reports of the First Committee and related to disarmament. One draft resolution and one draft decision were withdrawn. In addition, a related resolution was adopted by the General Assembly without reference to the First Committee. The numbers marked the fourth straight year of declining output for the Committee as delegations choose to submit resolutions every other year instead of annually, or drop them entirely. No draft items were defeated. Twenty-four items, or slightly more than half, were adopted by consensus. The First Committee continued to conduct proceedings in a less contentious atmosphere than was the case in the past, reflecting an overall improvement in the international climate on arms control.