TNAG-1022-FCO40-1272-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-the-United-Nations-1981 — Page 48

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nuclear weapons are not already deployed.

5. Britain initiated the Biological Weapons Convention the and our only genuine disarmament measure since World War II proposals led to a satisfactory outcome of the review conference held in 1980. Our draft convention on the prohibition of chemical weapons was a major contribution to the discussions which are continuing in Geneva. We also introduced the draft Convention on Inhumane Weapons which was adopted by a UN Conference in 1980. We have supported the proposal for a UN study on the limitation of conventional forces and weapons.

6.

In the Madrid review meeting of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) we and our allies have backed the French proposal for a Conference on Disarmament in Europe to negotiate militarily significant, politically binding and verifiable confidence-building measures applicable to the whole continent of Europe, including the European part of the Soviet Union. We continue to work for agreement between NATO and the Warsaw Pact on Mutual and Balanced Force Reduction (MBFR) in Central

Europe.

7. Britain has submitted proposals for a comprehensive programme of disarmament, now being discussed in the 40-nation Committee on Disarmament in Geneva. We have also made proposals for the second UN Special Session on Disarmament in 1982, which is now in the preparatory stage. All this adds up to considerable international activity in the field of disarmament, in which

Britain is fully involved.

8.

The ultimate goal of UN members is general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control. But universal disarmament will not be achieved overnight. It will be a long haul and there will be setbacks. Prospects at the moment are clouded by the aftermath of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. But we believe negotiation is the

best way forward, and we shall persevere with our efforts throughout

the arms

control and disarmament field.

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/UN Machinery