7. H V ROSS ROBERTSON (Labour—Manukau East) Link to this
to the Minister for Disarmament and Arms Control
What steps will New Zealand be taking at the United Nations this month to promote nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation?
Hon PHIL GOFF (Minister for Disarmament and Arms Control) Link to this
Over the next 4 weeks at the first committee of the United Nations General Assembly, New Zealand will lead a number of initiatives promoting disarmament. The key initiatives include resolutions calling for the removal of nuclear weapons from high alert or launch-on-warning status, the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, support for a Southern Hemisphere nuclear-weapon-free zone, and a broad resolution with our New Agenda Coalition partners calling for progress towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons.
H V Ross Robertson Link to this
Which countries will be co-sponsoring calling for the removal of nuclear weapons currently on high alert, and why is the resolution important?
Sweden, Chile, Switzerland, and Nigeria have so far joined with New Zealand as lead co-sponsors of that particular resolution. The resolution is important because, as disclosed by the Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission last year, one of the greatest risks of nuclear catastrophe comes from the estimated thousands of nuclear weapons on high alert. Such weapons could be launched in minutes in response to the perception of an attack, which might, in fact, be the result of something caused by technical malfunction, accident, or act of terrorism. De-alerting would certainly reduce the risk of nuclear conflict by allowing more time for communication and avoidance of misunderstanding or miscalculation. I think that is important, and I hope New Zealand is able to attract very strong support for that resolution.
H V Ross Robertson Link to this
What progress has been made towards disarmament and non-proliferation at the UN and elsewhere over recent years?
Despite the overwhelming support across the international community for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction—for example, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty gets supported at the UN by 175 votes for to just two against—it is disappointing that progress towards disarmament has been very slow. Certainly, we can welcome the fact that there has been a sharp reduction in nuclear weapons from their peak at the time of the Cold War of around 70,000. The estimated 27,000 nuclear warheads that remain still pose the risk of catastrophic consequences if used. That risk is increased with the proliferation of nuclear weapons control to further countries. That is why New Zealand will continue its efforts to promote not simply non-proliferation but also disarmament. To be successful, however, will require a change in attitude on the part of the nuclear weapons States.