Letterdated16June 1995hm the.Sec&ay of theBeprtmat .of
ForeignAffairsofIrelant,gethawith WrittaStatemen tf
tbeGovenuneno tfIreland II. S. Edual-~jc VdiL<1lt:ici-C>s~?.[lc~.
Registrar.
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Nec2erlanCs.
Your Exce:len:.:y,
1 réf-z io jrol::.l.+rca+ :.??E !'abris?/ 1195 ir.fsr-ning me thac
:ht Secr+~cir.y :;rneral of :he Un1I:art Nations hai no~ified thc
Cccrr of ç!:c adcpti,:~i of ritjvlu~ion 49i75K wnereby Che ens sr o.!‘
Assemaly 3:' :hi ;?ni.!:-dEla:ion~ dc:cidcd CO rc,ques: che CuurL CO
rendei 3;: dds'iscry opi:iinn on tnr' qrii..sc.i.ocf cnr threat or
use of nïclerr vcaFnn::.
Tke Tanais:- ad Miriiscl?: icr Foreign nr. Treland ransiders
:ha: iz na? 5% 'nclp~ui 7.- thc. -riteznsiLiuna1 ~ourt of ,ju.ç:ice.
ln Lx5 deliner-rioil-, 7.r. >- =-.ro~med i3f the policy of the
Gcvezrimei.iL 2: rril.eric!$7. que';';ior: nf nilclaa: wezp2ns. 1
have bsor. 3sked. ciirr-fo~e, . .CG c~~f~sii:i~ che enclssed s:acement
ïhich Lrizriare xi..=h@z :<,:s::>x!:z cc ch?. C~CZ:. statement bv Ireland to the InternationalCourt of
Justice
1. Ireland is strongly comitted to the achievement of
general and complete disarmament under strict and
effective internationalcontrol, includingthe
prohibition and elimination of al1 types of weapons of
mass destruction. Ireland has consistently promotedand
supported concrete steps towardsmis end.
2. It has been the long-standing positionof successive
Irish Governments that the use of strategic nuclear
weapons would have incalculableconsequences on mankind
and on the environment. Though small-scale tactical
nuclear weapons are less indiscriminate intheir effects,
there is a very serious danger that the use of such
weapons could escalate and lead quickly to the use of
strategic nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass
destruction and indiscriminateeffect. For these reasons
Ireland has urged that every effort should be made to
achieve the complete abolition of this whole category of
weapons and it has worked for,and given its support to,
proposais to this end.
3. The Irish Government recognisethat a ~umber of States
already possess such weapons, and that those States which
do so have seen the deployment of these weapons, and
their use as a deterrent to attack, as a crucial factor
in their security policies. The Irish Government
appreciate that the steps which they advocate towards
reductions in the levels of nuclearwarheads and their
ultimate elimination should not have destabilising
consequences for the States concerned and thus for the
international community as a whole. In this context, it
is important to ensure that the dismantling of nuclear
weapons should not lead inadvertentlyto the spread of
these weapons to countries or groups which do not yet
possess them. It is also importantthat the process of
nuclear disarmament be conducted in accordance with the
highest standards of environmental protectionand nuclear
safety.
4. In keeping with its broad approach to the issue, Ireland
has welcomed agreements reached through negotiation
between two of the nuclearpowers, which have resultedin
significant reductions in the levels of the nuclear
weapons which they hold. It has seen these agreements as
both valuable in themselves and important as steps
towards the larger goal of the complete abolition of
nuclear weapons throughout theworld.5. While the possession and deployment of nuclear weapons by
a certain number of States already gives rise to grave
dangers, it is self evident that the spread of these
weapons to other States would compound the threat, adding
greatly to the risk that these weapons will eventuallybe
used. The further spread of such weapons would
exacerbate distrust between neighbouring States in
regions of tension and give rise to local anus races. It
could tempt weaker States which may not have the ability
or the means to acquire nuclear weapons, to seek to
acquire other weapons of mass destruction as a deterrent
against attack or threat from a dominant local power
armed with nuclear weapons. In al1 of these ways, the
spread of nuclear weapons would add greatly to global
instability.
6. For these reasons, Ireland has always worked to halt the
proliferation of nuclear weapons on the one hand and,
simultaneously, to promote nuclear disarmament on the
other. As early as 1958, Ireland took the initiative at
the United Nations in putting forward a resolution.
calling for the negotiation of a treaty on the non-
proliferation of nuclear weapons. Since its entry into
force in 1970, the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of
Nuclear Weapons has served as the foundation of
international efforts for nuclear non-proliferation and
nuclear disamament. Ireland was the first State to
ratify the Treaty.
7.
The Irish Government believe that the Treaty on the Non-
Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons is still of central
importance; and that universal accession to the Treaty
and full compliance with its obligations would be a major
contribution to the maintenance and promotion of
international peace and security. They welcome the
decision of the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of
the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of
Nuclear Weapons that the Treaty shall continue in force
indefinitely.
8. The Conference also agreed a set of principles and
objectives for nuclearnon-proliferation and disarmament
and arrangements for strenthening the review process for
the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
The Irish Government attach importance to these
decisions. Inparticular, they will seek to ensure that
the programme of action contained therein for the full
realization and effective implementation of Article VI of
the Treaty is implemented.
9. In this context, the completion by the Conference on
Disarmament, no later than 1996, of negotiations for a Comprehensive TestBan Treaty would constitutea major
step in limitingthe furtherdevelopmentof nuclear
weapons, as well as ensuringan end to the Unacceptable
health and environmental effects of nuclearweapons tests
themselves. Similarly,the commencement without further
delay and early conclusion of negotiationsfor a
conventionbanning the production of fissile materialfor
nuclear weaponswould contributesignificantlyto nuclear
disarmamentby haltingthe build-up of such materials.
The problem of excessstockpiles also needs urgent
attention.
10. The approach ofthe Irish Government as outlined above
has been towork politically,by every means open to it,
towards the aim of the ultimateabolitionby agreement of
nuclear weapons. As steps towardsthis end, and because
of the importanceof such measures in themselves,the
1rish Governmenthas worked for, and supported,
internationalagreementswhich would end al1 nuclear
testing, end the productionof fissile material for
weapons.weapons and stop the further spread of nuclear
11. The approachwhich Irelandhas taken in promotingand
supportingeffortsto bringabout the ultimate
eliminationof nuclearweaponshas been political in
character. The referral to the InternationalCourt of
Justice by the United NationsGeneral Assembly requests
anuclear weapons in anycircumstancesis permittedf under
internationallaw. The earlierreferralby the World
Health Assembly requestedan advisory opinionon whether
the use of nuclear weaponsby a State in war or other
armed conflictwould be a breach of its obligationsunder
international lawincludingthe WHO Constitution. The
Irish Governmentdo not see the approachreflected in
these referrals,which seeks to situatethe issues within
the framework of obligationsunder international law, as
in any way incompatiblewith their own efforts in the
weapons. The Irish Government,abtherefore, awaitwith
interest the advisoryopinion(s)of the Court which may
clarify the legal issueswhich arise for States in
relation to this most dangerouscategoryof weapons.
16 June, 1995
Letter dated 16 June 1995 from the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs of Ireland, together with Written Statement of the Government of Ireland