AS DELIVERED

Mr. Chairman, I have asked for the floor to offer an Explanation of Position on two resolutions in Cluster 5, L.30 and L.31.

The United States did not participate in the Committee’s action on draft resolution L.30, “Relationship between Disarmament and Development.”

My government believes that disarmament and development are two distinct issues. Accordingly, we do not consider ourselves bound by the Final Document of the International Conference on the Relationship between Disarmament and Development that was adopted in September of 1987.

The United States also did not participate in action on draft resolution L.31, “Observance of environmental norms in the drafting and implementation of agreements on disarmament and arms control.” The United States operates under stringent domestic environmental impact regulations for many activities, including the implementation of arms control and disarmament agreements. We see no direct connection, as stated in this resolution, between general environmental standards and multilateral arms control and do not consider this a matter germane to the First Committee.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.