NEW YORK, Oct 25: Pakistan has introduced a draft resolution in the UN General Assembly urging the member states to refrain from the use or threat of force and reaffirmed its commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes.

The draft resolution calls upon member states to open consultations and dialogue in the regions of tension and conflict without pre-conditions.

Pakistan Ambassador Shaukat Umer spoke on Friday at the first committee of the UN General Assembly to introduce a draft resolution regarding a new initiative for confidence building measures (CBMs) in the regional and sub-regional context.

The draft resolution urges strict compliance with bilateral, regional and international arms control and disarmament agreements to which the contending states are parties.

It urges the maintenance of military balance in the regions of tension in the acquisition of weaponry; encourages the promotion of bilateral and regional CBMs to avoid conflict and prevent unintended and accidental outbreak of hostilities.

The resolution requests the UN secretary-general to consult the regional states and ascertain their views with a view to promote CBMs in the regions of tension.

The preamble paragraphs of the draft resolution reiterate the basic purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and General Assembly and Security Council resolutions relating to the prevention of armed conflicts.

It recognizes the need for peaceful dialogue in the regions of tension in order to avert conflict; it welcomes the peace processes already initiated in various regions to resolve disputes through peaceful means bilaterally or through mediation by third parties.

It also recognizes that regions which have already developed CBMs at bilateral, sub-regional and regional levels in the political and military fields, including arms control and disarmament, have greatly improved the climate of peace and security in their regions and contributed to the improvement of socio-economic conditions of their people.

Mr Umer said that he has asked for the floor to introduce draft resolution contained in document A/C-1/58/L.18 entitled “Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) in the Regional and Sub- regional Context”.

He said: “Acquisition of military arsenals beyond the legitimate security requirements is prime cause of economic debilitation. There exists a symbiotic link between conflict and underdevelopment; between war and poverty. This insidious relationship must be broaden in order to put an end to the suffering of vast segments of mankind. Regional arms race must stop through the achievement of security at the lowest level of armaments.”

He hoped that the draft resolution would be adopted with the full consent of the committee.—APP