PRESIDENT OF CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT INTRODUCES NEW DRAFT DECISION BY SIX PRESIDENTS OF 2008 FOR GETTING CONFERENCE BACK TO WORK
Ambassador Yevhen Bersheda of Ukraine, the incoming President of the Conference on Disarmament, this morning introduced a presidential draft decision, which he said built on the work of the 2007 Conference Presidents and aimed at integrating the efforts of each and every Member to step up the work of the Conference and to gain consensus on the way forward.
Ambassador Bersheda said that, taking into account the results of the Conference's work in 2007 and during the first eight weeks of this year, the 2008 Conference Presidents had distributed for consideration by the Conference a draft decision (CD/1840). It provided a good basis for the continuation of consultations and intensification of the common endeavours towards achieving global security. The atmosphere of cooperation, tolerance, openness and transparency, the willingness to take into account the views of all and every member, which dominated the Conference on Disarmament, was a precondition for the successful accomplishment of consensus building. In Ukraine's view, a gradual approach of the content of debates in the Conference to the negotiations format could contribute to finding a compromise decision. The emphasis should be moved from declaring national positions to concrete comments on the items set out in the agreed agenda for 2008.
Speakers then made generally positive, albeit cautious, comments on the new proposal, focusing on the need to intensify consultations to clarify some remaining concerns. A clarification on the nature of the proposal, requested by China, was also provided on behalf of the six Presidents of 2008.
Speaking in the Conference today were China, Brazil, the Republic of Korea, the Netherlands, Indonesia and Algeria.
By draft decision CD/1840 by the 2008 Presidents of the Conference, the Conference on Disarmament decides to appoint Chile as Coordinator to preside over substantive discussions on nuclear disarmament and the prevention of nuclear war; to appoint Japan as Coordinator to preside over negotiations, without any preconditions, on a non-discriminatory and multilateral treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices, thus providing all delegations with the opportunity to actively pursue their respective positions and priorities, and to submit proposals on any issue they deem relevant in the course of negotiations; to appoint Canada as Coordinator to preside over substantive discussions dealing with issues related to prevention of an arms race in outer space; to appoint Senegal as Coordinator to preside over substantive discussions dealing with appropriate arrangements to assure non-nuclear weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons; and to request those Coordinators to present a report to the Conference on the progress of work before the conclusion of the session. The Conference also decides to request the Coordinators for the agenda items previously appointed by the 2008 Presidents (i.e., new types of weapons of mass destruction and new systems for such weapons, radiological weapons; comprehensive programme of disarmament; and transparency in armament) to continue their work during the current session.
In 2007, the Conference was not able to reach agreement on a programme of work and so was unable to start work on substantive issues. A Presidential Draft Decision (CD/2007/L.1) was submitted as a basis for an agreement to begin substantive work in the Conference, and successive Presidents conducted intensive consultations with a view to reaching agreement on it. Presidential draft decision CD/2007/L.1 calls for the appointment of four Coordinators to preside over substantive discussions on the issues of nuclear disarmament; prevention of an arms race in outer space; and negative security assurances; and to preside over negotiations on a treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices. The Complementary Presidential Statement, CD/2007/CRP.5, reflects an understanding of the Conference on the implementation of the Presidential decision, and the third text CD/2007/CRP.6 is a short decision stating that when the Conference adopts the Presidential decision, it will be guided by the Presidential statement in its implementation. At the end of the 2007 session, it was decided that the documents before the Conference would be held over for consideration at the 2008 session.
The next plenary of the Conference will be held at 10 a.m., on Thursday, 27 March.
Statements
YEVHEN BERSHEDA (Ukraine), President of the Conference, welcomed Ambassador Luis Felipe de Macedo Soares of Brazil to the Conference. The fact that Ukraine, for the second time during its Conference on Disarmament membership, was assuming the Presidency of this single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum was a great honour for Ukraine and for him personally. On 4 March 2008, the First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine had expressed Ukraine's full support to the work of the Conference and had restated the commitments of Ukraine in the sphere of disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, which was one of the priorities of Ukraine's foreign policy. The voluntary abandonment of the world's third largest nuclear arsenal was concrete evidence of that fact. That step could be considered as a historical achievement not only for Ukraine, but for the whole of humanity.
Mr. Bersheda emphasized that the cooperation between the 2008 Presidents, who represented the States of four continents and three regional groups of the Conference, was evolving in an atmosphere of transparency, mutual respect, trust and constructive understanding. The special feature of the 2008 session of the Conference on Disarmament was the unprecedented attention from the United Nations leadership, Conference on Disarmament Member States and the mass media. The conclusions and concrete proposals mentioned in the statements of the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and dignitaries of 15 Member States undoubtedly demanded careful analysis to be made good use of in the further work of the Conference.
The constructive cooperation between the 2007 Presidents of the Conference had resulted in the submitting of a presidential draft decision (CD/2007/L.1) at the end of March last year, aimed at the commencement of substantive work in the Conference. That draft decision had not lost its relevance. With that in mind, and taking into account the results of the Conference's work in 2007 and during the first eight weeks of this year, the 2008 Conference Presidents had distributed for consideration by the Conference a draft decision (CD/1840), which was an attempt to integrate the efforts of each and every Member to step up the work of the Conference and to gain consensus on the way forward. It provided a good basis for the continuation of consultations and intensification of the common endeavours towards achieving global security. The atmosphere of cooperation, tolerance, openness and transparency, the willingness to take into account the views of all and every member, which dominated the Conference on Disarmament, was a precondition for the successful accomplishment of consensus building. In Ukraine's view, a gradual approach of the content of debates in the Conference to the negotiations format [sic] could contribute to finding a compromise decision. One of the possible ways to achieve that goal could be to make their discussions more interactive and to exchange views. That approach would envisage moving the emphasis from declaring national positions to concrete comments on the items set out in the agreed agenda for 2008. Implementation of different methods could make a positive input on the situation at the Conference, but the presence of political will remained principal for achieving consensus.
The attention of civil society to the work of the Conference on Disarmament, as well as criticism of the Conference, was increasing. Mr. Bersheda concluded by reminding Members that the results that would be forthcoming would be worth the efforts spent, and had been long awaited by the world community.
WANG QUN (China) warmly congratulated the new Ukrainian President of the Conference and commended all his work and efforts. While this was his first day, he had already carried out wide informal consultations. In particular, China commended the new President for the sentiments expressed in his address regarding the need for cooperation, openness, tolerance and transparency, and the willingness to take into the views of all the members of the Conference on Disarmament, which was a precondition for consensus building. There was much wisdom in that statement. China would be fully cooperative and supported the President's work.
With regard to new developments, and the new document circulated CD/1840, China was of the view that there were certain positive changes in the text. At the same time, there were still some concerns on the part of some delegations. It was the hope of China that all delegations would continue to endeavour to bridge their differences and bring about a programme of work acceptable to all parties, through constructive consultations.
LUIZ FILIPE DE MACEDO SOARES (Brazil) said it was a happy coincidence for him personally to start his formal participation in the Conference on the first day of the Presidency of Ukraine. Brazil confirmed its support to the success of the endeavours of the new President. The fact that Brazil had decided to establish a Permanent Mission in Geneva to ensure its representation in the Conference on Disarmament, and to treat themes of disarmament, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the transfer of sensitive technologies and related matters, demonstrated Brazil's strong support for diplomatic efforts for the goals of the United Nations, which ultimately meant for peace. Brazil also reiterated its full support for the Conference on Disarmament, the only multilateral forum for disarmament negotiations.
CHANG DONG-HEE (Republic of Korea) congratulated the new President for assuming the Presidency, and pledged the full support of the Republic of Korea to him in carrying out his work. The Republic of Korea also thanked the former President, Ambassador Üzümcü of Turkey.
Regarding the new document on a programme of work, CD/1840, the Republic of Korea said the Conference had now arrived at an important crossroads and they should take the right direction. If they lost this opportunity again, and took the wrong road, it would take them a long time to get back on track. As the Foreign Minister of Ukraine had said when he had addressed the Conference on Disarmament on 4 March, they needed to break this impasse and get back to constructive work.
PIETER VAN DONKERSGOED (Netherlands) thanked the new Ukrainian President, and the outgoing President of Turkey, for their efforts and assured the new President of the full support of the Netherlands. The Netherlands looked forward to consultations on the new document CD/1840 for getting the Conference back to work.
I GUSTI AGUNG WESAKA PUJA (Indonesia) said Indonesia would fully support the President of Ukraine in his work. Indonesia also commended the efforts of the former Turkish President in getting the Conference on Disarmament out of its stalemate. The Conference had to move forward; the impasse in the Conference on Disarmament had to be broken. They now had before them a new proposal on how to do that. Indonesia commended the manner in which the Presidents had conducted that process. However, Indonesia stressed that thorough prior consultations had to be undertaken before action could be taken. Intensive consultations would help to build on the positive atmosphere that had been developed thus far. Genuine and constructive dialogue, vital to the success of the Conference on Disarmament, should be part of a transparent process to move that progress along. Progress could be best achieved through taking into account the considerations of all.
HAMZA KHELIF (Algeria) said Algeria welcomed the new President during this crucial phase in the work of the Conference on Disarmament, and it thanked Turkey for the tireless efforts shown during its presidency to move the work of the Conference forward. The new proposal – document DC/1840 – based on CD/2007/L.1, was a significant step forward from L.1. Nevertheless, and despite the improvements to L.1, Algeria still had some concerns. For that reason, Algeria invited the 2008 Presidents to continue their consultations within a framework they felt appropriate to overcome the stalemate.
YEVHEN BERSHEDA, speaking on behalf of the 2008 Presidents of the Conference on Disarmament, said the 2008 Presidents had the honour to thank China, regarding the interpretation of the draft decision proposed by the Presidents of the 2008 session of the Conference, CD/1840, in the context of rule 18 of the Rules of Procedure made during the plenary meeting on 13 March 2008. The request of China had been considered by the 2008 Presidents, together with the representatives of the Conference Secretariat. The 2008 Presidents proceeded from the understanding that document CD/1840 was a draft of a decision proposed by the Presidents to the Conference on 13 March 2008 for consideration and adoption. The consideration of CD/1840 should be seen as an attempt to facilitate consultations, in the spirit of flexibility and compromise, with the aim to an early commencement of the substantive work of the Conference.
WANG QUN (China) China duly noted the clarifications just offered. China was very appreciative of the sincere efforts of the six Presidents and their professional spirit.
For use of the information media; not an official record
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