CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT OPENS THIRD PART OF 2009 SESSION, PRESIDENT PRESENTS NEW DRAFT DECISION ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAMME OF WORK
The President of the Conference on Disarmament, Ambassador Caroline Millar of Australia, this morning presented members with an amalgamated and updated draft decision on the implementation of the Conference’s programme of work, the result of extensive and wide-ranging consultations with delegations during the interval between the Conference’s second and third part of its 2009 session. The Conference also heard a farewell statement from Ambassador Jayan Dayatilleka of Sri Lanka, as well as statements from the United Kingdom, Colombia, Brazil, New Zealand, the Russian Federation, Bangladesh, Indonesia and China.
Ms. Millar, presenting draft decision CD/1870 on the implementation of CD/1864, said that, since they had had adopted decision CD/1864 containing a programme of work on 29 May, the successive Presidents had been consulting extensively with a wide range of delegations on the implementation of that decision – i.e. on the appointment of Working Group Chairs and Special Coordinators, reflected in draft decision CD/1867; and on the timetable of activities, reflected in document CD/1866/Rev.1. A number of delegations had proposed that the two documents be merged, and they were proposing to proceed on that basis. Other delegations had raised some principles that they would like to see considered in the implementation of the decision, related to clarifying the modalities of getting down to work. Those principles, which appeared to be uncontroversial and widely supported, were included in the chapeau to draft decision CD/1870. In addition, she would circulate a short Presidential Statement that sought to reflect some other issues raised by delegations, such as how to ensure continuity between 2009 and 2010 and national security interests of States.
The United Kingdom presented a new Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons- related initiative, the “Road to 2010” plan, which brought together the United Kingdom's detailed vision for a renewed nuclear global bargain on the key strategic challenges of the modern nuclear era. It underscored, among others, the United Kingdom’s commitment to allowing access to peaceful civil nuclear power, and noted that the United Kingdom was establishing a new Nuclear Centre of Excellence to promote the development of cost effective nuclear power that was much harder for terrorists or States with hostile intent to divert for use in weapons programmes.
Incoming Ambassador Dell Higgie of New Zealand in her first address to the Conference gave a snapshot of New Zealand’s disarmament and non-proliferation priorities. In particular, the New Zealand Parliament had had its first reading of the necessary implementing legislation for the Convention on Cluster Munitions last week, and the Minister for Disarmament and Arms Control was hopeful that New Zealand would be able to join the 30 ratifiers who would bring the treaty into force this year.
The Russian Federation made observations related to the upcoming one-year anniversary of the “vicious attack on South Ossetia”, and raised concerns about continuing shipments of arms to the region, “inflammatory speeches” by the President of Georgia, and the use of the anniversary by Georgians to launch provocations, including with weapons. The Georgians had not learned their lesson, Russia said.
China announced that on Wednesday, 12 August at 10 a.m. the Foreign Minister of China, Yang Jiechi, would address the Conference to set out China's position regarding the arms control and anti-proliferation agenda.
The next meeting of the Conference on Disarmament will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 6 August 2009.
Documents Before the Conference
Draft decision CD/1867 on the implementation of CD/1864 (the adopted programme of work) is a proposed list of names for the appointment of Chairs of the four working groups and the three Special Coordinators.
Draft document CD/1866/Rev.1 is a proposed schedule of activities for the meetings of the Conference on Disarmament the four working groups and the three special coordinatorships from 29 June to 18 September 2009.
Draft decision CD/1870, on the implementation of CD/1864, is a compilation of the two prior documents, which also spells out clearly that the consensus rule applies to the Working Groups and the Special Coordinators; that rotation and equitable geographic distribution apply to appointments of Working Group chairs and Special Coordinators; and that the Conference will aim to ensure a general balance in the treatment of all agenda items.
Statements
CAROLINE MILLAR (Australia), President of the Conference on Disarmament, bid farewell to Ambassador of Dayan Jayatilleka of Sri Lanka. His tenure in Geneva had been marked by an impressive list of achievements, and she conveyed her best wishes. She also extended a warm welcome to a new colleague, Ambassador Dell Higgie of New Zealand.
JOHN DUNCAN (United Kingdom) wished to share a United Kingdom initiative related to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). On 16 July, Prime Minister Gordon Brown had announced the United Kingdom Government's “Road to 2010” plan. That paper brought together the United Kingdom's detailed vision for a renewed nuclear global bargain on the key strategic challenges of the modern nuclear era – i.e., the safe expansion of civil nuclear power; nuclear security; non-proliferation; and the reduction and eventual elimination of all nuclear weapons. It was a coherent strategy that they believed would lead them into the 2010 NPT Review Conference and beyond. For the United Kingdom, the Review Conference was an opportunity to renew the bargain at the heart of the Treaty. For non-nuclear weapon States it was about the right to access civil nuclear power in return for continuing to forego nuclear weapons. For nuclear weapon States it involved showing leadership on the question of disarmament and being at the forefront of global solutions allowing wider and secure access to civil nuclear power. The “Road to 2010” plan set out a phased approach that would enable progress on non-proliferation and multilateral disarmament. The first stage would be improving transparency of current weapons capabilities as they sought greater control to prevent expansion; the second was verifiable multilateral reductions in arsenals; and the final stage was to create the security conditions and overcome the technical and political challenges of a world free from all nuclear weapons.
For its part, the United Kingdom would host a Conference on Confidence-Building Measures towards Nuclear Disarmament in London on 3 and 4 September 2009, bringing together policy officials and technical experts from the five recognized nuclear weapon States. Moreover, to show its commitment to allowing access to peaceful civil nuclear power, as underlined in the “Road to 2010”, the United Kingdom was establishing a new Nuclear Centre of Excellence. The Centre would promote the development of cost effective nuclear power that was much harder for terrorists or States with hostile intent to divert for use in weapons programmes. The Centre would receive 20 million pounds in funding from the Government over the first five years and would be developed in partnership with academia, industry and international partners. In addition, the United Kingdom was calling on international partners to establish nuclear security as a fourth pillar of the international nuclear framework – alongside non-proliferation, disarmament and access to civil nuclear power. That did not mean reopening the NPT itself, but ensuring that nuclear security issues were placed firmly on the international agenda. Finally, the Road to 2010 also set out steps to strengthen international governance, and particularly the role played by the International Atomic Energy Agency. In that connection, the United Kingdom was planning to host a meeting of the main financial donors of the Agency to drive progress on future funding and staffing issues.
DAYAN JAYATILLEKA (Sri Lanka), in a farewell statement, said it was a bittersweet occasion. He had been posted to Geneva in a very specific period in the history of his country. As all knew, the story had drawn rather dramatically to a close. It had also been a very crucial time in the history of the Conference on Disarmament. His colleagues had provided a model that showed that it was perfectly possible to be principled – to be firm in the defence of one's own security interests – and still be open and civil in the exchange of views. That conduct had paid off. They had been able to hold on – to keep arguing, keep debating – until they were able to see a faint pinprick of light at the end of a decade-long tunnel. He had been privileged to make his own contribution, most specifically as part of the Group of 21.
There were two movements, internal and external, that had allowed them to make a breakthrough in their work. First, there was the external game-changing development of the change of administration in the United States. That was not simply fortuitous. It proved the critique that had been made within the Conference on certain outlooks and ways of thinking. But that coincided with another change from within the Conference, where, after intense debate and reflection, one of their number, Ambassador Jazairy of Algeria, working on the basis of the work of his predecessors, had been able to come up with an architecture that appeared more even handed and made it more acceptable. That double change, on the macro and micro levels, had enabled them to move forward, and he was sorry he would not be here to see it through.
DANIEL ÁVILA CAMACHO (Colombia), speaking on behalf of the Group of 21, wished to recognize the impressive work of the Sri Lankan Ambassador, Dayan Jayatilleka, who had contributed important ideas to the Conference and had done an outstanding job as Coordinator in steering the discussions on a comprehensive programme for nuclear disarmament.
LUIZ FILIPE DE MACEDO SOARES (Brazil) said two months had elapsed since all the Conference on Disarmament Member States had concurred on the adoption of CD/1864, which contained a programme of work for the Conference. That showed that a new atmosphere was beginning to prevail in the international community in the domain of peace and security. The Conference was the pivotal point that would ensure that winds of change were indeed blowing. Notwithstanding the importance of bilateral negotiations, it was in this multilateral forum that negotiations were supposed to generate the wide political and legal basis to general and complete disarmament. If they hesitated in moving forward it was because they were paralysed by fear and that sentiment would continue to pervade international relations with widespread consequences.
The result of negotiations and how far the discussions would go would obviously depend on the political will of all States and on the ability and dedication of their agents. What was in their hands was the commencement of implementation of the programme of work. A few measures had to be agreed upon which might or might not require some or even lengthy discussions. The rules of procedure of the Conference determined that, at the beginning of each annual session, the Conference had to adopt its agenda and programme of work. However, it did not go back to square one. The closing of each annual session did not extinguish or annul progress made. Brazil therefore thought that they had to have an understanding about the continuity of the achievements they had made during 2009.
DELL HIGGIE (New Zealand) said that statements by world leaders in recent months had heralded a new level of engagement. The next Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) would soon be upon them. New Zealand would be working for a successful and meaningful outcome that resulted in a strengthened Treaty that brought them closer to a world without nuclear weapons. In support of the NPT, New Zealand was active on a range of related issues, including promoting the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, improved transparency and confidence-building measures in regard to nuclear weapons and advocating the lower operational readiness of nuclear weapons systems. New Zealand had been a strong supporter of counter-proliferation initiatives, and she had been pleased to have personally led New Zealand's delegation over the past four years to meetings of the Proliferation Security Initiative. Turning to conventional weapons issues, New Zealand would be working for a robust and action-oriented outcome of the second Review Conference of the Anti-Personnel Landmine Convention, which would be held in Colombia later this year. Another important milestone would be reached this year if, as was likely, they attained the number of ratifications necessary for the Convention on Cluster Munitions to enter into force. For New Zealand's part, its Parliament had had its first reading of the necessary implementing legislation last week, and the Minister for Disarmament and Arms Control was hopeful that New Zealand would be able to join the 30 ratifiers who would bring the treaty into force. New Zealand also continued to believe that a comprehensive and legally binding agreement which established universal standards for the export, import and transfer of conventional arms was well overdue, and hoped that this year's General Assembly would authorize the initiation of such negotiations.
Turning to activities in the Conference, Ms. Higgie urged all delegations now to show flexibility and support the framework to implement document CD/1864 (establishing a programme of work). The framework under discussion provided for a balanced and equitable treatment of the issues on the Conference's agenda under the guidance of a group of well-qualified colleagues. While the negotiations on a treaty banning the production of fissile materials for nuclear weapons would be a key focus, New Zealand would also engage substantively on the other issues contained in the programme of work and which were also significant for global security.
VALERY LOSHCHININ (Russian Federation) said that, in contrast to previous years, the Conference on Disarmament was entering into the final part of its annual session with a programme of work. That was a significant and important achievement, and the Russian Federation was grateful to all six Presidents, but especially the Ambassador of Algeria, for their contribution to making that happen. The Russian Federation was confident that the other issues regarding implementation would be resolved and that they would be able to get down to substantive work before the end of the year.
The Russian Federation had an interest in reinvigorating the work of the Conference, the results of which would have a direct effect on strengthening international peace and security. However, international peace and security could also be disrupted by the irresponsible acts of politicians, as had happened in August of last year. Soon it would be the one-year anniversary of the vicious attack on South Ossetia. Last year, in the Conference, Russian Federation had placed particular emphasis on the destabilizing effect of the shipment of weapons to regions embroiled in conflict. But what did they see? Those shipments were continuing. In addition, the President of Georgia was beginning once again to make inflammatory speeches. Towns in South Ossetia were again coming under fire from Georgian territory. The Georgians were using the one-year anniversary to launch provocations, including with weapons. The Georgians had not learned their lesson. And yet it had to be clear to all that the only answer was through dialogue and a peaceful solution. The Russian Federation had proposed cooperation between the Russian Federation and the European Union under the stabilizing leadership of France, which had brought good results. That cooperation had led to a proposal by Russian President Medvedev on a new European alliance for peace and security.
MOHAMMED ABDUL HANNAN (Bangladesh) said Bangladesh hoped that the Conference would begin substantive work soon. It was encouraging to note that they had made progress since February and were very close to reaching agreement on a framework for implementing the programme of work. Bangladesh was ready to move ahead, but was also realistic, knowing that that would require getting all the members to come on board. However, Bangladesh was confident the President could find a way to steer the members to do so.
I GUSTI AGUNG WESAKA PUJA (Indonesia) said Indonesia was confident the President would be able to steer the Conference towards achieving more positive results. It was Indonesia's fervent hope that they could find a way forward to implementing its decision CD/1864, containing a programme of work.
WANG QUN (China) announced that on Wednesday, 12 August at 10 a.m. the Foreign Minister of China, Yang Jiechi, would address the Conference to set out China's position regarding the arms control and anti-proliferation agenda.
CAROLINE MILLAR (Australia), President of the Conference on Disarmament, presenting draft decision CD/1870 and a complementary Presidential Statement, observed that on 29 May they had adopted decision CD/1864 containing a programme of work. Since then, the successive Presidents had been consulting extensively with a wide range of delegations on the implementation of that decision – i.e. on the appointment of Working Group Chairs and Special Coordinators, reflected in draft decision CD/1867, and on the timetable of activities, reflected in document CD/1866/Rev.1. A number of delegations had proposed that the two documents be merged. As that seemed to have broad agreement they were proposing to proceed on that basis. Other delegations had raised some principles that they would like to see considered in the implementation of the decision, related to clarifying the modalities of getting down to work. She was delighted to report that those consultations had been useful and productive, and that they now seemed to have a high degree of convergence. Those principles included the application of the consensus rule to the Working Groups and the Special Coordinators; the notion that rotation and equitable geographic distribution would apply to Working Group Chairs and Special Coordinators; and the need to maintain balance in the treatment of agenda items. Those principles, which appeared to be uncontroversial and widely supported, were included in the chapeau to draft decision CD/1870, which would be circulated to members for discussion.
In addition, she would also circulate a short Presidential Statement that sought to reflect some other issues raised by delegations, such as how to ensure continuity between 2009 and 2010 without pre-empting decisions that the Conference would need to take in 2010 consistent with its rules of procedure. The other substantive issue reflected in the statement was a reference to the national security interests of States. Finally, Ms. Millar noted that, as draft document CD/1866/Rev.1 had been drawn up on the basis that they would have started work yesterday, the new document moved that timetable ahead one week and concluded one week later.
For use of the information media; not an official record
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