CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT HOLDS LAST PLENARY UNDER ALGERIAN PRESIDENCY
The Conference on Disarmament today held its last plenary under the presidency of Algeria, in the presence of Tatyana Valovaya, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva and Secretary-General of the Conference on Disarmament.
The Conference had before it a package tabled for adoption by its President, Ambassador Rachid Belbaki of Algeria. It contained a revised working paper of a draft proposal for a programme of work of the Conference on Disarmament for 2020 and a draft decision on the appointment of coordinators of the subsidiary bodies and the timetable for subsidiary bodies meetings (CD/WP.627).
The package also contained a draft Presidential Statement on the appointment of Ambassador Felix Baumann of Switzerland to hold informal open-ended consultations to determine whether there would be a common ground for addressing issues relating to the improved and effective functioning of the Conference consistent with the rules of procedure.
Draft proposal for a programme of work for 2020 (CD/WP.626/Rev.1) offered a timetable for the work of the Conference during its 2020 session and proposed the establishment of four subsidiary bodies on agenda items 1 to 4 and one subsidiary body on agenda items 5, 6 and 7, with a particular focus on substantial elements of legally binding instruments and additional measures, and options for negotiations.
Following the informal discussions, the president of the Conference regretted the lack of consensus on the package, which was the result of a collective effort by the P6 [the six presidents of the 2020 session of the Conference on Disarmament]. The package would remain on the table for successive presidencies, he said.
Argentina, the incoming President of the Conference, noted that, fortunately, the paradigm had been shifted: the document was no longer Algerian or Argentinian document, but a P6 document. Consultations would continue; the Conference was close to a solution.
During the session, Iran, Russia, India, Syria, Algeria, Argentina, Egypt, Iraq, Cuba, United Kingdom, China, the United States, France, South Africa, Venezuela, Pakistan, Japan, Mexico, Switzerland, Turkey, Morocco, Zimbabwe and Ecuador took the floor to explain their national positions on the package, or to thank the Algerian presidency for their leadership and efforts.
The date for the next plenary of the Conference on Disarmament, which will be held under the presidency of Argentina, will be announced later.
Presentation of the package
RACHID BELBAKI, President of the Conference on Disarmament, tabled for adoption the package that had been amended following the consultations with delegations. The package contained revised working paper of a draft proposal for a programme of work of the Conference on Disarmament for 2020 (CD/WP.626/Rev.1), a draft decision on the appointment of coordinators of the subsidiary bodies and the timetable for subsidiary bodies meetings (CD/WP.627) and a draft Presidential Statement on the appointment of Ambassador Felix Baumann of Switzerland to hold informal open-ended consultations to determine whether there would be a common groups for addressing issues relating to the improved and effective functioning of the Conference consistent with the rules of procedure.
Statements
Iran acknowledged the high importance the President attached to the preservation of the negotiating mandate of the Conference and stressed the importance of sending a positive signal about its functioning, especially in advance of the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference. However, this should not be done at the price of undermining the Conference’s core mandate and its unique status as the only negotiating body. The signal conveyed from the Conference on Disarmament should be real and reflective of its real dynamic. It was critical to make it crystal clear that the Conference on Disarmament was and would remain a negotiating body. Iran did not have a problem with the idea of the package, and would be ready to accept it with the amendments it had proposed.
Russia said it was not opposed to the package, which could be an important step forward towards the negotiating process in the Conference and the acceleration of substantive work. The work done by the Algerian presidency deserved the highest estimation, said Russia. The Conference was close to its goal, but more work remained to be done and keeping to procedure was essential. Russia pointed to the contradictions in the submitted documents, including those related to subsidiary bodies, names of coordinators and the timetable. Resolving those nuances would be important in moving the work forward, concluded Russia.
RACHID BELBAKI, President of the Conference on Disarmament, said that the role of the Conference could only be preserved by normalizing its work. The draft programme of work and the draft decision on its implementation contained all components of true and substantive work leading to negotiations, and this package constituted a good platform for the work of the Conference, said the President.
India believed it would be appropriate that the negotiations were conducted with the objective of concluding legally binding instruments. Otherwise, those would remain a discussion and would turn the Conference into a deliberating rather than a negotiating forum. India supported the negotiation of the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty in the Conference on Disarmament but this unfortunately had not been included in the draft. India had always supported the efforts of the Conference to resume substantive work on the basis of its mandate and it was in the spirit of this constructive spirit that India would join the consensus on the package.
The President suspended the meeting to allow more time for consultations.
Iran said, while valuing the efforts of the President, underlined that the wording proposed in document CD/WP.626/Rev.1 was no longer balanced and encouraged the presidency to continue holding consultations. If the presidency insisted to obtain the support for programme of work, it should be divorced from the procedural matters that were imposed on the Conference for no good reason.
Russia continued to have doubts and concerns regarding the package. A signal should be sent to the international community, namely that the 65 members of the Conference were able to reach consensus and work together, including towards seeking solutions to the impasse on negotiations on the agenda. Russia said it shared the concerns of a number of States regarding an imbalance between a document and a timetable for the subsidiary bodies, which has just one priority listed that was not even on the Conference’s agenda.
The best solution for today’s meeting would be to continue work on the package on the basis of the proposals made by the Algerian presidency, which had done enormous work and laid an important foundation. The name of the document should be brought in compliance with its substance, while its content was not in keeping with the understanding that all had of the programme of work. The programme of work was a document that should be used to organize the negotiation process.
However, given the efforts by the vast majority of the members of the Conference to continue working on all agenda items, Russia said it could support a consensus were it to emerge. It would maintain the right to raise all issues that gave rise to doubt and concerns on its part, both during the upcoming discussions and the work of subsidiary bodies. The adoption of this package in no way removed the responsibility of the P6 to continue their efforts to find a consensus around a comprehensive and balanced programme of work, concluded the Russian delegate.
Syria thanked the presidency for the considerable efforts it had made to reach this state of discussion. Moving forward, given the concerns and doubts expressed by delegations and shared by Syria, it was essential to dedicate more time to address them.
RACHID BELBAKI, Ambassador of Algeria and President of the Conference on Disarmament, taking note of the concerns expressed about the package, invited interested delegations to take part in an informal consultation.
When the session resumed, RACHID BELBAKI, Ambassador of Algeria and President of the Conference on Disarmament, said the objections that had been brought up meant that consensus on the package could not be reached at this point. He regretted that he had not been able to submit and adopt this package, which was the result of a collective effort by the P6 [the six presidents of the 2020 session of the Conference on Disarmament].
This proposal, as many delegates had pointed out, was a good basis for discussion. While perhaps not perfect, it was the presidency’s best efforts. It would be desirable to give delegations and capitals more time to think about the content and merits of the document and how to move it forward. In this respect, and given that this was the last plenary session he would preside, Mr. Belbaki would leave the package on the table for successive presidents.
Speaking on behalf of Algeria, Mr. Belbaki said that since the beginning, the approach of Algeria’s presidency was to work together to create an environment marked by constructive, responsible work. By fostering calm, confidence and trust, it had sought to enable Member States to use available resources to put the Conference back to work. The approach also focused on cooperation between the six presidencies to develop a programme a work that could be implemented.
The inability of the Conference to adopt a programme of work today should not be considered a failure, he stressed, noting that it was not surprising as it had happened before. All Member States had the responsibility to advance to work of the Conference so that it might resume its substantive work. Some of the items in the proposed programme of work did not gather consensus. The package was now an official document of the Conference, which remained at the disposal to its successive presidencies.
Argentina, as the incoming President of the Conference, thanked all delegations for the cooperative spirit and thanked the President, the Ambassador of Algeria for his energy, his skills and his willingness to seek consensus. Fortunately, the paradigm had been shifted: the document was no longer an Algerian or Argentinian document, but rather a P6 document. Consultations would continue; the Conference was close to a solution.
Egypt, congratulating Algeria for its excellent facilitation of the Conference’s work, said the impasse should not prevent Conference Members from making progress and resuming negotiations on four essential agenda items.
Iraq thanked the Algerian presidency for all its efforts and expressed hope that the package would allow the Conference to get out of the impasse it currently faced.
Cuba congratulated the efforts made by the Algerian presidency. The Conference now had a package with which it could continue working.
United Kingdom thanked the Algerian presidency for its efforts as well as for fostering a constructive atmosphere. The package was excellent, balanced and comprehensive.
China congratulated the Algerian presidency for its mandate. Thanks to its efforts, the Conference was now very close to adopting a programme of work for the year.
United States thanked the Algerian presidency for its leadership, as well as the P6 + 2 group and Switzerland for the contribution to this process. The prohibition of fissile materials should be the priority. The United States would nevertheless focus on transparency and confidence building measures, as well as flexibility and cooperation, in the interest of achieving progress.
France warmly thanked the Algerian presidency for all its efforts. This package dealt with all the concerns of the Members of the Conference on Disarmament. France was willing to join consensus on this intelligent proposal.
South Africa highlighted the professionalism and the transparency with which the presidency had led the work of the Conference. While the primary responsibility for undertaking steps for the elimination of nuclear laid with nuclear states, all should play their part.
Venezuela warmly thanked the Algerian presidency for all its efforts and underlined the importance of promoting multilateralism to reach consensus.
Pakistan congratulated the Algerian presidency for its leadership. Realistic approaches that took into consideration the legitimate concerns of all delegations were needed.
Japan thanked the Algerian presidency as well as the P6+2 for all their efforts, which Japan would continue to support so the Conference may continue its substantive work.
Syria thanked the Algerian presidency and the P6 for their professionalism. The creation of subsidiary bodies would allow the Conference to resume negotiations.
Iran expressed its deep appreciation for the Algerian presidency’s work and said that world security would only be achieved through the elimination of nuclear weapons. The Conference should be allowed to deliver a legally binding instrument on nuclear disarmament.
Mexico underlined the efforts of the Algerian presidency and the close collaboration of the P6 and stressed the importance of political will.
Switzerland thanked the Algerian presidency for how it discharged its mandate and said that the approach it had adopted was judicious.
India thanked the Algerian presidency and expressed hope that a consensus would emerge under the presidency of Argentina.
Russia said the Algerian presidency had demonstrated professionalism and responsibility. It was a good thing that the package remained on the table.
Turkey thanked the Algerian presidency for its tireless efforts to revitalize the Conference. No efforts should be spared to achieve this objective.
Morocco expressed its disappointment by the Conference’s inability to reach consensus on a programme of work and stressed the importance of implementing, and not only negotiating, a programme of work.
Zimbabwe congratulated the Algerian presidency and the P6 for the professionalism and their efforts, and expressed support for the package.
Ecuador congratulated the Algerian presidency and expressed support for the package.
RACHID BELBAKI, Ambassador of Algeria and President of the Conference on Disarmament, thanked the delegations for their feedback.
For use of the information media; not an official record
DC20.007E