SEVEN COORDINATORS ON AGENDA ITEMS OF CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT REPORT TO THE CONFERENCE

On Wednesday, 13 August, the Conference on Disarmament’s seven Coordinators reported orally to the six 2008 Presidents (P6) of the Conference on the outcome of the latest round of thematic debates on the Conference’s agenda items.

These Coordinators generally validated their earlier conclusions drawn from the two rounds of informal meetings held in February. The latest thematic debates served a useful purpose, especially in terms of adding impetus to the work of the Conference through deepening understanding of the issues and providing the opportunity for Member States to bring new issues and elements into the discussions.

For instance, in the discussion on preventing an arms race in outer space, the tabling by China and Russia of the draft treaty on Preventing the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space has deepened the treatment of that agenda item and stimulated discussions in the Conference. The thematic debates also served, in effect, to validate the agenda of the Conference and its priorities, notably fissile materials as well as outer space, nuclear disarmament and security assurances. The P6 feel vindicated in staging this round of discussions at this time and in revalidating the Conference’s priorities and building up engagement in the Conference.

In her closing statement at the end of the plenary meeting on Thursday, 14 August, the outgoing President, Ambassador Rocca of the United States, in commenting on the work of the Coordinators, welcomed the active participation of delegations in the latest round of informal discussions. She noted that they had helped refresh consideration of the central issues of the Conference and would aid in drawing its collective conclusions on the work of the Conference this year for reporting to UNGA63.