UN SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT TO ADOPT NEW PROPOSAL FOR A PROGRAMME OF WORK

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, addressing the Conference on Disarmament this morning, asked members to take “bold action” to make a safer world a reality, referring to a new document before the Conference that he said could achieve consensus and which represented an important step forward in providing for international and effective verification with regard to a fissile material cut-off treaty. Micheline Calmy-Rey, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Switzerland, and Mourad Medelci, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Algeria, also drew attention to an encouraging change in atmosphere in international disarmament forums and echoed the Secretary-General’s call for adoption of the new programme of work.

“This meeting is taking place in an improved international climate” said Mr. Ban, noting initiatives such as the recent announcements by the United States and Russian Presidents to begin talks to replace a Cold War-era nuclear arms control treaty and to work to reduce the number of nuclear weapons in the world. “However, the bilateral efforts we are witnessing must feed into a broader multilateral framework”, he stressed, adding that the “world looks to [the Conference] to channel these positive signals into a coherent global strategy”.

Mr. Ban said before them was a document that could achieve consensus and that addressed all substantive and procedural issues. One important feature of the proposal was that it supplemented the mandate for negotiation of a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty with provisions for “international and effective verification”. That was an important step forward. So was the creation of Working Groups to discuss effective negative security assurances, progressive and systematic efforts to reduce nuclear weapons and all issues related to the prevention of an arms race in space. A renewed focus on disarmament and non-proliferation would benefit international security and stability, but it could also produce considerable dividends for peace and development, Mr. Ban reminded members. He called on everyone to “unite behind a shared vision of a safer world” and to find the courage for bold action to make that safer world a reality.

Ms. Calmy-Rey said this was a vital time in the Conference on Disarmament – a time of hope, as it seemed that were on the verge of a breakthrough after so many years. She joined Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Algerian Foreign Minister in calling on members of the Conference to rapidly adopt the programme of work before them. Only be so doing could the Conference could strengthen its credibility.

Mr. Medelci said that the international community realized that true international security could only be the product of a climate of mutual confidence between partners working together towards disarmament. That was the message behind United Kingdom Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s speech on nuclear energy and proliferation, behind the joint declaration by the Presidents of the United States and Russia, and behind the message of President Sarkozy of France to the United Nations Secretary-General. Those important initiatives, and others, had contributed to creating a climate of trust within the Conference.

The adoption of the programme of work, in these circumstances, appeared to be the fruit of the commendable efforts of Member States, Mr. Medelci said. The real fresh start however would begin with the commencement of real negotiations, discussions and exchanges of views on each of the seven agenda items.

Idriss Jazaïry, President of Conference on Disarmament, formally submitted on behalf of the Six Presidents document CD/1863 entitled "draft decision for the establishment of a programme of work for the 2009 session". Following the final completion of consultations, he hoped that the document, as adopted, would extend beyond the current year, providing a framework for future negotiations that would avoid the ups and downs of recent years.

Also this morning, the Conference accorded Lebanon observer status to the 2009 session of the Conference.

By draft decision CD/1863, on the establishment of a programme of work for the 2009 session, the Conference on Disarmament would establish several Working Groups. Under agenda item 1, cessation of the nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmament, it would establish a Working Group to exchange views and information on practical steps for progressive and systematic efforts to reduce nuclear weapons with the ultimate goal of their elimination, including on approaches toward potential future work of multilateral character. A second Working Group under this agenda item would negotiate a treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices, on the basis of the document CD/1299 of 24 March 1995 and the mandate contained therein (also known as the Shannon Mandate). It would also establish Working Groups on prevention of an arms race in outer space and on negative security assurances. The Conference would appoint Special Coordinators on the other agenda items, including weapons of mass destruction and new systems of such weapons; radiological weapons; comprehensive programme of disarmament; and transparency in armaments; to seek the views of its members on the most appropriate way to deal with those issues.

The next plenary of the Conference will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, 22 May 2009.

Statements

BAN KI-MOON, Secretary-General of the United Nations, said he was heartened that this meeting was taking place in an improved international climate. Most recently, the Third Preparatory Committee of the 2010 Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) Review Conference had concluded its session in a refreshingly positive tone, marking a distinct shift from previous years. He was also encouraged by recent announcements by United States President Obama and Russian President Medvedev to begin talks to replace a Cold War-era nuclear arms control treaty and to work to reduce the number of nuclear weapons in the world. There were now a number of initiatives from nuclear and non-nuclear States that, together, provided a new momentum for disarmament. They pointed the way to move from the divisions and paralysis of the past towards genuine dialogue and progress.

“However, the bilateral efforts we are witnessing must feed into a broader multilateral framework”, Mr. Ban stressed, adding “this is the only way to make the process sustainable and lasting”. The world looked to the Conference on Disarmament to channel those positive signals into a coherent global strategy as the world’s single multilateral negotiating body on disarmament. Differences ran deep, but he said they were not insurmountable. “Nor are they an excuse for paralysis”, he underscored. Even at the height of the Cold War, landmark agreements, in particular the NPT, were concluded in the Conference, Mr. Ban reminded members. They should be inspired by those past achievements.

Members had to bear special responsibility this year to demonstrate that the Conference on Disarmament had an essential role to play as the main pillar of disarmament and non-proliferation. In that connection, Mr. Ban noted that they had before them a document that could achieve consensus and that addressed all substantive and procedural issues. One important feature of the proposal was that it supplemented the mandate for negotiation of a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty with provisions for “international and effective verification”. That was an important step forward. So was the creation of Working Groups to discuss effective negative security assurances, progressive and systematic efforts to reduce nuclear weapons and all issues related to the prevention of an arms race in space.

Mr. Ban also wanted to emphasize that the Conference could add significantly to achieving the ultimate goal of the complete elimination of nuclear weapons. However, that could only be realized if all States, nuclear and non-nuclear alike, were prepared to abide by their disarmament and non-proliferation commitments and to nurture an international climate conducive to disarmament. The entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty was therefore of crucial importance.

A renewed focus on disarmament and non-proliferation would benefit international security and stability. It could also produce considerable dividends for peace and development. The world was enduring a deep economic and financial crisis. By accelerating disarmament, they could liberate resources that were needed to combat climate change, address food insecurity and achieve the Millennium Development Goals. “Let us unite behind a shared vision of a safer world. Let us find the courage for bold action to make it a reality”, Mr. Ban concluded.

MICHELINE CALMY-REY, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Switzerland, said this was a vital time in the Conference on Disarmament – a time of hope, as it seemed that were on the verge of a breakthrough after so many years. She joined Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Algerian Foreign Minister Medelci in calling on members of the Conference to rapidly adopt the programme of work before them. The international situation had evolved in such a way that it was possible for the Conference on Disarmament to begin negotiations again, which was its true vocation.

These past weeks they had all witnessed encouraging signals. Ms. Calmy-Rey referred, among others, to the joint declaration on nuclear disarmament of Presidents Obama and Medvedev in London, as well as the address made by President Obama in Prague last April. The demonstrated will of the United States and Russia to relaunch bilateral negotiations to reduce their nuclear weapons had had a direct influence on other disarmament forums, in particular those working in the multilateral sphere. Many here had witnessed the encouraging change in atmosphere at the third session of the Preparatory Meetings for the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NTP) in New York just a few days ago, where they had seen the beginnings of a rebalancing of the three pillars of the NTP – non-proliferation, disarmament, and the right to peacefully use nuclear technology. The debate on nuclear disarmament had also seen a new and promising tone.

A vision of a world without nuclear weapons was now fully back on track and Ms. Calmy-Rey reiterated Switzerland's intention of making a full contribution to realizing that goal. It would be a step-by-step process. As a first step, they had to support the rapid adoption of the programme of work before the Conference. Only by doing so could the Conference strengthen its credibility.

No doubt the draft and project before them was an ambitious one. But it represented the fruit of many years of intense discussions. They could not let the opportunity before them today slip away. They had to begin as soon as possible negotiations on a verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other explosive devices. The Conference also had to continue its substantive discussions on the other priority issues: nuclear disarmament, negative security assurances and prevention of an arms race in outer space.

MOURAD MEDELCI, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Algeria, said he was deeply encouraged by the words of the Secretary-General on the promising prospects for consultations to achieve a resumption of negotiations on general and complete disarmament. Those words were a clear reaffirmation of the objective assigned to the Conference on Disarmament by the first special session of the General Assembly on disarmament. They also testified to the fact that they had arrived at what analysts called a “tipping point” in the Conference. That meant it was only up to them now to ensure that their consultations led to constructive engagement and finally to a resumption of the work in the Conference on Disarmament, Mr. Medelci emphasized. That would clearly have a positive impact on the treatment of related or connected issues throughout the United Nations system.

Mr. Medelci said differences in national perceptions among Member States with respect to security had no doubt impeded progress with regard to its mandate. However, instead of losing hope, Member States had persevered and progress had finally been made after years of search for consensus on a programme of work. Thanks to everyone's efforts the Conference would soon be able to resume its place as the first forum for the promotion and protection of international security.

The international community realized that it was illusory to seek security behind the barricades of ideology and dogma or through military shields. The international community realized that true international security could only be the product of a climate of mutual confidence between partners working together towards disarmament. That was the message behind United Kingdom Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s speech on nuclear energy and proliferation, behind the joint declaration by the Presidents of the United States and Russia, and behind the message of President Sarkozy of France to the United Nations Secretary-General. Those important initiatives, and others, had contributed to creating a climate of trust within the Conference. That was also borne out by the many regional statements in favour of the initiative of the President of the Conference in March on elements for a programme of work, which had received support at the Non-Aligned Movement meeting in Havana, as well as the third Preparatory Committee of the NTP in New York.

The adoption of the programme of work, in these circumstances, appeared to be the fruit of the commendable efforts of Member States. At the same time, it was just the starting point for the resumption of substantive work. Although only applicable to 2009, it was hoped that the programme of work would also provide the framework for the discussions over the longer term. The real fresh start however would begin with the commencement of real negotiations, discussions and exchanges of views on each of the seven agenda items.

IDRISS JAZAÏRY (Algeria), President of the Conference on Disarmament, in closing remarks, thanked the Secretary-General and the Foreign Ministers for their support at this crucial phase, where they truly seemed to hold in their hands the necessary elements for an agreement to put an end to the paralysis that had afflicted the Conference for 12 years.

Mr. Jazaïry formally submitted on behalf of the Six Presidents document CD/1863 entitled "draft decision for the establishment of a programme of work for the 2009 session". Following the final completion of consultations, he hoped that the document, as adopted, would extend beyond the current year, providing a framework for future negotiations that would avoid the ups and downs of recent years.



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