CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT HOLDS SPECIAL SESSION TO BID FAREWELL TO ITS SECRETARY-GENERAL SERGEI ORDZHONIKIDZE

The Conference on Disarmament this morning held a special session to bid farewell to Sergei Ordzhonikidze, the Secretary-General of the Conference on Disarmament, Personal Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General to the Conference, and Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva.

In his farewell statement, Mr. Ordzhonikidze said he believed that the posts he was leaving were among the most difficult and challenging jobs at the United Nations. As this was his final plenary meeting as Secretary-General of the Conference, he wished to express all his appreciation for their professional collaboration. He was committed to the work of the Conference because it was essential for a safer and more prosperous world. Disarmament and non-proliferation brought stability, built confidence among States and could be part of establishing conditions conducive to development. With annual global military expenditure over $ 1.5 trillion and in the wake of an economic and financial crisis that affected millions of vulnerable people around the world, they had an obligation to assess critically this spending. The Conference had the potential to be the driving force and the linchpin in multilateral disarmament. It was a source of disappointment for him that the undisputed record of achievement of the Conference was being overshadowed by the stalemate.

Ambassador Wang Qun of China, President of the Conference, said for nine years of his tenure, Mr. Ordzhonikidze had been closely linked with the Conference on Disarmament as its Secretary-General and the Personal Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations. In this capacity, he had discharged his duties with perseverance and authority. The Conference had benefited greatly from his experience earned during his long-lasting career as an eminent diplomat of his country and then as a high-ranking official of the United Nations, as well as from his extensive knowledge of the intricacies of arms limitation and disarmament. His persistent efforts in strengthening the role of the Conference as the sole multilateral negotiating body of the international community and in encouraging it to respond to new challenges with determination and with commensurate imagination had earned Mr. Ordzhonikidze the respect of all.

Speakers said that while in Geneva, the Secretary-General of the Conference had incarnated the continuity of work of the Conference and had worked with 55 Presidents of the Conference and enlightened their knowledge of the rules and work of the Conference. The Secretary-General had also shared with all Member States his political sense and wisdom. The incarnation of the continuity of the work of the Conference did not mean resignation to the impasse that had affected the work of the Conference for too long. The Secretary-General had had the courage to denounce the stalemate in the Conference and had called on Member States to show flexibility in order to allow the Conference to fulfill its unique role. They wished him the best of luck. Mr. Ordzhonikidze was thanked for his serious engagement, competent leadership and tireless efforts shown in his capacity as Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva and the Secretary-General of the Conference. His professionalism and integrity had provided timely support to the work of the Conference. Speakers thanked Mr. Ordzhonikidze deeply for his committed and construction role and despite his achievements regretted the lack of results in the past few years and knew that the Secretary-General shared such feelings.

The following speakers took the floor: France on behalf of the Western Group, Mexico on behalf of the Group of 21, Kazakhstan on behalf of the East European Group, China, Russian Federation, Switzerland, Slovenia on behalf of the Informal Group of Observer States, Algeria, Sri Lanka and Iran.

The Conference on Disarmament will start the second part of its 2011 session on 16 May and will hold its first public plenary at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, 17 May.

Statements

WANG QUN (China), President of the Conference, said as colleagues were aware, Mr. Sergei Ordzhonikidze, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, would complete his term of office at the end of this month. A career diplomat, Mr. Ordzhonikidze joined the Soviet diplomatic service in 1969, and served primarily in the Permanent Mission of the Soviet Union and later the Russian Federation to the United Nations in New York and the Department of Foreign Affairs in Moscow. For nine years of his tenure, Mr. Ordzhonikidze had been closely linked with the Conference on Disarmament as its Secretary-General and the Personal Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations. In this capacity, he had discharged his duties with perseverance and authority. The Conference had benefited greatly from his experience earned during his long-lasting career as an eminent diplomat of his country and then as a high-ranking official of the United Nations, as well as from his extensive knowledge of the intricacies of arms limitation and disarmament. His persistent efforts in strengthening the role of the Conference as the sole multilateral negotiating body of the international community and in encouraging it to respond to new challenges with determination and with commensurate imagination had earned Mr. Ordzhonikidze the respect of all. On behalf of the Conference on Disarmament and on his own behalf, he wished Mr. Ordzhonikidze and his family much success and happiness in the future.

MARIN SIRAKOV (France), speaking on behalf of his Ambassador and the Western Group, said the Western Group wished to express their appreciation for the contribution of Mr. Ordzhonikidze to the work of the Conference on Disarmament over the past nine years and their deep regret at seeing him leave. While in Geneva, the Secretary-General of the Conference had incarnated the continuity of work of the Conference and had worked with 55 Presidents of the Conference and enlightened their knowledge of the rules and work of the Conference. The Secretary-General had also shared with all Member States his political sense and wisdom. The incarnation of the continuity of the work of the Conference did not mean resignation to the impasse that had affected the work of the Conference for too long. The Secretary-General had had the courage to denounce the stalemate in the Conference and had called on Member States to show flexibility in order to allow the Conference to fulfill its unique role. The Western Group was grateful for the commitment shown by the Secretary-General which had helped to stimulate their debates, and it wished the Secretary-General and his family all happiness and success.

MARIA ANTONIETA JAQUEZ HUACUJA (Mexico), speaking on behalf of the Group of 21, said the Group of 21 wished to express its appreciation for the work of Mr. Ordzhonikidze with the Conference and recognized the assistance that he had provided to the Conference and its Presidents concerning the organization of its work. The Group of 21 wished him the best of luck and extended their support to the new Secretary-General of the Conference. The Group of 21 reiterated its commitment to the Conference as the single international multilateral negotiating body in the field of disarmament.

MUKHTAR TILEUBERDI (Kazakhstan), on behalf of the East European Group, conveyed deep gratitude and heartfelt appreciation from each member of the Group to Mr. Ordzhonikidze for his serious engagement, competent leadership and tireless efforts shown in his capacity as Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva and the Secretary-General of the Conference. The Conference on Disarmament was the single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum and Mr. Ordzhonikidze as the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, the Secretary-General of the Conference and the Personal Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General to the Conference, was responsible for overseeing the support and assistance provided to it. Mr. Ordzhonikidze had made every effort in generating political will towards that universal goal and had served with a professionalism, loyalty and impartiality as a high official of the United Nations. The East European Group wished Mr. Ordzhonikidze al the best in his further endeavours.

LI YANG (China) said China echoed the praise and comments made by his colleagues for Mr. Ordzhonikidze who had for many years made important contributions in the field of international arms control and disarmament and maintaining international security. Mr. Ordzhonikidze should be proud of his leadership and diplomatic career. His professionalism and integrity had provided timely support to the work of the Conference. China had had good and happy cooperation with Mr. Ordzhonikidze during his tenure and appreciated his useful assistance. China regretted that Mr. Ordzhonikidze would be leaving them.

VALERY LOSHCHININ (Russian Federation) said the Russian Federation extended words of greetings to their excellent compatriot, Mr. Sergei Ordzhonikidze. They had every justification to be proud of his success. He had made important contributions in many international fora. He had worked untiringly to get the Conference out of its deadlock and adopt its programme of work. Mr. Ordzhonikidze was a shining example of the Russian school of diplomacy. They wished him health and happiness and love, especially as they approached the Easter festival, which was the most important festival for the Russian Federation. In Moscow, his large family and colleagues were waiting to greet the Secretary-General of the Conference and his wealth of knowledge would still be needed back home and also in international affairs.

JURG LAUBER (Switzerland) said Switzerland expressed its deep gratitude as host country to Mr. Sergei Ordzhonikidze. His dual role as Secretary-General of the Conference and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Conference was in line with his sincere interest in disarmament. Switzerland, as the host country, appreciated the way in which he had performed his twin tasks successfully. Switzerland recalled the essential role that the Conference played, and appreciated the encouragement of Mr. Ordzhonikidze to delegations, his urging to get them to agree on a programme of work, and the new impetus he gave to revitalize the situation. Switzerland thanked Mr. Ordzhonikidze deeply for his committed and construction role and despite his achievements regretted the lack of
results in the past few years and knew that the Secretary-General shared their feelings. Switzerland regretted that Mr. Ordzhonikidze was leaving and invited all delegations to a reception to be held in his honour immediately after the session closed.

MATJAZ KOVACIC (Slovenia), on behalf of the Informal Group of Observer States, expressed their most heartfelt appreciation to Ambassador Sergei Ordzhonikidze for his distinguished service to the United Nations as Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva and as Secretary-General of the Conference. They applauded his leadership in guiding the Secretariat in support of their work in the Conference and other disarmament processes. They appreciated his assistance and encouragement to the Informal Group of Observer States in the cause of the membership expansion of the Conference. They looked forward to his continuing engagement with the disarmament community and the work of the United Nations. His experience and counsel would continue to guide them. The Informal Group of Observer States remained committed to their goal of expansion of the Conference.

IDRISS JAZAIRY (Algeria) said he had asked for the floor as he wanted to speak in Arabic which they had not heard today and associated himself to the previous speakers and particularly Mexico as representative of the Group of 21. Algeria expressed its deep appreciation for Mr. Ordzhonikidze for the great efforts he had deployed since 19 March 2002. Mr. Ordzhonikidze had deployed every effort in a way that had received the recognition of all. His rich experience had been of utmost importance and they had all benefitted from it. Algeria would be remiss if it did not stress that he had been greatly successful in the tasks that he had shouldered.

KSHENUKA SENEWIRATNE (Sri Lanka) said Mr. Ordzhonikidze’s long and distinguished diplomatic career was well known. The United Nations Office at Geneva in general and the Conference on disarmament in particular were privileged to avail of his vast experience during the nine-year tenure of Mr. Ordzhonikidze in Geneva. Sri Lanka welcomed and appreciated the contribution Mr. Ordzhonikidze had made to the Conference, especially in maintaining the subject at high priority with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Sri Lanka warmly felicitated Mr. Ordzhonikidze on a highly successful tenure and wished him the very best in his future endeavours.

SAYED MAOHMMED REZA SAJJADI (Iran) said Iran attached great importance to the Conference as the single multilateral negotiating body on disarmament, and they had to preserve the nature, role and purpose of this august body with the top priority of nuclear disarmament. Mr. Sergei Ordzhonikidze had served almost nine years as Secretary-General of the Conference on Disarmament and during this period he had provided much needed assistance to the Conference and its Presidents. Due to the lack of political will for the resumption of nuclear disarmament, the Conference could not start its formal task of negotiation. However, the valuable work and patience of Mr. Ordzhonikidze was commendable. Sri Lanka wished him all the best in his new life, and took this opportunity to extend their support to the new Secretary-General of the Conference.

SERGEI ORDZHONIKIDZE, the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, the Secretary-General of the Conference and the Personal Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General to the Conference, thanked everyone who had spoken or came to this meeting to support him in his tenure. He was still in Geneva for another two weeks, but did not expect the Conference to create a miracle. He appreciated the assistance, sympathy, flexibility and willingness expressed by the Member States. Mr. Ordzhonikidze said he believed that the posts he was leaving were among the most difficult and challenging jobs at the United Nations. As this was his final plenary meeting as Secretary-General of the Conference, he wished to express all his appreciation for their professional collaboration. It had been a privilege to serve the Conference on Disarmament for over nine years. As they all knew, this was a cause that he believed in strongly and he was passionate about it. The Conference was both his passion and his pain. He was committed to the work of the Conference because it was essential for a safer and more prosperous world. The Ambassadors in this room carried a tremendous responsibility on behalf of the international community and the human family. He understood why it was not so easy to make progress in the Conference. Disarmament and non-proliferation brought stability, built confidence among States and could be part of establishing conditions conducive to development. With annual global military expenditure standing at over $ 1.5 trillion and in the wake of an economic and financial crisis that affected millions of vulnerable people around the world, they had an obligation to assess critically this spending. The Conference had the potential to be the driving force and the linchpin in multilateral disarmament. It was a source of disappointment for him that the undisputed record of achievement of the Conference was being overshadowed by the stalemate. He had to be blunt, not only was the credibility of the Conference at risk, its very future was at risk. He had enjoyed working with the Conference to further the cause of multilateral disarmament. He remained convinced that the world needed the Conference on Disarmament. Just as the Conference had a proud history of accomplishment that had helped to make the world more secure, he was convinced that it also had a proud future ahead, if its Members wished for it to be so. He wished the Conference and its members the best in taking forward this crucial work for international peace and security.


For use of the information media; not an official record

DC11/029E