Conference on Disarmament Adopts Decision on its Work for 2022 and Establishes Five Subsidiary Bodies

The Conference on Disarmament today adopted a decision on its work for 2022 and established five subsidiary bodies in order to advance its substantive work on all agenda items in a comprehensive and balanced manner.

Ambassador Alicia Victoria Arango Olmos of Colombia, incoming President of the Conference on Disarmament, said this decision showed that the Conference on Disarmament remained a platform capable of carrying out substantive discussion on the topics on its agenda. She would work with the coordinators of the subsidiary groups to seek a balanced and constructive approach for defining the modalities of work and the topics that would be included in each of the working groups. She expressed her gratitude to Ambassador Li Song of China (Disarmament) and his team, who throughout his Presidency had made efforts to achieve the approval of a decision that would help the Conference organize its work through the establishment of five subsidiary groups.

Ambassador Arango Olmos said that during the second week of her Presidency, the Conference would focus its work on the high-level segment, which would start on Monday, 28 February. The Secretariat had received the registration of 38 States. During the third week of her Presidency, an event would be held to highlight the importance of including women’s perspective in the substantive discussions of the Conference on Disarmament’s agenda items. The President said she hoped to work with all States to make the next four weeks productive for the Conference on Disarmament.

According to CD/WP.639/Rev.1, four of the subsidiary bodies will cover agenda items one to four, while the fifth will cover agenda items five, six and seven. The subsidiary bodies will be chaired by coordinators appointed by the Conference.

Speaking in today’s plenary were Kazakhstan, France, Brazil, Pakistan, Morocco, Germany, Chile, New Zealand, Austria, Switzerland, China, Dominican Republic, Russian Federation, Ecuador, Egypt, Argentina, India, Mexico, Venezuela, Iran, Algeria, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Turkey, Indonesia, Japan, Bulgaria, Republic of Korea, Cuba, Nigeria and Malaysia.

The next plenary of the Conference will be held on Monday, 28 February, in the framework of the high-level segment.

Statements

Ambassador ALICIA VICTORIA ARANGO OLMOS of Colombia, incoming President of the Conference on Disarmament, said she hoped all delegations today would show their greatest possible flexibility. She would deliver her statement as President of the Conference, and then she would propose the adoption of CD/WP.639/Rev.1 on the draft decision on the work of the Conference on Disarmament for 2022, as agreed in the plenary meeting last week under the Chinese Presidency. She would then open the floor for any delegations that wished to address the Conference.

Ms. Arango Olmos said that it was an honour for Colombia to take on the Presidency of the Conference on Disarmament. She expressed her gratitude to Ambassador Li Song of China (Disarmament) and his team, who throughout his Presidency had made efforts to achieve the approval of a decision that would help the Conference organize its work through the establishment of five subsidiary groups. She hoped that today, all delegations would present their greatest level of flexibility for the adoption of this decision, especially in light of the current geo-political situation. On the basis of this decision, they would be able to prepare the participation of States in substantive debates and would be able to continue working on the agenda items in a comprehensive, balanced and structured fashion. She would propose today the adoption of CD/WP.639/Rev.1. During the second week of her Presidency, the Conference would focus its work on the high-level segment, which would start on Monday, 28 February. The Secretariat had received the registration of 38 States. During the third week of her Presidency, an event would be held to highlight the importance of including women’s perspective in the substantive discussions of the Conference on Disarmament’s agenda items. The President said she hoped to work with all States to make the next four weeks productive for the Conference on Disarmament.

Ms. Arango Olmos proposed the adoption of decision CD/WP.639/Rev.1.

Kazakhstan believed that the draft decision on the establishment of five subsidiary bodies was a good basis for the further work of the Conference. Kazakhstan supported the draft decision and was ready to adopt it today.

Ambassador ALICIA VICTORIA ARANGO OLMOS of Colombia, incoming President of the Conference on Disarmament, said it was so decided. The decision was adopted. She thanked all delegations for their flexibility and commitment. This decision showed that the Conference on Disarmament remained a platform capable of carrying out substantive discussion on the topics on its agenda. She would work with the coordinators of the subsidiary groups to seek a balanced and constructive approach for defining the modalities of work and the topics that would be included in each of the working groups.

France said all were aware of France’s concerns about the functioning of the subsidiary bodies. France did not wish for the work of the subsidiary bodies to be unbalanced. On Friday, France had proposed to improve OP3 of the draft decision in order to facilitate the work of the coordinators, aimed at ensuring that the discussions within each subsidiary body would be based on the entire set of past documents of the Conference. The Conference could not begin this work on the basis of nothing. In order to show flexibility, France joined the consensus on this decision as it stood on the understanding that the fissile material cut-off treaty would be discussed, amongst other places, in subsidiary body number two entitled preventing a nuclear war and any related issue. The decision referred to past, present and future positions and for France, it was clear that that meant the fissile material cut-off treaty and other topical streams of work, in particular as regarded outer space.

Brazil said the Conference on Disarmament was a fundamental cog of the international peace and security machinery. As such, it should not only be safeguarded but also be put in a position to carry out its mandate. The core of the Conference’s mandate was the negotiation of legally binding instruments. Disarmament instruments were the antidote to the confrontational trends that, unfortunately, plagued the current international scenario. The Conference should be playing a significant role in increasing the cost of such strategies while seeking to prevent conflict, alleviate tensions and build confidence. More than ever, members of the Conference must seek convergence on a way to allow the Conference to discharge itself of its prerogative as the sole multilateral disarmament negotiating forum. A decision to structure the work of the Conference would have positive repercussions across all disarmament regimes. Brazil was and remained fully committed to the task entrusted to the Conference to negotiate disarmament instruments. The Conference on Disarmament was fit to deliver multilateral negotiations on disarmament and other relevant security issues provided they counted with the necessary political will.

Pakistan said the decision just adopted reflected the least common denominator to take the work of the Conference forward. This adoption was indeed a significant achievement, which attested to the political will demonstrated by members of the Conference and was an affirmation of the shared vision to see the Conference deliver. It was a matter of satisfaction that China’s concise approach had unlogged the Conference’s deadlock and provided a formula and means to start substantive work. The decision represented the first step and direction for the Conference to move forward. The adoption of the decision today also sent a clear and concise message to the international community that the Conference was fully capable of delivering if the right conditions were created. These conditions were: a comprehensive and balanced approach; putting aside subjective national priorities; and adherence to the cardinal principle of equal security for all States.

Morocco congratulated the outgoing Chinese President of the Conference whose work had led to the positive results today regarding the participation of observer States in the work of the Conference and the draft decision which was just adopted. The Conference should build on this positive impetus and move toward great understanding, without leaving out of sight the shared goal of moving the Conference toward its negotiating mandate. They should continue to move in this direction by agreeing on the functional characteristics of the subsidiary bodies, which should have a clearly defined mandate, which would allow them to hold discussions on substantive issues and move forward with a view to negotiating. Morocco was pleased by the proposal made by several States on the Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to be held shortly. Special attention should be paid to the new security challenges, such as artificial intelligence.

Germany thanked Ambassador Li Song of China for his productive, cooperative and successful contribution to the 2022 session of the Conference. The decision just adopted was not ideal from many national perspectives. Germany, like many others, would have liked a broader reflection and consideration of a fissile material cut-off treaty, but the decision was still an important step forward to advance the work of the Conference.

Chile said the decision just approved was a step forward. Chile was happy but not fully satisfied, as they had still not reached the genuine goal of the Conference, which was to negotiate legally binding instruments in the field of disarmament. Chile supported this proposal and believed it was balanced. Chile hoped that with the approval of this decision, they would begin as soon as possible the discussion of the organizational aspect, so that they could move on to implementation. Chile would be coordinating subsidiary body number three.

New Zealand deeply regretted that past activities had not led to the Conference being able to fulfil its important negotiation mandate. New Zealand did not stand in the way of consensus today. At a time of strained global relations, New Zealand did not discount the value of being able to agree on something. New Zealand wished to make clear that they were not setting a precedent by setting up subsidiary bodies with no clear mandate for four short meeting sessions, which stood in sharp contrast to the ambitions for the Conference set in 1978. As the lowest common denominator, it was not exactly a decision that the Conference could be proud of.

Austria said Austria had joined the consensus. The tensions and increased risks around the world today made progress on disarmament all the more urgent. Austria hoped that today’s decision was a step in the right direction. Austria had some concerns regarding the decision. Against the backdrop of a difficult geo-political landscape, the Conference had a clear mandate to fulfil, which was to negotiate multilateral disarmament and non-proliferation treaties. It remained to be seen that the decision taken today would yield concrete results. The measure of success for today’s decision would be the outcomes achieved. Austria encouraged all to demonstrate political will and to exert the necessary flexibility to allow substantive work to take place in the Conference again.

Switzerland said the decision reached today was important given the lengthy deadlock of the Conference and its inability to agree on a possible way forward, following establishment of subsidiary bodies in 2018. An increasing number of delegates had said in recent weeks that a programme of work for the Conference should not necessarily contain a negotiating mandate. Even though they decided to change the title of the decision adopted, it was still of some importance. The absence of an immediate agreement on negotiating a specific instrument should not mean that all the substantive work was suspended. It was necessary to allow the Conference to move forward on all substantive issues. Any activity should bring the Conference closer to launching negotiations. It was essential for the subsidiary bodies to agree promptly on the topics they would be discussing.

China said the adoption of the decision today was the result of the common efforts of the P-6 and all members of the Conference, with a manifestation of political will on the part of all. This was a victory for true multilateralism.

Dominican Republic recognised the progress made by the Chinese Presidency, including the approval of participation in the work of the Conference by non- Member States as observers. The Dominican Republic also thanked the P-6 for their efforts, under the leadership of Ambassador Li Song of China, for consolidating the decision adopted today. Although the decision did not reflect all of the concerns of Member States, it constituted a balanced basis on which to work within the Conference this year.

Russian Federation thanked Ambassador Li Song and the P-6 for their excellent work on agreeing to the decision which they had adopted this morning. Gratitude was expressed to all delegations that had been flexible. The adoption of the decision was an important step in the work of the Conference, which remained the sole multilateral negotiating forum for disarmament. Russia hoped that the subsidiary bodies would help all in finding common grounds amongst all delegations and move the Conference forward to exercise its mandate.

Ecuador said that the decision adopted today opened up a path full of challenges to which the Conference needed to rise in light of current circumstances. All were congratulated on this remarkable consensus.

Egypt expressed sincere appreciation to Ambassador Li Song of China and his team for their efforts that materialised today with the adoption of the decision.

Argentina thanked Ambassador Li Song of China and the P-6 for their efforts which allowed the Conference to achieve consensus on the decision today. Although it would not allow the Conference to tackle the full range of security concerns of Argentina, or give a negotiating mandate, the decision showed the good will of all members. It was hoped that it would provide fresh impetus to the Conference and that the subsidiary bodies would be able to reach agreement on the topics that would be discussed in each.

India thanked Ambassador Li Song of China for his skilled guidance of the Conference during his Presidency. India had agreed to the decision in the interest of consensus, demonstrating utmost flexibility. India would like to place on record India’s discomfort at the manner in which the matters relating to subsidiary bodies had been dealt with. The mandates had not been articulated in a satisfactory manner. India was also hesitant about the clear and concise approach which permitted inter alia the emphasis on the previous work of the Conference to advance the work on a fissile material cut-off treaty on the basis of CD/1299 and the mandate contained therein. India believed that CD/1299 provided the basis of immediate commencement of negotiation on a fissile material cut-off treaty.

Mexico said Mexico in the General Assembly had recently declared the state of brain death of the Conference after decades of procedural standstills and its use for political ends. Mexico was ready not to object to the draft decision because it was in line with Mexico’s vision on multilateral fora. Mexico hoped that the constructive ambiguity of the text would help the Conference focus on ways to establish direct channels for substantive negotiations, in accordance with the mandate of the Conference. Mexico had decided not to cut off the oxygen supply and declare the heart of the Conference as lifeless as it hoped to work on the issues set out in the decision. The approval of this decision should not overshadow the need for the Conference to engage in thorough reflection and overhaul the architecture of disarmament.

Venezuela said it attached great importance to the work of the Conference as a vital part of the disarmament machinery. That was why they needed to overcome the gridlock within the Conference and establish the mandate expressed in SSOD1. It was essential to preserve the negotiating mandate of the Conference as it was not just a forum for debate. Venezuela had agreed to join the consensus on the decision presented under the Chinese Presidency and adopted today. This was done on the understanding that although it was not a document that satisfied Venezuela’s expectations, it was an innovative document by the P-6 for the 2022 session of the Conference.

Iran congratulated all States for their flexibility that had allowed the adoption of the decision on the work of the Conference in 2022. This was testimony that the Conference was able to break its deadlock. The decision was better than that adopted in 2018 and Iran had decided to join the consensus. However, Iran still had some observations. Iran, as a staunch advocate for nuclear disarmament, emphasised the importance for the Conference to implement its mandate to negotiate legally binding disarmament instruments, based on its agenda items, in particular nuclear disarmament. All delegations were called on to continue to show their flexibility in the subsidiary bodies.

Algeria expressed appreciation to Ambassador Li Song of China and the P-6 for their efforts which had allowed the Conference to adopt the decision on the work of the 2022 session of the Conference by consensus. This achievement allowed the Conference, through the establishment of subsidiary bodies, to take up the work of the Conference as reflected in the agenda. Algeria thanked all for the confidence given to it as coordinator to guide the work of subsidiary body one on cessation of the nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmament.

Democratic People’s Republic of Korea said today the Conference had adopted a decision on its work this year that would hopefully contribute to it commencing its substantive work. This was a demonstration of collective efforts and flexibility of all members of the Conference, as a result of the excellent guidance of the Chinese delegation during its Presidency. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, as one of the P-6, would work closely with all members of the Conference to this end.

Turkey said this decision provided the best available alternative under the current circumstances. This was an important moment to bring the Conference back to substantive work on its agenda items. Turkey would participate in the discussions under the subsidiary bodies and hoped that all members of the Conference would do the same.

Indonesia welcomed the adoption of the decision on the work of the Conference for 2022. Indonesia reaffirmed its readiness to support the work of the Conference, including in its capacity as the coordinator of subsidiary body four. Indonesia extended its appreciation to Ambassador Li Song of China for his excellent approach and guidance, which had led to the adoption of this decision.

Japan expressed its appreciation to Ambassador Li Song of China and his team for their commendable efforts leading to today’s adoption of the decision on the work of the Conference in 2022. As a good compromise proposal, it did not satisfy completely any member of the Conference, including Japan. Yet it was of great value since it allowed the Conference to demonstrate to the international community that it remained capable of making a decision at this very difficult juncture. The flexibility shown by each member of the Conference should be commended. The work of the subsidiary bodies should build upon the past achievements of the Conference, especially of those reached in 2018. Japan’s priority remained the immediate commencement of negotiations on a fissile material cut-off treaty.

Bulgaria expressed appreciation for the work carried out by Ambassador Li Song, which had led to a productive and cooperative start of the work of the Conference. Continuing the constructive and cooperative pattern of interaction would have a positive impact throughout the disarmament fora, especially the forthcoming Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty.

Republic of Korea thanked outgoing President Li Song of the China and his team. The decision adopted today was far from perfect, in particular on the topic of the fissile material cut-off treaty. However, it provided a good basis to start substantive work.

Cuba expressed gratitude to Ambassador Li Song of China, under whose leadership and despite the obstacles, the Conference had managed to agree on the draft decision on the work of the Conference. The decision was far from the goals of the Cuban delegation, which was to have a programme of work which would allow the negotiation of legally binding instruments on all issues related to disarmament, with particular emphasis on nuclear disarmament. Despite this, the decision made it possible to confirm that the chronic paralysis in the Conference was caused by a lack of political will of some. The world was ever more geared towards a nuclear arms race. A programme of work was but a tool for work, it was not an obstacle for hindering work. The programme of work did not need to establish specific mandates of negotiation or general ones, as the Conference had that mandate itself. What mattered was that the Conference, through subsidiary bodies or by other means, should give States a space within which they could begin to decide directly on the basis for negotiating instruments that were necessary for the effective implementation of the mandate of the Conference.

Nigeria said although the decision adopted today did not necessarily reflect the positions and interests of many States, Nigeria appreciated the high levels of flexibility shown by States.

Malaysia commended outgoing President Li Song of China for his exemplary leadership and his efforts, alongside his team and the P-6 plus two, in assisting the Conference to reach a consensus on adopting the decision on the work of the Conference. All were congratulated for their constructive approach and spirit of compromise. Today’s achievement was just the beginning of the Conference’s work. It was necessary for the Conference to swiftly convene consultations to discuss and finalise the procedural methods regarding the work of the subsidiary bodies. It was also important for the subsidiary bodies to be held in both formal and informal sessions to enable frank conversations.

Ambassador ALICIA VICTORIA ARANGO OLMOS of Colombia, incoming President of the Conference on Disarmament, thanked all for their flexibility and commitment. All understood that this decision did not meet the expectations of each country, but it provided satisfaction to be able to take a step forward. The next plenary of the Conference on Disarmament would be on Monday, 28 February, in the framework of the high-level segment.

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