Inaugural meeting of the 2010 Session of the Conference on Disarmament

It is a pleasure to address the Conference of Disarmament at the start of the 2010 session. I regret to have to inform you that the United Nations Secretary-General will not be able to speak to the Conference next week as planned, as he will have to personally coordinate international relief efforts in the wake of the tragedy in Haiti on 12 January. As the Secretary-General’s Personal Representative, allow me to say a few words as we begin our new session at a critical juncture:

The past year witnessed growing momentum for multilateral disarmament, with the successful conclusion of the May NPT Preparatory Committee and – most importantly – the adoption by the Conference on Disarmament of a Programme of Work that laid the foundation for substantive work.

With the adoption of Resolution 1887 at the historic Summit in September 2009, the Security Council pronounced its unanimous and unprecedented support for the vision of a world without nuclear weapons. Significantly, this Security Council called upon the Conference on Disarmament to negotiate a treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons; welcomed the CD’s adoption of a Programme of Work in 2009; and requested all Member States to cooperate in guiding the Conference to an early commencement of substantive work.

For its part, the General Assembly adopted, by consensus, a resolution on the Conference on Disarmament, which requested all CD members to cooperate with the Presidents of the CD towards an early commencement of substantive work in its 2010 session. The Assembly also adopted, again by consensus, a resolution on an FMCT – for the first time in five years. Thus, the international community appeals to the Conference on Disarmament to fulfil its mandate and adopt its Programme of Work to start negotiations on an FMCT.

Significant endeavours also outside of the Conference of the Disarmament, with bilateral efforts on the part of the US and the Russian Federation towards a new treaty to reduce the size of their nuclear arsenals, together with important initiatives on the part of other governments and civil society, have helped to sustain and consolidate the momentum.

Nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation remain among the Secretary-General’s top priorities. Less than two weeks ago, he met with the Executive Heads of disarmament-related organizations and his disarmament advisers as part of his concerted efforts to promote this critical agenda through innovative partnerships and synergies.

As you know, the Secretary-General has proposed a five-point Action Plan to eliminate nuclear weapons, which highlights his support for the immediate start of negotiations here in the Conference on Disarmament on a fissile material cut-off treaty. He looks to taking forward these efforts throughout 2010.

Expectations for the Conference on Disarmament to resume substantive work have been growing with the momentum. I believe that, guided by the leadership of the 2010 Presidents and supported by your efforts, the Conference should agree on a Programme of Work soon to resume its substantive work.

This is the time to fulfil the expectations and the hope that are placed in this body. Thank you very much.