CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT HEARS FROM STATES ON NUCLEAR TEST BY DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA

The Conference on Disarmament this morning heard from 24 States on the underground nuclear test by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea which was conducted on 25 May and a proposed new draft programme of work for the Conference, as contained in document CD/1863.

The Republic of Korea said that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's new nuclear test posed a serious threat to the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia and beyond and also presented a grave challenge to the international non-proliferation regime. The test was an unacceptable act of provocation. The international community should send a clear and strong message to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea for its blatant violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions. Russia said that such actions could not be considered other than as a violation of Resolution 1817 of the Security Council. The test was a serious blow to international efforts to strengthen the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Brazil and Argentina condemned vehemently the test. It violated Security Council resolution 1718 and they expected the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to rejoin the Non-Proliferation Treaty. China hoped that all involved parties would keep calm and seek a peaceful solution through dialogue. The United Kingdom said that this event only reinforced the responsibility of the Conference on Disarmament to move to action.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea said the Democratic People's Republic of Korea had yesterday successfully concluded a second nuclear test. They had already announced through a statement by the Foreign Ministry at the end of April that, in connection with the fact that the Security Council had infringed on their sovereign rights and their right to economic development by undertaking unjust actions never seen before in the history of the United Nations, and by questioning the launch of the satellite for peaceful purpose and putting in practice sanctions against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and its people through a Presidential Statement, they could not but take additional security self-defense measures, including the nuclear test. As long as sanctions were forced against them, they would continue to take necessary corresponding measures to defend their sovereignty. In view of the nature of the statements made today, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea did not rule out the probability that those statements might affect their decision on the proposed programme of work.

Syria, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Canada, Turkey, Venezuela, the United States, Australia, Egypt, France, Russia, Hungary, Colombia, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Norway, Germany and the United Kingdom expressed their support to the proposed draft programme of work CD/1863. The Conference on Disarmament should be galvanized into life, ending more that ten years of stalemate, said the Republic of Korea. Canada said it had carefully analysed the document and felt that it was a balanced compromise. Venezuela wished to see a prompt adoption of the proposed programme of work, in order for the Conference on Disarmament to go back to work. Russia said that they had carefully studied document CD/1863 and they could not say that it was entirely satisfactory for them, especially with regards to the issue of the prevention of an arms race in outer space. Nevertheless, with a view of compromise, they would not object to a consensus to adopt and approve the programme of work. Due to recent elections in India, the delegation of India said it was awaiting instructions and as such was not in a position to move forward in this regard.

Ambassador Idriss Jazairy of Algeria, President of the Conference on Disarmament, in concluding remarks, said that the mandate of the United Nations machinery in New York was different and he thought that each one could cope with their own. Actions by the Security Council should not have any impact on the business of the Conference on Disarmament. He further noted that the statements made today continued in the line of the positive attitude of last week. If this support continued, he hoped that the Conference could move to an early decision on CD/1863. He and his P6 colleagues had met with several regional groups and they would meet with China tomorrow afternoon. This would end the consultations at the regional basis. If there were any loose ends by then, groups of countries or individual countries wishing to meet with the P6 or the President could do so to address any concerns they might have. Also, all delegations except two, which were still awaiting guidance from their capitals, had expressed support, in one way or the other, for document CD/1863.

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.

Speaking today were the delegations of Syria, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Canada, Turkey, Venezuela, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Egypt, France, Russia, Hungary, Colombia, the Netherlands, Brazil on behalf of Brazil and Argentina, Nigeria, Slovakia, Norway, China, Germany, the United Kingdom, India and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

The next meeting of the Conference on Disarmament will take place on Thursday, 28 May at 10 a.m.

Statements

Idriss Jazairy, President of the Conference on Disarmament, on behalf of the Conference, bid farewell to Ambassadors Sumio Tarui of Japan and Johannes Landman of the Netherlands.

FAYSAL KHABBAZ HAMOUI (Syria) joined the President in expressing best wishes to Ambassadors Tarui and Landman. Their courage and audacity would be missed in the Conference on Disarmament. He expressed his appreciation to the President for the excellent work and wide consultations conducted on the drafting of CD/1863, with the support and cooperation of the members of the P6. Now there was an increased desire for dialogue and negotiations in order to limit the dangers of nuclear arsenals in some States. The elimination of arsenals of States that possessed such weapons and that belonged to such hot spots such as the Middle East region were of specific interest. Some of the major positive aspects of the document CD/1863 were the points made on negotiation of a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty; the creation of working groups as a new mechanism to launch negotiations and debates; and that future negotiations on the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty would be based on the Shannon initiative and reduction of stocks, among other things.

Like many other States, Syria had hoped that more focus would be placed on negative security initiatives. However, it was important to note that reaching a comprehensive document that 192 States would agree on was not possible. Therefore, Syria supported the document CD/1863, and would work with the President to put an end to the stalemate that the Conference on Disarmament had been suffering from for so long.

IM HAN-TAEK (Republic of Korea) expressed the appreciation of the Republic of Korea to the P-6's efforts to get the Conference on Disarmament back to work. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, following a long range rocket launch on 5 April 2009 in contravention of United Nations Security Council resolution 1718, had announced that it had conducted a second nuclear test on 25 May 2009, disregarding the repeated warnings from the Republic of Korea as well as from the international community. This new nuclear test posed a serious threat to the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia and beyond and also presented a grave challenge to the international non-proliferation regime. The test was an unacceptable act of provocation. The international community should send a clear and strong message to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea for its blatant violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions.

On the view of the Republic of Korea on the new proposed programme of work, all of the recent developments in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation, including the Non-Proliferation Treaty PrepCom meeting in New York, pointed to the urgency and importance of reviving a new multilateralism. The Conference on Disarmament should be galvanized into life, ending more that ten years of stalemate. The Republic of Korea thus expressed support for CD/1863 as they believed that it embodied a balanced and realistic approach to the seven agenda items of the Conference and in particular the four core issues.

SUMIO TARUI (Japan) congratulated the President on his work and reassured him that Japan was a ready partner in the work of the Conference. Yesterday, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea announced that it had succeeded in conducting an underground nuclear test. A nuclear test by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, combined with its build-up of ballistic missiles that could serve as the means to deliver weapons of mass destruction, constituted a grave threat to the security of Japan, seriously undermined the peace and security of North East Asia and the world, and was totally unacceptable. Japan strongly protested and resolutely condemned this nuclear test. Such behaviour was a clear violation of United Nations Security Council resolution 1718 of 14 October 2006 and was a grave challenge to the international nuclear non-proliferation regime.

In line with the purpose of today's plenary, Mr. Tarui said that the key difference in Japan's opinion between documents CD/1840 and CD/ 1863 was that Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty negotiations under the former were to be conducted without any preconditions, while the latter aimed to negotiate a verifiable Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty. Effective verification may indeed present difficult technical issues. Nevertheless, Japan's position was consistent on this issue and as such submitted a working paper suggesting possible ways for verification on the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (CD/1774). Hence Japan welcomed negotiations that sought a verifiable treaty. For promoting disarmament, it was a logical necessity that discussions on each issue of the Conference on Disarmament agenda should advance independently, and it was inappropriate to impede areas that had potential for progress just because one specific issue area was advancing at a slower pace.

MARIUS GRINIUS (Canada) thanked the President and the P6 for their preparation of document CD/1863. The developments in the last months had brought a renewed atmosphere. The Conference on Disarmament needed to seize this opportunity. There was no better opportunity than now. Canada had carefully analysed the document and felt that it was a balanced compromise. Canada could support this draft as the basis for work in the Conference. He also hoped that other States would also support this proposal. All had noted the positive atmosphere with regard to disarmament and non-proliferation. Canada further took note with considerable concern of the latest Democratic People's Republic of Korea's nuclear test; it presented a threat to the international community.

AHMET UZUMCU (Turkey) commended the President for presenting last Tuesday the Draft Decision for the Establishment of a Programme of Work for the 2009 Session contained in document CD/1863. Turkey appreciated the President's tireless efforts in this context, as well as those of his fellow P6 colleagues. This collective work once again demonstrated the virtue of the P6 platform in this context. The Turkish delegation viewed document CD/1863 as the culmination of the combined efforts of all Conference on Disarmament members, which gained momentum in recent years to overcome the 12-year deadlock. Turkey had the opportunity to contribute to these efforts by presenting document CD/1840 on behalf of the P6 last year.

Mr. Uzumcu said that it was very difficult, if not impossible, to envisage that any compromise would fully satisfy the expectations of all. Yet, he believed that everyone should strive to focus on the commonalities that would help one another to achieve a breakthrough. Everyone should aim at bridging their differences. Flexibility by all delegations was required not only for reaching consensus on CD/1863, but for the course of action that should follow it as well. This would mean bringing the Conference back to its fundamental role in promoting global peace and security. Such was the wish of many, including the Secretary-General. With respect to the Third Preparatory Committee of the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference and the constructive atmosphere in the meeting, the current international environment was more favourable than ever for the advancement of multilateral arms control and disarmament.

GERMAN MUNDARAIN HERNANDEZ (Venezuela) expressed their concern at the events in the Korean Peninsula. They hoped that efforts to guarantee peace and security would result in a happy conclusion. Further, they had recently seen a new momentum in the Conference on Disarmament; this optimistic atmosphere had been confirmed by the high-level visits of last week. For Venezuela, participation of such guests was a demonstration of the positive atmosphere in the field of disarmament. Venezuela wished to see a prompt adoption of the proposed programme of work, in order for the Conference on Disarmament to go back to work. Document CD/1863 identified elements Venezuela supported and thus it supported the document; it contained all elements necessary for the adoption of the programme of work. Venezuela urged other delegations to show conciliatory positions. It was now time to get back to substantive work.

GAROLD N. LARSON (United States) congratulated the President on his leadership and said the collaborative efforts of the entire P6 team had led members to a point that was a Conference on Disarmament first for many in this room and one which he joined others in urging the final collective efforts to achieve agreement. Though the Government had been quiet, Mr. Larson said it was not inactive during the first part of the Conference's deliberations this year. They had listened attentively to the statements, engaged in dialogue with the Conference's members and, most importantly, begun a careful and thoughtful review of how to advance international security and the national security of the United States. Between sessions here, President Obama and other senior members of his Administration had begun to set out how disarmament, particularly nuclear disarmament, which would play an important role in the Government's national policy and international relationships. They also made clear that they expected that this Conference would resume its important contributions to international disarmament, and more immediately, the negotiation of a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty.

The United States was under no illusions that negotiation of a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty would be quick or easy. It would take the focused effort of all States in the Conference on Disarmament to work through the difficult issues that lay ahead. In document CD/1863, there was now a means by which those negotiations could begin, as well as serious discussions on the range of other disarmament matters that reflected the ongoing concerns of Conference on Disarmament members. Mr. Larson said that the delegation of the United States looked forward to the early adoption of a serious and focused programme of work, leading to the resumption of fulfilling the Conference on Disarmament's mandate as a negotiating body.

CAROLINE MILLAR (Australia) thanked the President for helping to develop document CD/1863 and expressed support for it. As the United States had just said, consensus was indeed very close. Australia welcomed the improved international atmosphere, as reflected in the statements by United States President Obama and Russian President Medvedev, as well as reflected in the Non-Proliferation Treaty PrepCom. In this context, it was indeed very troubling that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea had conducted a nuclear test.

RAYLENE LIUFALANI (New Zealand) strongly condemned the announcement yesterday that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea had conducted another nuclear weapons test. According to the statement made by New Zealand's Foreign Minister Murray McCully on this matter, this test was a deeply provocative act that risked destabilising the Korean peninsula and the wider region. It also went against the positive momentum witnessed on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation in recent months. As a long-standing supporter of the Six Party Talks process, New Zealand urged the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to immediately re-engage in this dialogue to resolve issues on the Korean Peninsula. New Zealand had registered its disappointment in the past for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's actions to develop its nuclear programme, including through support for measures adopted by the United Nations Security Council in response to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's actions. New Zealand joined the international community in considering what measures should be taken in response to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's latest announcement.

HISHAM BADR (Egypt) expressed appreciation for the President's work. Egypt viewed the proposed document CD/1863 as having captured many of the positive elements of past drafts and successfully managed to avoid stumbling blocks. It was important to note that Egypt attached great importance to the achievement of complete nuclear disarmament. The establishment of a nuclear free zone in the Middle East remained a huge priority.

ERIC DANON (France) admired the work done by the President in order for the Conference on Disarmament to get moving, a personality such as his was necessary to derive benefit from it, and get moving around the document CD/1863. France welcomed the delegations who had moved their positions and who were able to move their decisions regarding the Programme of Work, and therefore to start negotiations on a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty. This illustrated hope for the international community. He urged all delegations that had not come to a decision to do so. The President of the Conference on Disarmament could rely on France to support the consensus and to begin negotiations of a cut-off treaty.

VALERY LOSCHININ (Russian Federation) said that the Russian Federation greatly appreciated the efforts of the Algerian delegation and of all the P6 Presidents for their proposed draft programme of work. The delegation of the Russian Federation had carefully studied document CD/1863 and they could not say that it was entirely satisfactory for them, especially with regards to the issue of the prevention of an arms race in outer space. The Russian Federation would have rather liked to see a draft programme of work which more clearly expressed the modalities for the negotiation of a treaty in this regard. Nevertheless, with a view of compromise, the Russian Federation would not object to a consensus to adopt and would approve the programme of work contained in document CD/1863.

Mr. Loshinin said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation had made a special statement concerning the nuclear test that had been carried out in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. This statement noted that such actions could not be considered other than as a violation of Resolution 1817 of the Security Council. The test was a serious blow to international effort to strengthen the Non-Proliferation Treaty and undermined agreements under the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty on the prohibition of such tests. It might well lead to an escalation of tension in eastern Asia and undermine stability and security in the region. Russia saw no other alternative than the use of diplomacy to settle the issue and called on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to show a responsible attitude. The nuclear problem in the Korean Peninsula could only be solved in the Six-Party negotiations.

KLARA TUNYOGI AKOTS (Hungary) congratulated the President of the Conference for assuming his role. Hungary was ready to give its full support to guide the Conference on Disarmament in its work and the adoption of CD/1863 for the establishment of a programme of work. Hungary aligned itself with the statement by the Czech Republic on behalf of the European Union last Friday. Hungary expressed its deep concern with respect to the recent nuclear test conducted by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

DANIEL AVILA CAMACHO (Colombia) expressed appreciation for the work of the P6. Colombia supported the proposed programme of work, although it did not fully reflect what they desired to see. But it was a balanced draft. It was essential that the proposal was supported to put an end to the Conference's stalemate. The high-level visits of last week had reminded them of the excellent opportunity to reach consensus.

JOHANNES LANDMAN (Netherlands) expressed thanks and appreciation for the kind words mentioned by other delegations. For decades, the rule of law and international security had been the bedrock of the national policy of the Netherlands. As of 1969 the Government had appointed its first permanent representatives, and since the early 1990's it had maintained a permanent mission to the Conference on Disarmament.

After all the changes witnessed by all at the global level and the efforts made by the President of the Conference in building on the collective efforts of his predecessors, the Conference on Disarmament continued to ponder rather than to exercise. The members of the Conference on Disarmament were clearly on the brink of a breakthrough that the Conference on Disarmament needed. The Conference on Disarmament over the years had lost the expertise and manpower to tackle the issues necessary, said Mr. Landman. Work remained to be done. The members had to work out the rules around the Conference's programme of work, choose a chairman, and more was required as a preliminary basis to start moving next January. Nothing of the sort would happen if a clear signal was not made with respect to the adoption of document CD/1863.

LUIZ FILIPE De Macedo Soares (Brazil) speaking on behalf of Brazil and Argentina, said that both Governments condemned vehemently the nuclear test that was conducted by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on 25 May 2009. It violated Security Council resolution 1718. They expected the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to rejoin the Non-Proliferation Treaty. They also called on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to sign, at the earliest possibility, the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and to strictly comply with the moratorium on nuclear tests and expected that they resumed the Six Party Negotiations, with a view to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

ANGBARA AWANEN (Nigeria) thanked the President for his leadership and for the presentation of the important document CD/1863. However, it was hard for Nigeria to celebrate document CD/1863 as a silver bullet for the major tasks ahead of the Conference on Disarmament with regard to the limited attention given to negative security assurances, which was a priority for Nigeria. Nonetheless, Nigeria supported the programme of work as documented in CD/1863.

ANTON PINTER (Slovakia) expressed his delegation's gratitude to the P6 and the President for the timely submission of document CD/1863. Slovakia expressed support for the document, both in substantive and procedural terms. The stakes were extremely high, not only for the Conference on Disarmament itself but also for the whole process of making the world a safer place. Therefore, they hoped that all Conference on Disarmament members would join the consensus on this very well crafted compromise on where they should go in the period ahead so that they could collectively deliver on what was expected from them.

HILDE SKORPEN (Norway) considered document CD/1863 as a balanced compromise that may now finally break the deadlock and start substantial work in the Conference. In this regard the changing atmosphere was evident as seen at the Third Preparatory Committee meeting in New York. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea's violation of Security Council resolution 1718 was of deep concern and could contribute to undermine the work to disarm and end the proliferation of nuclear weapons. The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty should enter into force, and members should aim to achieve progress on the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty and the other three core issues of the draft programme of work.

WANG QUN (China) thanked the P6 for their efforts and the major contribution they had made. On the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's nuclear test, the Chinese Government had made a statement on this issue. In view of the nature of the Conference on Disarmament, he would not repeat this statement but he hoped that all involved parties would keep calm and seek a peaceful solution through dialogue.

BERNHARD BRASACK (Germany) bided farewell to Ambassadors Tarui and Landman. He reassured the P6 Presidencies that Germany could be counted on to guide the work of the Conference and welcomed the presentation of the draft programme of work contained in document CD/1863. Germany aligned itself with the statement made by the Czech Republic on behalf of the European Union last Friday, 22 May 2009. Over the course of the last three years, the Conference on Disarmament presidencies had brought the Conference members closer to substantial work. Germany hoped for flexibility among members and supported the adoption of CD/1863 and hoped that consensus on this proposal could be reached before the end of the second session of the Conference on Disarmament. Therefore, Germany urged all members to support and to not stand in the way of the carefully crafted and compromised document containing the programme of work. Furthermore, he said that investing energy into substantial issues served the international community better, rather than spending time debating logistical and administrative issues.

JOHN DUNCAN (United Kingdom) joined others in their support of the efforts of the President. His engagement was particularly commendable. Recent events only reinforced the responsibility to move to action. The United Kingdom was ready to join consensus on the draft programme of work. Progress had been achieved in the past three years in the area of conventional weapons, but they needed to move forward on the issue of nuclear disarmament.

HAMID ALI RAO (India) congratulated the President on assuming his post and assured him of the continued support of India. The draft decision for the establishment of the programme of work was reviewed and had been transmitted to the pertinent officials. Due to recent elections in India, the delegation of India was awaiting instructions and as such was not in a position to move forward in this regard.

AN MYONG HUN (Democratic People's Republic of Korea), said he wanted to respond to the statements made on his country, especially those by Japan and “South Korea”. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea had yesterday successfully concluded a second nuclear test. They had already announced through a statement by the Foreign Ministry at the end of April that, in connection with the fact that the Security Council had infringed on their sovereign rights and right to economic development by undertaking unjust actions never seen before in the history of the United Nations, and by questioning the launch of the satellite for peaceful purpose and putting in practice sanctions against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and its people through a Presidential Statement, they could not but take additional security self-defense measures, including the nuclear test. Since they had not seen action from the Security Council, the Democratic People's Republic o Korea had acted just as it had announced. As long as sanctions were forced against them, they would continue to take necessary corresponding measures to defend their sovereignty. In view of the nature of the statements made today, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea did not rule out the probability that those statements might affect their decision on the proposed programme of work.

Idriss Jazairy, President of the Conference on Disarmament, in concluding remarks, said that the mandate of the United Nations machinery in New York was different and he thought that each one could cope with their own. Actions by the Security Council should not have any impact on the business of the Conference on Disarmament.

Mr. Jazairy further noted that the statements made today continued in the line of the positive attitude of last week. If this support would continue he hoped that the Conference could move to an early decision on CD/1863. As had been mentioned today, there was a time to act and the time was now. If they did not do it now they could compromise the future of the Conference. They were in a critical stage.

Briefing the Conference on the current status of informal negotiations, Mr. Jazairy said that he and his P6 colleagues had met with his several regional groups and they would meet with China tomorrow afternoon. This would end the consultations on the regional basis. If there were any loose ends by then, groups of countries or individual countries wishing to meet with the P6 or the President could do so to address any concerns they might have. All delegations except two, which were still awaiting guidance from their capitals, had expressed support, in one way or the other, for document CD/1863.

For use of the information media; not an official record

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