CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT HOLDS FIRST PLENARY OF THE SECOND PART OF ITS 2015 SESSION

The Conference on Disarmament this morning held the first plenary of the second part of its 2015 session, hearing statements from Michael Møller, Secretary-General, a.i., of the Conference, Ambassador Mohamed Auajjar of Morocco, President of the Conference, Algeria and India. The Conference also bid farewell to Ivor Fung, the Secretary of the Conference.

Michael Møller, Director-General, a.i., United Nations Office at Geneva, said many delegates had just returned from the ninth Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference and would have seen the remarks by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressing disappointment at the inability of the States parties to the NPT to reach consensus on a substantive outcome. In particular, he regretted that States parties had been unable to narrow their differences on the future of nuclear disarmament or to arrive at a new collective vision on how to achieve the Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction. Mr. Møller said he shared this deep sense of disappointment. He and others had hoped that the NPT Review Conference would provide impetus for the Conference’s agenda, particularly on nuclear disarmament and banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices as well as security assurances. As they started the second part of the 2015 session of the Conference, it remained incumbent on the members to continue seeking agreement on a programme of work with a negotiating mandate. The disappointing outcome of the NPT Review Conference must not prevent the Conference on Disarmament from making substantive progress and moving forward on multilateral disarmament. Time was running out and not many options were available to re-energise this forum if they wished to do so in 2015.

Ambassador Auajjar of Morocco, President of the Conference, noted that most colleagues had spent the last month in New York attending the ninth Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Unfortunately, the Conference had been unable to adopt the draft final document that was submitted for its review, which meant that the results of the Conference were quite disappointing. This concerned the Conference on Disarmament in many ways because nuclear disarmament was at the heart of its work and agenda. He recalled that on 24 March 2015, he had convened an informal meeting to exchange views on the three draft decisions that the secretariat circulated to members of the Conference. The informal discussions had been fruitful and had allowed him to more clearly understand everybody’s position. He had intended to submit these draft decisions formally to the plenary today, but this was not possible because he did not have an exhaustive list of potential candidates. The three draft decisions, which would be a package, would be circulated once the list of coordinators, chairs and vice co-chairs had been finalised.

Ethiopia said the Conference found itself at a very critical stage and in difficult times when the risks of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction that endangered international stability and security were very high and in particular the possible risk of those weapons falling in the hands of non-State actors and terrorists such as ISIS. Ethiopia supported strengthening international efforts in eliminating nuclear weapons and in this context, a comprehensive FMCT, a treaty on negative security assurances that would protect non-nuclear weapon States against any threat, and prevention of an arms race in outer space were all noble goals that Ethiopia strongly supported.

Ambassador Auajjar of Morocco said Ivor Fung, the Secretary of the Conference, was leaving in a few days to New York. He wished to tell Mr. Fung how deeply touched they were by his departure. For his team, Mr. Fung was a fabulous and talented colleague and for the Conference, he was a pillar, a person always ready to respond to needs. He was highly appreciated for his skills and human qualities and had an excellent sense of communication. He wished Mr. Fung full success in his new job and invited Member and Observer States to a reception following the plenary in honour of Mr. Fung.

Mr. Møller said Mr. Fung’s support for the Conference as its Secretary during this complex period was always motivated by a keen sense of the bigger picture to what the Conference was supposed to achieve. His support to Mr. Møller had been crucial. Mr. Fung had done so in a very realistic and pragmatic way.

Mr. Fung said he was very moved by the kind words addressed to him. He had learned so much working in Geneva and in the Conference. He had learned two things: the need to be patient and that they had to have the right perspective as the Conference dealt with fundamental issues that had a direct impact on the very foundation of international systems.

Algeria and India also spoke about general issues as well as the departure of Mr. Fung.

The President said the secretariat would advise Member and Observer States when the next public plenary of the Conference would be.

Statements

Ambassador MOHAMED AUAJJAR of Morocco, President of the Conference on Disarmament, noted that most colleagues had spent the last month in New York attending the ninth Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Unfortunately, the Conference had been unable to adopt the draft final document that was submitted for its review, which meant that the results of the Conference were quite disappointing. This concerned the Conference on Disarmament in many ways because nuclear disarmament was at the heart of its work and agenda. The President welcomed new colleagues from Colombia and Ethiopia, and noted that Bolivia had requested that it participate in the work of the Conference as an observer during 2015. It was so agreed.

Ambassador Auajjar said he wished to share with the Conference the main conclusions of his consultations during the intersession period. Today they resumed the work of the Conference following the failure of the ninth Review Conference of the NPT that took place from 27 April to 22 May in New York. The tireless efforts by all during the conference were not conclusive; he wished to express his huge disappointment regarding this failure, and hoped that this would not impact the work of the Conference on Disarmament. He recalled that on 24 March 2015, he had convened an informal meeting to exchange views on the three draft decisions that the secretariat circulated to members of the Conference. The informal discussions had been fruitful and had allowed him to more clearly understand everybody’s position. In order to enhance a spirit of consensus, he had thought it would be preferable to resubmit the same agreed text adopted last year on the schedule of activities and on the informal working group on the programme of work. Regarding the decision to establish an informal working group on methods of work, he had introduced a new paragraph in order to allow observer States to participate in the work of the group. He had intended to submit these draft decisions formally to the plenary today, but this was not possible because he did not have an exhaustive list of potential candidates. During the interim period, most of the delegations had been in New York. Since yesterday, he had contacted some delegations regarding the remaining positions. The three draft decisions, which would be a package, would be circulated once the list of coordinators, chairs and vice co-chairs had been finalised.

MICHAEL MØLLER, Director-General, a.i., United Nations Office at Geneva, welcomed delegates to the second part of the 2015 session of the Conference on Disarmament. Many had just returned from the NPT Review Conference and would have seen the remarks by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressing disappointment at the inability of the States parties to the NPT to reach consensus on a substantive outcome. In particular, he regretted that States parties had been unable to narrow their differences on the future of nuclear disarmament or to arrive at a new collective vision on how to achieve the Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction. Mr. Møller said he shared this deep sense of disappointment. He and others had hoped that the NPT Review Conference would provide impetus for the Conference’s agenda, particularly on nuclear disarmament and banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices as well as security assurances. The draft final document of the NPT Review Conference had included language in this regard. As they started the second part of the 2015 session of the Conference, it remained incumbent on the members to continue seeking agreement on a programme of work with a negotiating mandate. The disappointing outcome of the NPT Review Conference must not prevent the Conference on Disarmament from making substantive progress and moving forward on multilateral disarmament. Repeating the message of the Secretary-General to the Conference last January, he said: the need for progress in multilateral disarmament is greater than ever. Political will has to be found to allow the Conference on Disarmament to move beyond its long years of impasse through the adherence of its mandate by negotiating and concluding disarmament treaties. Mr. Møller welcomed the efforts of the Moroccan President of the Conference embodied in his three proposals. Time was running out and not many options were available to re-energise this forum if they wished to do so in 2015.

Ethiopia said it was frustrating to witness that, despite the efforts made thus far, another year had elapsed without the Conference being able to reach consensus on a programme of work. The substantive discussions on the agenda items and the establishment of an informal working group with a mandate to produce a programme of work robust in substance and progressive over time had not yet produced the expected results and all needed to continue to work hard and demonstrate the necessary political will in order to ensure the commencement of the Conference’s substantive work. Ethiopia’s record of its commitment to the maintenance of global peace and security was well known and dated back to the time of the League of Nations. As a victim of naked aggressions at different periods in its recent history, in particular the attack by mustard chemical gas on its defenceless civilian population and the denial of international protection, were a constant reminder of the urgent need to ensure international peace and security through universally accepted solutions. Ethiopia was committed to global efforts for preventing the proliferation of all weapons of mass destruction and had signed all core multilateral and regional disarmament treaties. Ethiopia was the fourth globally and the first in Africa on the list of countries contributing troops to United Nations peacekeeping operations.

Ethiopia said the Conference found itself at a very critical stage and in difficult times when the risks of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction that endangered international stability and security were very high and in particular the possible risk of those weapons falling in the hands of non-State actors and terrorists such as ISIS. Ethiopia shared the widespread concerns over the devastating humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons. While Ethiopia advocated for nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, it recognized the right of all States parties to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Ethiopia firmly believed that the establishment of nuclear weapons free zones was critical towards ensuring regional security. Ethiopia also supported strengthening international efforts in eliminating nuclear weapons and in this context, a comprehensive FMCT, a treaty on negative security assurances that would protect non-nuclear weapon States against any threat, and prevention of an arms race in outer space were all noble goals that Ethiopia strongly supported.

Ambassador MOHAMED AUAJJAR of Morocco, President of the Conference on Disarmament, said Ivor Fung, the Secretary of the Conference, was leaving in a few days to New York. He wished to tell Mr. Fung on behalf of the members of the Conference how deeply touched they were by his departure. For his team, Mr. Fung was a fabulous and talented colleague and for the Conference, he was a pillar, a person always ready to respond to needs. He was highly appreciated for his skills and human qualities and had an excellent sense of communication. He wished Mr. Fung full success in his new job. He invited Member and Observer States to a reception following the plenary in honour of Mr. Fung.

MICHAEL MØLLER, Director-General, a.i., United Nations Office at Geneva, thanked Mr. Fung for the excellent work he had been doing since he had arrived at the Conference on Disarmament in October 2012, and since Mr. Møller’s own arrival in November 2013. His support for the Conference as its Secretary in this complex time was always motivated by a keen sense of the bigger picture to what the Conference was supposed to achieve. His support to Mr. Møller had been crucial. Mr. Fung had done so in a very realistic and pragmatic way. Mr. Møller said Mr. Fung had unfailing faith in the ability of the Conference to get to where it was supposed to be getting in spite of evidence to the contrary over the past 19 years, and that had been an inspiration to all of them.

Algeria said he joined all in thanking Mr. Fung for all of his efforts that he had deployed in support of the work of the Conference, and wished him full success in New York. Algeria also thanked the President for his briefing on the consultations during the intersession period. Algeria shared the view about their disappointment that the conference in New York had been unable to achieve the results that they had been looking for and eliminate these weapons of terror. The NPT Review Conference and the Conference on Disarmament belonged to all Member States and depended on the will of all to reach a shared vision related to peace and security in the world.

IVOR FUNG, Secretary of the Conference, said delegates would have found copies of a book, the newest of the disarmament yearbook series. He was very moved by the kind words addressed to him. He had learned so much working in Geneva and in the Conference. He had learned two things in particular: the need to be patient and that they had to have the right perspective as the Conference dealt with fundamental issues that had a direct impact on the very foundation of international systems.

India noted the continuing inter-sessional work that the President had conducted. They were heartened that the Conference was very close to taking a decision on how the Conference would move forward in the weeks ahead. India would like the Conference to get down to work as soon as possible as enough time had been lost. India welcomed the new colleague from Ethiopia. The success of any multilateral work outside the Conference would have added to the momentum of disarmament but in its absence, they should not feel disheartened as the Conference had its own mandate and responsibilities. In the absence of multilateral momentum from the outside, it fell on the Member States of the Conference to take the Conference forward in accordance to its mandate. India thanked Mr. Fung who would be leaving them. They had benefitted from his professionalism and thanked him for all he had done for the Conference.


For use of the information media; not an official record

DC15/025E