CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT ADOPTS A DECISION TO ESTABLISH A WORKING GROUP ON THE WAY AHEAD
The Conference on Disarmament today adopted a draft decision put forward by the President of the Conference to establish a working group on the way ahead, contained in the document CD/WP.599/Rev.1, as orally revised.
Mexico had great concerns about the proposal, as it appeared that the proposal would not contribute to breaking the stalemate. Mexico went on to provide an overview of the activities of the Conference over the previous five years. Egypt had concerns over some aspects of the draft decision, and its final position would be based on further deliberations to be conducted today. Myanmar saw the draft decision, as proposed by the President, as a first step in the right direction to revive the Conference. Pakistan supported the approach by the President, because it was a creative and realistic way to structure the work of the Conference. Iran was still waiting for instructions from the capital, but it would not stand in a way of the consensus.
Following the adoption of the decision CD/WP.599/Rev.1, Ireland said that it stood ready to engage constructively and warmly welcomed the just adopted decision as a good first step in the right direction. United States was disappointed at the discussions in the General Assembly to ban nuclear weapons; a Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty would not reduce the existing nuclear stockpiles. India hoped that the work in the Working Group would commence as soon as possible, and that the situation would finally change this year. Cuba was in favour of adopting a programme of work with a negotiating mandate; the Conference was not a deliberative body. Russian Federation noted that in the decision adopted there was a clear guidance on how to shape the work of the Working Group, but a number of procedural issues remained to be still defined.
South Africa opined that the adoption of the decision should not create a false impression that the Conference was engaging in substantive negotiations. Iraq hoped that the adoption of the decision would help move the work of the Conference forward, so that it would be able to adopt a programme of work. Myanmar thanked the delegations for showing trust in its Ambassador to head the Working Group. Democratic People’s Republic of Korea did not understand why Ireland had brought up the issue of its ballistic missile launch; its position on the issue was clear.
The next public plenary of the Conference will take place on Tuesday, 21 February at 10 a.m.
Statements
ADRIAN VIERITA, Permanent Representative of Romania, President of the Conference, expressed his condolences to the Governments and peoples of Iraq and Pakistan and over recent terrorist attacks. The Conference then agreed to accept requests by two non-member States – Dominican Republic and Nicaragua – to participate in the work of the Conference, in accordance with the rules.
The President invited the Conference to consider the draft decision contained in document CD/WP.599/Rev.1, with two oral amendments. He informed that the Ambassador of Myanmar, Htin Lynn, had expressed interested in chairing the Working Group, whose creation was proposed in the draft decision.
Mexico had given serious consideration to the draft decision. As already expressed in informal consultations, Mexico had great concerns about the proposal, as it appeared that the proposal would not contribute to breaking the stalemate. Mexico went on to provide an overview of the activities of the Conference over the previous five years, including a detailed chronology of various proposals put forward by successive Presidents. Mexico believed that the current proposal might be slightly different from many previous proposals, but still it did not provide much new added value. Creation of a working group would preempt the Conference from fulfilling its mandate as a multilateral negotiating forum. Until now, the President had not even tried to present a proposal of a programme of work for the 2017 session, regretted Mexico. Could the President explain in which way the adoption of the draft decision would contribute further than had a number of other proposals put forward over the years? How would that mandate be different from previous calendars of activities? No preconditions should be imposed on negotiations, Mexico stressed.
Egypt said that at the beginning of each annual session the Conference should adopt its agenda and programme of work. In 2017, none of those procedures had been effected. The President should spare no effort to conduct as wide consultations as possible towards that goal. Egypt said that the format of the proposed working group was still not clear. While Egypt had serious concerns over some aspects of the draft decision, its final position would be based on further deliberations to be conducted today.
ADRIAN VIERITA, Permanent Representative of Romania, President of the Conference, stated that his draft decision was meant to enable the adoption of a programme of work without prejudging any result that might come out of the consultations which would be governed by the Rules of Procedure. The idea of adopting a programme of work had never been given up, and it was thought that having a working group might be a possible way leading towards that goal.
Myanmar opined that the Conference’s long unfruitful period was a source of frustration for all. Successes from the Conference’s past, although becoming an increasingly distant memory, underlined the Conference’s significance as well as its potential. While there was room for improvement on the Rules of Procedure to meet the present circumstances and to make progress in the Conference’s work, they were still sufficiently stringent and at the same time flexible enough to accommodate procedural and substantive concerns. How could the lack of progress in the Conference be justified, asked Myanmar. The draft decision, as proposed by the President, was seen as a first step in the right direction to revive the Conference. Myanmar was thus ready to join the consensus on the adoption of the draft decision as contained in CD/WP.599/Rev.1.
Pakistan thanked for the support the international community provided to Pakistan to fight terrorism. Regarding the proposed draft decision, Pakistan supported the approach, because it was a creative and realistic way to structure the work of the Conference. It would stimulate substantive work in the Conference, in the absence of consensus on the commencement of negotiations. Pakistan had a reservation on one aspect of the draft decision, which referred to previous decisions of the Conference. Not all previous decisions of the Conference enjoyed universal support. It was exactly because of the difference of opinions on the previous decisions that there was a need now to establish a working group. The proposed working group should be given a chance to undertake a fresh exercise.
The oral amendment proposed by Pakistan, to remove the reference to previous decisions of the Conference, was then accepted.
The President asked whether the Conference was ready to adopt the decision CD/WP.599/Rev.1, with the oral amendments.
Mexico said that it had a long-lasting commitment to the issue of disarmament, which was why it had been very critical of the complacency to which the Conference had fallen. Still, Mexico was not in a position to support the proposal as it believed that its concerns were not addressed. The lack of Mexico’s support to the draft decision should not be seen as a veto, and Mexico would not stand in a way of the adoption of the draft decision.
Iran acknowledged that intensive deliberations had taken place in the recent weeks. Still, a hasty decision would not help with the progress. Iran was still waiting for instructions from the capital, but would not stand in a way of the consensus. A chance should be given to all delegations to try to improve the text, so Iran asked that the decision not be rushed at today’s meeting.
ADRIAN VIERITA, Permanent Representative of Romania, President of the Conference, agreed in principle that the decision should have the ownership of all members of the Conference. The consultations had started many weeks earlier, and the President was grateful to all delegations for submitting their feedback and input. The President had a duty and believed that it was fair to proceed to take the process up until the end. The draft decision was only a first step in the process that could enable the Conference to adopt a programme of work. Each journey should start with a first step.
The President asked again whether the Conference was ready to adopt the decision CD/WP.599/Rev.1, with the oral amendments.
Iran reiterated its request to allow additional time for consultations so everybody would feel the ownership of the decision. Iran would not stand in a way of the decision.
Following a pause during which informal consultations took place, ADRIAN VIERITA, Permanent Representative of Romania, President of the Conference, informed that he was extremely aware of the concerns raised in the Conference and elsewhere. He thanked the delegations for their flexibility and understanding. Even if the draft decision was not perfect, it could allow the Conference to progress on a way ahead.
The President asked the Conference if it was ready to adopt the draft decision CD/WP.599/Rev.1, with the oral amendments.
The Conference then adopted the draft decision.
The President congratulated Ambassador Lynn of Myanmar for accepting the role of the Chairman of the Working Group.
Ireland congratulated the President for his efforts to break the longstanding stalemate. It was important for the Conference to embark on its mandate. Ireland stood ready to engage constructively and warmly welcomed the just adopted decision as a good first step in the right direction. Ireland condemned the recent ballistic missile launch by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
United States congratulated on the successful adoption of the decision, which would hopefully lead to long-overdue negotiations in the Conference. United States restated its view on the proposed Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty; United States was disappointed at the discussions in the General Assembly to ban nuclear weapons. Such discussions would need active participation of the nuclear weapon States and include a serious system of verifications. United States would not participate in the negotiations and urged others to do the same. The Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty would not reduce the existing nuclear stockpiles, but only exacerbate the existing divisions in the international community.
India joined in expressing condolences over the terrorist attacks in Iraq and Afghanistan. India was fully conscious that the adoption of the decision fell short of the international community’s obligations, but was still a step in the right direction. India hoped that the work in the Working Group would commence as soon as possible, and that the situation would finally change this year.
Cuba paid tribute to the efforts made by the President of the Conference. Cuba was in favour of adopting a program of work with a negotiating mandate. The Conference was not a deliberative body, and its programme of work ought to be balanced. Nuclear disarmament should remain a priority.
Russian Federation congratulated Romania for ending its Presidency on a positive note. As a future President of the Conference, Russia expected the fruitful cooperation to continue. In the decision adopted, there was clear guidance on how to shape the work of the Working Group, but a number of procedural issues remained to be still defined. In cooperation with Myanmar and the Secretariat, Russia would try to ensure that the Working Group would operate within the framework of the Conference. Russia intended to hold informal consultations on 21 February, after the plenary meeting, if time allowed.
South Africa stressed that the focus needed to remain on adopting a programme of work. The proposed Working Group had a similar agenda as informal working groups on schedule of activities in previous sessions, which was a cause of concern. The adoption of the decision should not create a false impression that the Conference was engaging in substantive negotiations.
Iraq hoped that the adoption of the decision would help move the work of the Conference forward, so that it would be able to adopt a programme of work.
Myanmar thanked the delegations for showing trust in its Ambassador to head the Working Group. He took the responsibility very seriously. Delegations should rest assured that Myanmar would exercise full transparency in its efforts. It was the Conference’s collective wisdom that could help move it forward.
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea did not understand why Ireland brought up the issue of its ballistic missile launch. The Foreign Ministry had already issue a statement in that regard.
ADRIAN VIERITA, Permanent Representative of Romania, President of the Conference, thanked the delegations for their support and cooperation. He was very grateful that the decision had been adopted today, which could be, if the delegations so wishes, be a beginning of a new phase. Romania, whose Presidency was coming to an end, would continue to contribute constructively to the work of the Conference and the newly established Working Group.
For use of the information media; not an official record
DC17/006E