10 August 2004

Rhianna Tyson, Reaching Critical Will

Last week, Japan and Morocco delivered statements to the Conference on Disarmament.

Japan's Ambassador Yoshiki Mine welcomed the statement made by the United States last week concerning its policy review of the Fissile Material Cut Off Treaty (FMCT), "a new window of opportunity for the CD" which Japan "hope(s)...will lead to the commencement of negotiations" on the long awaited treaty. 

While the US had stated that they do not believe that verification of an FMCT is achievable, Japan reiterated its belief that an FMCT "should be effectively verifiable...thereby ensuring credibility of the treaty." Japan reminded the CD that both the 1995 and the 2000 NPT Review Conferences called for the commencement of these negotiations, and that verifiability of the treaty is part of the Shannon Mandate, the most likely basis for future negotiations.

Last week the US had also proposed banning the sale and export of persistent landmines, a proposal to which many, including Canada and France (see CD Advisory, August 3), reacted with caution. Japan echoed these concerns, stating that while the US proposal "may have certain significance among non-States Parties to the Ottawa Convention...Japan is of the view that it is important to first work toward the reinforcement and universalization of existing frameworks." (emphasis added).

Ambassador Omar Hilale of Morocco, President of the CD, announced that he would be distributing a questionnaire in advance of upcoming informal plenary meetings, Tuesday, 10 August and Thursday, 12 August, for consideration of the "methodology of the programme of work." 

There was also an informal plenary session immediately following Thursday's official session, wherein States would work to identify and establish an inventory of the "new and additional issues related to the agenda" of the CD and how they can be dealt with in a way which "would be positive for all." 

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