29 July 2008

The third session of the 2008 Conference on Disarmament opened and heard from the Russian Federation, India and China.

The Russian Federation noted that they still have questions related to the substance and procedure of CD 1840, but that they are ready to support it.  The Russian delegate welcomed the organizational framework for the third session of 2008, especially the scheduled informal plenary on 5 August on outer space.  He also noted that on 6 August, from 10am - 1pm a side event is scheduled to discuss the 12 February draft text on the Prevention of Placement of Weapons in Outer Space.  He indicated that experts from the Russian Ministry of Defence, Space Agency and Foreign Ministry will be on present for what he hopes will be an "interactive discussion" on the specific points of the 12 February text.

India took the floor to welcome three new Ambassadors to the CD (Strohal of Austria, Hernandez of Venezuela and Soares of Brazil) and to remind the conference that their goals for the CD's work was detailed in the 28 February statement.

China was the third and final delegation to briefly take the floor expressing their wish that the CD will be able to "appropriately address the concerns of all parties and bridge the differences."  They also indicated their support and willingness to participate in the schedule of informal discussions as presented in CD/WP.549/Add.2.

Informal debates will be held according to the following schedule (presented in CD/WP.549/Add.2).

Thursday 31 July- Agenda Items 1 and 2
Tuesday 5 August- Agenda item 3
Thursday 7 August- Agenda Items 4 and 5
Tuesday 12 August- Agenda Items 6 and 7

Regular Reaching Critical Will reporting on the CD will resume after the next plenary session to be held on Tuesday, 5 August at 10am. In the meantime, George Monbiot provides some food for thought in the Guardian.

-- Susi Snyder, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom