Programme of work still remains to be implemented

During the final plenary meeting of the Australian presidency, 18 delegations addressed the Conference on Disarmament (CD). Consensus has not yet been reached on the framework for implementing the Conference’s programme of work, though the atmosphere in the Council Chamber was rather jovial. Representatives of the Netherlands, Morocco, Colombia, Brazil, Mexico, the United States,France, Malaysia, Germany, the Russian Federation, Japan, Bangladesh, the United Kingdom, China, Pakistan, European Union,Republic of Korea, and Australia.

Most delegations thanked the current CD president, Ambassador Millar of Australia, for her hard work and open, diligent consultations. On behalf of the European Union, Ambassador Magnus Hellgren of Sweden thanked her for her “energy and tenacity in turning every possible stone to overcome the very last procedural objections.” Many delegations expressed puzzlement about these remaining outstanding issues and frustration over the lack of their resolution. Pakistan’s Ambassador Zamir Akram explained that his delegation circulated its proposals for the framework for implementation on 10 August (which will reportedly be circulated as an official Conference document). He noted that agreement has been reached on some of the items but not on others.

In her final speech as CD president, Ambassador Millar of Australia noted, “[t]o those unfamiliar with the arcane workings of this chamber, this [situation] is neither understandable nor acceptable. To those within it, it is all too familiar and dispiriting.” While she expressed disappointment with the Conference’s inability to reach consensus, she noted that the door remains open to substantive work in 2009, “however truncated and modest that might be.”

Brief highlights
The Brazilian ambassador articulated the collective responsibility of the CD member states to get the Conference back to work.

Many delegations, including those of Brazil, France, Japan, Malaysia Mexico, the United Kindom, and the United States questioned the motivations of those blocking consensus and warned about the effects this will have on the CD and other disarmament fora.

Morocco’s ambassador emphasized the importance of the CD’s rule of consensus.

Morocco’s ambassador also indicated that a strong disarmament fissile materials treaty would provide for the conversion of existing stockpiles; called for the implementation of the 1995 nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty decision to create a nuclear weapon free zone in the Middle East and highlighted the importance of subjecting all nuclear installations in the region without exception to the International Atomic Energy Agency; and urged for work towards a treaty on negative security assurances and the prevention of an arms race in outer space.

Mexico’s delegation expressed its gratitude to the countries in Africa who ratified the Pelindaba Treaty, bringing it into force on 15 July and making Africa a zone free of nuclear weapons.

Work of the CD
Ambassador Luiz Filipe de Macedo Soares of Brazil said he interprets the Conference’s inability to adopt the framework for implementation, CD/1870/Rev.1, to mean “that not all member states are ready to accept a decision on the implementation unless it includes a number of precautions that, in the view of many, could put the CD in a straightjacket and severely limit the prospects of it making progress.” He argued that the decision to adopt the programme of work itself in May was the result of a spirit of compromise that reflected a change in international relations, which “stemmed from a complex combination of events and of actions and statements by political leaders.” With this mind, Ambassador Soares emphasized that the CD has collective responsibility, meaning that the Conference cannot simply blame a few delegations for their difficulties but that everyone, including those with difficulties, “must work to understand and equate those problems.”

Mexico’s Deputy Representative Mabel Gómez Oliver argued that the consensus reflected in the programme of work is that of a careful balance of interests and concerns of the 65 member states represented in the CD. She insisted that it shows the flexibility of all states who have made concessions in their ideas and views about themes and strategies. She lamented that the Conference’s failure to implement this programme is inconsistent with the adoption of the programme itself and with the broader momentum toward multilateralism and disarmament outside of the CD. She also warned that the lack of progress in the CD could have a deleterious effect on other fora.

Pointing out that the inclusion of a verification provision in the CD’s programme of work represents a “major evolution” in US policy,Ambassador Garold Larson of the United States expressed disappointment that nearly three months after the adoption of this programme the Conference is unable to “accomplish the simple, straight-forward, procedural task of agreeing on a schedule of work.” He said his delegation expects that “serious national security concerns” will be addressed during the course of negotiations and substantive discussions but that the “procedural faultfinding” currently going on is costing valuable time and “has thwarted the stated goals and aspirations of the international community to pursue in this multilateral forum the central questions of nuclear proliferation, arms control, and disarmament.” He said his delegation is now left “wondering as to the motivations of those who have blocked agreement since we reconvened in early August.”

Likewise, France’s Deputy Representative Sophie Moal-Makame argued that delegations have justified questions about the genuine will of member states to reach success in the CD. As the Conference watches its opportunity to progress slip away, she noted that the international community will lose confidence in its ability to function. Mr. Azril Abdul Aziz of Malaysia urged the CD not to “fall back into the quagmire that beleaguered it the past 10 years.” Japan’s Ambassador Akio Suda warned that the CD “is now at the cliff, close to telling the world of its inability to implement its own agreement made by consensus.”

The UK’s representative Joanne Adamson said she feared that the CD is “in the process of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory,” arguing that in May the Conference broke new ground by having courage and taking risks, while now it is “unpicking a consensus that was crafted through the efforts of many people.” She emphasized the global will reflected in the room to get on with discussions. Provoking laughter in the room, she added, The word for victory in Greek is Nike, the God of Victory. There is a certain producer who has a slogan associated with what we know as Nike, and that slogan is ‘just do it’. So with that I hope that we can, just do it.” Following this statement, Ambassador Wang Qun of China noted three points for moving forward: 1) Being clear about the crux of the present problem; 2) Being clear about the CD’s objectives; and 3) On the basis of these two points, the CD needs to figure out how to solve the problems and reach it goals.

The new Dutch ambassador the CD, Ambassador Paul van den IJssel, announced that he has come to Geneva “with the ambition to continue in [the Dutch] tradition and spirit of constructive activism,” expressing his “hope and optimism” for the work of the Conference and for multilateral disarmament. Ambassador Hellmut Hoffmann of Germany noted that he remains hopeful and was encouraged by the address by the Chinese foreign minister last week. Russian Ambassador Valery Loshchinin argued “hope dies last,” expressing certainty that the Conference’s work “will soon bear fruits,” though noting the very acute time restraints for this year’s session.

Morocco’s Ambassador Omar Hilale also expressed hope for the future of the CD while emphasizing the need for strict compliance with the rules of procedure. He reaffirmed that the rule of consensus is the “cornerstone” of the Conference and that its violation could endanger the CD. However, as pointed out by other delegations, Ambassador Millar of Australia agreed that the place to advance national security interests is during substantive work, not through delaying the implementation of an agreement arrived at by consensus already.

Other news
Ambassador Christian Strohal of Austria will now take up the presidency of the CD, the last for the 2009 session. The next plenary meeting is not yet scheduled but will be announced by the Secretariat at a later date.

Notes from the gallery
It was good to hear laughter in the Council Chamber today despite the fact that the opportunity for substantive work in 2009 is nearly gone. Hopefully the congenial atmosphere will help toward solving the remaining difficulties. WILPF hopes that Ambassador Strohal will have productive consultations with the Pakistani delegation and that all of the problems that arose this year are collectively resolved before the CD recommences in 2010. WILPF is reminded of the Costa Rican delegation’s statement to the CD in February this year, wherein the country’s representative argued that the problem with the CD is that states are approaching disarmament from an armament or military perspective rather than a humanist one and that only a comprehensive point of view centered on the humanitarian side will move the Conference forward. We urge all delegations to remember this as they pursue their national security interests at the multilateral level.

- Ray Acheson, Reaching Critical Will of WILPF