We use Google Analytics to learn more about who is reading the resources on our website. Please read Google Analytics privacy policy for further information. Close

logo_reaching-critical-will

Wrapping up the Colombian presidency

Beatrice Fihn | Reaching Critical Will of WILPF

The Conference on Disarmament (CD) met on Wednesday, 22 June for a final plenary meeting under the Colombian presidency. Delegates from Morocco, Canada, Egypt, Mexico, Italy, the Informal Group of Observer States (IGOS), Chile, the United States, Germany, Iran, and Colombia delivered statements.

Highlights

  • All delegations commended CD President Alicia Arango for initiating an informal debate on a critical assessment of the CD.
  • The delegations of Morocco, Canada, Mexico, Italy, IGOS, Chile, United States, and Germany believed that the questionnaires circulated to all members had been most useful for the informal discussions.
  • The ambassador of Morocco reported on an international exercise on the response to a malicious act involving radioactive material held in Rabat from 22 to 25 March 2011, which was organized as a part of the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism.
  • The ambassador of Canada submitted the report from the annual space security conference of UNIDIR as an official document to the CD.
  • The Ambassador of Italy responded to the critique from last week regarding his report back from the informal meetings on agenda items 1 and 2 under the Chinese presidency, highlighting that he had carried out his responsibility and reported to the president orally, in his personal capacity, as was required by him by CD/WP.565.Rev.1.
  • Outgoing President, Ambassador Alicia Arango, summarized some conclusions from her presidency, noting that the discussion had been helpful but that there was an inability with the conference to come up with concrete measures to address the problems. 

Questionnaires about the CD
During her presidency, Ambassador Arango of Colombia together with the help of the United Nations Institute on Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) has circulated two questionnaires to delegations on the problems facing the CD. These questionnaires formed the basis for two informal meetings. Several delegations highlighted their appreciation for this innovative working method for the CD. Ambassador Kennedy of the US called it “the most valuable contribution to the made at this point” and Mr. Parodi of Chile wished there would have been more time to continue the discussion triggered by this questionnaires. Ms. Jaquez of Mexico thought it had been a very good “self-critical exercise” but noted that it had not been able to provide any concrete answers and solutions. Ambassador Grinius of Canada stated that it had been both amusing and appalling to hear that some members of the CD still believe that no problems exist and Ambassador Hoffmann of Germany believed there was a possible need to enlist assistance from outside to solve this problem.

The Canadian, Moroccan, and German delegation drew attention to coming events, such as the CD’s exchange with the Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters, the upcoming plenary meeting of the General Assembly on revitalizing the disarmament machinery and the next session of the First Committee of the General Assembly in October. Ambassador Grinius of Canada expressed belief that delegations might actually be at “the tipping point of the future of the CD” and hoped that all capitals were preparing for these important upcoming events. 

Mr. Hatem El Atawy of Egypt reiterated that the challenge for the CD is not procedural, as other multilateral disarmament treaties have been negotiated in the CD under the same rules of procedure, but that there is a lack of political will of few countries to deal in all seriousness with the issue of nuclear disarmament. He argued that the current problem goes beyond the CD and concerns the disarmament machinery as a whole. Mr. Hatem El Atawy emphasized previous calls from his delegation and from the Non-Aligned Movement for the convening of a Fourth Special Session on Disarmament (SSOD-IV).

CD President Ambassador Arango concluded her presidency by arguing that while the exercise she initiated has been useful and identified some common points, there is still a wide variety of views, not only regarding the current situation of the CD but also the causes and the steps to be taken to address this situation. She warned delegations that the world has changed, patience of the international community is not infinite, and the CD could be taken by surprise by decisions about its destiny. Ambassador Arango highlighted some proposals that were made during the debate, such as appointing a Special Coordinator on working methods and efficiency of the CD or setting up a group of technical experts to deal with technical details surrounding certain substantive issues. 

The informal thematic debate on FMCT
Ambassador Manfredi of Italy responded to last week’s criticism of his oral report on the informal discussions on an FMCT. He argued that Italy has every right to intervene in a plenary meeting when it sees fit and that the agreed schedule obliged him to report orally, in his national capacity, to the president on the outcome of the informal sessions chaired by him. He stated, “I took the floor and spoke. You, Madam President, were sitting at your place and heard me. Therefore, I reported orally to you. If other members of the Conference listened, I am delighted.”

Mr. Daryaei of Iran, one of the delegations that voiced concerns about this oral report last week, responded by arguing that previous practice of reporting from informal meetings should be followed and that while all states have the right to intervene at any time about any topic, it does necessarily mean that the chair or coordinator would be in a position to rely on this rule of procedure to summarize a discussion that reflect the view of other nations rather than its own.

Notes from the gallery
The debate on the problems facing the CD seems to finally have gotten serious recognition in the Council Chamber; delegations are no longer able to pretend that business as usual is acceptable. But while measures of reform are needed, progress on substantive negotiations is more important. Any reforms, of the CD only or the disarmament machinery as a whole, will take a long time. And ultimately, any decisions on reform adopted by the CD will need consensus. It is therefore important that disarmament negotiations are not postponed indefinitely, while delegations are waiting for a better machinery to take shape. Reaching Critical Will and the Lawyers Committee on Nuclear Policy have proposed that the General Assembly could create open-ended working groups to pursue substantive work on the items on the CD agenda. This process could be an ad hoc solution, done in parallel to a wider reform of the disarmament machinery. The international community has wasted 15 years on the CD deadlock already. It is time to resume real work on disarmament, not just on the machinery.

Next plenary meeting
The next plenary meeting will be held on Tuesday, 28 June at 10 a.m. when the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) will assume the presidency.