September 2, 2005

Yesterday , the Conference on Disarmament (CD) heard statements from incoming rotating President of the CD, Ambassador Manuel Rodriguez of Peru, Italy, Algeria, and a reply from Israel. Also, the new Ambassador from the Netherlands, Johannes Landman, thanked the CD for its warm welcome, and United States Deputy Permanent Representative Thomas Cynkin thanked the CD for its sympathy for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

In his opening statement to the CD, the former Foreign Minister and newly appointed CD Ambassador of Peru recommended that developments in the Conference’s work be evaluated in the context of the UN reform process and differing national perceptions of security. He also advised Member States to have patience for multilateral discussions to mature, and that constructive realism in those discussions would produce consensus. “What is at the stake is the future viability of the Conference in the context of the reform of the United Nations,” he concluded. (The current draft outcome document of the Millennium Summit reform process is available here, and an NGO letter to governments regarding its disarmament section is here.)

Italy reminded the CD that it was time to draft the annual report to the General Assembly on what the CD had accomplished during the year, and made several recommendations as to what the report should contain. Ambassador Trezza acknowledged that if success was measured “in terms of the effective negotiations achieved by a body whose main task is to negotiate agreements in the area of disarmament, arms control and non proliferation,” or of finding compromises on a possible program of work, then it had been a blank year.

However, Italy recommended a more nuanced approach that substantively, should include the CD’s efforts at finding a program of work and the need for political will to move forward. Procedurally, he advised they include the thematic debates and the efforts made by all CD Presidents, reiterating that Italy wants to see CD Presidential tenure extended. Whether this was a ‘blank year” was relative in perspective.

Ambassador Jazaïry of Algeria expressed the need for the CD presidency to have a longer term. With regard to Peru calling Israel’s Gaza pullout an auspicious international development, he said they should wait to see if the withdrawal would be the first step toward the Road Map before congratulating Israel. He also emphasized that there were acts of violence on both sides of the conflict.

Israel used a right of reply to Algeria’s comments, calling Israel’s efforts a bold, historical step.

The next CD session will be held Tuesday, September 6th, 2005 with no session Thursday September 8th, 2005.