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

Another draft bites the dust

The Conference on Disarmament (CD) met on Thursday morning for the final plenary meeting of the second session. Statements were made by Bulgaria, Zimbabwe, Hungary, the European Union, Ukraine, Italy, the United States, Argentina, Japan, Republic of Korea, Turkey, Germany, and Pakistan.

Highlights
- After a request from the US delegation, the President asked if those delegations that were waiting for instructions from capital on the draft programme of work contained in CD/1889 could provide the CD with an update.

- Zimbabwe, Hungary, the EU, Ukraine, Italy, the United States, Argentina, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Turkey, and Germany expressed support for CD/1889.

- Ambassador Akram stated that negotiating a fissile material (cut-off) treaty (FMCT) is unacceptable to the Pakistani delegation, since it undermines Pakistan’s security interest.

CD/1889
The president of the CD, Ambassador Ganev of Bulgaria notified the Conference that he would continue consultations on the basis of CD/1889, the draft presented by Brazil, and would use the upcoming recess to do so.

After a request from the US delegation, Ambassador Ganev invited CD delegations who might have received instructions from their capitals in the period between last week and today, to share such information with the Conference. While the delegations of Zimbabwe, Hungary, the EU, Ukraine, Italy, the US, Argentina, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Turkey, and Germany expressed support for CD/1889, Ambassador Akram from Pakistan reiterated that its position on negotiating a FMCT is very clear and that such negotiations would be unacceptable to his delegation, since it undermines Pakistan’s security interest. “That position has not changed,” he stated.

Speaking on behalf of the EU, Mr. Iliopoulos from Belgium expressed disappointment that the CD had not managed to reach consensus by the end of the second session. He argued that this was hard to understand and “even harder to explain to our political leaders.” Mr. Iliopoulos assured the CD that the EU is ready and that it has been ready to work in the CD for a long time, and that the EU was concerned that its flexibility has not been answered with a more constructive attitude by some delegations.

However, despite the lack of consensus on CD/1889, Ambassador Chipaziwa of Zimbabwe argued that the rules of procedure assure both small and big states the opportunity to assure their national security interest and priorities. He stated that the consensus principle underpins the work of the CD and has worked very well in the past and continues to be useful. “Any attempt to demean or adverse the rules of procedure can only be seen as an exercise that is counter-productive.”

Notes from the gallery
As the second session of 2010 closes, the second attempt of a programme of work presented this year has failed to get the CD functioning again. Consultations will take place during the recess, but the CD delegations will be facing the same dilemma as before. The delegation of Pakistan has made it clear that it will not accept negotiations of a FMCT, and other delegations will not accept anything less than a negotiating mandate. In order to solve such incompatible views, delegations must remember that it is in everyone’s national security interest to have a functioning CD, where negotiations on multilateral disarmament can take place in order to decrease tensions, reduce military expenditures and build trust across regions and the globe. It is tempting to give up efforts for the 2010 session and simply wait for the high-level meeting in September to produce some result, but all delegations must continue to show flexibility and seek further compromises. Reaching Critical Will would especially encourage those delegations that have had difficulties with drafts and informal proposals, to make their contribution and offer constructive ways of reaching agreement during the third session.

Next session
The third and last part of the 2010 session will be held from 9 August to 24 September. The next plenary will be announced by the Secretariat in due time.