Calls for multilateral cooperation

Representatives from Nigeria and the United Kingdom addressed the Conference on Disarmament (CD), the former on adopting a programme of work and the latter to highlight a speech made by the UK Prime Minister on 17 March.

Brief highlights
- Nigeria called for compromise in reaching agreement on a programme of work.
- The United Kingdom announced preparation of a “Road to 2010 Plan,” Trident missile reductions, and a “recognised nuclear weapon state” conference.

Work of the CD
Mr. Angbara Awanen of Nigeria articulated his delegation’s desire for the adoption of a programme of work and commencement of negotiations on a fissile materials cut-off treaty, saying, “We must now break the cycle of hope, missed opportunities and despair that have characterized our work over the past several years by listening to each other and working together to reach agreement on a programme of work.” He argued for cooperation, noting, “It is obvious that progress, any progress at all, would require members to give as much as they expect to take from others,” and called on all delegations to “look at the bigger picture, which is a safe and more secure world.”

In his closing remarks, current CD president Idriss Jazaïry of Algeria quoted Goethe, saying that god had given us the nuts but he did not crack them open for us and noting that it would be good if the CD could crack its nut open and start its substantial work as soon as possible.

UK Prime Minister’s speech
Ambassador John Duncan of the United Kingdom directed the Conference’s attention toward a speech delivered by UK Prime Minister Gordan Brown on 17 March regarding the nuclear fuel cycle. In this speech, Prime Minister Brown expressed his “ultimate ambition of a world free from nuclear weapons,” but also his conviction that, “[w]ith each step we must aim to build confidence, confidence that action to prevent proliferation is working and that states with weapons are making strides to live up to their commitments. ” He said that in the coming months, the United Kingdom “will work with other countries to set out a Road to 2010 Plan with detailed proposals on civil nuclear power, on disarmament and non-proliferation, on fissile material security and a role in the development of the International Atomic Energy Authority.” He also announced that his government will “host a Recognised Nuclear Weapon State Conference on nuclear disarmament issues and on confidence building measures, including the verification of disarmament” and pledged a doubling of the United Kingdom’s contribution to the IAEA’s nuclear security fund.

In his speech, Prime Minister Brown argued, “we are not asking non-nuclear weapon states to refrain from proliferation while nuclear weapon states amass new weapons; we are asking them not to proliferate while nuclear weapon states take the steps to reduce their own arsenals in line with the Non-Proliferation Treaty’s requirements.” To this end, he announced the government has assessed they can meet their “requirement” of “effective deterrence” with 12 rather than the 16 Trident missiles currently on the UK’s submarines—however, he did not mention whether or not the government would reconsider its decision to build replacement submarines.

The next plenary meeting of the CD is scheduled for Thursday, 26 March 2009.

- Ray Acheson, Reaching Critical Will of WILPF