CD waits for decision on a programme of work

Anina Dalbert | Reaching Critical Will of WILPF
5 February 2013

The Conference on Disarmament (CD) met on Tuesday, 5 February for a brief plenary meeting. The CD president, Ambassador András Dékány of Hungary, as well as delegates from Japan, the Netherlands, China, and the United Kingdom, delivered statements.

Draft programme of work

CD President Ambassador Dékány explained to the CD that he has continued his bilateral consultations on the unofficial draft programme of work, which was circulated last week. According to Ambassador Dékány, the consultations have included individual member states, regional groups, and some of the six CD Presidents of 2013. He also noted that he had been invited to a meeting with the Group of 21 in order to further clarify details around his draft, which will take place on Wednesday, 6 February.

Ambassador Paul van den IJssel of the Netherlands asserted that his delegation has always had a “pragmatic and flexible approach to the programme of work.” For example, the draft programme of work no longer has a separate ad hoc committee for a fissile materials cut-off treaty (FMCT), but includes this item in the nuclear disarmament committee. Ambassador IJssel highlighted that even though he considers the start of “negotiations on an FMCT as an indispensable first step towards a world free of nuclear weapons,” he would be willing to consider making a considerable concession on this and accept this draft.

Ambassador Jo Adamson of the United Kingdom believed that previous drafts, such as CD/1864 and CD/1933.Rev.1 were “closer to optimal” than this current draft, but emphasized that “if others are prepared to show flexibility to break the impasse, then so is the United Kingdom.”

Outside the CD

The Chinese representative, Ambassador Wu Haitao made it distinctively clear that he saw no other possibility for China than to work within the CD as it is “the single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum.” He further asserted that “the authority and advantages of the CD are irreplaceable […] and should not be undermined.” Ambassador Haitao made a reference to two UN General Assembly resolutions adopted in 2012: A/RES/67/56,"Taking forward multilateral disarmament negotiations" and A/RES/67/53, “Treaty banning the production of fissile material for explosive devices”. He clearly asserted that his delegation will not support such initiatives outside the CD.

In contrast, Ambassador Mitsuru Kitano of Japan argued that states do not need to “limit our endeavors to advance nuclear disarmament to just this body.” He highlighted the above two resolutions as constructive opportunities to make progress.

Next plenary meeting

The next plenary meeting will be held on Tuesday, 12 February at 10:00 in the Council Chamber.