Second part of the CD's session starts with threats of boycotts

Anina Dalbert | Reaching Critical Will of WILPF
14 May 2013

The Conference on Disarmament (CD) opened its second part of the 2013 session on Tuesday, 14 May. The CD heard statements by the CD President, France, Belarus, and India. Encouraged by the CD President to have a more interactive discussion, Portugal and South Africa offered some spontaneous comments.

Programme of work

In his opening statement, incoming CD President Triyono Wibowo of Indonesia noted that he was holding consultations with states with the intention to formulate a draft programme of work based on CD/1864. The CD President will continue these consultations throughout the week. The informal group of observer states (IGOS) requested to be included in such consultations, but was told by the CD President that it was not possible at this time. Portugal stressed that this is very regrettable, and argued that the CD should become more transparent, open, and inclusive.

New types of weapons of mass destruction

This plenary meeting was devoted to agenda item 5, "New types of weapons of mass destruction and new systems of such weapons; radiological weapons" and to item 6, "Comprehensive programme of disarmament".

Mr. Ivan Grinevich from Belarus argued that while the four “core” issues are clearly a priority, it is “advisable to preserve the current language on item 5 as part of the agenda of the CD.” Belarus sponsored GA 66/21 in 2011 on the “Prohibition of the development and manufacture of new types of weapons of mass destruction and new systems of such weapon”. Believing that such a document could serve as a legal basis for further work, Belarus supports a preventive approach on this matter. Mr. Grinevich further mentioned that there are already some relevant existing norms in international law, such as Article 36 of the 1977 Additional Protocol I of the Geneva Conventions that requires states to review new weapons, means, and methods of warfare and the Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques from 1976.

Ambassador Sujata Mehta of India stressed the importance of addressing radiological weapons, arguing that there is a risk such weapons could be used by terrorists.

Comprehensive programme of disarmament

As Ambassador Simon-Michel of France stressed, a comprehensive programme of disarmament is linked to the general and complete disarmament. General and complete disarmament has been on the agenda of the disarmament machinery and the UN General Assembly for more than 50 years. In 1978, the First Special Session on Disarmament (SSOD I) of the General Assembly stated “the ultimate objective of the efforts of all states in the disarmament process is the general and complete disarmament under efficient international control.” This is further mentioned in Article VI of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as well as in many other disarmament treaties.

While Ambassador Simon-Michel argued that this clearly shows that nuclear disarmament should not be treated separately from the entire strategic disarmament context, the representative of South Africa disagreed. Mr. Combrink of South Africa asserted that any “conditionality of nuclear disarmament to progress on other disarmament is at the very least inconsistent” with the NPT. Nuclear disarmament is a step towards the general and complete disarmament, not a condition for it.

Ambassador Mehta of India asserted that agenda item 6 intends to prepare a comprehensive programme, which should lead to general and complete disarmament as an ultimate goal. This elaborated programme should set out “priorities and time frames”.

US boycott of CD under the upcoming Iranian Presidency

According to a press release, Erin Pelton, spokeswoman for the US mission to the United Nations in Geneva, stated that “Iran's upcoming rotation as President of the Conference on Disarmament (CD) is unfortunate and highly inappropriate.” The press release notes that as a result, the US delegation will not be represented at the ambassadorial level during any meetings presided over by Iran.

The press release argued that any state under UN Chapter VII sanctions for either weapons proliferation or massive human rights violations should not be allowed to hold ceremonial or formal positions within UN bodies. After Indonesia, Iran will chair the CD for four weeks from 27 May onwards.

The idea of boycotting the CD due to an alphabetically rotating schedule of presidents was started by Canada in 2011, when it boycotted the presidency of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). Also the US delegation chose to not attend on an ambassaderial level during that presidency.

Coupled with the P5 decision to not participate in the open-ended working group on nuclear disarmament—and their boycott of the Oslo conference on the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons in March—a worrying trend is starting to form. In order to resume work in Geneva, states should refrain from polarizing positions and escalating tensions, and instead approach negotiations and substantive discussions in a constructive way.

Next plenary meeting

The next plenary meeting will be held on Tuesday, 21 May at 10:00 in the Council Chamber. The meeting will be devoted to agenda item 7, “Transparency in armaments”.