A simplified programme of work
Anina Dalbert | Reaching Critical Will of WILPF
18 June 2013
The Conference on Disarmament (CD) met on Tuesday, 18 June to discuss the non-paper draft programme of work distributed on 17 June. The CD heard statements by Mr. Ranjan Mathai, Foreign Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of India; the Secretary General of the CD, Mr. Tokayev; the CD President; and Egypt, Brazil, Australia, Japan, Pakistan, Cuba, Germany, Poland, Sweden, France, United Kingdom, and India.
A simplified programme of work
On 17 June, CD president Ambassador Mohsen Naziri Asl of Iran circulated a non-paper containing elements for a possible programme of work. Because there was not enough time to hear back from their capitals, those who participated in the discussion only made a few preliminary comments or some personal assessments.
The draft programme of work would establish a working group on agenda items 1, 3, and 4 and appoint a special coordinator on items 5–7. The draft programme specifies that it does not prescribe or preclude any outcomes and has a view to enable further compromises including the possibility of future negotiations under any agenda item.
Mr. Mohamed Hatem El-Atawy of Egypt described the draft as remarkable, because it has no priorities, giving the working groups a mandate to develop proposals and further allows “substantive work on all four tracks”.
The representatives of Australia, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom argued that there is not much point in a programme of work based on the lowest common denominator without a negotiating mandate. Ambassador Hoffmann of Germany asserted that the first Special Session for Disarmament (SSOD I) explicitly created the CD as the “negotiating forum” in contrast to the Disarmament Commission (DC). According to Ambassador Woolcott of Australia, this proposal would “simply create the illusion of work in the CD” and at the same time further widen the gaps.
However, Mr. El Ataway of Egypt argued, “The way to move forward is simply moving forward.” He emphasized that there is no point in constantly repeating the importance of old documents that did not and will not reach consensus. While prefering to have negotiation mandates for all four core issues, the delegation of Cuba believed that this proposal was "comprehensive and balanced" and therefore was ready to go along with it.
CD Secretary-General’s proposal
After reiterating his regrets concerning the continuing deadlock and his support and commitment to the CD, the Conference’s Secretary-General, Mr. Tokayev, introduced a number of proposals. He suggested that the CD establish a working group to draft a programme of work that would lead to negotiations; a subsidiary body to examine the working methods and suggest improvements; and a subsidiary body to examine the expansion of the membership and the role of civil society. Many delegations made several similar as well as different suggestions in some of the last meetings, such as Indonesia, the UK, and Switzerland.
Several delegations, such as the Pakistan, Cuba, Germany, France, and United Kingdom, appreciated these proposals and stated that they will of course forward them to their capital and will then comment on them at some other point in the plenary.
Further information
For a more detailed analysis about a “simplified” programme of work, read the blog entry by Tim Caughley, Resident Senior Fellow of UNIDIR.
Next plenary meeting
The next plenary meeting will be held on Friday, 21 June at 10:00 in the Council Chamber.