STATEMENT BY H.E.MR. SUMIO TARUI

AMBASSADOR, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF JAPAN

TO THE CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT

Geneva, 13 September 2007

Mr. President,

First, my delegation would like to commend you on your outstanding efforts in guiding the Conference on Disarmament to the adoption of its final report, which will be submitted to this year’s UN General Assembly.  I would also like convey my delegation’s praise to the activities of all the six Presidents for pushing forward this year’s solid agenda.

Mr. President,

Even without being able to agree to a programme of work, the Conference still carried out significant discussions on substance in the first part of the current session through the joint initiative of the Six Presidents.  Because there were many informal meetings, not all our discussions are on record; nevertheless, the conduct of focused, substantial debates covering all the seven agenda items under the able guidance of the coordinators should be given due recognition.

In this connection, I would like to refer to the focused debate on an FMCT.  As it has repeatedly been asserted, an FMCT is a crucial measure for nuclear disarmament and the next logical step that the current CD should take.  In the discussions on an FMCT during the first part of the current session, the Conference engaged in various debates without any preconditions, which would be natural for treaty negotiations, surrounding the core concepts of a prohibition on the production of fissile materials for nuclear weapon purposes, including stocks and verification.  For instance, proactive discussions were held on a verification system, with many countries stressing the importance of such a system, or deliberating on in what form verification could be introduced, while opposite positions were also provided.  Thus, we would like once again to point out there is nothing preventing us from commencing negotiations without preconditions.

Mr. President,

The Conference also conducted significant, substantive debates on nuclear disarmament, PAROS and NSA in the first part of the current session.  Although we cannot perceive these items as being ready for multilateral treaty negotiations at this stage, they are nonetheless important and as such we need to further deepen our discussions on them.

Mr. President,

From the second to the third part of the current session discussions took place on document L.1, which the Six Presidents tabled as a programme of work for possible consensus adoption, in light of the progress of discussions in the first part and each country’s political situation.  Given the CD’s primary role of negotiating disarmament related treaties, L.1 provides an appropriate mandate for each of the four core agenda items, as a result of careful consideration of each item’s maturity, including its feasibility.  Subsequently, with L.1 as a basis, this year’s Presidents built on the discussions related to the programme of work and were successful in formulating a package containing L.1 and the draft presidential statement and decision (CRP.5 and CRP.6) as the current best proposal reflecting our best possible compromise.

Mr. President,

Even though it is a fact that no consensus exists on the draft package so far, it is also indeed a fact that through this year’s discussions we have come extremely close to reaching a consensus.  Next year the CD must begin negotiations in order to fulfill its primary role.  For that purpose, it is critically important that we do not render naught this year’s outcomes, but aim to build consensus based on the proposal put forward by the 2007 Presidents.  We strongly hope that next year’s six presidents – like the presidents of this year and last – maintain the coordination among them to realize the fulfillment of the CD’s primary role. To this end, Japan pledges its utmost support.

Finally, once again I would like to pay my delegation’s deepest respects to the efforts and active contributions of this year’s six presidents. In addition, we ardently hope the countries that were unable to agree to the Presidents’ proposal, give further sufficient consideration to the strong aspirations of the international community.

Thank you.