STATEMENT BY H.E.MR. SUMIO TARUI
AMBASSADOR, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF
TO THE CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT
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,
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,
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.