STATEMENT BY H.E.MR. SUMIO TARUI

AMBASSADOR, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF JAPAN

TO THE CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT

 

Geneva, 22 January 2009

 

Mr. President,

 

As this is the first time that I take the floor of the Conference in 2009, allow me at the outset to congratulate you, Ambassador Trung, on your assumption of the first presidency of the 2009 Session of the Conference on Disarmament.  The number of consultations that you and your team carried out with the CD member states since the end of last yearfs session to find the appropriate way to kick start this yearfs work is to be commended.  You have our full support in your endeavors at this most critical juncture.

 

Mr. President,

 

I would also like to commend you, and the other presidents of 2009, for continuing the P6 formulation, which has produced distinct benefits for the Conference.  I believe that the coordination among the P6, which represents a balance of the various regional groups, could most effectively lead us to a successful 2009 session.

 

Mr. President,

 

I would like to turn our attention now to the issue of the Conferencefs modus operandi.  Thanks to the concerted efforts of the previous P6, we now have before us document CD/1840.  Japan is convinced that CD/1840 is the best possible compromise and is still valid for this yearfs session.  Although necessity may require us to make a few amendments to the document in order to address the concerns that some member states still harbor, we should seek consensus on a program of work based upon the core elements of CD/1840.

 

As achieving consensus on the program of work is not an easy task, Japan could support focused thematic debates on the four core issues in informal meetings and the allocation of relevant space for member states to have the possibility to address other issues relevant to the CD, which are both in accordance with the mandate of CD/1840.  Furthermore, we think holding a focused discussion among experts on the specific details of the four core issues, such as verification for a fissile material cut-off treaty (FMCT), is worth considering as a possible format for the thematic debates.  Nevertheless, we should not forget that our priority is to seek a consensus on the program of work and move the CD to fulfilling its primary function of negotiating disarmament treaties.

 

Mr. President,

 

The 2007 and 2008 Wall Street Journal articles by the group of four prominent former US public officials, including former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, has re-injected energy into the international nuclear disarmament debate.  Since then many other global leaders have added to the newfound momentum towards nuclear disarmament, such as UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moonfs five-point proposal and the letter of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, as EU President, to the UN Secretary General.  Furthermore, the first meeting of the International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament, a joint initiative between Japan and Australia, was held successfully last October.  The second meeting will be held in Washington, D.C. from 14 to 15 February, where the Commissioners will seek to meet with senior officials of the new U.S. administration.

 

I would also like to remind all delegations of Japanfs resolution on nuclear disarmament.  Japan is of the unwavering opinion that nuclear disarmament by all nuclear-weapon states is key to achieving a world free of nuclear weapons.  With this in mind, amongst other things, our resolution called upon all nuclear-weapon states to reduce their nuclear arsenals in a transparent manner.  It was encouraging that our resolution was adopted once again last year with the overwhelming support of the UN member states.

 

In this positive atmosphere, it is clear what the CD could contribute as the sole multilateral disarmament negotiation forum.  The CD must start negotiations, particularly on an FMCT, which is the next logical step toward nuclear disarmament.  In the discussions of the CD in previous years, no delegation expressed opposition to negotiations per se on the prohibition of production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.  For the other three core issues, namely nuclear disarmament, PAROS, and NSA, many things remain to be discussed for the sake of future disarmament to serve the security of all countries.  Japan is committed to engaging in active debate on all of these issues.

 

Mr. President,

 

 

Allow me to conclude by saying that with such strong and intensifying momentum towards disarmament outside the CD, we have a unique opportunity at hand.  It is time for all of us to show real political will.  The moment is upon us to move the CD forward; the international community cannot afford further deadlock in this room.

 

I thank you Mr. President.