30 January 2007
In a brief formal plenary on Tuesday, January 30th, the Conference on Disarmament (CD) heard general statements from Cuba and Turkey. CD President Mtshali then concluded the plenary and opened an informal meeting to discuss the Coordinators' work plans for the rest of the session. The CD exhibited a remarkably open and engaged mood and readily agreed to the detailed work plans. Member states appear to be willing to work this year, building on and moving forward from the substantive discussions from last year with significantly more hope for progress.
The work plans are informal documents, but represent a substantive agreement in the CD. They outline how the Conference will address each of the seven agenda items in informal sessions. In addition to the informal working sessions, the Conference will hold one public plenary session per week, from 10-1 on Tuesdays. The informals are described below, and listed with their exact dates in thiscomprehensive calendar, and in each of the Coordinators' work plans.
Detailed Schedule for the rest of the session
Norway, the Coordinator for "cessation of the nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmament" (agenda item 1), will hold three informal sessions in Weeks 3 (Feb 5-9) and 6 (Feb 26- March 2). According to Norway's work plan, in Week 3, they will identify issues "that can benefit from future discussion, with a view to future negotiations." In Week 6, they will address the current status of nuclear weapons reductions.
Italy, the Coordinator for "prevention of nuclear war, including all related matters" (agenda item 2), will hold three informal sessions in Weeks 3 (Feb 5-9) and 7 (March 5-9), primarily to discuss a Fissile Materials Cut-off Treaty (FMCT). In Week 3, the CD will discuss production of fissile material for non-explosive purposes, the role of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and the purposes, definitions, and scope of an FMCT. In Week 7, the CD will discuss transparency, stocks, compliance and verification, settlement of disputes, entry into force, ratification and depositories, duration and withdrawal. On March 7, they will assess their work in the first session, and plan for the second session. Italy included a list of all the CD documents relevant to these discussion items in its work plan.
Canada, the Coordinator for "prevention of an arms race in outer space" (agenda item 3), will hold three informal sessions in Weeks 4 (Feb 12-16) and 7 (March 5-9). According to Canada's work plan, in Week 3, the CD will discuss the adequacy of the existing regime, and means of its enhancement. In both Weeks 3 and 7, they will discuss transparency and confidence building measures, and elements of a treaty on the non-weaponization of outer space. On March 9, they will assess their work and consider next steps.
Brazil, the Coordinator for "effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons (NSAs)" (agenda item 4) will hold three informal sessions in Weeks 4 (Feb 12-16) and 8 (March 12-16). In Week 4, the CD will address the nature and scope of existing NSAs, their common and distinctive elements, needed clarifications, and new developments. In Week 8, member states are "invited to present proposals or to indicate elements that might be included in any new international arrangement(s) on NSAs, with an indication of format and of forum in which the security assurances would be provided." On March 14, they will assess their work and consider next steps. Brazil included a list of relevant documents in its work plan.
Bulgaria, the Coordinator for "new types of weapons of mass destruction and new systems of such weapons, including radiological weapons" (agenda item 5), will hold three informal sessions in Weeks 5 (Feb 19-23) and 8 (March 12-16). According to its work plan, in Week 5, Bulgaria will outline the historical background and recent developments, and the CD will take stock of the issues. In Week 8, Bulgaria will facilitate discussion to identify issues that can advance.
Indonesia, the Coordinator for "comprehensive programme of disarmament" (agenda item 6), will hold three informal sessions in Weeks 5 (Feb 19-23) and 9 (March 19-23). In Week 5, the CD will take stock of the issues. In Week 9, they will list all the issues from Week 5 and identify those that might move forward. In its work plan, Indonesia noted that "some issues could possibly be raised under other agenda item[s], and it will be discussed among the Coordinators". Because many have questions about the meaning and purpose of this agenda item, and its difference from nuclear disarmament, this may indicate that these issues could be addressed in agenda items 1 and 2. The work plan also notes that from consultations in 2001, the Special Coordinator on the Review of the Agenda noted that "any disarmament issues could be dealt with within" agenda item 6.
The United Kingdom, the Coordinator for "transparency in armaments" (agenda item 7), will hold three informal sessions in Weeks 6 and 9. During Week 6, the CD will review existing issues and raise any additional issues, and during Week 9, it will identify issues for further discussion and any action that might be taken. The UK's work plan lists issues that have previously been raised under this agenda item, including Man Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS) and the UN Register of Conventional Arms in August of 2006.
The Public Plenary
In the public plenary, both Cuba and Turkey discussed the four core issues before the Conference and expressed hope that progress would be made in each area.
In order to overcome the past deadlock in the Conference, Cuba called for better organization of debates and real political will. "I am not referring to a commitment in which some put the priorities of others before their own without a guarantee that their priorities will also be addressed," said Cuban Ambassador Fernandez Palacios, "but to a commitment that takes into account the legitimate security concerns of all countries."
Cuba circulated the "Disarmament and International Security" chapter of the Final Document of the September 2006 Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit, which reaffirmed the NAM's commitment to the CD and their call on the Conference to establish an ad hoc committee on nuclear disarmament "as the highest priority."
Both Cuba and Turkey emphasized the importance of negative security assurances (NSAs). Cuba affirmed that they should be formalized as a "universal, unconditional and legally binding instrument." Turkey supported "the views and proposals of establishing political mechanisms, followed by legally binding instruments".
Cuba supported beginning negotiations in the CD on a treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons "which responds to the objectives of nonproliferation and disarmament", implying that such negotiations should include existing stockpiles of fissile materials. Turkey said that a ban on the production of fissile materials would strengthen both nonproliferation and disarmament, but added that "a more comprehensive and non-discriminatory approach should include existing stockpiles and effective verification."
Cuba reminded the CD of the real-world relevance of its work, highlighting that "world military expenditure exceeds 1 billion US dollars and it continues to rise. More money is being wasted on producing to kill than on saving lives. According to UN estimates, approximately 10% of global military expenditure would be enough to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. It seems a modest and affordable amount, considering what could be achieved. Millions of lives could be saved every day. Millions of people.could escape poverty. It would be possible to educate every child in the Third World. The terrible pandemic of AIDS could be most effectively addressed." Let us hope that finally, this year's positive moves will enable the Conference on Disarmament to again contribute to this noble aspiration.
The next public plenary meeting will be held on Thursday, February 1, at 10am.
- Jennifer Nordstrom, Reaching Critical Will