Regional security through disarmament

The Conference on Disarmament (CD) met for its first plenary of 2009 on 20 January, with Ambassador Le Hoai Trung of Viet Nam, current president of the CD, delivering the opening statement. CD Secretary General Ordzhonikidze delivered a statement on behalf ofUN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, after which the plenary broke for an informal meeting. When the plenary resumed, the Conference adopted its agenda for the year. As for at least the past four years, the doors had still not been unlocked for civil society during the resumed plenary at the time of the adoption of the agenda. During the resumed plenary, Algeria's ambassador spoke on behalf of theGroup of 21, the Czech ambassador spoke for the European Union, Belarus' ambassador spoke for the Eastern European Group, and representatives of Australia, Egypt, Russia, Israel, Indonesia, Algeria, Sri Lanka, Syria, Iran, and the Netherlands also took the floor.

Brief highlights

- The CD adopted its agenda, CD/WP.552 and approved its observer states, CD/WP.551. The agenda is identical to that of previous years.
- The European Union reiterated its eight-point plan for disarmament, which it earlier submitted to the current session of the UN General Assembly and which the French Ambassador laid out in the CD last year.
- The European Union, the Eastern European Group, and Australia expressed support for moving forward on the basis of last year's proposed programme of work, CD/1840.
- Turkey and the Netherlands suggested building upon CD/1840.
- Egypt called for a programme of work that establishes ad hoc committees as negotiating subsidiary bodies of the four core issues.
- Australia announced that members of the International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament will brief the CD later in the year.
- Most delegations, including Egypt, Russia, Israel, Indonesia, Algeria, Sri Lanka, Syria, and Iran referenced the conflict in Gaza, tying the conflict to security and disarmament issues covered by the CD.
- Egypt noted the importance of establishing a nuclear weapon free Middle East "in order to mitigate against the risks of seeing regional conflicts becoming global calamities," and argued that progress in this regard would also help resolve ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.

Three speakers connected the need for disarmament to the current economic crisis and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon highlighted Article 26 of the UN Charter as a means to fulfilling the Millennium Development Goals.

Russia and China will issue a new document this year that reflects and replies to comments submitted on their draft treaty on the prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space.

The CD, disarmament, and regional security
In his inaugural speech to the CD, the new Egyptian ambassador, Hisham Badr connected the recent conflict in Gaza to the need for nuclear disarmament—and the CD—arguing, "The recent Israeli aggression on Gaza should serve as an acute reminder of the ripple effect such wars have upon regional arms races in the Middle East, especially when combined with the fact that the aggressor state is the only state in the region that is as yet not a party to the [nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty]." He emphasized that the "destabilizing influences of such actions are far reaching, and should serve as a strong impetus to achieve positive results during this year's Session of the CD, particularly with regards to Nuclear Disarmament." Ambassador Badr noted that in the upcoming 2010 nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference, the handling of the 1995 Middle East resolution "will certainly be one of several key yardsticks against which the success or failure of the current Review Process will be evaluated." He pointed to Egypt's working paper on the Middle East during the 2008 NPT Preparatory Committee.

In an unprepared statement, Israel's representative Meir Itzchaki argued that while a nuclear weapon free zone in the Middle East would eventually be possible, it is inconceivable now, while threats continue from terrorist groups supported by states engaged in nuclear weapon proliferation. Israel also argued that the recent conflict underlines the threat of arms transfers to terrorists and complained that the CD did not "adequately address" the suffering of over one million people in southern Israel.

Responding to Mr. Itzchaki's statement, Algeria's Ambassador Idriss Jazaïry expressed his shock at the "callous" nature of the statement, asking if preventing the transfer of rudimentary weapons to Palestinian militants to resist the oppression of occupation forces, which have been enforcing a blockade for 18 months and depriving 1.5 million people of food and which have killed 1400 people and wounded another 5300, is really the issue. He argued instead that the issue is not just to prevent the trading of old weapons but to protect the lives of 1.5 million civilians "that are only given one choice now, to die in silence—because if they resist their killings they are called terrorists." He asserted that the challenge today is to look at the Middle East as the way we would like to see it, as an area free from nuclear weapons, an area where the international community does not condone the one non-NPT nuclear weapon state while villainizing the NPT non-nuclear weapon state.

Sri Lanka's Ambassador Dayan Jayatilleka also "took exception" to the Israeli representatives remarks, pointing to the "bodies of dead children pulled from the rubble in Gaza" and arguing that the world knows Israel has the military capacity "to fight in a more surgical manner" and that it is not necessary for it to "use white phosphorus, or the kind of force that hits marked UN buildings, or schools, mosques, warehouses."

Ambassador Jayatilleka also noted that the Sri Lankan government has never come to the CD to take up the issue of the Tamil Tigers, who "are not ghetto juveniles throwing homemade rockets across the walls of their prison." He said that the lesson to be drawn is that "security and non-proliferation in the Middle East has not been aided by heightened threat perceptions or the show of impunity demonstrated by the only nuclear power in the area."

Syria's representative endorsed the criticisms of Israel's actions in Gaza, agreeing that weapons should not be transferred to terrorists but pointing out that some states are practising terrorism. Ambassador Alireza Moaiyeri of Iran argued that Israel's rejection of the NPT is threatening to the security of the region and the world.

Russia's Ambassador Loshchinin noted that there are systematic breakdowns in security in other regions as well, including the Caucasus, especially where there is no mechanism for security and the transfer of arms. He pointed to the idea of a new treaty on European security proposed by Russian President Medvedev, which would codify the principle of indivisible security, and welcomed discussion on this concept.

Disarmament and development
Two delegations linked the international community's failure to effectively disarm and the economic crisis: In his opening statement, Ambassador Le Hoai Trung of Viet Nam argued, "The ongoing financial crisis and economic recession in many countries should only accentuate the pressing need to enhance efforts to towards a safer world where more resources can be used for economic and development purposes"; while Russia's Ambassador Loshchinin noted that the stagnation in nuclear disarmament diverts resources and prevents a solution to the global financial crisis.

In his address to the CD, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon argued, "At a time of global economic and financial crisis, advancing the disarmament agenda could produce a tangible peace dividend when the world needs it most." Pointing to Article 26 of the UN Charter, which calls for "the least diversion for armaments of the world's human and economic resources," he urged all member states to "be mindful of this solemn responsibility" in order to "deliver on the Millennium Development Goals in a deteriorating economic climate."

Plans for disarmament
Of the European Union's eight-point plan for disarmament, Czech ambassador Tomáš Husák noted that several points are "relevant" to the CD, including the negotiation of a fissile materials cut-off treaty (FMCT). Other points include: entry into force of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty transparent dismantlement of all nuclear testing installations; establishing an immediate moratorium against the production of fissile materials; elaborate transparency measures from the nuclear weapon states; negotiating a treaty banning short- and intermediate-range surface-to-surface missiles; adhering to and implementing all of the Hague Code of Conduct Against Ballistic Missile Proliferation; and "mobilizing" on all other fields of disarmament.

Australian ambassador Caroline Millar welcomed the EU's proposals for nuclear disarmament and the perceived shift in US nuclear weapons policy, pointing to incoming US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's commitment to secure US ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and negotiation of a verifiable FMCT. Russia's Ambassador Loshchinin also expressed hope that the new US administration will review its foreign policies on issues such as missile "defence" and its plans to enlarge the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon pointed to his "five-point proposal to revitalize the international disarmament agenda" that he outlined in October 2008, which included "several specific contributions that could be made by the Conference on Disarmament with respect to nuclear disarmament and fissile materials."

The ongoing stalemate in the CD
Pointing to the "imminent revival" of interest in arms control and disarmament at high-levels, as evidenced by articles by government officials and the new Global Zero campaign, Ambassador Landman of the Netherlands argued that there is a "real danger that when the time has come the CD will no longer be considered as the obvious framework" for negotiations or substantive deliberations for which it was designed. He pointed to the farewell speech of Pakistan's former ambassador Masood Khan in September 2008, articulating that the CD's impasses is a result of divergences in national security interests of CD member states as perceived at the highest levels of decision-making. Ambassador Landman, announcing his own departure—scheduled for 1 June 2009—called for "creative pragmatism and willingness for compromise."

Likewise, Australia's Ambassador Millar noted, "Attitudes towards negotiations on specific issues reflect the diverse national security interests of CD members and strategic realities and perceptions. In light of this, it has long seemed to us that external policy shifts would be required to break the dead-lock and get the CD back to work."

However, Egypt's Ambassador Badr argued that the CD's stagnation "can be attributed to one main underlying factor ... A deficit in the political will of certain states to achieve tangible outcomes based upon previously agreed objectives." He emphasized that a "selective piece-meal" approach to disarmament cannot work, but that the CD needs to adopt a balanced programme of work "that takes into account the legitimate interests of all parties concerned." He insisted that the only formula for success must rest on the CD's pillars: honouring prior commitments, respecting member states' concerns, and adhering to the Rules of Procedure.

While many delegations—including the European Union, the Eastern European Group, and Australia—reiterated their support for moving forward on the basis laid out in last year's proposed programme of work, CD/1840, some indicated they would prefer to change it up. Representatives from Turkey and the Netherlands noted that CD/1840 could be improved and built upon, while the new Egyptian ambassador called for a programme of work that establishes ad hoc committees as negotiating subsidiary bodies of the four core issues: nuclear disarmament, negative security assurances, prevention of an arms race in outer space, and a fissile materials cut-off treaty (FMCT). Egypt also emphasized that the FMCT's negotiating mandate must adhere to the Shannon Mandate of 1995.

Notes from the gallery
WILPF welcomes the recognition by some delegations, including Secretary-General Ban, of the important work and efforts by "citizens' groups and activists throughout the world in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation" and is pleased to once again have access to the plenary meetings of the CD—despite our brief lock-out during the adoption of the agenda. We urge all of the CD representatives to work together creatively this year to finally end the ten year deadlock (the CD last adopted a programme of work in 1998). As in the past, WILPF encourages member states to consider ways and means to reform the CD's working methods in order to facilitate compromise and action. Short of resolving the major political, military, and geostrategic conflicts through the establishment of a new world order founded on a culture of peace and justice, reform of the CD's working methods could provide an opportunity to overcome the deadlock. Please see the "Moving Forward" section of Reaching Critical Will's Guide to the Conference on Disarmament 2009 for more ideas.

The next plenary meeting is scheduled for Thursday, 22 January 2009.

- Ray Acheson, Reaching Critical Will of WILPF