Another draft programme of work

Gabriella Irsten | Reaching Critical Will
29 January 2013

The Conference on Disarmament (CD) met on Tuesday 29 January where the CD president, Ambassador András Dékány of Hungary, briefly introduced a draft programme of work for the 2013 session (POW). Statements also delivered by Argentina, Switzerland, Algeria, France, Italy, and Austria.

Draft programme of work

The draft presented by Ambassador Dékány is an unofficial document, and the outcome of his presidential consultations with member states. He argued that the draft is a first step in order to "investigate if this could be a basis for finding consensus in the CD". Once such basis would be established, Ambassador Dékány would then continue to work on the details, such as selecting chairs for the working groups, timing of meetings and "present a proposal on the modalities of implementation."

The draft is similar to the latest proposal the CD saw, presented by Egypt in CD/1933.Rev.1, and thereby also similar to the programme of work adopted in 2009 (CD/1864). It decides to set up three working groups on "Cessation of the nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmament", prevention of an arms race in outer space (PAROS), and negative security assurances (NSAs). It also assigns special coordinators for items 5 (New types of weapons of mass destruction and new systems of such weapons; radiological weapons"), 6 (Comprehensive programme of Disarmament) and 7 (Transparency in armaments).

Previous programme of work presented to the CD have included one working group on nuclear disarmament and one on FMCT. This draft merges the two issues together, as the CD President believed that nuclear disarmament and an FMCT "should not be seen as competing issues".

In the draft, this merged working group is mandated to "consider proposals to take forward nuclear disarmament negotiations with the ultimate goal of the elimination of nuclear weapons by systematic efforts, and, as a first step thereof, to begin substantive work towards a treaty banning the production of fissile material [...] on the basis of CD/1299 and the mandate contained therein."

The draft was sent out on 28 January, and most delegations were still considering it. Five speakers made general statements on the issue of programme of work and other items on the CD agenda.

Ambassador Alberto Pedro D'Alotto of Argentina and Mr. Hamza Khelif from the Algerian mission argued that if the current draft would not lead to consensus, both delegations reiterated support for a simplified programme of work. The Italian delegation believed that CD/1864 is still a relevant basis for a programme of work but would also be open to other suggestions. French Ambassador Simon-Michel reminded the CD that the 2010 NPT Action Plan called for the immediate start of negotiations on an FMCT in accordance with CD/1864.

Initiatives outside the CD

In the same manner as last week, most delegations addressed the 2012 UNGA resolutions relevant to the work of the CD, the postponing of the conference on establishing a Nuclear Weapons Free Zone in the Middle East, the upcoming NPT Preparatory Committee, the conference in Oslo on the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons and the announcement of the P5 meeting in Geneva during the NPT PrepCom.

The French Ambassador continued in expressed his delegations support of resolution A/RES/67/53 "Treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices" since this resolution respects the rule of consensus and the road map set out in the 2010 NPT Action plan.

However, the French delegation took a similar position as the United States last week, and stated that similar support could not be expressed for resolution A/RES/67/56 "Taking forward multilateral disarmament negotiations", as Ambassador Simon-Michel feared that this would not only be a "loss of time and money" but that it could damage the roadmap set out by the 2010 NPT Action Plan.

The Austrian Ambassador Christian Strohal and Ambassador Urs Schmid of Switzerland on the other hand welcomed resolution 67/56, together with the other GA resolutions, and hoped that the CD would respond to this "clear message" that the international community will not wait forever.

Notes from the gallery

One of the main problems with the CD's inability to agree on a programme of work is that delegations have different priorities. While the draft by the CD President intends to emphasize that nuclear disarmament and a fissile material cut-off treaty are both importance, it still clearly states that an FMCT should be negotiation first. In addition, the draft still bases the working group on an FMCT on CD/1299, which does not explicitly mention the issue of stockpiles.

The Pakistani delegation has repeatedly stated that it will not agree to a programme of work that doesn't include stockpiles in the mandate. This draft programme of work does not appear to settle any of those concerns, but instead further insists on that an FMCT without including stockpiles takes priority over nuclear disarmament.

Next plenary meeting

The next plenary meeting will be held on Tuesday, 5 February at 10:00 in the Council Chamber.