More high-level speakers

Anina Dalbert | Reaching Critical Will of WILPF


The Conference on Disarmament (CD) met for a plenary on Wednesday, 27 February to hear high-level speakers from Ireland, Jordan and Slovenia. Ambassador Matjaž Kovačič from Slovenia addressed the plenary in his capacity as the President of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction.

In addition, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) delivered a statement and the delegations of the United States (US), and the Republic of Korea used their right to reply in order to comment on some of the statements

Disarmament machinery and processes

All speakers expressed their concerns about the deadlock. They named past successes and their belief that the Conference on Disarmament can achieve such progress in this room again with the doubling efforts of all its members.

Mr. Eamon Gilmore T.D., Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland mentioned the three UN General Assembly resolutions adopted in 2012: A/RES/67/56,"Taking forward multilateral disarmament negotiations" and A/RES/67/53, “Treaty banning the production of fissile material for explosive devices” and A/RES/67/39, “High-level meeting of the General Assembly on nuclear disarmament”. Ireland supports all three resolutions and urges all delegations to set aside their possible reservations. This is a clear message form the GA according to Mr. Eamon Gilmore T.D that: “If the conference continues to ignore its responsibility […], ways will be found to address (the disarmament) agenda by other means, if necessary.

Ambassador Matjaž Kovačič from Slovenia, President of the 12th MSP of the Mine-Ban Convention argued “in the time that the Conference on Disarmament has remained in a stalemate and is still looking how to start disarmament and non-proliferation negotiations, real disarmament has proceeded elsewhere.” He further mentioned that no less than 161 States have now committed to end the suffering and casualties caused by anti-personnel mines. While the US is not yet part of the treaty Ambassador Matjaž Kovačič stated that the “United States’ landmine policy review is ongoing and that the US expects to be able to announce a decision soon”

Ambassador Laura Kennedy of the United States further stressed that her government is attached to this issue and has spend 2 billion $ on clearance to around 90 countries around the world.

The expansion of the CD’s membership was touched upon several times today. Mr. Nidal Alkatamine, Jordan’s Minister of Labour stated “it is no longer acceptable to close the door before the majority of countries”. Jordan also expressed an interest in becoming a full member. Mr. Eamon Gilmore T.D., Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland expressed its concern that the composition of the conference only reflects one third of the UN member states and that one should also look at the engagement with civil society. 

DPRK nuclear weapons test

The delegations also today addressed DPRK’s nuclear test on 12 February. Mr. Eamon Gilmore T.D., Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland called upon the DPRK to immediately cease their nuclear testing and ballistic missile activities and to “to re-engage with the Six Party Talks on the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.”

Ambassador So Se Pyong of DPRK called the attention to the “intensified US hostile policy toward the DPRK “ and that “US is to blame for the situation on the Korean Peninsula which is inching close to an unpredictable phase.” He repeatedly stated that the nuclear test was a resolute step for self-defense “to cope with the US hostile acts of wanton violation against the legitimate right of DPRK to launch satellite for peaceful purposes.”

However, Ambassador Laura Kennedy of the United States argued that she has already addressed the issue regarding the DPRK and that the record speaks for itself.

Next plenary meeting

The next Plenary Meeting will be held on Tuesday, 5 March at 10:00, and will according to the CD President focus on the issue of nuclear disarmament.