Explanation of Vote

Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)

Conference on Disarmament

General Assembly First Committee

UN Disarmament Commission

Special Session on Disarmament

Explanation of Vote – L.13 Report of
the Conference on Disarmament (CD) 23.10.02

Mr. Chairman,

As usual the resolution on the Report of the Conference on Disarmament was adopted by consensus. This, however, should not detract from our deep disappointment and concern about the current state of affairs in the Conference on Disarmament.

The ongoing deadlock seems – in the face of existing and new threats, in particular relating to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the risk of terrorists gaining access to such weapons - hardly tolerable. Linkages which were created and which are being maintained between various issues on the agenda of the CD cannot be justified against the backdrop of a changing international security environment. The CD during the past year has again failed to establish subsidiary bodies to conduct substantive work relating to the issues on its agenda, despite the imaginative cross-group proposal for a work programme forwarded by five distinguished ambassadors, which has been supported by Germany during our Presidency of the CD and which we will continue to support.. Thereby, it has also failed to live up to its responsibility as the sole multilateral disarmament negotiating body.

Whilst we would welcome a substantive debate and also negotiations relating to the issue of preventing the weaponization of outer space, Germany does not see any reason why negotiations on a Fissile Material Cut Off Treaty are being held hostage to an agreement on outer space. At a time when there is a particular concern relating to the production of weapon-grade fissile material and the risk of terrorists gaining access to such material there is no time to lose, no excuse for not immediately starting substantive negotiations on an FMCT.

Against the backdrop of emerging new threats - in particular of the possibility that a "dirty bomb" could be a terrorist's weapon of choice - Germany during its Presidency of the CD this summer initiated a new discussion on radiological weapons - an issue that has long been neglected, which is today however undeniably topical. In addressing that subject, which we suggested be considered independently from the other issues which the CD has primarily focussed upon during the last months and years, we saw an opportunity for the CD to respond in a timely fashion to new risks. In order to stimulate a discussion we have presented a paper, which was also issued as a CD document (CD 1681). We hope that on the basis of this contribution further work will be conducted at the CD with the view to establishing whether the issue should again be actively pursued by the CD. In doing so we should avoid falling back into by now well-rehearsed ways risking to create new barriers to substantive discussions.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman !