Draft resolution L20

Canadian delegation

Over the course of the First Committee, Canada has consistently reiterated its expectation that the international instruments available to us for consideration of disarmament issues are used to better effect. In this context, others too, including the NAM for example, have called for the revitalization of the UNDC. Properly utilized, the UNDC has proven itself capable of producing substantive and valuable contributions to the disarmament discourse, including for example the 16 Verification Principles. There is no real reason why the UNDC cannot make similar such contributions in future.

Canada is deeply disappointed with the performance of the Commission during the last three years; in particular its failure to agree on a substantive report that could be endorsed by this Committee. We are also concerned that the First Committee has adopted a resolution that recommends consideration by the UNDC of substantive disarmament items, but that no items were discussed or included in the resolution. Additionally, this Committee has adopted a resolution that requests the UNDC to meet in 2004, wit the concomitant financial costs that must be assumed for UN services, although we have not agreed on whether or not the Commission will have work to do at that time.

Canada remains hopeful that we can capitalize on the opportunities afforded by the UNDC to further the discussion on key disarmament issues. To do so, we must first collectively identify issues for constructive exchange during the coming session of the UNDC. WE encourage all delegations to reflect in the weeks ahead on how to ensure that this new session of the UNDC is effective and to convey their ideas to the UNDC bureau.

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