CD Press Advisory June 10, 2004

Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)

Conference on Disarmament

General Assembly First Committee

UN Disarmament Commission

Special Session on Disarmament

10.06.04

UNITED STATES BRIEFS CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT ON G-8 ACTION PLAN ON NON-PROLIFERATION
Conference Extends Condolences on Death of Former President Ronald Reagan

The Conference on Disarmament today heard a briefing from the United States on the G-8 Action Plan on Non-proliferation which was agreed upon and announced yesterday at the G-8 Summit in Sea Island, Georgia.

Jackie Sanders of the United States said that the Action Plan on Non-proliferation, among other elements, took new action against proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, including expanding the Proliferation Security Initiative and the Global Partnership, strengthening the International Atomic Energy Agency, and promoting universal adherence to the Additional Protocol and making it a condition of supply of nuclear technology.

Ms. Sanders said the G-8 leaders committed to refraining for one year from initiating new transfers of uranium enrichment and reprocessing technology to additional States, aiming to implement permanent controls before the 2005 G-8 Summit to keep these materials out of the hands of outlaw States seeking nuclear weapons. The G-8 leaders also urged all States to implement recently passed Security Council resolution 1540, which called on States to criminalize proliferation.

Ms. Sanders said that turning to other world events, last Sunday, many watched coverage of the D-Day commemorations on television, which were interspersed throughout the day with news of President Ronald Reagan’s death. President Reagan’s unswerving vision led to some of the most far-reaching arms control and disarmament agreements and ultimately to the end of the Cold War. On behalf of the United States, she wished to deeply thank all who had extended condolences on President Reagan’s death.

At the beginning of the meeting, the President of the Conference, Ambassador Khasbazaryn Bekhbat of Mongolia, said that the Conference was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former United States President Ronald Reagan who would be remembered in the Conference for his efforts which had resulted in the conclusion of historic agreements on reductions in nuclear weapons. On behalf of the Conference, he extended sincere condolences to President Reagan’s family and to the Government of the United States.

Following the formal plenary, the Conference on Disarmament immediately went started an informal plenary during which it will conclude its discussion on effective international agreements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, before starting to discuss new types of weapons of mass destruction and new systems of such weapons; radiological

weapons.

The next formal plenary of the Conference will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 17 June. It will be followed by an informal plenary to discuss the comprehensive programme of disarmament, item six on the Conference’s agenda.

Ambassador Bekhbat said that he would be absent next week as he would head his country’s delegation to UNCTAD XI in Sao Paulo. During his absence, the Deputy Permanent Representative of Mongolia, Suren Badral, would preside over the formal and informal meetings, and also would replace him during the Presidential consultations.

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