CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT HEARS STATEMENTS FROM ISRAEL, JAPAN, POLAND AND MYANMAR AS PRESIDENT

The Conference on Disarmament today heard a farewell statement by the Permanent Representative of Israel, a speech on a United Nations meeting on disarmament issues by Japan, a short intervention by the new Permanent Representative of Poland, and a statement by Myanmar in its capacity as incoming President of the Conference.

Ambassador Yaakov Levy of Israel, speaking in a farewell statement, said that the initiative of the Ambassadors of Mexico and his successors, especially the Ambassador of Morocco, had created informal discussions regarding various subjects on the agenda, culminating with a discussion on the subject of emerging threats. This discussion would enable the Conference to emerge as an up-to-date body rather than as an isolated and lofty forum. It was imperative that members of the Conference be fully cognizant of current emerging threats, otherwise the chance of a breakthrough in its work could be remote.

Ambassador U Mya Than of Myanmar, the incoming President of the Conference, said Ambassador Levy had represented his country since 2000 with great professionalism and outstanding diplomatic skills. When Israel held the Presidency of the Conference in 2003, he had contributed considerably to the work of the Conference. On behalf of the Conference, he wished him much success and happiness.

Ambassador Yoshiki Mine of Japan briefed the Conference about the Sixteenth United Nations Conference on Disarmament Issues which was held from 26 to 29 July in Sapporo, Japan. The theme this year was “mounting challenges to peace and security and disarmament today”. The meeting had provided an invaluable opportunity for interaction on disarmament and non-proliferation issues such as the nuclear black market, strengthening multilateralism and the role of civil society in disarmament affairs.

The President also welcomed the new Permanent Representative of Poland, Zdzislaw Rapacki. Ambassador Rapacki, in a brief statement, said it was an honour to be representing Poland at the Conference and he assured the President of Poland’s constant support for the Conference. The Conference was not in its best days. However, he believed that by common efforts, this situation could be changed.

The President said the Conference was at a critical juncture after eight years of inaction. There had been useful and constructive activities and developments at the 2004 session of the Conference, including a decision on the enhancement of the engagement of civil society in the work of the Conference, and the holding of open-ended informal consultations on the work programme. He said the Conference should take good advantage of such momentum and interest to move forward and to explore possibilities with a view to reaching consensus on the establishment of ad hoc committees or a programme of work.

The President said that the Conference would convene an informal plenary meeting on Tuesday, 24 August on “how to move forward on substantive issues/programme of work”. As the Conference had less than four weeks before the end of its 2004 session, he was preparing the draft annual report which would be made available to Member States on 24 August. The first reading of the draft would be conducted at an informal plenary which would follow the next formal plenary which would be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 26 August.

Following the formal plenary today, an informal plenary was scheduled to be held during which the Ambassador of the Netherlands would introduce a book by Ambassador Jaap Ramakar, the last Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee on Nuclear Test Bans entitled “The Final Test. A History of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Negotiations”.

Statements

U MYA THAN (Myanmar), incoming President of the Conference, said it was a great honour for him and for his country to preside over the Conference on Disarmament during the concluding part of its 2004 session. The last presidency of the year was the most hectic one because it entailed report writing, winding up the activities of the Conference, laying down the groundwork for the next year’s session and endeavouring to make advances, to the extent possible, on substantive issues.

The President of the Conference said the Conference was at a critical juncture. After eight years of inaction in the forum, the international community was looking to the Conference to revitalize its work and to accomplish substantive progress. Unfortunately, establishing ad hoc committees or a programme of work were still illusive. There had been useful and constructive activities and developments at the 2004 session of the Conference, including a decision on the enhancement of the engagement of civil society in the work of the Conference, and the holding of open-ended informal consultations on the work programme. The Conference should take good advantage of such momentum and interest to move forward and to explore possibilities with a view to reaching consensus on the establishment of ad hoc committees or a programme of work. He hoped that the Member States of the Conference would be able to show maximum flexibility which would contribute to the search for a common ground and finding a solution.

The Ambassador of Myanmar said the work plan for the remaining period of this year’s session consisted of an ongoing process of consultations on establishing ad hoc committees or a programme of work; and an ongoing process of consultations on interim steps such as the appointment of a Special Coordinator or Special Coordinators to facilitate the process with a view to reaching agreement on a programme of work; the convening of informal plenary meetings; and report writing. There had been many proposals including the Five Ambassadors proposal, his own proposal and many other efforts. Most of the delegations of the Conference favoured the convening of more informal plenary meetings, including one on Tuesday, 24 August on “how to move forward on substantive issues/programme of work”. It was important to have structured and focused discussions. It appeared that the majority of delegations could go along with the Five Ambassadors proposal. The delegations who were not in a position to do so should explain and make suggestions on ways and means to modify the proposal.

In conclusion, the President said the Conference was a unique institution which could not be recreated under the prevailing political circumstances. One of the cardinal rules of the Conference was the rule of consensus. Therefore the position of each and every Member State counted. He would take into account the position of each and every delegation in trying to find a common ground on substantive issues. He had transmitted to all the Member States a letter and a questionnaire to facilitate the process of intensive consultations.

YAAKOV LEVY (Israel), speaking in a farewell statement, said that during his four years of work at the Conference on Disarmament, the Israeli delegation had participated in an active and sincere manner in discussions, both in formal and informal consultations. Israel had also participated in other disarmament fora taking place in Geneva. These four years had coincided with events that changed the outlook on the world of disarmament: the events of 11 September and the emergence of the threat of the combination of terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, as well as recent revelations regarding the lack of efficacy of the international regimes and the need to bring them up-to date.

Ambassador Levy said the initiative of the Ambassadors of Mexico and his successors, especially the Ambassador of Morocco, had created informal discussions regarding various subjects on the agenda, culminating with a discussion on the subject of emerging threats. This discussion would enable the Conference to emerge as an up-to-date body rather than as an isolated and lofty forum. It was imperative that members of the Conference be fully cognizant of current emerging threats, otherwise the chance of a breakthrough in its work could be remote.

In conclusion, Ambassador Levy said even though the achievements of the Conference had fallen short of what he would have liked, the ability to interact on a continuous, informal, high-level plateau was an enriching experience which he would take back with him.

YOSHIKI MINE (Japan) said that his country supported the initiative of holding informal plenaries at the Conference on Disarmament to provide impetus in the efforts to start substantive work. They had proved to be useful and in-depth discussions had been held during these informal plenaries. As informal meetings, they had their own virtue and allowed the Member States to interact more easily. Formal meetings had their virtues too.

Ambassador Mine said he wished to speak about the Sixteenth UN Conference on Disarmament Issues which was held from 26 to 29 July in Sapporo, Japan. The theme this year had been “mounting challenges to peace and security and disarmament today”. More than 80 participants had attended, including Government representatives, Experts, representatives of non-governmental organizations and the press. The meeting had provided an invaluable opportunity for interaction on disarmament and non-proliferation issues such as the nuclear black market, strengthening multilateralism and the role of civil society in disarmament affairs. The Conference had been open to the public and had allowed Japanese citizens to deepen their understanding of disarmament issues. Japan would continue with its efforts to enhance education in disarmament affairs.

ZDZISLAW RAPACKI (Poland) thanked the President of the Conference for the warm words of welcome addressed to him. It was an honour to be representing Poland at the Conference and he assured the President of Poland’s constant support for the Conference. The Conference was not in its best days. However, he believed that by common efforts, this situation could be changed.

CORRIGENDUM

In press release DC/04/31 of 12 August, the statement by the Representative of Syria on the last page should read as follows:

HUSSEIN ALI (Syria) said even though it was not the norm to comment on the President’s statements, he would like to make a comment about what Ambassador Hilale had said about Realpolitik. He believed that the international framework and the United Nations were established to put an end to practices based on Realpolitik, and he found that the President’s call for Realpolitik were a call to dissolve the United Nations and the Conference on Disarmament. He hoped that the President would review his use of the word Realpolitik.

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