Statement of the Ambassador of Colombia
Mr. Camilo Reyes Rodriguez President of the CD,
to the Conference on Disarmament 14/6/01

Distinguished Colleagues,

I am very pleased to inform you that at the presidential consultations held yesterday, my proposal to appoint special coordinators on the review of the agenda of the Conference on Disarmament, on the extension of the membership of the Conference, and on improved and effective functioning of the Conference received unanimous support as reported by the coordinators of the groups and China. I should now like to make the agreement reached official. Therefore, I invite the Conference to address the draft decision, which is now before you in document CD/WP 518. May I take it that it is the wish of the Conference to adopt the draft decision set out in document CD/WP 518... It is so decided. This decision will be issued as an official document of the Conference on Disarmament.

Distinguished Colleagues,

I should like to take this opportunity of thanking you for all your cooperation and the spirit of accommodation displayed in our joint efforts over the past few weeks that has enabled us to adopt the decision on the appointment of three special coordinators. This decision can be seen as a rather modest achievement. However, I sincerely hope that it may considerably hope to overcome the current stalemate and may give special impetus to our continuing search for an agreement on a program of work. Our forthcoming task is to reach consensus on the persons who will fill the posts of special coordinators. It is my intention to begin immediately intensive consultations through the coordinators to attain the wishes of the members and the groups in this regard so that we can agree on this issue as soon as possible.