Transcribed Opening Statement of the Ambasssador of Colombia Mr. Camilo Reyes Rodriguez President of the CD

31/05/01

Ambassadors, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,

As this is the first time that it has fallen to my country to preside over the Conference on Disarmament, may I first of all reiterate Colombia's deep commitment to the Conference, a forum which over the years has demonstrated its invaluable relevance thanks to negotiations and a conclusion of some of the most important international instruments in the field of disarmament. Multilateralism has always held pride of place in Colombia's foreign policy, which is why my country has actively participated in the latest arms control or disarmament negotiations, among which I would like to highlight the Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Firearms, Munitions, Explosives and Related Material, adopted within the framework of the Organization of American States, the Convention for the Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines and the Preparatory Process for the NPT Review Conference. I think a special mention should go to our commitment to the subject of small arms. As you will recall, in its 43rd session in 1988 Colombia submitted to the General Assembly resolution 43/751, the first to be adopted by the United Nations on illicit traffic and transfers of arms. Subsequently, Colombia submitted to the General Assembly an initiative to convene an international conference on illicit arms trade in all its aspects. The proposal was adopted through resolution 43/36H in 1991. Seven years later through the adoption of resolution 53/77E the General Assembly decided to hold this conference during the course of the present year bearing in mind the views of member states and the recommendation from the governmental expert group on small arms as expressed in the Secretary-General's report on the subject.

Ambassadors, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,

For more than two years I have witnessed the patience, creativity and the diligence with which my predecessors have sought a solution to the present stagnation of the conference. I would therefore today like to pay special tribute to the efforts of Ambassadors Westdal, Vega and Hu who have presided over the Conference this year and other participants in this long, laborious process who have been defining elements, which could provide a formula for a future agreement on a program of work. The Ambassador of China, my immediate predecessor in this honorable but increasingly difficult task in his final conclusions as a result of consultations conducted during his mandate recommended to me a line of action, which I fully agree with and which will therefore establish the direction in which I will make my efforts and with your cooperation I will pursue the avenue of maintaining the preeminence of the Conference on Disarmament as the sole international forum for negotiations on the issues of arms control and disarmament. It is a common understanding among all members of the Conference that the proposal submitted by Ambassador Amorim, which is to be found in document CD/1624, is a valuable asset for the Conference and establishes a basis for further intense consultations and to continue exploring possible avenues for agreement on a program of work. Bearing in mind what I have just said and the fact that its also the primary obligation of the Conference is to agree on a program of work I will spend most of my consultations seeking variations on the Amorim proposal which might achieve consensus. Ambassador Hu in his conclusions introduced the idea that the Conference is in a period of waiting in view of the complex international situation and the deterioration of the security environment. But a period of waiting does not imply paralysis or total inactivity. A period of waiting should mean that while we are awaiting a change in international circumstances

which will make possible progress in substantive activities for the Conference, we should continue to seek agreement on a program of work and also forge ahead with those issues which have general support of the Conference. This means that without diminishing our interest in reaching an agreement on a program of work the Conference on Disarmament should reassert itself through the efficient use of the framework, which it provides for discussion and negotiation. I have initiated my consultations in order to determine precisely where we are at the moment and in the hope that I may be able to outline alternative solutions, which might achieve consensus in the Conference. When I conclude my first round of consultations tomorrow afternoon I will be able to assess the relevance of making proposals to the Conference for a decision and I will keep you duly informed of progress.

Lastly, I would like to express my appreciation of the presence of Mr. Vladimir Petrovsky, Secretary-General of the Conference and Mr. Enrique Roman Morey, Deputy Secretary-General whose constant cooperation and advice I know that I will be able to rely on in undertaking my task. Thank you very much.