Reaching Critical Will

Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)

Conference on Disarmament

General Assembly First Committee

UN Disarmament Commission

Special Session on Disarmament

Conference on Disarmament
Germany, unofficial transcript
12. June. 2007

Thank you Madame for giving me the floor. I have one short unprepared statement. This statement is about the statement on non-proliferation adopted last Friday by the G8. Yesterday, I have submitted this paper together with one other paper about the fight against nuclear terrorism to the Secretary with a request to issue this as an official document of the CD, but since this might take time, I thought it might be useful just to update you on the language that refers to this body. I am, very selectively, I must admit, going to mention some of the issues in that document and you will have in due time the opportunity to study the document yourself. The document declaration contains twenty paragraphs and I will read out paragraph nine which is in direct connection with this body.

As I mentioned, I quote, “We strongly support the endeavors underway to overcome the stalemate in the Conference on Disarmament. We reaffirm our support to the early commencement on negotiations on the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty.” Further paragraphs and I am selective here- I will read out two or three more of these paragraphs- so paragraph two says “The global proliferation challenge requires an international cooperation on the basis of a broad and multi-faceted approach. To be successful, we need to work jointly with other partners and through relevant international institutions- in particular those of the United States United Nations system to strengthen all instruments available for combating the proliferation for weapons of mass destruction and the means of delivery.

Paragraph four: “We reaffirm our commitment to the multilateral treaty system which provides the normative basis for all non-proliferation efforts. The strengthening and universalization of WMD related treaties, in particular the treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Biological and Toxic Weapons Convention are therefore a key priority. These three treaties continue to be essential instruments to maintain international peace and security and are the cornerstones of the international regime for non-proliferation and disarmament.”

Paragraph five: “We will continue to encourage states to fulfill their obligations under the multilateral treaty and to help states effectively implement those obligations at the national levels by accounting for securing and physically protecting sensitive materials.”

I thank you for your attention.