Unofficial Transcript
Pakistan
28 June 2007

Thank you Mr. President.  Mr. President, on behalf of my delegation we would like to warmly congratulate you on taking over the President on the Conference on Disarmament.  We look forward to working with you.  We would also like to take this opportunity to thank Ambassador Bonnier of Sweden for her efforts in leading the Conference in its collective efforts in the adoption of a program of work.  We would also like to thank all previous Presidents of 2007 for their efforts in this regard.

Mr. President, the first part of this year was devoted to the consideration of all issues discussed in the Conference on Disarmament.  In the second part we have been considering the Presidential draft decision which was delivered under the Presidency of Sri Lanka.  A number of states have expressed specific concerns regarding the Presidential Draft Decision.  My delegation has also repeatedly identified our difficulties in the Presidential Draft Decision contained in L.1.  There are not procedural concerns but these are concerns of substance.  These concerns have not fully been addressed.  We all want the CD operational and performing its responsibilities as the sole multilateral negotiation forum.  We all want to see it revitalized.

 Mr. President, we fully agree with the Brazilian delegations comment of the 60th UNGA that “The four core issues cannot be evaded and neither can you pick and choose among them.”    Treatment of all issues, we believe, has to be equal.  We believe that the CD has the capacity to move forward on negotiations on all four issues: nuclear disarmament, FMCT, PAROS and NSA. Why is there insistence for the CD to start negotiations in one area only, in complete disregard of consensus as reflected in the Shannon Mandate—especially at a time when asymmetries are deliberately being allowed to increase?

Mr. President, commitment to nuclear disarmament has been referred to many times.  L.1 should provide the parameters to start negotiations on general and complete disarmament as the [unclear] of the CD.  The world outside and those in the gallery here today await agreement in the CD on starting work towards nuclear disarmament.

Pakistan’s concerns on international security are evident from the fact that we insist on the verification of current stocks in paragraph 2 of L.1.  This reflects a clear interest in global security and not just national security.  If we all agree that the scope of the FMCT instrument should include stock piles and verification, why are we unable to include them in L.1?  A fissile material treaty that would promote nuclear disarmament is not one that does not include verification of stocks and not just existing stocks.

Mr. President, Pakistan tables a UNGA resolution every year entitled “The Effective International Arrangements to Secure Non-nuclear Weapon States Against the Threat of Use of Nuclear Weapons”.  We believe that the inclusion of effective arrangements and negative security assurance would constitute a major confidence building measure between Nuclear and Non-Nuclear Weapon States.  Hence we also have an interest on beginning negotiations on a legally binding international instrument on effective nuclear arrangements to assure Non-Nuclear Weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons. 

On PAROS as well, enough work has been done in the CD.  We thank the delegations of China and the Russian Federation and many others for their efforts.  We should be able to begin negotiations on the legally binding basis of material provided by China and the Russian Federation for example.   Mr. President, in your statement on 26th June, you had expressed a desire to have an answer by the beginning of the 2007 third session.  We also appreciate your intention to keep in touch in finding solutions.  We hope that your quest led by you for a program of work will lead to concrete solutions and oriented discussions in the Conference.  The answer lies in undertaking a comprehensive look at the PDD.

The Presidential Draft Decision is a proposal that has yet to obtain consensus in the Conference.  I would also recall again that the Secretary General in his statement to the CD had called for compromise and accommodation.  This is required to take into consideration the security concerns of all member states.  Pakistan is committed to work with the Conference and with you in finding a balanced program of work.

I thank you Mr. President.