Reaching Critical Will

Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)

Conference on Disarmament

General Assembly First Committee

UN Disarmament Commission

Special Session on Disarmament

Statement by Ambassador Masood Khan of Pakistan
to the Conference on Disarmament 29th January 2008

Unofficial Transcript

Thank you Mr. President.

Since I am taking the floor for the first time during the session, I congratulate you, Ambassador Samir Labidi, on the assumption of the Presidency on the Conference on Disarmament. We are aware of your leadership qualities prior to the commencement of this session. You have held extensive and productive consultations. You have demonstrated how full consultations ought to be held. We have full confidence in you and we will extend our fullest cooperation to make your Presidency successful.

Pakistan associates itself with the statement made by Ambassador Dayan of Sri Lanka on behalf of the Group of 21.

We want to extend our appreciation to the Ambassadors who have taken the responsibility as coordinators.

Mr. President, our understanding is that these coordinators are being appointed under the authority and prerogative of the president. The appointment of the coordinators is not a decision of the Conference. The coordinators will act in their individual capacity. The coordinators are not special coordinators. The role of the coordinators is different from special coordinators who in the past were appointed by the Conference and had a clearly defined mandate. According to rule 23 of the rules of procedure, the Conference may establish subsidiary bodies such as ad hoc sub committees, working groups, technical groups or group of governmental experts. The coordinators do not fall into any of these categories. The coordinators will work informally and unofficially under the authority of the Presidents. They do not substitute or supplant mechanism recognized by the CD rules of procedure. The reports of the coordinators on the discussions held by them will have no status; they will be transmitted under the authority of the President.

Mr. President, the P6 coordination has played an important role in generating activity in the CD, We have full confidence in the six presidents who will steer our work this year. The P6 agreement remains informal. The P6 proposals are subject to open negotiations and concurrence of all members. The outcome of their initiatives is not a fait –accompli and we know it would not be projected as such.

In order to succeed, the CD should make combined efforts and take on board concerns of all its members. The purpose of any exercise that we undertake is to agree on a balanced program of work so that the CD can commence substantive negotiations on core issues on its agenda. To reach this goal, 5 elements are important.

dialogue and consensus building
full understanding of all CD members concern
bringing all CD members on board
faithful adherence to the rules and procedures
transparency in decision making

Mr. President our delegation looks forward to working constructively with all its CD members.

I thank you Mr. President.