Reaching Critical Will

Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)

Conference on Disarmament

General Assembly First Committee

UN Disarmament Commission

Special Session on Disarmament

Statement by Meir Itzchaki of Israel
to the Conference on Disarmament 31st January 2008

Unofficial Transcript

Thank you Mr President

Once again we would like to repeat our congratulations to the way you are handling this Presidency of this Conference. We did not intend to take the floor this morning but I believe that we are moving away very much from what this Conference is about. In a way we are not surprised that the Syrian Republic as well as another delegation have chosen to take the floor to refer to our statement.

Since I have written the statement, I do not recall that we have mentioned any state by name and the fact that those delegations decided to take the floor and react, that questions very much why do they react to a very simple fact that has been presented not only here in this conference by also worldwide. There is a saying that on the criminal’s hat, the criminal’s hat is burning; meaning that it would have been better if they kept quiet, demand other states to keep quiet when they have serious security considerations to be brought here.

I fully agree that once we have adopted the agenda and the Presidential statement, any state can bring any item it deems appropriate to the forum for consideration. This is what we intend to do; this is what we will continue to do.

Thank you.