Reaching Critical Will

Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)

Conference on Disarmament

General Assembly First Committee

UN Disarmament Commission

Special Session on Disarmament

Statement by Ambassador Rao of India
to the Conference on Disarmament 13th March 2008

Unofficial Transcript

Thank you Mr. President.

Mr. President let me begin by conveying to you how pleased we are to see you conducting our proceedings with great diplomatic tact and skill and we would like to pledge our fullest support in carrying forward the work of this conference.

We have requested the floor to convey our appreciation on the update based on our informal discussions conducted as part of the organizational framework. We would also like to convey our appreciation to the seven coordinators for having taken on the honorable responsibility for conducting informal discussions under the relevant agenda items.

Mr. President, we note that the report of the coordinators has been made under their own responsibility and not as a result of the formal discussions and process in the CD. The reports contain only their personal summary and assessments. We therefore cannot expect them to be accurate reflection of all concerns of the delegations given the limitations of the process itself.

India resolves its positions with regard to substantive aspects covered by the reports of the coordinators and we feel that these cannot be cited as precedent or as a reflection of substantive positions of delegations during the formal negotiations in the conference on the relevant agenda items. The issue of revalidating discussions has to be understood given these limitations.

Mr. President, without prejudice, to our national position on future negotiations, let me reiterate once again the commitment of our delegation to contribute to all efforts for the commencement of substantive work by reaching consensus on a program of work that takes into account the interests of all stakeholders and for the CD undertaking its substantive work in accordance with rules and procedures.