Reaching Critical Will

Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)

Conference on Disarmament

General Assembly First Committee

UN Disarmament Commission

Special Session on Disarmament

Statement by Ambassador Chang Dong-hee of Republic of Korea
to the Conference on Disarmament 18th March 2008

Unofficial Transcript

Thank you Mr. President.

Let me first of all congratulate you on the assumption of the third Presidency of 2008 on the Conference on Disarmament at this important moment. You have my delegations full support in your endeavor to guide our work.

I would also like to express our sincere gratitude Ambassador Ahmed Üzümcü of Turkey who laid out the basis for the substantive work throughout this year. Last Thursday, the former President Ambassador Üzümcü distributed a document entitled drafted decisions by the Presidents of the 2008 session on the Conference on Disarmament contained in CD/1840.

Above all, I appreciate the dedicated efforts of the p6 to place the CD back to work and begin negotiations and substantive discussions to the core issues which are finally produced the new document on the program of work.

Mr President.
I would like to remind the distinguished colleagues present here today that we have now arrived at an important crossroad and we should choose the right direction. If we take the wrong turn and lose this opportunity it will take again a long time and a lot of efforts to get there on the right track. I know it is never an easy job for you to lead the conference at this crossroad and to mobilize the necessary consensus. However as the first deputy minister of Ukraine emphasized in this Council Chamber on 4th March, my delegation believes you will lead this conference to the constructive dialogue and the breaking the current impasse and getting the CD back to effective work.

I thank you Mr. President.