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Conference on Disarmament
Summary of Statements by Topic 2008
Fissile Material
Cut-off Treaty
UN Secretary General United Nations January 23
You continue to have my full support for the start of negotiations on a fissile material treaty. These talks would advance nuclear disarmament and non proliferation objectives – and they are needed now. In making this call, I am not at all discounting the importance of preventing an arms race in outer space, or negative security assurances, or nuclear disarmament per se. Just the opposite; these are all perennial and very important issues before the Conference. You must decide how to organize your treatment of these issues without holding any of them hostage to the others.
Slovenia (on behalf of European Union) 25 January
It is well known that the European Union attaches a clear priority to the negotiation , without preconditions, within the Conference on Disarmament, of a Treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosives devices (FMCT), as a means to strengthen disarmament and non-proliferation. It constitutes a priority ripe for negotiation.
Germany, January 29
It is well known that my delegation attaches a particular priority to the issue of an FMCT, where we would like to see negotiations start as soon as possible. Last year’s discussions have clearly shown us that this issue is indeed ripe for negotiation
Sri Lanka, February 5
We will not make progress on the FMCT issue if we continue to demonize one or two states in a volatile arch of crisis. We are forgetting conveniently that there is at least one state with a longstanding nuclear weapon stockpile; a state which has invaded almost all its neighbors. We can not make progress on the FMCT so long as there is loud speculation as to unilateral strikes on certain states, including strikes with low heel tactical nuclear weapons. None of this is going to work, Mr. President.
Switzerland, February 5
It remains the view of this delegation that negotiations on an FMCT should be initiated without preconditions.
Germany, February 5
We regret that a ban on the production of fissile materials for weapons purposes is still not exactly palpable. Here at present, in the CD, it is obvious that among the nuclear issues, an FMCT is the ripest for negotiation an opportunity and priority that awaits to be seized as the next logical step after the CTBT.
Pending the entry into force of an FMCT, Germany calls on all States to declare and uphold a moratorium on the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices. We welcome the four states which have decreed such a moratoria.
A decision to start FMCT negotiations this year must be our clear goal this year.
India, February 28
India supports the establishment of an Ad Hoc Committee on FMCT as part of the CD’s Programme of Work. In 1993, India joined as one of the original co-sponsors of UNGA resolution 48/75L which envisaged FMCT as a significant contribution to nuclear non-proliferation in all its aspects. That remains India’s position.
Netherlands, March 4
All five NPT Nuclear weapon states should agree amongst themselves to cease production of fissile material for weapons and open their facilities for such production to the IAEA safeguard inspections building on the practice of Eurtom inspections in France and the UK. I welcome the UK contribution in this field.
Iran, March 4
Negotiating a non discriminatory, legally binding and internationally verifiable treaty on banning fissile material for nuclear weapons and other nuclear explosive devices is also one of the four core issues of the Conference which should be appropriately dealt with. We firmly believe that the famous Shannon Mandate should govern any future negotiations on that subject.
Norway, March 4
In addition to starting negotiations on an FMCT, the international community should consider the creation of a voluntary Fissile Material Control Initiative to enhance the security and transparency of all nuclear material – including material that may not be subject to an FMCT.
Prevention
of an arms race in outer space (PAROS)
India, February 28
We welcome the tabling of the draft Treaty by the Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation on Prevention of Placement of Weapons in Outer Space, along with China, as a further contribution of filling the existing gaps in the international legal regmime. We agree with Russia that the CD is the appropriate forum to take forward discussions on this issue.
Netherlands, March 4
Netherlands, is also prepared to engaged in substantive discussions on how to prevent an arms race in outer space.
Iran, March 4
The Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes the common initiative of Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China in prevention of weaponization of outer space and hopes that the Conference on Disarmament commences as soon as possible its substantive work in this regard. We do hope that the efforts to prevent arms race in outer space would facilitate further the exploration and peaceful uses of outerspace as a common heritage of mankind, for the benefit and interests of all countries, in particular developing states.
Nuclear Disarmament
Germany, February 5
Nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation have been core concerns of German foreign policy for many years. Germany today reiterates its unequivocal commitment to the ultimate goal of a complete elimination of nuclear weapons. We believe that as a first step, the role of nuclear weapons must be de-emphasized in security doctrines. We continue to stress the need for an overall reduction in nuclear arsenals to the lowest levels consistent with deterrence requirements in the pursuit of gradual, systematic nuclear disarmament under Article 6 of the NPT.
Switzerland, February 5
Discussions on concrete steps to achieve general nuclear disarmament must be one of our key objectives, and Switzerland believes that it should be possible to formulate pragmatic and generally acceptable solutions in the CD.
Sweden, February 19 (on behalf of behalf of Chile, New Zealand, Nigeria, Sweden and Switzerland)
Our five countries look forward to continuing and deepening our constructive dialogue on this issue with all concerned States, not least with those that possess nuclear weapons, in order to build the widest possible support for our pragmatic approach. In future debates on this issue, we would prefer not to repeat a debate on terminology. What we ask for is a change of deployment practices. With a view to today’s security policy threats, we would see a significant increase in security and confidence if none of the States possessing nuclear weapons would have the capacities or policies to launch its missiles within a few minutes.
Netherlands, March 4
Progress on nuclear disarmament requires political will on the part of states that possess nuclear weapons, especially the two states that possess 95% of the world’s nuclear stocks: the United States and the Russian Federation. I call upon these parties to embrace their responsibility and show renewed commitment to the process. They have taken bold steps in the past to this end and they should do so again.
Negative Security
Assurances
India, February 28
India supports the establishment of an Ad Hoc Committee on NSAs to negotiate with a view to reaching an agreement on effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear weapon states against the use, or threat of use, of nuclear weapons. We believe that the negotiation of such an instrument will compliment other measures to reduce the saliency of nuclear weapons in security doctrines and improve the international climate for promoting nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation in all its aspects. As part of its credible minimum nuclear deterrent, India has espoused a policy of no-first use and non-use against non-nuclear weapon states and is prepared to convert these undertakings into multilateral legal arrangements
Kazakhstan, March 4
We are interested in further discussion on negative security assurances, as it is closely related to the nuclear disarmament process. We firmly believe that non-nuclear members of the NPT have a legitimate right for negative security assurances.
P6 Draft Decision
UN General Secretary, January 23
I continue to believe that the adoption of this balanced and carefully crafted Presidential Decision would not deprive any Member State of the ability to assert its national position in the subsequent phases of the Conference’s work. In setting priorities, you are under no constraints as to how to conduct your substantive work, other than to proceed on the basis of consensus.
Netherlands, January 25
Mr President, the gained momentum last year should not be lost. A balanced and carefully crafted compromise for a working program is on the table, on this we must proceed. There is no other way.
Slovenia (on behalf of European Union) January 25
The European Union is deeply convinced that the document L1. which was later complimented by documents CRP5 and CRP6, constitutes a carefully crafted compromise. The European Union appeals to all the delegations of the Conference on Disarmament to go along with the consensus and adopt the documents which have been on the table since last year’s session. This cannot be delayed much further.
Germany, January 29
The Presidential Proposal, L1. later supplemented in a serious, patient and strenuous process to add clarity and to provide answers to questions raised by a few delegations by CRP5 and CRP6, indeed reflects the necessary decisions the CD will have to agree on to get back to work. In our view, this carefully crafted Presidential Proposal takes into account in an honest, fair, balanced and comprehensive manner the interests of all CD members – and in a realistic sense of compromise leaves them equally unhappy with it. There is no realistic and viable alternative to this approach.
Australia, January 29
The balanced and carefully crafted Presidential Decision encompassed in L1. and accompanying documents is a fair and just basis for our work. It is born of a painstaking and comprehensive consultation, evaluation and revision by the 2007 Presidents. And it remains the most realist opportunity through which we can make the progress the international community has sought for more than a decade.
Switzerland, February 5
My delegation believes that these three documents should form the basis of our endeavor to adopt a work programme. They represent our best chance of finding a way out of the impasse that has paralyzed us for far too long. These three documents are the result of long and broad-based consultations, and seek to address the interest and concerns of all CD members. Adopting them would allow us to work on all four core issues in a balanced way, whilst leaving open the option of including further issues, should any arise.
Verification
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