Reaching Critical Will

Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)

Conference on Disarmament

General Assembly First Committee

UN Disarmament Commission

Special Session on Disarmament

Unofficial transcript
Uruguay: President Designate of the First Committee, Ambassador José Luis Cancela
3 September 2009

Mr. President, on behalf of my government, allow me to say what an honour it is for Uruguay and for me personally to be able to address the United Nations Disarmament Conference as Chairman Elect of the First Committee of this organisation. A task I shall take up within the framework of the 64th session of the General Assembly.

As various delegations have been able to observe over the last few days, and thanks to the generosity of the Member States here present, I have held a series of consultations with a large number of states members of the Conference on Disarmament. This has enabled me to obtain first hand knowledge of your suggestions, recommendations, constructive contributions and some concerns about the work of the next session of the First Committee.

Following up on the kind invitation extended by the Ambassador of Canada, Marius Grinius, I had the opportunity of having an enriching meeting with a group of western countries and countries from Eastern Europe. In addition, thanks to the equally kind invitation, from the Ambassador of Sweden, Magnus Hellgren, I carried out very constructive consultations with the countries members of the European Union. The states members of the non aligned movement and the group of 21 paid me the honour of having a joint working meeting, something which I also wish to highlight in this statement.

My presence in Geneva also made it possible for me to move forward with some bilateral meetings with interesting delegations which gave me a more in depth knowledge of the prospects and interests of these countries within the framework of disarmament, non proliferation and arms control.

Last but not least, I wish to inform the Conference that I have also had meetings with some Non Governmental Organizations concerning views of civil society and concerning the work of the First Committee.

Mr. President, as I said at the time of accepting the chairmanship of the First Committee, its 64th session took place in a far more constructive and encouraging context than the previous ones. In the last few months we have been particularly pleased to note a series of initiatives for a nuclear weapons free world. This provides us with closer views and suggestions for political solutions, for the implementation of these initiatives. A more favourable positions and more multilateralism with states that have taken more responsibilities and commitments to negotiating in the disarmament field, the five points that the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon submitted at the end of 2008 for disarmament and in order to avoid the proliferation of nuclear weapons, the more favourable climate and the recent Third Preparatory Committee for the Review Conference of the Nuclear Weapons Non Proliferation Treaty, which took place in May this year, are just a few of the positive signs that the political situation has changed and that the United Nations has an essential role to play throughout this process.

The adoption by this Conference on Disarmament of a Work Programme following a 12 year impasse is a further sign that the multilateral disarmament machinery is the right framework for obtaining the ultimate goal of full disarmament, non proliferation and arms control.

I am also particularly pleased to stress the initiative taken by United States President Barack Obama, who will chair a high level meeting of the United Nations Security Council concerning non proliferation and nuclear disarmament, on the 24th of September next, within the framework of the 64th session of the General Assembly.

We are pleased to know that this meeting as stated by the United States Delegation in the United States will focus on nuclear disarmament and on nuclear non proliferation in general.

Mr. President, at the next session the First Committee must adopt approximately 50 resolutions and as far as I am able and with the support of all the Member States, something I count upon in advance, I intend to move forward towards the following objectives:

For the First Committee to contribute to maintaining the positive climate that has been noted in last few months, and which provides a real forum for new understandings, basically bearing in mind the important Review Conference of the treaty for the non proliferation of nuclear weapons to be carried out in 2010 in New York.
To increase the number of resolutions adopted by consensus as evidence that these tendencies towards the strengthening of multilateralism can be actually reflected in the resolutions of the First Committee. Despite this I nevertheless do recognize the important differences that exist on issues such as nuclear disarmament, non proliferation and arms control.
The objective of the consultations I held with those delegations accredited to Geneva was precisely that of seeking points of convergence which will enable us to achieve the necessary consensus and more than necessary, absolutely essential.
Lastly, to raise, through the bureau of investigations, all the suggestions, recommendation and concerns I have heard during my consultations, in order to identify possible solutions.

Mr. President, to conclude it once more I wish to extend my thanks to all delegations for their valuable contributions and the constructive spirit shown, in the hope that I shall meet them again soon in New York.

Thank you Mr. President.