Thank you very much Mr. President.

Allow me first and foremost to reiterate to you my congratulations on the outstanding way in which you have conducted the work of this Conference. My acknowledgement for your obvious diplomatic skills, blended together with your human qualities, in which you contributed to tackling successfully the difficulties that we have had to face during this last stage of our session in order to be able to adopt the report that it will be your responsibility to submit to the General Assembly.

Extending as well the recognition and thanks of my Delegation for the work that was done by the other ambassadors of the P6 platform; Vietnam, Zimbabwe, Algeria, Argentina and Australia, whose dedicated efforts, both individually and together, were important contributions in support of the very successful management by Ambassador Jazaïry of Algeria under whom we have achieved the consensus that made possible the adoption of the Programme of Work for 2009 contained in document CD/1864.

Mr. President,
Quite apart from the work that the CD has achieved over the course of 2009, international events are marching on. At the international level, but also regional and bilateral, we see numerous proposals and initiatives in favour and in support of disarmament from leaders, governments, eminent personnel, parliamentarians, non-governmental organizations, the academic community, all of them sensitive to the new conditions we are witnessing on the world stage and who are seeking to take advantage of this and take significant steps over the long path which effectively and realistically is involved in achieving the objectives of a nuclear weapons free world.
 
On the 29th of May 2009, in the historic achievement with great political significance, the Conference on Disarmament made its contribution to this general mobilization in favour of disarmament and non-proliferation, contributing to the expectations in the international community about possible progress in this field. We are all aware of the deplorable history that followed this momentous international milestone that was the adoption of the Work Programme. We did still have the hope that in the last few weeks of this session we might be able to still kick start our programme. It is a hope that we held until the last possible minute, not only amongst ourselves but also in the outside world, beyond Geneva I mean to say.

Today Mr. President, affected by the frustration of not having been able to actually begin our substantive work, my Delegation has come to this conclusion of our session of the CD with numerous questions about the way in which we should face our work in this forum in 2010. We think it is deplorable that we continue to allow this conference, whose very mandate would oblige it to be one of the main role players in international mobilization in support of disarmament and non-proliferation, is not only on the margin but is actually the obstacle that prevents starting discussions and the negotiation process, which with political will should lead us to agreements that would materialize and turn the window of opportunity, that we all recognize exists today, into something concrete, concrete agreements in other words.

Our responsibility as members of the Conference today is to seek by every means possible that this forum and this work will transcend and have an impact on the course of discussions which are taking place in other parts of the world about the topics that are on our agenda. If this forum is not able to respond to the realities we face, 2010 will have to be a time when decisions are taken. I am talking about decisions about the future of this conference, about its relevance and the apparent context, also about its method of work, the way in which it operates. In fact, we shall have to decide if we really are able to make a difference from Geneva, from this forum, in the processes of disarmament and the strengthening of the non-proliferation regime.
 
Mexico has been one of the main promoters of the work of this conference, that it should fulfill its mandate and its responsibility on the international scene. The fact that it exists is linked to the evolution of the multilateral policies in Mexico. In fact, it is one of the platforms for which our beloved Ambassador Emeritus Alfonso Garcia Robles received the Nobel Peace Prize. For all of these reasons, and for the responsibility that we have as members of this conference, Mexico expresses the hope that 2010 will be the time when we will be able to reestablish the credibility of the CD, its “raison d’être”, adopting decisions that go beyond the adoption of the Work Programme. Beginning as soon as possible our substantive work, to contribute in a significant way to international peace and security to achieve a future free of nuclear weapons, to preserve the future for humanity. All of these things are what should guide our decisions. The conference should be at a level which is commensurate with its responsibility. If it is not, then the time will have come to question, if it is still possible, how we can equip it within a sole capability to take on this high responsibility.
 
We take this time and we hope that the consensus achieved on the 29th of May by this conference will not be diluted whereas in other parts of the world we see an interest in working for disarmament and a commitment for working for disarmament. Alluding to the reference that was made by Ambassador Jazaïry, we hope that as of now we will begin to work all of us, work so that as of 2010 we will begin to fill the glass that is currently half full.

Thank you.

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