In our assessment the Conference on Disarmament today is at one of the most important sessions in recent years.

If this meeting can adopt a plan for the implementation of the programme of work a real breakthrough will occur in the work of the CD. Accordingly, after thirteen years of deadlock the conference can enter into a substantive phase of its work - the goal that all of us have tried best to materialise.

However, if the meeting today cannot adopt a plan for the implementation of its programme of work, there would be practically speaking no further opportunities to implement the programme of work taking into account the time schedule of the 2009 annual session of the CD and we should accept the reality that the stalemate at the CD will continue further without a bright immediate prospect for the future.

In this framework we have today - all of us - a special responsibility for the fate of the CD and its future work.

Mr. President, the adoption of the programme of work of the Conference on May this year under the able chairmanship of Ambassador Jazaïry opened up an unprecedented optimism and hope that the Conference can commence its substantive work after a long time of deadlock. Immediately, following the adoption of Programme of Work the efforts were made to prepare the necessary draft decision to adopt that Programme of Work. 

Different approaches and views, different formulations and languages were presented by various delegations in this regard. The result of it is mainly reflected in draft1870rev1 submitted by the ambassador of Australia.

The draft was, however, subjected to additional discussions and particularly the delegation of Pakistan offered certain amendments.  We are happy that constructive engagement was started and after intensive consultations at the higher political level there is a clear understanding and agreement on many elements of the proposals of Pakistan. 

We appreciate the fact that Pakistan has shown flexibility of some of the languages that they have already suggested.

Based on our reading, as it was reiterated today by the distinguished ambassador of Pakistan, the key outstanding point at this moment, which has not been agreed, is small sub paragraph d of the draft.  Particularly, a reference in that paragraph to the notion of balanced outcomes of the working groups established under the four core issues of the CD agenda.

Mr. President, the notion of balanced outcome of the work carried out under the four core items of the conference should in our view not be at all a controversial issue at the level that prevents the CD from entering into substantive discussions after such a long stalemate.

First of all, frankly speaking, many delegations event without inclusion of this notion in the draft will pursue a balanced outcome anyhow in the work of the CD in its addressing of the four core issues. 

I think that this position should be clearly seen by through the efforts exerted by many countries for the adoption of a balanced programme of work. It is clear that four many years the CD was ready to engage into negotiations on FMCT but it took some years to adopt a programme of work which includes the commitment of the Conference to engage into three other agenda items namely nuclear disarmament, negative security assurances and the prevention of arms race into outer space.

I am sure that years of negotiations for the inclusion of these issues into the Programme of Work should have been clearly manifested the vital importances that all core issues have for all of us.

It should be simplistic view that the members of this conference will not demand serious engagement of the conference on all of these four core issues.

Secondly, Mr. President, we are absolutely sure that the inclusion of the language presented by Pakistan in the draft will not hinder in any manner the engagement of the CD in implementing properly and fully its programme of work.

At least for 2009 and considering the time limits of our annual session, nobody can deny that a balanced outcome from the working groups established by the CD will be achieved.

Mr. President, in conclusion, we reiterate that even if some speculation could be made about possible interpretation and accordingly possible implication of the suggested language in the text today we believe that brutal fact of continued deadlock for the case of not reaching the decision today would have far more broad negative implications for the CD.

We think rational assessments to let the most definite consequences would prevail over just speculations about possible interpretation of that language for the future. 

So, Mr. President, let us agree upon the particular suggestion by Pakistan on a non-objection basis and adopt the plan for implementation of the programme of work of the CD today. Let us just do it.

Thank you.

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