Reaching Critical Will

Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)

Conference on Disarmament

General Assembly First Committee

UN Disarmament Commission

Special Session on Disarmament

Unofficial transcript
Egypt, Ambassador Hisham Badr
27 August 2009

Thank you, Mr. President.

Allow me at the outset to extend to you our congratulations for your assumption of the presidency of the CD. I am confident that at this sensitive juncture your well recognized capabilities will be a highly valuable asset in steering the work of our Conference forward. And you can count on my delegation to extend our support. Allow me also to thank your able predecessor ambassador Millar of Australia for her wise leadership and tireless efforts.

Mr. President, the 2009 CD session has managed to achieve a consensus that has eluded us for over a decade, and which manifested itself in our recently adopted Programme of Work. This is an important milestone. It allows us to highlight the importance of preserving the same healthy spirit that guided our work in 2009 for our future sessions.

It is important to recognize as we move forward that collective ownership of the process is necessary for its sustainability. Such collective ownership can be achieved by addressing the concerns of all parties and taking into consideration the various positions.

A very large number of delegations, mine included, have indicated their willingness to accept consensus on CD/1870-Rev1. However, we are also flexible in addressing suggestions, presented by other delegations, with a view to achieving that consensus and implementing our Programme of Work.

Egypt is of the view that immense time and effort has gone into moving forward on CD/1870-Rev1. A convergence of opinion is close at hand, with most issues having been addressed. We are at the last mile, and even though the last mile is the hardest, this should not drive us to abandon this proper track.

We encourage you Mr. President, to redouble your efforts with the concerned parties, in order to reach a prompt agreement. Egypt is firmly committed to a strict adherence and implementation of the rules of procedure of the Conference.

Mr. President, in conclusion, allow me to reiterate our confidence in your capabilities and in the wisdom of your judgment. And we remain ready to work with all interested parties, in order to achieve the consensus needed to move our work forward in a healthy and productive manner. It takes into consideration the long term view, which is certainly the nature of any negotiations of matters such strategic importance as those addressed in the Conference.

Thank you.