Conference on Disarmament - 1st Part (Geneva, 23 January - 28 March 2008)

Statement on behalf of the European Union by H. E. Ambassador Andrej Logar, Permanent Representative of Slovenia to the Conference on Disarmament

Check against delivery

Mr President,

1. I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The Candidate Countries Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia as well as Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia align themselves with this declaration.
2. Since this is the first time I am taking the floor during your Presidency, allow me to begin by congratulating you on the assumption of the post of President of the Conference on Disarmament (CD), particularly since you are taking your post as the first in a row of six presidencies (P-6) in this 2008 session. I would like to assure you and other P-6 presidencies, chairing the Conference on Disarmament during 2008, of my full personal support and the support of the European Union in your efforts to continue with the work of the Conference, particularly in overcoming its longstanding impasse. I would, furthermore, like to commend you and other P-6 presidencies for the successful adoption of the traditional agenda of the Conference on Disarmament for this annual session.
3. The European Union is satisfied with the work of the P-6 presidencies in 2006 and 2007. This allowed the Conference on Disarmament to make progress over the last two years. The European Union welcomes the fact that the P-6 model of close and continuous coordination among the presidents of the annual session has been retained for 2008.
4. The European Union is convinced that the 2007 session of the Conference on Disarmament marked an important step forward. The six presidencies (P-6) that led it in 2007, namely South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland and Syria, successfully steered the work of the Conference, particularly during the first part of the annual session. In this context, I would like to thank on behalf of the European Union all seven coordinators, Ambassador Strømmen of Norway, Ambassador Trezza of Italy, Ambassador Meyer of Canada, Ambassador Paranhos of Brazil, Ambassador Draganov of Bulgaria, Ambassador Wibisono of Indonesia and Ambassador Duncan of the United Kingdom for their valuable work. In March 2007, the P-6 proposed the adoption of the work programme (document L.1) that includes many elements.
5. Allow me, Mr President, to underline once again the importance the European Union attaches to the Conference on Disarmament as the single multilateral forum at the disposal of the international community for global negotiations in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation. The European Union has been working consistently on the adoption of a programme of work. We will spare no efforts to revitalise this unique forum in order to resume negotiations and substantive work.
6. It is well known that the European Union attaches a clear priority to the negotiation, without preconditions, in the Conference on Disarmament, of a Treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices (FMCT), as a means to strengthen disarmament and non-proliferation. It constitutes a priority ripe for negotiation. The European Union is also ready to engage in substantial discussion on the other items included in L.1: on nuclear disarmament and the prevention of nuclear war, dealing with issues related to the prevention of an arms race in outer space and dealing with appropriate international arrangements to assure non-nuclear weapon states against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, as well as on other issues related to the Conference on Disarmament agenda.
7. The European Union is deeply convinced that the document L.1, which was later complemented by documents CRP.5 and CRP.6, constitutes a carefully crafted compromise. The European Union appeals to all 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.
8. The European Union wishes success to the 2008 P-6. As in past years, we will continuously support all efforts that can lead to a breakthrough, the adoption of the work programme and the resumption of negotiations and substantive work.
9. Finally, Mr President, the European Union would like to remind you of our longstanding attachment to the enlargement process of the Conference on Disarmament, in particular to those member states of the European Union which are not yet members of the Conference on Disarmament but which have already submitted their formal request for membership.

Thank you Mr President.