Statement by the Head of Delegation of the Republic of Korea
Mr. Secretary General,
My delegation wholeheartedly welcomes you to Geneva and thank you for setting up this meaningful gathering. Your presence here today illustrates your high priority on disarmament. It also awakens the CD to the concerns of the international society about the long-standing stalemate of the CD.
Despite some positive movements in other disarmament areas, the Conference on Disarmament (CD) remains mired in the doldrums since the adoption of the CTBT in 1996. Although the long-awaited Program of Work (CD/1864) was adopted in 2009, the CD has still not been able to move forward to substantial discussions.
Amid this, some even in the CD question the very raison d’être of the CD.
Unfortunately, we hate to admit, but the CD is losing its own momentum, only to become none of a white elephant.
The reasons for the impasse in the CD process may be various and complex, and the answers to these problems may not be easy to find within the CD itself, for well-known reasons.
Along with internal efforts within the CD, momentum from outside might be one way to give stimulus to it. In this regard, the High-level Meeting hosted by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon last September was indeed timely and significant.
I believe that implementing the 4 recommendations of the High-level Meeting would be a valuable starting point conducive to revitalization of it.
In this context we support your idea of an Eminent Persons Group as you have indicated.
We hope that, in response to your appeal and based on its collective
wisdom, the work of the CD bears tangible fruit sooner than later. All of us in this room, being in the same boat, should respond to this imperative call in a responsible manner.
Thank you. /End/
