SWITZERLAND ADDRESSES CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT

The Conference on Disarmament today heard a statement from Switzerland, which took stock of 2006 disarmament activities, focusing on the issues of conventional weapons control, space security and a treaty banning the production of fissile materials for nuclear weapons or nuclear explosive devices.

Ambassador Jürg Streuli of Switzerland noted that conventional weapons control was one of the priority disarmament issues for Switzerland. The entry into force of Protocol V on Explosive Remnants Of War during the Third Review Conference of the Convention on the Prohibition of Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons had been without a doubt a major success. Switzerland also welcomed the joint statement made by 26 States parties to the Conventional Weapons Convention, in particular the proposal that a new international agreement be concluded on the serious humanitarian problems caused by sub-munitions. While 2006 saw the failure of the Review Conference to examine progress made in implementing the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, Switzerland was pleased to note the developments within the First Committee in Autumn 2006 had enabled a follow-up to the Programme of Action to take place at the global level. Switzerland was also committed to pursuing its efforts to raise awareness of the negative effects of armed violence on development, and on 7 June 2006, in collaboration with the UN Development Programme, Switzerland had organized a ministerial summit. At the Summit's conclusion, the 42 participating States had signed the Declaration of Geneva on Armed Violence and Development, by which they committed to undertake a series of measures to reduce armed violence in the world by 2015.

The events that had taken place over the course of the past 12 months had confirmed the importance and growing acuteness of the issue of space security. The first test in more than 20 years of an anti-satellite weapon had been an outstanding event, but it was by no means the only cause for concern. For an ever-growing number of nations, space applications played a crucial role in providing essential services as well as in many aspects of day-to-day life. Secure and permanent access to space therefore had to be a common objective. The stationing of arms in space as well as the deployment of arms targeting space systems from Earth ran counter to that objective. Other approaches to strengthening space security and to addressing concerns about the vulnerability of space systems could and had to be developed. Switzerland insisted that the responses already outlined by the Conference on this issue had to be developed in greater depth this year within the framework of a structured and substantive dialogue.

Finally, it was Switzerland's view that a treaty banning the production of fissile materials for nuclear weapons or nuclear explosive devices (FMCT) was the issue that was most ripe for negotiation within the Conference. This year, they could build on the achievements of last year's discussions: the critical issues had been identified and they were aware of a number of different approaches to tackle them. Switzerland believed that only a pragmatic approach to the critical aspects of an FMCT, including concerns about the verification procedures of such a treaty, would pave the way to a consensus. Switzerland encouraged all delegations to enter into negotiations on an FMCT without preconditions.

Also this morning, the Conference agreed to requests by Brunei Darussalam, the Philippines and Zambia to participate in the work of the Conference during 2007 as observers.

The next plenary of the Conference will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 6 February.