Lanka wants speedy negotiations for nuclear disarmament

Sri Lanka expressed its disappointment over the failure of the Conference on Disarmament to reach consensus on its programme of work and urged member states to make concerted efforts to reach an early agreement on the Programme of Work. Speaking on behalf of Sri Lanka, Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha, Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, at the Conference on Disarmament (CD) on Tuesday (05 March 2013), said nuclear Disarmament remains the highest priority of Sri Lanka in the work of the CD and that its international treaty obligations undertaken in the field of Disarmament are an indication of the country’s commitment to the elimination of the threat posed by nuclear weapons.

Emphasizing the need to reach an early agreement on a universal, unconditional and legally binding instrument to assure non-nuclear weapon states against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, Ambassador Aryasinha said it is imperative to start negotiations for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons with a specific time frame.

Ambassador Aryasinha said Sri Lanka attaches great importance to the Conference on Disarmament which is the sole multilateral negotiating forum.

“In this context, we express our disappointment that the Conference has once again failed to reach consensus on the Programme of Work. It is imperative that the Member States should continue to make concerted efforts to reach an early agreement on the CD’s Programme of Work. It is my delegation’s firm belief that the adoption of a Programme of Work could be possible only through confidence building and equal respect for the security of all Member States,” he said.

“Nuclear Disarmament remains the highest priority of Sri Lanka in the work of the CD. There is much concern on the existence of nuclear weapons and of their possible use or threat of use, as it poses a menace to humanity. Sri Lanka ’s commitment to the elimination of the threat posed by nuclear weapons is reflected in the international treaty obligations undertaken in the field of disarmament. It is my belief that a transparent, sustainable and credible plan for multilateral nuclear disarmament is required in order to achieve the ultimate goal of a world free of nuclear weapons,” he said.

“As a country committed to complete disarmament, Sri Lanka encourages Member States to negotiate the comprehensive Nuclear Weapons Convention,”Ambassador Aryasinha said.

“Sri Lanka supports the convening of the Fourth Special Session of the UN General Assembly Devoted to Disarmament (SSOD IV), to discuss and consider issues pertaining to disarmament, and remains disappointed at the persistent lack of consensus on its convening. The importance of strengthening the Nuclear Disarmament mechanism is evident by recent events which have violated the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1874 (2009). Sri Lanka continuously encourages Nuclear Weapon States to disarm their nuclear weapons as early as possible,” he said.