Statement by Amb. D.B. Venkatesh Varma, PR to CD, at the CD Plenary on May 17, 2016

Madam President, 

We would like to thank you for conducting informal consultations in the inter-sessional period and updating us today on the results of those consultations.  We associate ourselves with the statements made by Malaysia on behalf of the G-21, including on the priority issue of Nuclear Disarmament.

2.    We are already in the second part of the 2016 Annual Session, without progress on substantive work of the Conference.   We recall that the last time this Conference was able to adopt a decision on its Programme of Work was in 2009 with respect to the adoption of CD/1864.  Since then consensus has been blocked citing extraneous reasons that are and have remained unconvincing.  Mere repetition does not add to their credibility.  We do hope that the CD is allowed to move forward on the basis of consensus on its Programme of Work and in this context, India remains supportive of the immediate commencement of FMCT negotiations.

3.    India has consistently supported international efforts to strengthen measures against international terrorism, including addressing the urgent threat of terrorists gaining access to WMD.  Indias resolution at the First Committee on this issue first tabled in 2002 has been adopted by consensus ever since.    We have noted the proposal presented by the distinguished Foreign Minister of Russia, H. E. Sergey Lavrov on 1st March, 2016 in the CD on an International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Chemical Terrorism and further clarifications provided by the Russian delegation thereafter including on 29th March and the statement made today by Mr. Ulyanov on behalf his delegation. 

4.    The Russian proposal has been considered in capital.  India supports the Russian proposal and its extension to include bio-terrorism and its further consideration in the CD with a view to building consensus for the commencement of substantive work.  We have noted the revised Russian proposal for a Programme of Work made today which includes a Working Group on Nuclear Disarmament, and feel that it has considerable potential.  We also look forward to a revised draft of the International Convention which the Russian delegation has indicated will be made available in June.  This will be considered in Inter-agency process in Capital and India would be happy to engage in further consultations on this proposal in the CD.