March 17, 2016
News
Pakistan to preside UN’s disarmament conference
Conference agenda includes nuclear disarmament, prevention of an arms race in outer spaceISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) and other International Organisations in Geneva Ambassador Tehmina Janjua will take over the presidency of the “Conference on Disarmament” on March 21.
Pakistan had last time held the conference presidency 11 years ago in 2005, said a Foreign Office statement. The conference is the world's single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum. It was established in 1979 as a follow up to the First Special Session of the UN General Assembly on Disarmament (SSOD-I) held in 1978.
According to the statement, the conference adheres to the principle of equal and undiminished security for all states while promoting general and complete disarmament. The conference comprises 65 member states, including all militarily significant countries. Its agenda includes nuclear disarmament, prevention of an arms race in outer space as well as issues related to new types of weapons of mass destruction, comprehensive programme of disarmament and transparency in armaments.
The conference has produced legal instruments such as Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). Pakistan is an active and a vital member of the conference since its inception. Pakistan views the conference as an integral and indispensable part of the international disarmament machinery that can contribute to the promotion of international peace and security as well as regional stability.
Pakistan remains constructively committed to the effective functioning of the conference. As the president of the conference, Pakistan will strive to advance the conference agenda in a balanced, cooperative and consensus-based manner.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk