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CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT
Statement by the Chinese Delegation
6 February 1997
(CD/PV.754)
Mr. WANG: (China) (translated from Chinese):
First of all, Mr. President, I would like to apologize to you. My delegation was originally not prepared to make a statement during this formal plenary. However, since my delegation was still waiting for instructions from home, we could not make use of the opportunity of the past two informal plenaries to make clear my delegation's position on the CD's agenda.
Before clarifying the position of my delegation, there is one point I would like to emphasize: the core or the principal provision in the procedure of the CD is the one on consensus. According to rule 22, the Conference may hold meetings of a different format. The subject in the sentence above is "the Conference". In other words, if rule 22 is strictly observed, it will be up to the Conference to decide whether meetings other than formal sessions are to be held.
With regard to the issue before us, my delegation has the following comments to make. First, we are not raising objections to the privileges or the authority of the President. With regard to the format of informal consultations proposed by the President, my delegation did not raise any objection either. However, I must point out that, during yesterday's group coordinators' consultations, we made it very clear that my delegation will not be able to agree to limiting our discussions to three topicsponly. We believe that the three topics have been chosen by the President himself. Besides, we do not think that the topic-by-topic approach is an effective way to solve the issue of the agenda. If the parties concerned have the genuine desire to let the CD begin its work this year promptly or expeditiously, then the rules of procedure must be observed. In other words, the agenda and the programme of work as well as the schedule of activities, including the organizational arrangements, must bep solved together. Otherwise, even if we came to a kind of agreement on one or two items at this forum the CD would still not be able to start its work, because the procedural conditions have not been met.
On specific agenda items, my delegation's position is as follows: my delegation is of the view that the CD in 1997 should establish ad hoc committees on NSA as well as on the outer space issue. With regard to transparency in armaments, there will be no need to set up an ad hoc committee. We will have another occasion to elaborate our reasons. On the issue of landmines, my Government is still in the process of comprehensive deliberations. Pending the final decision of my Government on this issue, my delegation cannot commit itself in any way.
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