At its meeting today, the Conference on Disarmament (CD), under the chairmanship of Ambassador Leonardo Bencini, Permanent Representative of Italy to this body, approved after intense negotiations the work program for 2025. With this decision, adopted by consensus, five subsidiary bodies are established to discuss a range of issues including the cessation of a nuclear arms race and the prevention of nuclear conflict; assurances to non-nuclear states on the non-use of such weapons against them; and security in outer space. Reaching an agreement was not a foregone conclusion. “The CD does not operate in a vacuum,” said Ambassador Bencini, ”and the current international tensions cannot but affect its work. Today’s outcome, however, shows that there is room for dialogue to get back on track toward the start of negotiations on these sensitive issues.” The Conference on Disarmament consists of 65 states, including all nuclear powers. “It is the only forum of which the nuclear powers are all members and can talk to each other,” Bencini added, ”and this is important, especially in this historical moment.” The Italian CD presidency will end in mid-February when Japan will succeed, under a monthly rotation mechanism. The work of the subsidiary bodies established today will continue until the closure of the session next September, when they will be asked to approve a report for the plenary.
AGREEMENT UNDER ITALIAN PRESIDENCY ON WORK PROGRAM FOR THE CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT
