Conference on Disarmament (CD)

CD Notes

Back to the main page on the UN and the CD

Austrian Minister of European and International Affairs addresses the CD, 2 September 2009

Compiled by Acronym Geneva Intern Nafiseh Baeidi

Austria, Minister for European and International Affairs, Dr. Michael Spindelleger

Dr. Michael Spindelegger focused on recent positive developments in arms control and disarmament:

• Expressed Austria’s will to support initiatives aimed at substantial progress in nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation, and global system to effectively control the nuclear fuel cycle.
• Welcomed the 5-Point Plan for Disarmament propossed by UN Secretary General.
• Welcomed positive statements made by president Obama in Prague and Cairo, and by President Medvevev, and Chinese foreign minister Yang which underlined China’s goal of a nuclear weapon free world.
• Noted that Austria had promoted the vision of world free of nuclear weapons since cold war
• Noted that  striving for this is goal is now more necessary.

He looked for corresponding concrete actions: bilateral reductions and the global atmosphere in multilateral arms control negotiations.

• Emphasized two developments: 1-direct bilateral negotiations, 2.the change of global atmosphere in multilateral arms control negotiations (preparation of 2010 NPT- Review show a better atmosphere), adding that good atmosphere and positive declarations needs real implementation and compliance.
  
• Expressed Austria’s expectations for the future in the field of nuclear disarmament and arms control:
  1-appealed to those states who have not yet done so to accede to the CTBT as soon as possible.
  2-restart negotiations on FMCT, the potential positive impact of such a treaty has been confirmed many times.
  3-achieve a meaningful outcome at the NPT Review Conference.

Finally, he underlined that disarmament and arms control must be an open, participatory process. Expressed the importance of the flexibility of nuclear weapons states and contributions of all other states but also the commitment and expertise of civil society in order to succeed.

http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/political/cd/
speeches09/3session/02September_Austria.pdf

Back to the Top of the Page

© 2009 The Acronym Institute.