LEDOGAR'S FAREWELL REMARKS TO CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT
Geneva -- Ambassador Stephen Ledogar, U.S. representative to the Conference on Disarmament (CD), said in a farewell speech that the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty "are monuments to what this body can achieve when its members wish it so."
But he also expressed his "growing frustration with what I can only describe as a doomed effort to force the nuclear powers to negotiate now in this forum the elements of a disarmament process that they are conducting elsewhere.
"The implacable hefters of this linkage crowbar have blocked all work in this body for the foreseeable future, even work which is in the best interests of this body's members. Theirs is a self-defeating effort -- one which works to the disadvantage of the entire world community."
He stressed that "nuclear disarmament is happening now. It will happen more and even faster in the future. That the CD cannot for the foreseeable future have the governing role in the process in no way detracts from the importance of the CD's mission to seek multilateral arms control agreements of use to the entire world, nor from its stature as the world's only global arms control negotiating body."
Ledogar said the CD "has never been anything less than professional and respectful, and that together we have achieved much of lasting value.... The sense of dedication to the task of multilateral disarmament which has been entrusted to the CD by the international community is manifest in the professionalism of all who work with or in this body. It speaks well for the CD, and it gives me hope that it will endure and prosper."
Following is the text of his remarks as prepared for delivery.
(Begin text)
Statement by
Ambassador Stephen J. Ledogar
United States Representative
The Conference on Disarmament
Geneva
March 20, 1997
As prepared for delivery
Mr. President,
I take the floor today for the last time. It is both a happy and ironic coincidence that I do so under your Presidency, given that the U.S. and Russia have for so many years been at the heart of what goes on in this chamber. Thus, to mouth the usual platitudes about how pleased I am to see you in the chair, and how we should celebrate the progression of the alphabet, et cetera, would somehow trivialize this curious circumstance.
I have served in Geneva for more than seven years, and I have been fortunate enough to participate in some of the CD's most worthwhile and enduring enterprises. The Chemical Weapons Convention and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty are monuments to what this body can achieve when its members wish it so. The successful conclusion of these treaties in effect ratifies the worth of the multilateral negotiating process, even if universal ratification of the treaties themselves may well be problematic. And, we must remember, this process is all we have going for us in the global effort to reduce the level of armaments in the world and to stabilize their effect.
My sense of pride in these accomplishments is tempered, however, by growing frustration with what I can only describe as a doomed effort to force the nuclear powers to negotiate now in this forum the elements of a disarmament process that they are conducting elsewhere. The implacable hefters of this linkage crowbar have blocked all work in this body for the foreseeable future, even work which is in the best interests of this body's members. Theirs is a self-defeating effort -- one which works to the disadvantage of the entire world community. The CD is supposed to be strictly a negotiating body, but it is not immune to the laws of politics. And politics, as we all know, is the art of the possible. I can only hope, as I take leave of you, that a sense of realism will once again assert itself in the CD, and that the members of this body will not allow it to be paralyzed by unrealistic and impolitic demands. The real disarmament needs of the world community are simply too overwhelming and urgent. The CD should do what it can do, and help where it can help. It should seek to achieve again the importance that was its due in the past. It should not try to insist on the undoable.
Nuclear disarmament is happening now. It will happen more and even faster in the future. That the CD cannot for the foreseeable future have the governing role in the process in no way detracts from the importance of the CD's mission to seek multilateral arms control agreements of use to the entire world, nor from its stature as the world's only global arms control negotiating body.
Mr. President, my seven plus years here have been graced by close association with some of the world's sharpest and most competent diplomats. I have not agreed with some of them; in fact, at one time or another my instructions have caused me to be at odds with many of you. My style is not agreeable to many, either -- a fact I recognize with an ambivalent mixture of pride and regret. I called the shots as I saw them, and I took a few hits in the process. But I can honestly say that this association has never been anything less than professional and respectful, and that together we have achieved much of lasting value.
It remains only for me to thank you -- my colleagues and your staffs -- for the seriousness and professionalism with which you have treated me and my delegation over the years. I also thank the interpreters, other providers of conference services, and all the members of the international secretariat for their support and attention to the needs of the CD in general and of my delegation in particular. The sense of dedication to the task of multilateral disarmament which has been entrusted to the CD by the international community is manifest in the professionalism of all who work with or in this body. It speaks well for the CD, and it gives me hope that it will endure and prosper.
Thank you.
(End text)
NNNN
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
