( ) Statement By H.E. Mr. Maung Wai Permanent Representative of the Republic of the Union of at the Plenary Meeting of the Conference on Disarmament th (Geneva, 24 January 2012) Mr. President, It is indeed a great honour for me to speak at this meeting at the beginning of the 2012 session as we renew our efforts to revitalize the work of the Conference.

At the outset, I would like to extend our warm congratulations on your assumption of the Presidency at this time of great importance for the future of the Conference on Disarmament. I am convinced that with your wisdom and able leadership, we will achieve desired results in our work at the Conference. I wish to assure you, Mr. President, my delegation’s full support and cooperation in the discharge of your responsibilities.

My delegation commends your efforts during the intersessional period to reach out to all members of the Conference including the conducting of the first round of informal engagement or consultations aiming to build understanding and transparency among us and to find ways and means to get the Conference back to its substantive work. We also commend you for your non-paper or as you term it non-non paper on the Programme of Work for the 2012 session.

Mr. President, I would like to thank His Excellency Mr. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Secretary- General of the CD and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General of the for being here with us today and for delivering the Statement of the Secretary- General of the United Nations. The Secretary-General’s message provides us with a sense of direction for the way forward.

I would also like to take this opportunity to warmly welcome our new colleagues Ambassadors of Brazil, , , , , and Russian Federation. Ambassadors, your diplomatic skills and experiences will no doubt enrich our work in the CD. My delegation is looking forward to working closely with your team. I also wish to bid a fond farewell to the Ambassador of and wish him all the best in his future responsibilities.

Mr. President, Myanmar consistently attaches paramount importance to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. So long as nuclear weapons continue to exist, the risk of their proliferation will also remain. 2

It is our conviction that the best and the only genuinely effective defense against a nuclear catastrophe is the total elimination of these ominous weapons. The very first resolution of the United Nations General Assembly 1 (1) of 1946 called for the elimination of nuclear weapons from the national arsenals. Today, this call is yet to be heeded.

Myanmar is also committed to other important issues such as a treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons and other nuclear explosive devices (FMT), the prevention of arms race in outer space (PAROS) and negative security assurances (NSA).

Mr. President, Allow me to share our view on the state of affairs in the CD.

It was 16 years ago that the CD fulfilled one of its mandates by successfully negotiating and concluding the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty-CTBT in 1996.

My delegation has been greatly frustrated by the continued deadlock since then in the CD. However, despite our disappointment, my delegation is still convinced that the unique composition and the historic achievements of the Conference provide us with a reason to believe that the CD is still relevant as the sole multilateral disarmament- negotiating forum. However, one thing is very clear. The CD and its members have to be immensely creative and cooperative this year.

It is obvious that the destiny of the CD is in our hands. As we used to say in this very chamber, “We are the master of our own”. Citing the lack of political will, will not meet or satisfy the expectations that the international community has placed on the CD. Procedural issues also cannot be held responsible for the stagnation of the CD. The Members of the Conference will have to take serious decisions that will have a profound effect on the failure or success of the Conference. The time has come for us to take such bold decisions.

Mr. President, My Delegation reaffirms our readiness to participate constructively in all efforts aiming at reaching agreement on a Programme of Work for the CD this year. We are open-minded and ready to look at all avenues that will lead to breaking the deadlock. In the same vein, we would like to call upon all Member States to show their utmost flexibility and demonstrate their political will towards achieving our common objectives in CD.

Thank you, Mr. President.

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