Statements and Speeches by Ministry Representatives 2007

Informal Consultations on the Secretary-General’s Proposal to Realign the Department for Disarmament Affairs - CANZ statement

Statement by HE Rosemary Banks, New Zealand Permanent Representative, on behalf of Australia, Canada and New Zealand, 28 February 2007

Mr Chairman, I am speaking today for Canada, Australia and New Zealand. In setting out the rationale for proposed changes to the Department of Disarmament Affairs, the Secretary-General has highlighted the need for “determined leadership at the highest level to revitalise the disarmament agenda”. He has accepted for himself a greater role and personal involvement, and we in CANZ welcome this.

There are deep and complex reasons for the disappointing lack of progress on the disarmament and non-proliferation agenda over recent years. These have little to do with the structure of DDA, but nonetheless there is always scope to more finely tune and sharply focus its effort.

We support the Secretary-General in his wish to bring the new Office for Disarmament Affairs into a tighter relationship with his own office. We agree with the four key functions the new High Representative is to be tasked with; namely, policy development and coordination; advocacy of disarmament and non-proliferation with Member States and civil society; promotion and support of multilateral efforts on disarmament and WMD, in particular nuclear weapons; and also in the field of conventional disarmament.

We are confident that this renewal of focus and reaffirmation of the role of the High Representative, to be appointed at Under-Secretary-General level, will go some way toward achieving the Secretary-General’s goal. A goal which we fully share – of giving greater visibility to disarmament and non-proliferation issues.

For these reasons, CANZ is ready to give our approval to elements of a framework resolution that have been distributed this morning and that we hope can be agreed by Member States.

We thank you as our two facilitators for quickly putting these elements in front of us.

Finally, Mr Chairman may I acknowledge Mr Tanaka for his contribution to DDA, and wish him well for the future.

Thank you Mr Chairman.

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