ASIATODAY.ID, GENEVA – Indonesia, represented by Ambassador Febrian A. Ruddyard, officially began his term of office as President of the Conference on Disarmament (CD) for four weeks until March 15 2024, at the UN Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
In the second week of the presidency, from 26 February to 1 March 2024, Indonesia will chair the CD High-Level Meeting Segment which will be attended by the UN Secretary General, António Guterres, heads of international organizations such as the Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), as well as high-level officials from 65 CD member countries, including the Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi.
Facing complex global challenges in the context of disarmament, the Indonesian Presidency is determined to ensure that the CD remains relevant and responsive.
By identifying at least four main current challenges, Indonesia wants to encourage significant progress in implementing its nuclear disarmament commitments, overcome the rhetoric and potential use of nuclear weapons, reduce countries’ interest in military alliances, and strengthen the commitment of nuclear weapon states in disarmament.
In its capacity as CD President, Indonesia sees this as an important opportunity to assert its leadership role in promoting global peace and security through the disarmament agenda.
“This presidency will focus on revitalizing political will, building trust, and reducing distrust between countries, with efforts to bridge existing differences and polarization,” as quoted from a PTRI Geneva press release, Monday, February 26 2024.
Key initiatives during the Presidency include holding interactive thematic discussions that will address two critical themes: improving CD working methods and efforts to build trust and reduce distrust. This activity, which is the first initiative in CD history, will produce a working paper document on behalf of Indonesia which will become an official CD document.
In addition, Indonesia is committed to ensuring that the CD discusses new and important issues, including the use of new technology in weapons systems, with an approach that prioritizes cooperation, open dialogue, and is responsive to the aspirations of CD members.
The CD is a major multilateral cooperation forum founded in 1979, aimed at negotiating international agreements in the field of disarmament, including weapons of mass destruction. Currently, the CD consists of 65 countries with significant military capabilities, including Indonesia.
The CD, as the main multilateral cooperation forum for negotiating international treaties related to disarmament, has played a key role in the development of important treaties such as the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the Convention on the Prohibition of Biological Weapons (BTWC), the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (CWC), and the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).
Indonesia’s Presidency in CD marks a significant step in global efforts towards the transformation of weapons disarmament, especially weapons of mass destruction and realizing safer world peace and security. (AT Network)
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