Mr. Secretary General of the Conference of Disarmament,

Mr. President,

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am privileged to address the Conference on Disarmament - the only international multilateral disarmament negotiating body.

Each organization lives through optimistic and difficult times. I am glad to note that the CD is making an ultimate attempt to break a vicious cycle in which it has put itself for the past 10 years by trying to agree on a program of work. Latvia believes that the valuable initiative of the 6 CD Presidents of the past year along with a much more engaging approach proposed by the current sextet, which has also been accepted by members of this august body, should generate sufficient momentum to start the long awaited negotiations.

We follow with interest the deliberations on all issues on the agenda – from nuclear disarmament and the ban on production of fissile materials, to prevention of an arms race in outer space, to negative security assurances or transparency in armaments. We have noted and are carefully examining important contributions to the CD - elements of possible instruments and mandates recently proposed by several delegations. Equally, we appreciate the considerable improvement in the accuracy and timeliness of the information flow from the CD Plenary meetings, especially through the updated website of the Conference.

Mr. President,

The last couple of years have not been among the most successful in multilateral disarmament affairs. Latvia regrets that several important forums have not produced the desired results – the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty Review Conference, Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe Review Conference, and Small Arms Light Weapons (SALW) Review Conference just to name a few. Success in the area of disarmament is measured in terms of expectations. While these regimes have not lived up to expectations, nobody is questioning their validity or relevance. At the same time we note with certain satisfaction that the Sixth Review Conference of Biologic and Toxin Weapons Convention was able to agree on measures to strengthen national implementation of the convention. However, an effective carrying out of these agreements remains a challenge.

Latvia regrets the unsuccessful attempt to conclude an agreement on mines other than anti-personnel mines during the Third Review Conference of the Convention of Certain Conventional Weapons. We hope that CCW will live up to the expectations placed in it by the States Parties – to start negotiations on legally binding instrument to regulate the technical and design characteristics and use of cluster munitions with a view to minimizing their humanitarian impact. Latvia considers the CCW as the most appropriate forum for addressing this issue, while acknowledging the potential positive effect of the initiative on cluster munitions taken by Norway and other 46 nations.

Mr. President,

Latvia's economy and development is increasingly dependent on peaceful outer space technologies and applications. We believe that an arms race in outer space must be prevented. Such prevention is also an important condition for the strengthening of international security. We appreciated the careful consideration of the issue of prevention of an arms race in outer space in the past two years by the Conference. We should make all efforts to explore, in a substantial manner, further possibilities for preventing an arms race in outer space.

Conventions and multilateral agreements have already covered much of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) material and sources. The arsenals of nuclear superpowers are at their lowest levels in several decades. Latvia appreciates detailed information given by the nuclear states on their nuclear stockpiles during recent meetings of the Conference. There has been good progress in the areas of prohibition and elimination of biological and chemical weapons. However, proliferation of military technologies, arms, nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, as well as their means of delivery is still one of the greatest challenges we face today. It is compounded by the dual usability of many of today's technologies. All too often the thin line marks the difference between peaceful and military use of technologies. In light of the rise of extremism and terrorism, proliferation of WMD takes on a whole new meaning and urgency.

This is why we see that discussions within the Conference on Disarmament on Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty are of paramount importance. Latvia believes that the commencement of FMCT negotiations is long overdue and calls on the CD Member States not to wait any longer.

However, it is not enough just to reach for new ground breaking international agreements. It is not enough just to universalize. Honouring the existing treaties is of no lesser importance. Without that, the foundations of the international non-proliferation regime face the danger of not being sound and solid. Without that, the existing treaties risk becoming just hollow compilations of carefully crafted words. There are some recent positive developments in the area of fulfilling the commitments undertaken by states under the Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT). Let me highlight the firm decision taken by the Government of Libya.  However, and more alarmingly, there are disappointments as well. Iran has yet to convince the international community of the peaceful nature of its nuclear program. As regards to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Latvia positively views the resumption of six party talks and hopes that these recent developments will provide a basis for a negotiated solution.

Mr. President,

Since regaining its independence Latvia's foreign and security policy has been aimed towards elimination of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction to ensure stability and security in our region and globally. Latvia has actively pursued non-proliferation policies. One of the main activities in this field has been Latvia's stringent export control policies regarding WMD and dual-use materials. We see that strict export control regimes are a key to diminishing proliferation. Of course, one of the main enablers of success in this area is close and effective international cooperation. Latvia can boast a strong and effective strategic goods export control system, as well as considerable experience and expertise in the field. We are working with our regional partners to share and transfer this knowledge to the advantage of effectiveness of non-proliferation efforts in our region.

While proliferation of WMD is at the forefront of challenges to be addressed in the coming years, we should not forget more traditional arms control issues. Latvia views the initiative of establishing common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms through an Arms Trade Treaty as a necessary step towards curbing the proliferation of conventional weapons.

Since January 1, 2006 Latvia is a member of Ottawa convention and in the first six months after becoming a member we had already fulfilled all the requirements of the Convention regarding destruction of the stockpiles - years ahead of our scheduled commitments.

Mr. President,

In concluding, I would like to leave the CD a reminder that there is a line outside its doors. Since 1982, twenty-four non-member states have applied for membership. Latvia is one of them. Observership, which we have been granted by the CD, is a nice but, in our view, not sufficient gesture. We hope that the CD will decide on its expansion in the near future. Latvia stands ready to contribute, to the greatest extent possible, to the work of the Conference as its full fledge member.

Thank you, Mr. President.