DYB2011-Part-II-web

United Nations Disarmament Yearbook 2011: Part II
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chaired by Liseth Ancidey (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela) and held seven
meetings from 15 to 20 April.
Working Group I had before it a working paper40 submitted by the Chair
of that Group at its 2008 session as well as a working paper41 presented by the
NAM at the 2010 session. The Group held discussions on the topics suggested
by the Chair in his personal capacity, during which members made various
proposals. The Chair also circulated a non-paper, under his own responsibility,
to facilitate discussions. In addition, delegations made various proposals to
find agreed language to bridge their respective positions but were unable to
achieve a consensus. On 14 April, Working Group I agreed on a procedural
report, which it adopted by consensus.
Working Group II had before it a non-paper42 circulated by the Chair,
pursuant to a decision at its 2010 session. The non-paper included proposals
made by delegations during the 2010 session. After a preliminary reading
of the non-paper, the Chair circulated a revised non-paper that incorporated
proposals put forward by the delegations. At the same time, the Chair
introduced his own non-paper without prejudice to the position of any
delegation. Following an exchange of views, the Group was, however, unable
to reach agreement. On 14 April, Working Group II adopted a procedural
report by consensus.
Working Group III had before it A/CN.10/2008/WG.II/CRP.1/Rev.2
and a non-paper prepared and circulated by the Chair, under her own
responsibility, to facilitate discussion, without prejudice to the position of
any delegation. After discussion and deliberation, the non-paper was further
revised in the light of additional proposals by delegations, but failed to bridge
the respective positions of delegations. On 20 April, Working Group III
adopted its procedural report by consensus.
In the concluding session of the UNDC, a number of delegations stressed
the importance of revitalizing the disarmament machinery in order to achieve
better results in future deliberations while some delegations emphasized
the primacy of the disarmament machinery and the need to work within its
existing framework for seeking progress in the disarmament field.
In presenting the draft report, the Rapporteur of the Commission,
Dadjedji Hervé Djokpe (Benin), remarked that the inability of the working
groups to adopt outcome documents by consensus was a reflection “of the
complexity of the issues at hand, and not of insufficient efforts made by
delegations”. 43
40 A/CN.10/2008/WG.I/WP.1/Rev.1.
41 A/CN.10/2010/WG.I/WP.1.
42 A/CN.10/2009/WG.II/CRP.1/Rev.2.
43 A/CN.10/PV.317.