UK Mission on Arms Control and Disarmament

Recent Activities:

5 October 2009: UN General Assembly meets on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation

Following the historic summit at the UN Security Council on 24 September 2009, Ambassador John Duncan will lead a cross-Whitehall team at the UNGA First Committee on Disarmament and International Security from 5 October - 4 November. Our two key objectives are to secure agreement for a UN Conference in 2012 to negotiate an Arms Trade Treaty and to work for First Committee outcomes which reflect global momentum to strengthen the NPT ahead of the RevCon next year. First Committee consists of three distinct phases:

• the General Debate from 5-12 October
• thematic debates on nuclear, conventional and other clusters from 13-24 October
• voting on some 60 resolutions during the remaining time

UNGA64 First Committee: UK Nuclear Statement by Ambassador John Duncan, 14 October 2009 [PDF 96KB, new window]

UNGA64 First Committee: UK Conventional Weapons Statement by Ambassador John Duncan, 19 October 2009 [PDF 96KB, new window]

UNGA64 L38 latest version of the The Arms Trade Treaty Resolution [PDF 155KB, new window]

UNGA64 First Committee: UK Statement by Ambassador John Duncan on behalf of the Co-Authors of Resolution L38 The Arms Trade Treaty, 21 October 2009 [PDF 76KB, new window]

24 September 2009: UN Security Council agrees resolution on nuclear weapons

In an historic UN Security Council meeting on 24 September the Council unanimously adopted a resolution calling for further efforts to stop the spread of nuclear arms, boost disarmament and lower the risk of 'nuclear terrorism'.

23 September 2009: Foreign Secretary David Miliband underlines the need for The Arms Trade Treaty

David Miliband makes the case for moving forward on The Arms Trade Treaty at this year's First Committee. To see the full video, please click here.

23 September 2009: PM speaks to UN General Assembly on nuclear proliferation

In his speech to the United Nations General Assembly on 23 September, the UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown referred to nuclear proliferation as one of the five key challenges facing the international community.

20 September 2009 - David Miliband on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation

The UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband has written an article in the Guardian newspaper ahead of the 24 September UN Security Council Summit on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

4 September 2009 - P5 Conference on confidence building measures towards disarmament and non-proliferation issues.

The P5 states (China, France, Russia, UK and US) met in London on 3-4 September for a conference on confidence building measures towards disarmament and non-proliferation issues. After the conference they issued a statement reaffirming their commitment to all objectives of the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The conference was originally proposed by the UK Defence Secretary at the Conference on Disarmament in February 2008 and was referred to by the UK Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, in a speech on 17 March 2009.

21 August 2009: Experts arrive in Geneva for Biological Weapons Convention Meeting

Experts and scientists from a range of UK Government departments will be joining delegations from across the world in the annual experts meeting of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention from 24-28 August in Geneva.  The aim of this year's conference is to enhance international co-operation, assistance and exchange in biological sciences for peaceful purposes, in areas such as disease surveillance, detection, diagnosis and containment of infectious diseases.  The UK has presented four papers for the 2009 meeting.

Further information can be found on the BTWC webpage. 

12 August 2009: Chinese Foreign Minister addresses the Conference on Disarmament

The Chinese Foreign Minister, HE Yang Jiechi, today delivered a statement [PDF 634KB, new window] to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva on international arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation.

17 July 2009: Arms Trade Treaty

The second meeting of the UN Open-Ended Working Group towards an Arms Trade Treaty concluded on the 17 July with consensus for the first time that the lack of international regulation of the conventional arms trade is a serious problem that an ATT could address.  Consensus was also achieved on an OEWG report to the next UN General Assembly.  For more in formation on the ATT OEWG see our ATT page  and also read Ambassador Duncan's statement.

16 July 2009: Prime Minister presents NPT ‘Road to 2010’

Prime Minister Gordon Brown today presented the UK Government’s Road to 2010 plan. This brings together - for the first time - the UK’s detailed vision for a renewed nuclear global bargain on the key strategic challenges of the modern nuclear era:

• the safe expansion of civil nuclear power
• nuclear security
• non-proliferation and
• the reduction and eventual elimination of all nuclear weapons.

For up-to-date information on UK policy on nuclear issues and statements from the NPT meetings please see our pages on the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

13 - 17 July 2009:  Arms Trade Treaty

The second meeting of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) Open Ended Working Group (OEWG) will meet in New York this week.  It is hoped that a consensus report can be agreed at this meeting and then the UN General Assembly will discuss it in October when a decision will be taken on further steps towards an ATT.  Ambassador John Duncan will lead the UK delegation at the meeting. Please click here for information on the previous ATT OEWG which was held in March.

UK Statement to ATT Open Ended Working Group, 15 July 2009

6 - 10 July 2009:  UN Conventional Arms Register

The Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) on the UN Register on Conventional Arms Control will meet for the third, and final, time this year from 6-10 July in New York.  This meeting will concentrate on finalisation of the GGE's consideration of the scope and operation of the Register, and adoption of a report for the Secretary General.  Please visit our Conventional Arms Register page for more information.

29 May 2009:  Conference on Disarmament breaks deadlock and agrees to begin FMCT negotiations

After 12 years of deadlock, the Conference on Disarmament (CD) today adopted a Programme of Work, enabling it to begin negotiation on a Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty (FMCT).  The negotiations of an FMCT is a priority for the UK and is vital to help make reduction in nuclear weapons irreversible.  Alongside FMCT negotiations, the Conference will hold substantive discussions on other key issues - nuclear disarmament, negative security assurances and the prevention of an arms race in space.  In a statement to the CD, UK Ambassador John Duncan warmly welcomed the adoption of the Programme of Work, stressing that this achievement was a 'collective effort and a tribute to cross-regional co-operation, and to the efforts and determination of many individuals'.

19 May 2009:  UN Secretary General addresses the Conference on Disarmament

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon today addressed the Conference on Disarmament (CD) in Geneva, welcoming 'initiatives from nuclear and non-nuclear states that provide a new momentum for disarmament'.  He called on the CD to take advantage of an improved international climate and adopt the proposal currently on the table, which would allow the CD to begin negotiations on a Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty (FMCT) and allow for discussions on other key issues - nuclear disarmament, negative security assurances and the prevention of an arms race in space.  The UN Secretary General was joined by Micheline Calmy-Rey, Swiss Minister for Foreign Affairs, representing the host- country, and Mourad Medelci, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Algeria, representing the current Presidency of the CD.

4-15 May 2009: Third Session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2010 Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference, New York

Ambassador John Duncan led the UK delegation at the third session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2010 Non-proliferation Treaty Review Conference from 4 - 15 May 2009 in New York.  For the first time in 15 years, the Prepcom was able to agree the agenda for the 2010 Review Conference, together with Rules of Procedure and the nomination of the Revcon President (Ambassador Libran N. Cabactulan of the Philipines).  For up-to-date information on UK policy on nuclear issues and statements from the NPT meetings please see our pages on the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). 

27 April - 1 May: UN Conventional Arms Register

The Governmental Group of Experts (GGE) tasked to review the implementation and operation of the Register met in Geneva for a second time from 27 April to 1 May.  The talks focussed on the addition of new categories on Small Arms and Light Weapons, Unmanned Combat Ariel Vehicles and Military Holdings and Procurement through national production. Please visit our Conventional Arms Register page for more information on the meeting.

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