Thank you Chair,
In addition to the statement delivered by the EU, as well as the French-German joint statement, I would like to make the following remarks in my national capacity.

Chair, Excellencies and distinguished delegates,
I would like to start with a quote. 
“[…] The world’s security architecture rests on the major treaties on weapons of mass destruction negotiated by [the Conference on Disarmament and its predecessors]. But the last such success – the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty – was nine years ago, I repeat, was nine years ago – and it has still not entered into force. […] Since then, the Conference has been barren of achievement.” 

This was said by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in his address to the Conference on Disarmament on 21 June 2006. With a small adjustment to the date, this very statement could be read out today. The CD still not delivers on its mandate, despite of meeting for 24 weeks every year.

Chair,

Upholding the arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation architecture is a worthy goal in and of itself: we must protect existing treaties, conventions and agreements. But we must also adapt to the world around us – we must formulate new norms, principles, and rules in novel and emerging domains, including where they intersect with existing ones.

The Netherlands therefore calls upon the membership of the CD to make it more inclusive and implement the necessary reforms to make it fit for purpose and relevant again. Some of you will then say that calls for changing the rules of procedure, which is not feasible. 

Ok then, let’s take it from there and reconsider at least the length of the CD’s annual sessions: instead of budgeting for 24 weeks per year, let us streamline the CD and limit its annual sessions to 12 weeks, for as long as we don’t agree to negotiate. 

Thus, we will not only be more efficient, but we will also free up capacity, within UNODA and within our own delegations, to address what needs to be addressed.

Last and not least, also in the framework of UN80, we would like to firmly establish Geneva as the arms control and disarmament hub by moving not only new processes, but also the Office of the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs to Geneva. 

Chair, I thank you for giving me the floor.