US walks out of disarmament conference over Syria role
The United States has staged a walkout in protest at Syria's presidency of the Conference on Disarmament (CD) at the United Nations in Geneva. Opinions were split among other states attending the forum.
This content was published on
3 minutes
SDA-ATS/sb
“It is a travesty that the Syrian regime – which continues to indiscriminately slaughter its own people with weapons banned by the Chemical Weapons Convention – should presume to preside over this body,” US Ambassador Robert Wood told diplomats at the CD on Tuesday.
This week, Syria began a four-week presidency External linkof the world’s main multilateral forum for disarmament issues in accordance with a long-standing protocol based on the English alphabetical list of membership. Previously, the rotating presidency was held by Switzerland.
In his speech on Tuesday, the Syrian ambassador declared he would take a “constructive” approach towards leading the CD. However, as soon as he started speaking Wood left the chamber in protest.
Washington does not plan to boycott the four-week presidency but wants to hold Syria accountable for its use of chemical weapons, Wood told reporters. The US will not take part in the five working groups adopted under the Swiss presidency to advance work at the CD, which has been deadlocked for over 20 years.
Disapproval, support
International investigations have confirmed Syria’s violations of the Chemical Weapons Convention – concluded by the CD and signed in 1993 – on at least four occasions. But Syria has always denied these claims and says it has destroyed its stockpile.
Other countries expressed their disapproval of the Syrian presidency. Israel’s ambassador Aviva Raz Shechter also left the chamber on Tuesday, citing an “unacceptable” situation. France will not be represented by its ambassador at the CD, and Britain will not take part in meetings. Syria received support from various countries, including Russia, China, Pakistan, India, Vietnam and Cuba.
The CD was established in 1979 as the single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum of the international community. However, the forum, which meets several times a year at the United Nations Palais des Nations complex, has been blocked ever since the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty was adopted in 1996.
Disagreements between states on which disarmament topics should be negotiated, linkages between issues and the need to agree by consensus have left the forum unable to agree on a way forward. Under Switzerland’s presidency in March, states appointed five working group coordinators and agreed to adopt a timetable to explore common ground on nuclear disarmament “core issues”.
More
More
Geneva’s long-running diplomatic ballet
This content was published on
Photographer Mark Henley takes a behind-the-scenes look at the Geneva-based Conference on Disarmament.
Should Switzerland take measures to support its struggling industries?
Industrial policies are back in fashion, not only in the United States but also in the EU. Should Switzerland, where various industries are struggling, draw inspiration from such policies?
Switzerland increasingly a target for people smuggling and trafficking
This content was published on
Switzerland is increasingly being targeted by organized crime. This also applies to commercial people smuggling, the fastest growing criminal market in Europe.
Swiss forests better equipped against storms 25 years after Lothar
This content was published on
Twenty-five years ago, Hurricane Lothar toppled trees like dominoes in Switzerland. Forests today are better prepared to cope with such an exceptional event, say experts.
This content was published on
The Locarno Film Festival is considering moving from the beginning of August to the second half of July for its 80th edition in 2027.
Council of Europe head Alain Berset visits Georgia
This content was published on
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, is visiting Georgia, which has been rocked by a political crisis, from Wednesday.
Swiss politician who shot at Jesus faces criminal proceedings
This content was published on
The Zurich public prosecutor's office has opened criminal proceedings against politician Sanija Ameti. It is investigating whether she disrupted freedom of religion and worship.
Switzerland must be able to control immigration, says head of business federation
This content was published on
Switzerland must be able to control immigration itself if it "exceeds the tolerable limits", says Christoph Mäder, president of Economiesuisse, the Swiss Business Federation.
This content was published on
The film Reinas by Klaudia Reynicke, a Swiss-Peruvian-Spanish co-production, has missed out on an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Film.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Is Syria chairing the Conference on Disarmament a UN fail?
This content was published on
Syria, accused of using chemical weapons, is taking over the presidency of the Conference on Disarmament at the United Nations in Geneva.
Swiss authorities allowed isopropanol exports to Syria
This content was published on
Switzerland authorised the export to Syria of the chemical isopropanol in 2014, which can be used to make sarin gas, RTS, reports.
Swiss secure mini-breakthrough at disarmament conference
This content was published on
Switzerland welcomes a move at the Conference on Disarmament to appoint five coordinators to explore nuclear disarmament “core issues”.
This content was published on
Switzerland is taking over the presidency of the world's main multilateral forum for nuclear disarmament, which has been deadlocked for two decades.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.