SECRETARY-GENERAL EXPRESSES SATISFACTION AT DECISION OF DISARMAMENT CONFERENCE ON MEMBERSHIP EXPANSION
Press Release
SG/SM/6005
DCF/265
SECRETARY-GENERAL EXPRESSES SATISFACTION AT DECISION OF DISARMAMENT CONFERENCE ON MEMBERSHIP EXPANSION
19960617
GENEVA, 17 June (UN Information Service) -- Following is the text of the statement by Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali regarding today's decision by the Conference on Disarmament on the expansion of its membership:
It is a source of satisfaction to me that the Conference on Disarmament was able to expand its membership to include 23 new members.
This long-overdue decision, which was made possible thanks to the spirit of compromise and accommodation displayed by all members of the Conference, is to the credit of the sole multilateral negotiating forum of the international community in the field of disarmament. The fact that this decision was reached at a moment when the Conference has entered the final phase of the negotiation on a comprehensive nuclear test-ban treaty is significant. It enhances the representative character of the Conference and better reflects the new political realities of today's world and augurs well for the future endeavours of the Conference in meeting the many challenges ahead of it.
I am confident that the newly admitted members will continue to make a valuable contribution to the work of the Conference.
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