CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT APPOINTS THREE SPECIAL COORDINATORS

CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT APPOINTS THREE SPECIAL COORDINATORS

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 22 June (UN Information Service) -- The Conference on Disarmament this morning appointed three Special Coordinators on the review of its agenda, expansion of membership and improved and effective functioning.

It appointed Ambassador Günther Seibert of Germany as Special Coordinator for the review of the agenda; Ambassador Petko Draganov of Bulgaria as Special Coordinator for the expansion of membership; and Ambassador Prasad Kariyawasam of Sri Lanka as Special Coordinator for improved and effective functioning.

The President of the Conference, Ambassador Camilo Reyes Rodriguez of Colombia, said that their appointment was timely and relevant to the work of the Conference.  He wished them all success in their endeavours.

In its decision of 14 June to appoint three Special Coordinators, the Conference had said that the Coordinators, in discharging their duties and functions, would take into account all proposals and views, as well as future initiatives.  They would be requested to report to the Conference before the conclusion of the 2001 session.

Speaking on behalf of the Western Group, Ambassador Murat Sungar of Turkey said that his Group had demonstrated a certain degree of flexibility in obtaining the positive results, which he hoped would be beneficial to the effective functioning of the Conference.  As always, flexibility had played a key role in the achievement of this rather modest goal.  The Group hopes that, in the future, under similar circumstances all groups would be able to approach matters in a less rigid manner.  Within that context, he wished to underline the fact that none of the issues dealt with or intended to be dealt with at the Conference could be regarded as the permanent responsibility of any one geographical group.

The next plenary meeting of the Conference on Disarmament will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, 28 June.                   

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