Statement by Ambassador Chitsaka Chipaziwa, Zimbabwe

Please click on the link below for the statement made by Ambassador Chitsaka Chipaziwa at the Conference on Disarmament, 17 February, 2009.

http://www.unog.ch/80256EDD006B8954/(httpAssets)/9B303C46DD86C752C1257560003ADEED/$file/1124_Zimbabwe.pdf

(Excerpt from UNOG Press Release 17 February 2009)

The 17 Feburary meeting was the first under Zimbabwe’s presidency. "In his introductory remarks, Ambassador Chitsaka Chipaziwa of Zimbabwe, the President of the Conference, said that Zimbabwe was greatly honoured to assume the presidency of the Conference on Disarmament. His country had become a member of the Conference soon after its independence in 1980 and took its membership seriously. They were also pleased to come from a nuclear free continent and it was their cherished goal that Africa remained a nuclear-free zone for all time. But this did not preclude their welcoming the civilian use of nuclear energy for power generations and in the medical sciences. Turning to the work of the Conference, he noted that the informal debates on the seven thematic issues were all well underway. It was his intention to follow the organisation of work they had adopted and he stood ready to engage with members and others who might desire consultations on any relevant issues. Their more immediate common cherished goal remained of course, to agree on a programme of work".