Prestigious role: Pakistan to assume presidency of UN disarmament body

Ambassador Tehmina Janjua will take over the position on March 21

ISLAMABAD: Ambassador Tehmina Janjua, the permanent representative of Pakistan at the United Nations and other international organisations in Geneva, will take over the presidency of the Conference on Disarmament on March 21, the Foreign Office said on Thursday.

According to the FO statement, Pakistan last held the presidency of the world body 11 years ago in 2005.

The Conference on Disarmament is the world’s single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum. It was established in 1979 as a follow-up to the First Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly devoted to Disarmament held in 1978. It adheres to the principle of equal security for all states while promoting general and complete disarmament.

The conference comprises 65 member states, which include all militarily significant countries. Its agenda includes nuclear disarmament, prevention of an arms race in outer space, as well as issues related to new types of weapons of mass destruction.

The conference has produced legal instruments such as the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. “Pakistan is a vital member of the Conference on Disarmament since its inception. Pakistan views it as an integral part of the international disarmament machinery that can contribute to the promotion of international peace,” FO said.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 18^th, 2016.