Mr. Chairman,
We would like to thank you for your outstanding leadership of the 2014 substantive session of the UNDC. We would also like to commend the diligent efforts of the Chairs of the two Working Groups, Ambassador Naif Bin Bandar Al Sudairy and Mr. Knut Langeland, for their energetic efforts towards carrying forward the work of the Working Groups. We would like to recognize the presence of the UNSG’s High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Angela Kane, and her support and that of the Secretariat for the work of the Commission.

2.  We associate ourselves with the statement by Indonesia on behalf of NAM.

3.  India has consistently attached high importance to the UNDC as the specialized deliberative leg of the triad of disarmament machinery put in place by the First Special Session of General Assembly on Disarmament. As the only body with universal membership for in-depth deliberations on relevant disarmament issues, the Commission plays a unique and important role. It is for this reason that India has been supportive of the Chair’s efforts and has sought to participate in the deliberations of the two working groups in a constructive spirit to enhance the prospects of consensus. We do not believe that working methods of the Commission are to blame for the disappointing results this year.

4.  India attached high importance to the agenda item "Recommendations for achieving the objective of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons" that was discussed in Working Group-I.  We believe that the Working Paper contained in A/CN.10/2014/WG.I/WP.3/Rev1, issued under the responsibility of the Chair of the Group provided a good basis for consensus among Member States. It would have been befitting if the UNDC, as one of the three pillars of the disarmament machinery put in place by SSOD-I, after consideration of this agenda item, which is a priority not just for India but for the vast majority of Member states, had, in its recommendations, called for the commencement of negotiations, in the Conference on Disarmament, the world’s single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum, as part of a balanced and comprehensive programme of work, including on a comprehensive convention on nuclear weapons. India also attaches importance to the other recommendations in this document, though some may not be as fulsome and evolved as we would have liked them to be. In the prevailing circumstances of stress on the international disarmament agenda, adoption of these recommendations would have made a positive contribution to global disarmament efforts.
 
5.  We also participated actively in the discussions held in Working Group II on the agenda item "Practical CBMs in the field of conventional weapons". India supports practical CBMs initiatives whether unilateral, bilateral, regional or global. We believe that CBMs can build trust and confidence and enhance transparency to minimize misunderstandings and misperceptions thereby promoting a suitable environment of peace and security among States. India has initiated several CBMs with the countries in our neighbourhood. We were happy to see the emphasis in the Chair’s Working Paper on CBMs being agreed and initiated on a voluntary, consensual and reciprocal basis. We believe that the initiation of a confidence building process must be decided upon by States freely and in the exercise of their sovereignty. Confidence building must be a step-by-step process and should evolve at a pace comfortable to all participating states. CBMs should be adopted on the initiation and with the agreement of the States concerned. In elaborating practical CBMs in the area of conventional weapons, we should take advantage of the guidelines on CBMs endorsed by the UNGA at its 41st session on the recommendation of the UNDC. We recognize the complementary nature of CBMs, on the one hand, and disarmament and arms control, on the other, which may be pursued, depending upon specific situations, simultaneously by the concerned States through mutual consent.
 
6.  We share the disappointment of several delegations at not being able to reach consensus on the recommendations. We however continue to believe in the inherent value of this universal forum.  The Commission has had several successes in the past when it was able to adopt principles, guidelines and recommendations on specific disarmament issues. In view of the importance attached by the vast majority of Member States to the agenda items 4 and 5, and the view expressed by many delegations on the paucity of time to reach consensus, we hope that the General Assembly will continue to support the consideration of these two subjects by the Commission in its future sessions.

Thank you Mr. Chairman.