The Syrian Arab Republic will assume the presidency of the United Nations Conference on Disarmament from Monday, May 28 till June 26 for the third time since its accession in 1996.

Speaking to SANA, Syria’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Ambassador Hussam Eddin Ala, affirmed the exceptional importance of Syria leading this important international forum, despite the opposition of the US and the failure of the Israeli media campaigns that have worked in recent weeks to cast aspersions on Syria’s new role.

Ambassador Ala, who will chair the Conference in the next four weeks, said Syria will maintain professionalism and responsibility when carrying out its duties and will work to defend the priorities and principles that it upholds, foremost among them is respect for the principles of international law, the UN Charter and the rules and principles of the Conference on Disarmament.

He emphasized the Conference’s role in working to dispel the threats to the international security which undercut the principles of security for all states.

He pointed out that the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones and areas free of the weapons of mass destruction, particularly in the Middle East, and the fight against chemical and biological terrorism have always been Syria’s priorities within the Conference.

The Conference on Disarmament was established in 1979, comprising 65 States, including the five nuclear-weapon States. It is one of the most important international bodies at the Palace of Nations in Geneva and the single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum.

The Conference’s current agenda includes the issues of cessation of the arms race, nuclear disarmament, prevention of nuclear war, an arms race in the outer space and the new types of weapons of mass destruction.