US Mission Geneva

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that claims nearly two million lives every year. It is second only to HIV/AIDS among infectious disease killers worldwide. More than 2 billion people, one-third of the world’s population, are infected with the microbe that causes the disease, putting them at risk of developing TB in their lifetime.

The United States warmly welcomes the delegation of Croatia, led by Minister Đuro Popijač, on the occasion of the WTO’s first review of Croatia’s trade policy and practices. We want to commend both the WTO Secretariat, and the Government of the Republic of Croatia, for their diligent efforts in compiling a detailed analysis of Croatia’s key trade policy objectives and developments since joining the WTO on November 30, 2000.

MR. GIBBS: I have said on many occasions that we are making strong progress toward getting an agreement. We are, I think, very close to having an agreement on a START treaty and — but won’t have one until President Obama and his counterpart, Mr. Medvedev, have a chance to speak again.

The Permanent Mission of the United States of America, the Permanent Mission of South Africa, and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights hosted a screening of the movie Invictus, to observe the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

The United States appreciates the work of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent. While we have no specific comments on the report before the Council—of the Working Group’s visit to Ecuador—we want to take this opportunity to express our appreciation for the Group’s visit to the United States in January of 2010.

The United States Government recognizes that our history reflects lapses, challenges, struggles, and, encouragingly, on-going progress. We continue to examine ourselves, knowing that we are not immune to acts of intolerance and that it is only through hard work and careful scrutiny that we can push back against intolerance and discrimination both in the U.S. and around the world.

It is time to begin the long overdue, serious work that is needed for negotiation on a treaty to end the production of fissile material for use in nuclear weapons. Last year, we welcomed this Conference’s adoption of CD/1864, a balanced and comprehensive consensus program of work that would allow for the commencement of such negotiations. We regret that a small minority blocked implementation of that program, causing further delay.

It will be an honor indeed to represent President Obama, Secretary Clinton and this great nation at the Conference on Disarmament. As Vann said, this organization’ predecessors have produced major accords such as the Non-Proliferation Treaty whose 40th anniversary we celebrated this month.

The United States would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Ambassador Agah on his election, and to extend our welcome to him as he assumes the chairmanship of the DSB.