WASHINGTON, D.C. --Today, Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-MA), joined by Rep. Christopher Shays (R-CT), Co-Chairs of the House Bipartisan Task Force on Nonproliferation, wrote to United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to express their concern over a recent proposal by the Secretary General to downgrade the U.N. Department for Disarmament Affairs (DDA).  The DDA is the U.N.’s chief body to reduce weapons of mass destruction and eliminate illegal arms trading around the world.  The Department for Disarmament Affairs is headed by an Under-Secretary-General.  Secretary General Ban has proposed that the department be either merged into the Department of Political Affairs or be downgraded to a “special office.”  In either case, the Department for Disarmament Affairs would be effectively downgraded, reducing its effectiveness at accomplishing its vital mission to eliminate weapons of mass destruction and reduce illicit arms trafficking.

Rep. Markey said, “The U.N. Department of Disarmament Affairs is a crucial tool to help the world eliminate weapons of mass destruction and halt illegal arms trafficking.  Any proposal to downgrade this essential organization will limit the world community’s ability to effectively confront these problems.  A new Secretary General should be strengthening these critical U.N. operations, not weakening them.”

 The text of the Markey-Shays letter follows:

January 24, 2007

The Honorable Ban Ki-moon
Secretary General
United Nations Headquarters
1st Avenue and 46th St.
New York, NY 10017

Dear Secretary General Ban Ki-moon:

As the Co-Chairs of the House Bipartisan Task Force on Nonproliferation, we are concerned about proposals to merge the United Nations Department for Disarmament Affairs (DDA) into the Department for Political Affairs, or that DDA be downgraded to a “special office” to be lead by an Assistant Secretary General or a Special Representative of the Secretary General rather than an Under Secretary General. 

In our judgment, this proposal threatens to weaken the Department for Disarmament Affairs.  It is our firm conviction this Department should be strengthened, not weakened.  Established in its present form in 1998 to meet post-cold war challenges, DDA plays a crucial role in accomplishing the United Nation’s peace and development goals.  DDA’s work to eliminate weapons of mass destruction and reduce illicit arms trafficking furthers these goals. 

It seems to us that downgrading DDA runs counter to the UN’s stated commitment to reducing the threat of weapons of mass destruction and other dangerous arms.  We urge you to reconsider proposals to implement such a plan, and would appreciate learning more about your thoughts on this important matter. 

We look forward to work with you and your colleagues in coming years and wish you much success in your most prestigious new job. 

Sincerely,
________________________                                  ________________________
Edward J. Markey                                                      Christopher Shays
Co-Chair, House Bipartisan                                       Co-Chair, House Bipartisan
Taskforce on Nonproliferation                            Taskforce on Nonproliferation

Cc:      Nobuaki Tanaka, Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs
Vijay Nambiar, Special Adviser to the Secretary General    

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