The United Nations Conference on Disarmament's first session of the year got off to a rough start last week as Pakistan blocked the adoption of the conference agenda, normally a routine procedure. Pakistan also blocked progress last year, raising questions about the work plan after the conference reached consensus earlier in the year to begin negotiations on a Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty and other disarmament issues. Despite last year's halting progress, the Obama Administration had hoped 2010 would offer a fresh start for negotiations on a verifiable FMCT, one part of the Administration's ambitious nonproliferation agenda. However, Pakistan's continuing stubbornness has been viewed as a signal that representatives to the CD—the only permanent international forum for arms control and disarmament negotiations—could be in for another long and difficult year of talks.
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