On the 11 May 2021, the Conference on Disarmament commenced the second part of its 2021 session with a thematic debate on the topic of Nuclear Disarmament Verification under the Presidency of H.E. Ambassador Yuri Sterk, Permanent Representative of Bulgaria to the UN and other international organisations in Geneva.

The discussion was triggered by presentations made by Mr. Jorn Osmundsen, Special Envoy for Disarmament Affairs of Norway and Chair-designate of the Group of Governmental Experts established under UNGA Resolution 74/50 and Mr. Paverl Podvig (UNIDIR), Senior Researcher on the issues of Weapons of Mass Destruction and other Strategic Weapons.

While Nuclear Disarmament Verification is not a final aim in itself its role was underscored as a key element of trust building among nuclear and non-nuclear weapons states towards the realisation of the goal of a world without nuclear weapons and general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control. The discussion on this topic will continue on 12 May 2021.

The thematic debate is the first in a row of thematic debates, with two more to follow in the concluding 4th week of the Bulgarian Presidency from 17 to 21 May 2021.