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Mr Chairman,
The outcome of the deliberations in the working group 29 September to 3 October 2003, as well as of the continuing discussions in the committee, have been a disappointment to most of us. We all agree on the importance and urgency of the matter. We all agree that it is of great concern to the world today to reach a common understanding on cloning. Due to different factors, we have not been able to agree on a mandate for future negotiations.
The discussions in the working group as well as in the committee have reflected our different backgrounds, our different moral, ethical and religious values and beliefs. The complexity of this scientifically advanced and fast developing substance matter has not helped. All this has lead us to this point, where we have not been able to reach a common ground or to achieve a common view on matters regarding cloning.
A negotiating mandate should reflect the diversities of the world today and should be based on consensus. Negotiating on a mandate that lacks consensus means leaving out a great number of states from those negotiations. More importantly, the states left out would be those with the scientific know-how on cloning techniques. A mandate not based on consensus could never produce universally binding norms. In other words, it would defeat its own purpose.
Sweden is currently reviewing its legislation concerning cloning. A parliamentary committee has suggested that reproductive cloning should be unequivocally forbidden, and that the transfer of somatic cell nuclei, also know as therapeutic cloning, should be subject to strict limitations. Among the limitations is the requirement for an a priori approval by an ethics committee.
Mr. Chairman,
Sweden is a co-sponsor of the resolution introduced by Belgium yesterday (A/C.6/58/L.8). We share the views expressed by our Belgian colleague, that this resolution would provide us with a compromise mandate, i.e., a common platform for future negotiations. We urge delegations to uphold the consensus tradition of the Sixth Committee, not so much for the sake of tradition, but for the sake of guaranteeing a mandate that may lead to a universal convention prohibiting reproductive cloning of human beings and regulating therapeutic cloning.
Thank you.
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