The following are some of the key arms control dates and developments to watch in the coming week. 
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- written and compiled by Tim Farnsworth
May 13 - 14: P5+1 and Iran Negotiations Resume
Diplomats from Iran and the P5+1 states (China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) will reconvene May 13-14 in Vienna to continue their negotiations on a comprehensive agreement to address concerns about Iran's nuclear program. The talks are due to conclude by July 20, but could be extended if the parties agree to do so. For more news and analysis on the talks, see:
- "Iran Claims Progress on Nuclear Deal," by Kelsey Davenport, Arms Control Today, May 2014.
- "Crafting a Well-Rounded Nuclear Deal With Iran," by George Perkovich, Arms Control Today, March 2014.
- "Toward a Final-Phase Deal With Iran," by Daryl G. Kimball, Arms Control Today, March 2014.
May 13-16: CCW Meeting of Experts on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems
The use of drones and proliferation of unmanned aerial vehible technology has given rise to questions about the emerging technologies in the area of lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS). While employment of this technology could be a ways down the road, many states and security experts believe the time has come to establish whether such systems should be used and if so what are the 'rules of the road.' As part of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW), experts will hold an informal meeting from May 13-16 at the United Nations in Geneva to discuss many of these questions.
Check out Jefferson Morley's news report, "Drone Proliferation Tests Arms Control," from the April issue of Arms Control Today.
May 14-15: Informal Talks on a Conference on a Middle East WMD Free Zone
On May 14-15 in Geneva, Amb. Jaakko Laajava of Finland will convene another discussion involving officials from Israel and its Arab counterparts to agree to hold a formal diplomatic conference on the creation of a Middle East Zone Free of Weapons of Mass Destruction. Laajava, who was tapped to convened the conference, has convened three informal sessions in recent months in Glion, Switzerland to try to reach an agreement on the agenda and modalities for the conference.
At the 2010 Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty Review Conference, states agreed to hold the conference by 2012, but lack of agreement between Israel and its Arab neighbors on the agenda have delayed the meeting. For more information, see: "WMD-Free Middle East Proposal at a Glance," Arms Control Association Fact Sheet and "Keep the Middle East Nuclear Test Free," by Daryl G. Kimball, in Arms Control Today, May 2014.
May 12 - June 27: Conference on Disarmament Second Session Begins
The UN Conference on Disarmament will begin it's second session May 12 through June 27, in Geneva, Switzerland. Except for a Group of Governmental Experts that is working this year and next on technical concepts and issues regarding a Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty, the CD has not been able to reach consensus on a workplan that would allow negotiations to move forward on key issues. See: "Disarmament Consensus Eludes UN," by Tom Collina, Arms Control Today, November 2013.