DIGNITARIES FROM KAZAKHSTAN, SLOVAKIA, IRELAND, JAPAN AND VENEZUELA ADDRESS CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT DURING HIGH LEVEL SEGMENT

The Conference on Disarmament continued its high-level segment this afternoon and heard statements by dignitaries from Kazakhstan, Slovakia, Ireland, Japan, and Venezuela.

Yerzhan Ashikbayev, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, said that, while emerging threats must be examined, nuclear disarmament remained the most crucial to Kazakhstan, as human survival depended upon it, so the country had proposed an initiative to achieve a nuclear-weapons-free world by the United Nation’s centenary in 2045

Ivan Korčok, State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia, affirmed the of utmost urgency of revitalizing the Conference through a pragmatic and incremental approach to nuclear disarmament.

Ciarán Cannon, Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland, outlined the many obstacles to further implementation of the Non-Proliferation Treaty and strongly opposed any rollback on commitments at the upcoming Review Conference, calling for meaningful and balanced outcomes across its three pillars.

Manabu Horii, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, called for sustained pressure on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea towards denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and described Japan’s efforts to convey the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of the use of nuclear weapons, and the reality of atomic destruction, from its own experience.

Jorge Arreaza Montessat, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Venezuela, stressed that the Conference on Disarmament had a central role to play in strengthening stability and justice in the area under its purview, and Venezuela would continue to support efforts to allow it to play this vital role.

Democratic People’s Republic of Korea also took the floor, and the following delegations spoke in right of reply: United States, Egypt, Republic of Korea, Japan, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and the United Kingdom.


The Conference on Disarmament will convene again in public plenary at 10 a.m. tomorrow, 28 February, when it is expected to conclude the high-level segment.


Statements

YERZHAN ASHIKBAYEV, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, said that measures must be set into motion to rebuild confidence among members of the Conference to end the deadlock, and in that context, welcomed expansion in membership. While emerging threats must be examined, nuclear disarmament remained most crucial to Kazakhstan, as human survival depended upon it. The country had proposed an initiative to achieve a nuclear-weapons-free world by the United Nation’s centenary in 2045, and it also planned to sign onto the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Kazakhstan was convinced that nuclear-weapon States must demonstrate goodwill by eliminating their arsenals, while other countries must continue to increase their responsibilities in disarmament. At the Conference, the items that required earliest action were negative security assurances, a fissile material cut-off treaty and the prevention of an arms race in space. Also critical was the creation of nuclear-free zones, in which States parties should receive adequate security assurances, through one single protocol for every such zone. Mr. Ashikbayev appealed for the necessary accessions to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, adequate attention to the risks posed by non-State actors, chemical and biological terrorism, new military technology, and conventional arms, and expressed optimism for a positive outcome from the upcoming Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

IVAN KORČOK, State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia, expressed regret over the lack of progress in the Conference and the worsening of global tensions, condemning the nuclear and missile tests of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and calling on it to comply with its international obligations. Despite the difficulties, it was of utmost urgency to revitalize the Conference, building on recent decisions, he said. Development of a fissile material cut-off treaty was a priority, as part of a pragmatic and incremental approach to nuclear disarmament. The Minister urged the promotion of conducive condition and the engagement of nuclear-weapons States. Affirming the centrality of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, he called on all States parties to implement their obligations. Slovakia supported the appointment of a special coordinator for the expansion of the membership of the Conference on Disarmament and stand ready to engage constructively on all its agenda items.

CIARÁN CANNON, Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland with special responsibility for the Diaspora and International Development, emphasized the responsibility of members of the Conference to step outside of narrow self-interest and achieve progress. In face of current challenges, disarmament must be restored to its central role in international peace and security; indeed, it was also critical for progress in sustainable development and humanitarian, environmental, cultural and women’s rights, linkages that his country was engaged in highlighting. As Ireland was an original visionary of the non-proliferation process, it saw prohibition of nuclear weapons as a moral imperative and was preparing the ratification of the new Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Outlining obstacles to the implementation of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, Mr. Cannon strongly opposed any rollback on commitments in that agreement at the upcoming Review Conference and called for meaningful and balanced outcomes across its three pillars. Early progress was also needed in a fissile material cut-off treaty and in the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.

MANABU HORII, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, emphasized the grave threat to the entire international community posed by the nuclear and ballistic programmes of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and called for sustained pressure on that county towards the goal of the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. The understanding of the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of the use of nuclear weapons was widely spreading among the international community, said Mr. Horii and described Japan’s efforts to convey the reality of atomic destruction from its own experience. It must not be forgotten that human lives were being taken away by conventional weapons as well, that was why Japan was working to eradicate the illicit trade of small arms and light weapons, including by calling for the universalization of the Arms Trade Treaty. To realize a world free of nuclear weapons, disarmament should engage the participation of both nuclear and non-nuclear weapons States, and progress must be made on the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, fissile-material control and transparency regarding nuclear arsenals. In addition, all commitments to the Non-Proliferation Treaty should be fulfilled.

JORGE ARREAZA MONTESSAT, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Venezuela, stressed that the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons represented a violation of the United Nations Charter, with any attacks representing war crimes. The Conference, he said, must urgently adopt a broad, full programme of work that took into account priorities related to development, and expressed hope that recent decisions would allow it to break its deadlock. Mr. Montessat objected to the vast sums being spent on arms rather than development by the United States and other powers, and deplored defense strategies that incorporated nuclear weapons and their use. The nuclear powers must abide by their commitments under the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Pointing out that his region was the first nuclear-weapon-free-zone, the Minister described efforts to make a model for global nuclear disarmament. Maintaining that the United States was threatening an invasion, he called for solidarity from all countries, and for progress in negative security assurances, fissile material control, counter-terrorist action and measures that would bolster the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries. The Conference on Disarmament had a central role to play in strengthening stability and justice in the area under its purview, and Venezuela would continue to support efforts to allow it to play this vital role.

HAN TAE SONG, Permanent Representative of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to the Conference on Disarmament, said that many statements made about his country in the current session were false and reiterated that increased international pressure would not make his country give up its capability to repel external threats. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was compelled to develop its nuclear arsenal to counter threats from the United States and had not respected Security Council resolutions because they were examples of double standards, but it had proposed forums for dialogue to resolve the issues. Despite recent dialogue at the Olympics, the United States was still threatening the country in a way that was undermining all good will recently created on the Peninsula. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s would respond to any further provocative actions by the United States, but it would not use its nuclear weapons unless it had to.

Rights of Reply

United States said that a conference on a weapons-free zone in the Middle East, as mentioned by Egypt earlier, could only come about through agreement between States in the region. Several statements made by Venezuela were absurd, including the anticipation of an invasion by the United States. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea had cancelled a high-level meeting scheduled on the side-lines of the Olympics and the regime appeared to not be serious about the dialogue. The United States would continue to apply maximum pressure to reverse the dangerous course the country was taking. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea had a choice; it could either come back into the good graces of the international community or continue down its dangerous isolated path.

Egypt recalled his country’s long-standing work for a nuclear-weapon-free zone and that all States in the region, except Israel, had agreed to holding a conference. One State had also actively obstructed efforts to move the process forward. The States parties to the Non-Proliferation Treaty should ensure its universality at the upcoming 2020 Review Conference.

Republic of Korea said that the weapons programmes of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea had created a dangerous environment on the Peninsula. The Republic of Korea would never accept the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s arming with nuclear weapons, but it was endeavouring to engage with it to promote friendly relations and reduce the tensions on the Peninsula.

Japan said that it was important to stress the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s violations of international rules and to ensure that it returned to the non-proliferation regime.

Democratic People’s Republic of Korea called on the United States to stop all provocations that were escalating tensions, including joint military exercises that undermined regional peace and security. The United States should also stop getting in the way of détente on the Korean peninsula and stop developing its own nuclear weapons.

United States said that the United States was promoting engagement of the countries of the Middle East in discussions on disarmament issues. Israel wanted to participate in such talks and be able to discuss issues such as nuclear-weapon-free zone in the wider security context. In any case, the United States did not dictate security policies of other countries, and would never accept a nuclear-armed Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
Egypt said that the United States’ response veered outside the subject of non-proliferation issues and was not relevant in this venue.

United States said that to be serious about disarmament in the Middle East, wider security challenges had to be addressed.

United Kingdom said his country had opposed the wording in the 2015 Review Conference because of the language on the Middle East and hoped that the recent comments by Egypt represented a more consensual view on how the issue would be handled in forging the outcome of the 2020 Review Conference.

Egypt said the relevant 1995 resolution was a guideline for its activities in relation to the nuclear-weapon-free zone, but the timeline for practical steps to be taken under that decision had lapsed.


For use of the information media; not an official record

DC18.016E