Chain Reaction 2016: Global actions for nuclear abolition and sustainable development – Commemoration event for the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons

27 September 2016, Geneva, Room XIV (Kazakh Room)
from 15:00 – 17:00
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentelemen,

It is a great honour to speak to you all here today. First may I thank the Permanent Missions of Ecuador and Kazakhstan, UNFOLD ZERO, and my colleagues from the UNODA for organising this event. I would also like to thank the co-sponsors of this event; the Basel Peace Office, the Global Security Institute, the Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament, the NGO Committee for Disarmament in Geneva and the World Future Council for their assistance.

On July 16 1945 the world witnessed the first successful nuclear weapons test, one month later Hiroshima and Nagasaki experienced the devastating capacity of nuclear weapons. Since 1945 there have been over 2,000 further nuclear weapons tests across the world and currently there exists an estimated combined global arsenal of 15,000 nuclear weapons. Since the first ever resolution of the United Nations General Assembly in 1949, the challenges posed by nuclear weapons have continued to be a central issue in the work of the United Nations.

Central Asia, South East Asia, the Pacific, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean are today free of nuclear weapons, while The Ulaanbaatar Dialogue serves as a unique facilitator for North East Asian Security. Here I would also like to mention the work of the Open Ended Working Group On Taking Forward Multilateral Nuclear Disarmament Negotiations, established by General Assembly resolution 70/33 that has adopted recommendations on developing effective legal measures to ensure a world without nuclear weapons. The UN Security Council addressed the issue of nuclear arms as late as last week when it adopted on 23 September a resolution in support of the CTBT. This resolution is a wake-up call for us all to reinforce our efforts to fully implement the Treaty.

In parallel to these developments, several countries continue to include nuclear deterrence in their military doctrines. But as the Secretary-General reminds us again, nuclear weapons do not ensure peace and security. Let me quote the Secretary-General’s message on the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, which we celebrated yesterday:

Nuclear disarmament is one of the founding principles of the United Nations. It was the objective of the first General Assembly resolution. Disarmament is in our DNA.

I have been proud to advance the goal of a world free of nuclear weapons. In 2008, I launched a Five Point Proposal on Nuclear Disarmament to spur Member States to greater action. In the years since, I have done my utmost to convince States of the urgency of this task.

As we scan the global horizon, we face growing nuclear dangers. Progress in multilateral nuclear disarmament has come to a standstill.

Tens of billions of dollars have been pledged to maintain and upgrade nuclear weapon systems.
One country – the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea – has repeatedly defied the norm against nuclear testing and the will of the international community in the reckless pursuit of nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities.

Sadly, many countries continue to include nuclear deterrence in their security doctrines. But recent developments have shown that nuclear weapons do not ensure peace and security. Rather, their development and possession has become a major source of international tension.

Meanwhile, we see growing divisions on the future of multilateral nuclear disarmament. The next review cycle of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons begins in 2017. The world cannot afford another round of inaction.

There are many paths to a world free of nuclear weapons. What matters is that all States act now, without delay, to fulfil their disarmament and non-proliferation commitments.

Let us pledge to work for the total elimination of nuclear weapons with urgency and a sense of collective purpose. Our very survival depends upon it.

This was the end of the Secretary-General’s message.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

This year marks the 25th anniversary since the closure of the Nuclear Weapons manufacturing plant in Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan and marked the beginning of the first steps towards the Astana Vision. Scarred by 456 nuclear detonations on its territory, Kazakhstan leads by example and Invites the international community to follow the path from the shadows of nuclear deterrent to a new light of nuclear disarmament. The adoption of the Astana Vision on August 29th of this year is the consequential next step for this country, setting out a clear path of ten steps that provide a strong foundation for continued nuclear disarmament progression.

The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs continues to work with Member States through disarmament facilitating bodies such as the Conference on Disarmament to provide states a platform to multilaterally communicate developments such as the Astana Vision. They address the danger of nuclear weapons to the international community and multilateral negotiations provide a strong foundation for disarmament affairs to progress. I applaud Kazakhstan for their disarmament actions and welcome the Astana Vision. Now please allow me to thank once again the Permanent Representatives of Ecuador and Kazakhstan, UNFOLD Zero and The NGO Committee for Disarmament Geneva for their work in organizing this event.

Thank you.