Conference On Disarmament Continues High-Level Segment, Hears from Zimbabwe, the Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia, the United States, Brazil, Ecuador, France, Nigeria, Iraq, India, Chile, Belarus, Venezuela, Belgium and Yemen
The Conference on Disarmament this afternoon continued its high-level segment, hearing statements by dignitaries from Zimbabwe, the Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia, the United States, Brazil, Ecuador, France, Nigeria, Iraq, India, Chile, Belarus, Venezuela, Belgium and Yemen.
Speaking were F.M. Shava, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Zimbabwe; Jongmoon Choi, Second Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea; Gamini Lakshman Peiris, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka; Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Bonnie D. Jenkins, Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security of the United States; Paulino Franco de Carvalho Neto, Secretary for National Sovereignty and Citizenship of Brazil; Juan Carlos Holguín Maldonado, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility of the Republic of Ecuador; Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France; Abiodun Richards Adejola, Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations Office at Geneva; Abdulkarim Hashim Mostafa, Permanent Representative of Iraq to the United Nations Office at Geneva; Anupam Ray, Permanent Representative of India to the Conference on Disarmament; Frank Tressler, Permanent Representative of Chile to the United Nations Office at Geneva; Yury Ambrazevich, Permanent Representative of Belarus to the United Nations Office at Geneva; Héctor Constant Rosales, Permanent Representative of Venezuela to the United Nations Office at Geneva; Marc Pecsteen de Buytswerve, Permanent Representative of Belgium to the United Nations Office at Geneva; Ali Majawar, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Yemen to the United Nations Office at Geneva.
The Conference will next meet in public on Tuesday, March 1 at 10 a.m to continue with the high-level segment.
High-level segment
F.M. SHAVA, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Zimbabwe, said the Conference on Disarmament had been a key feature on arms control, playing a critical role in the negotiation of fundamental arms agreements. It was regrettable that the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty had not entered into force, which was a setback in ridding the world of weapons threatening humanity. Zimbabwe was an advocate for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons. Nuclear weapon States should engage in negotiations to reduce and ban such weapons. The weapons landscape had become increasingly complicated, with a dangerous trend towards the weaponization of outer space. Zimbabwe fully supported the establishment of a nuclear-free zone in all the regions of the world, which was an important measure toward non-proliferation and disarmament.
JONGMOON CHOI, Second Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, said the Korean government strongly condemned Russia’s armed invasion of Ukraine as a violation of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. The Korean government would support and join the international community’s efforts to resolve the situation peacefully. On the nuclear front, the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council should assume their due responsibilities as nuclear weapon states and implement their key commitments. The Conference on Disarmament should modernize its approach to address the urgent challenges being seen. All States must join together in developing norms, rules, and principles of responsible behaviour in outer space. The Republic of Korea remained committed toward complete denuclearization and permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula and counted on the steady and unwavering support of the international community.
GAMINI LAKSHMAN PEIRIS, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, recalled past achievements of the Conference and its predecessor entities, including the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the Biological Weapons Convention, the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. Sri Lanka looked forward to the rescheduled Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference, standing ready to work with other States for its success. Sri Lanka remained fully committed to the prevention of an arms race in outer space and considered the new Open-Ended Working Group as an opportunity to advance those discussions. The Conference should focus on its actual mandate on negotiations of legal instruments on disarmament and non-proliferation. All Conference on Disarmament member States should show flexibility and political will to rise above differences to deliver a collective responsibility to humanity.
FAISAL BIN FARHAN AL SAUD, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, said that the deadlock of the Conference on Disarmament was the principal source of the concern for the international community, because the Conference was still the sole multilateral negotiating forum for disarmament issues. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia attached great importance to the accession to the Conventions that had resulted from the Conference’s work, in particular, the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Biological Weapons Convention. The responsibility for ensuring that the Middle East became a zone free of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction should not be borne solely by the States of the region; it was a collective international responsibility, especially for the States sponsoring the relevant resolution.
BONNIE D. JENKINS, Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security of the United States, said that the 2022 Conference on Disarmament was overshadowed by the attack against Ukraine by Russia’s military forces. Russia’s actions were in violation of international law and the global norms the international community had pledged to respect. The United States called on Russia to halt its military operations in Ukraine and choose the path of diplomacy. The United States would continue to pursue arms control measures in both bilateral and multilateral channels. It was past time to begin negotiation of a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty. Now was the time for the Conference on Disarmament to live up to its intended purpose as the single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum of the international community.
PAULINO FRANCO DE CARVALHO NETO, Secretary for National Sovereignty and Citizenship of Brazil, said one of the more pressing challenges was the upcoming review conference of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, the linchpin of disarmament discussions. The need to ensure nuclear tests would be confined to the past was one of the first steps toward nuclear disarmament. The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons was one of the few bright spots and had filled a glaring gap in international law. Brazil attached utmost importance to the need to prevent the weaponization of outer space and ensure its sustainable use for humankind. The breakthrough opportunity of the subsidiary bodies must be seized to ensure the conference could fulfil its mandate to ensure the world avoided scenarios of high confrontation.
JUAN CARLOS HOLGUÍN MALDONADO, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility of the Republic of Ecuador, urged everyone to step up efforts to put an end to the paralysis of a Conference. Ecuador would continue promoting disarmament and non-proliferation in all areas including the Security Council. Military expenditure for arms continued to increase in an alarming fashion, reaching 1.981 billion dollars in 2020, while the global economy shrank. As a peace-loving country, Ecuador reaffirmed its belief in multilateral efforts, working towards a world free of nuclear weapons. All States which had not yet done so should sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons without further delay. As a member of the Conference, Ecuador was committed to making all necessary efforts to achieve its goals.
EMILIO IZQUIREDO, Permanent Representative of Ecuador, said that the message had been given to Conference prior to earlier events, and added that Ecuador condemned the decision by Russia to launch a military invasion which violated the sovereignty of Ukraine, calling for the cessation of hostilities.
JEAN-YVES LE DRIAN, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, said the international security environment had brutally deteriorated due to the invasion of Ukraine. Russia had consistently violated and circumvented its obligations under the main disarmament and arms control instruments by carrying out actions aimed at weakening them. Russia had also failed to comply with its obligations as a State party to the Chemical Weapons Convention. Russia had conducted a systematic obstructionist policy in international forums to prevent States from adopting decisions essential for strengthening disarmament and arms control instruments. Despite those developments, in the run-up to the tenth Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference, it was the collective responsibility of the Conference on Disarmament to reaffirm the primacy of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, which remained the cornerstone of global stability and international security.
ABIODUN RICHARDS ADEJOLA, Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations Office at Geneva, called for an end to the fighting in Ukraine and for all parties to embrace dialogue. The territorial sovereignty of every State should be respected. Nigeria would continue to lend critical support for the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty to realise a world free of nuclear weapons, and reinforced its support for the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, urging all States to consider joining the treaty. The postponement of the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference had come at a cost; however that should be viewed as an opportunity for all States to ensure a successful outcome. The last two years had seen the world grapple with challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
ABDULKARIM HASHIM MOSTAFA, Permanent Representative of Iraq to the United Nations Office at Geneva, said the Conference had a unique opportunity to bring about the goal of comprehensive disarmament. The main goal of the Conference remained to negotiate legally binding instruments in the field of disarmament. Everyone must consider ways to bring the Conference of Disarmament back to its rightful role. Iraq supported any efforts to bring about a reduction in stockpiles of nuclear weapons. Iraq supported the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, and called on all States who had not done so to sign and ratify the treaty. The continued production of fissile material was a danger to disarmament and non-proliferation.
ANUPAM RAY, Permanent Representative of India to the Conference on Disarmament, said the recent developments in Ukraine were disturbing. India was committed to multilateralism and was determined to be a part of the solution when it came to global security problems. The Conference on Disarmament dealt with some of the most critical questions in the field of disarmament and global security. India supported a comprehensive and balanced program of work and urged member States to show political will. India had been a consistent advocate in preserving outer space and supported the negotiation of a legally binding instrument addressing the global concerns for space security.
FRANK TRESSLER, Permanent Representative of Chile to the United Nations Office at Geneva, welcomed the decision to establish five subsidiary bodies as a sign of political will and flexibility. Chile condemned the invasion of Ukraine’s borders and urged Russia to initiate a process of dialogue, and to exit the country. During the session, Chile would work to achieve concrete results in the main aims of the Conference. Chile was concerned about the potential development of an arms race in outer space. There needed to be political will and faith in the effectiveness of a peaceful dispute settlement.
YURY AMBRAZEVICH, Permanent Representative of Belarus to the United Nations Office at Geneva said that the current situation in Ukraine was a direct consequence of the policy of Western countries. Belarus would continue to do everything in its power to resolve the crisis around and in Ukraine and rejected all accusations of contributing to the conflict. The only effective means to achieve peace was to recognize the legitimate concerns of all relevant parties, and to implement that recognition through negotiation and dialogue based on a genuine commitment to the principle of indivisible security. In recent years, Belarus had repeatedly called for the launch of a global process of negotiations to define the political and legal foundations of international security, a call which was more relevant than ever at the Conference on Disarmament.
HÉCTOR CONSTANT ROSALES, Permanent Representative of Venezuela to the United Nations Office at Geneva, highlighted the importance of the Conference as a multilateral forum. The Conference on Disarmament had achieved successes of huge significance in the past, however for more than two decades substantive negotiations had been paralyzed. Venezuela highlighted the importance of the convening the Ninth Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Convention. Venezuela reaffirmed its principled position on nuclear disarmament as the top priority on the agenda of the Conference. Venezuela attached importance to multilateral diplomacy, and reiterated its commitment to the existing institutions and agreements on disarmament and arms control and proliferation.
MARC PECSTEEN DE BUYTSWERVE, Permanent Representative of Belgium to the United Nations Office at Geneva, said the situation in Ukraine was shocking and the attack was a blatant violation of international law, and called on Russia to cease its military operations immediately. The latest step showed the regressive trend in nuclear disarmament. Belgium called on Israel, India and Pakistan to choose the right side of history and accede to the Non-Proliferation Treaty without delay. The Conference must begin negotiations on a treaty prohibiting the production of fissile material. Belgium was ready to commit to the efforts of risk reduction, however that could not be a substitute for tangible progress in the world of disarmament. No State advocating disarmament could refuse to join the comprehensive test ban treaty. Belgium promoted the equal participation of women in the field of disarmament.
ALI MAJAWAR, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Yemen to the United Nations Office at Geneva, urged countries to prevent the export of weapons to armed coup groups in Yemen to help end the conflict there. Despite difficult circumstances, the Yemeni government was working to clear mines from cities and villages restored to the legitimate government. The establishment of a zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East remained at the top of the list of steps necessary to maintain the security of the region and the peace of its people. That stemmed from the conviction that the road to peace in the Middle East must be achieved through collective security for the mutual gain of all countries in the region.
Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the information media;
not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.
DC22.012E