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Delivered by H.E. Ambassador Hamad Al Kaabi, Permanent Representative of the UAE to the United Nation and International Originations – Vienna

Mr. President,

The UAE attaches great value to the NPT, however there are remaining serious challenges to the NPT regime today. 

In relation to cluster 1  these are the lack of concrete steps toward disarmament; the existence of states possessing nuclear weapons outside the legal framework of the treaty; nuclear sharing; the humanitarian consequences ; as well as the long due objective to bring about a nuclear weapons-free zone in the Middle East

On implementation of NPT Article VI:

We believe there is a need for a systematic and continued reduction of all types of nuclear weapons, including non-strategic and non-deployed nuclear weapons, by all States possessing nuclear weapons aimed at their total elimination, as they are called upon by the provisions of Article VI of the NPT and reminded by the 2010 action plan. 

In this regard, implementation of Action 5 of the 2010 Action Plan, could contribute toward accelerated concrete progress on nuclear disarmament in a way that promotes international stability, peace and undiminished and increased security

My delegation  therefore urges the conference to call upon all nuclear-weapon States and other States possessing nuclear weapons to take further steps to ensure further reduction in  their arsenals, regardless of their type  ,  location or  size, leading to their total elimination and the achievement and maintenance of a world free of nuclear weapons  and to reaffirm, with concrete actions, the undertaking not to increase nuclear weapon arsenals,  and further engage in activities which increase confidence and transparency.

The quantitative reductions of arsenals should be accompanied by a reduction in the role and significance of nuclear weapons in security strategies and defence doctrines.

De-alerting.

My delegation  recognizes that de-alerting is important not only as a step towards a world free of nuclear weapons but also to avoid and reduce the risk of the catastrophic  consequences from any unauthorized or accidental launch of a nuclear weapon. Practical steps to that end would promote international stability and security, and reduce the risk of accidental use of nuclear weapons.

Transparency:

In pursuing the implementation of Article VI of the NPT and Action 3 of the Action Plan adopted by the 2010 NPT RevCon, my delegation  urges nuclear-weapons States to advance further steps in line with the principles of irreversibility, verifiability and transparency, through enhancement of the reporting mechanism, the submission of national implementation reports which aims to  help build confidence and trust, and establishes common ground that can facilitate nuclear disarmament, including through further reductions in nuclear weapons towards their total elimination

We emphasize the rightful need for and expectation of more detailed information relating to nuclear weapons to be provided by all nuclear-weapon States, especially in regards to non-strategic weapons.

Above all, adding transparency to nuclear weapons is not only a responsibility to be delivered, it a prerequisite for other issues as part of the NPT review cycle 

Disarmament education:

We would like to underscore the importance of disarmament and non-proliferation education as useful and effective means to advance the goals of the Treaty in support of achieving a world without nuclear weapons.  it is vital to seek the most effective ways to raise and promote education and to contribute to raising awareness, in particular among younger generations

CTBT:

The UAE  attaches great value to other international instruments  that could facilitate nuclear disarmament – above all, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and its entry into force is vital. Pending the Treaty’s entry into force, States should uphold and maintain a moratorium on nuclear-weapon test explosions and any other nuclear explosions, as well as assist the Preparatory Commission of the CTBT Organization in its work in anticipation of and preparing for the entry into force of the Treaty.

In this regard, we urge all States that have yet to ratify the CTBT to do so without delay, particularly the remaining  States listed in Annex 2 of the CTBT.

Nuclear Risk Reduction:

We supporting all efforts and has joined countries including NPDI in calling for reduction of the role of nuclear weapons in security doctrines, and transparency measures from P5 and support all genuine efforts towards nuclear risk reduction, as an interim measure pending the total elimination of nuclear weapons.

Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT):

We recognize that commencement of FMCT negotiations could make a substantial and concrete contribution towards nuclear non-proliferation in all its aspects, the implementation of Article VI of the NPT and, ultimately a nuclear-weapon-free world.  the early commencement of FMCT negotiations is a shared priority for all States Parties to the NPT and, more generally, for the international community.

Mr.  President,

To conclude, we believe the conference can take small but significant steps in the right direction, in this cluster as much as in the others.