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Mr. Chairman,

The Delegation of the United Arab Emirates wishes to associate itself with the statements of the Arab Group, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the Non- proliferation and Disarmament Initiative (NPDI).

Mr. Chairman,

More than 70 years have passed since the first use of nuclear weapons. This incident demonstrated the horrific and catastrophic impact of these weapons on human beings and the environment, and therefore it is imperative for the international community to focus on taking stronger and credible steps to achieve nuclear disarmament goals, address security challenges which undermine international efforts in the area of disarmament, and strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation regime.

The UAE attaches special attention to the Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT), as the cornerstone of the nuclear weapons non-proliferation regime and nuclear disarmament, and believes that priority should be given to the full implementation of its provisions and the decisions of the NPT Review Conferences. In this context, my country affirms its continued commitment to support dialogue, consultation and all efforts aimed at achieving progress towards this goal. We also hope that positive and serious steps will be taken to implement the mechanisms and the outcome of the 2010 NPT Review Conference, and ensure that the postponed conference on the establishment of a zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East is held with the participation of all countries in the region.

Concerning the deadlock in the disarmament conference in Geneva, we stress the need towards concluding a treaty to prohibit the production of fissile material for the purposes of nuclear weapons ( Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty-FMCT) at the earliest.

Mr. Chairman,

The UAE considers the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) an important instrument in supporting global efforts on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, as it has paved the way for deterring nuclear tests.

In this context, my country affirms the importance of the entry into force of the CTBT and calls on the states in Annex II to sign and ratify this treaty in order to ensure its entry into force as early as possible.

We also urge all states to maintain the moratorium on nuclear testing and fulfil their international commitments. In this regard, the UAE expresses its deep concern at North Korea’s continued development of its nuclear and missile capabilities and we strongly condemn its conducting of regular nuclear tests which constitute a threat to the security of its neighbors as well as international peace and security.

Mr. Chairman,

The United Arab Emirates recognizes the importance of the central role played by the safeguards system and the verification mechanism of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in reducing the grave consequences of nuclear proliferation, and their contributions towards regional and international security and peace. The safeguards system is considered the basis of nuclear non-proliferation regime, and is supported by most of the states of the world. My delegation refers to the importance of the additional protocol of IAEA safeguards regime, and we believe that the full implementation of safeguards by states and their compliance with non-proliferation rules is a prerequisite for the development of their nuclear programs. In this regard, we urge all states, which activities raise questions regarding their nature, to fully comply with their international obligations, and to take the necessary steps to address the international concerns regarding their nuclear activities.

In this context, the UAE expresses its deep concern at Iran’s continued nuclear activities and development of its missile program, and hopes that Iran’s implementation of the nuclear agreement and of the comprehensive joint action plan (JCPOA) is reflected in its behavior in the region. The UAE reiterates that Iran’s compliance and its full and transparent implementation of the  JCPOA are essential to build confidence and credibility in Iran’s nuclear activities. In this regard, the UAE supports the new US strategy in dealing with Iranian policies that undermine security and stability.

Mr. Chairman,

In conclusion, my delegation stresses that the only guarantee against the use or threat to use nuclear weapons lies in the total abandonment of those weapons. This goal requires a quantitative and qualitative reduction of all types of nuclear weapons in accordance a transparent and credible framework.

Thank you.