Delivered by H.E. Ambassador Mohamed Abushahab, Deputy Permanent Representative
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Mr. Chairman,
I congratulate you on assuming the presidency of the First Committee during this session, and I wish you every success. We also express our appreciation to the Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Morocco for his successful leadership while presiding over the work of this Committee in the previous session . The UAE aligns itself with the statements of the Arab Group and the Non-Aligned Movement.
Mr. Chairman, The UAE supports all international efforts aimed at achieving our common goal of establishing a world free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. The UAE stresses that the most effective way to achieve further progress in addressing all aspects of disarmament and international security issues is through intensifying multilateral action, especially amid the declining commitment to the obligations of the global disarmament and non-proliferation regime by States and escalating global challenges, including existing conflicts and the rising prices of food and energy.
Mr. Chairman,
The UAE stresses the importance of compliance with international agreements and instruments on nuclear security and safety in order to advance international peace and security. In addition, states must follow a transparent approach in using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes in accordance with international treaties, particularly the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, which constitutes the main pillar of the global nuclear disarmament regime. We also stress the need to take concrete steps to enhance the universality of this treaty, and we regret that the Tenth Review Conference could not adopt its outcome document.
We stress the importance of implementing the outcomes of previous review conferences, especially the resolution to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East and the agreed action plan for 2010. We look forward to the next review conference and its related preparatory meetings. In maintaining the momentum towards achieving peace and security in our region, we look forward to participating in the third session of the Conference on the Establishment of a Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction in the Middle East, which will be held next November under the presidency of the Republic of Lebanon.
We also thank the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the State of Kuwait for their efforts during their presidencies of the previous sessions. In light of the growing threats posed by the continued existence of nuclear weapons and the continuous pursuit to acquire and develop these weapons through nuclear programs of a questionable nature, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty has become more important than ever. We stress in this regard the responsibility of the Annex II states to take urgent steps to sign and ratify the treaty for its entry into force.
Mr. Chairman,
The UAE stresses the pivotal role of the International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards system, as it provides a reliable mechanism to ensure that nuclear materials and facilities are exclusively used for peaceful purposes. In line with our commitment to the non-proliferation regime, the UAE concluded a comprehensive safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency and signed its additional protocol. We reiterate in this regard our call to States, whose nuclear activities are questionable, to provide the necessary cooperation and answers to the IAEA’s inquiries, while also taking all required steps to address international concerns related to the nature of their nuclear activities to restore confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of their programs.
The UAE expresses concern about Iran’s continued development of its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. We join others in calling on Iran to address the questions over its nuclear program and build confidence by complying with the IAEA Safeguards Agreement and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, including by stopping all activities that threaten the global non-proliferation regime. Likewise, we condemn the repeated missile tests carried out by the DPRK in a flagrant violation of Security Council resolutions and express our concern regarding the continued development of the DPRK’s nuclear and missile capabilities. We stress the need for the DPRK to respect its international obligations to maintain peace and security on the Korean Peninsula .
Mr. Chairman, As malicious attacks targeting critical infrastructure continue to increase, the UAE stresses the importance of strengthening international cooperation in cybersecurity and supporting frameworks that regulate information and telecommunications security. We also call for intensifying efforts to protect countries and peoples from the misuse of cyberspace, which has become a threat to the whole world, particularly to the developing states that struggle to keep up with the modern advancements of our time. In conclusion, the UAE affirms its steadfast belief in the importance of reaching consensus to make progress on the outstanding issues related to disarmament and international security and to adopt an approach that enhances multilateral action under the auspices of the United Nations. We also stress the importance of women’s full, equal, and meaningful participation in disarmament and international security issues, to ensure that youth are included, empowered and educated in these issues. Their participation can inform gender responsive and age-sensitive disarmament and international security policies and more effective arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.