Delivered by: Ambassador Mohamed Abushahab, Deputy Permanent Representative

Mr. President,

The United Arab Emirates has a longstanding position of support and commitment to the Biological Weapons Convention, and recognizes it as an important part of the global non-proliferation architecture. The Convention’s prohibition of the development, production, stockpiling, acquisition, or retention of biological weapons is core to the international consensus that biological weapons must never be used.

Article VI of the Biological Weapons Convention has the potential to play an important role in terms of promoting compliance with the Convention. However, given that Article VI has never been applied before, the Security Council should be prudent and deliberate when establishing important new precedents on compliance.

We believe it is particularly important for there to be broad agreement among members of the Security Council on the triggers and modalities for proceeding under Article VI. Given the lack of such broad agreement on the draft resolution presented today, the UAE chose to abstain.  

Mr. President,

The Biological Weapons Convention remains crucial both in prohibiting biological weapons and in supporting cooperation in the study of biological agents and toxins for peaceful purposes. To that end, the UAE looks forward to participating in the Ninth Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Convention in Geneva at the end of this month.

Thank you, Mr. President.