UNOFFICIAL TRANSLATION

Check against delivery.

At the outset, I would like to express our deepest and sincere condolences to the Permanent Mission of Ireland and its staff on the passing of the Deputy Permanent Representative, Mr. Jim Kelly.

I thank Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu for her briefing.

The use of biological weapons or any weapons of mass destruction of any kind by anyone under any circumstance can never be justified and is an attack on all humanity. Should anyone use these weapons at any time, the international response must be robust, and the perpetrators must be held to account for this unacceptable act and flagrant violation of intentional law.

The ban, including as expressed through the Biological Weapons Convention, stands as one of the most important and meaningful accomplishments of the international community and preserving the consensus underlying it is a solemn duty that goes to the heart of our responsibility to maintain international peace and security.

Finally, we reiterate our call to use all diplomatic means to find meaningful ways to ease the suffering of people on the ground and to reach a cessation of hostilities that will create space for a peaceful resolution of this conflict, in accordance with international law and international humanitarian law.