Nordic Statement on the General Debate for the First Committee UNGA76
Mr Chair,
It is an honour to address this Committee on the
behalf of Nordic countries, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and my own
country, Denmark.
The Nordic countries have always been strong
proponents of multilateral cooperation as the most efficient means to deal with
global challenges.
It is more important than ever to seek global
solutions to common threats.
The Nordic countries are concerned about the volatile security environment characterized
by unpredictability and uncertainty and the erosion of the international disarmament,
arms control and non-proliferation architecture. To address these challenges we
need to redouble our efforts to preserve and further strengthen the existing architecture
and its individual institutions, processes and mechanisms. At the same time, we
must stay innovative and be ready to adapt and adjust what we have to changing
security circumstances.
We consider The
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty the cornerstone of the global nuclear
non-proliferation regime and a foundation for nuclear disarmament and the
further development of nuclear energy for peaceful uses.
We are strongly committed to working towards a
successful outcome of the Tenth NPT Review Conference. We are ready to fulfil our duty and continue
to work towards the full implementation of the Treaty, including article VI on
nuclear disarmament.
The Nordic states have supported, initiated and
developed important and concrete actions for the furtherance of the
implementation of the NPT. We attach high hopes to various initiatives, especially
the Stockholm Initiative on Nuclear Disarmament. With its “stepping-stones”
approach the initiative offers tangible steps with a particular focus on
nuclear risk reduction.
Nuclear disarmament verification is another area that is
crucial for progress in nuclear disarmament and arms control. The Nordic countries have been instrumental
in advancing the work through the UN GGE and initiatives like the Quad
Partnership and the IPNDV. This year a decision
on nuclear disarmament verification, will be tabled to keep up this important
work.
This year also marks the 25th anniversary
of The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
The CTBT is an integral part of the nuclear disarmament architecture and we
strongly urge states outside the treaty, in particular the remaining Annex II
states, to sign and ratify the treaty guaranteeing a legally binding moratorium
on nuclear testing. We welcome the positive statements made in that regard at
the recent article XIV-conference. We also reaffirm our support for early
negotiation and conclusion of a Fissile
Material Cut-off Treaty.
The Nordic countries pledge their full and continued
support for the work of the International
Atomic Energy Agency in its crucial role underpinning the implementation of
the NPT through its safeguards system. A Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement
with an Additional Protocol is the international verification standard, also
sustaining the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Efforts for universalisation
are of utmost importance.
Mr Chair,
The Nordic countries continue to fully support the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. We are concerned about Iran’s continued
breaches of its commitments. We urge Iran to return to full compliance with the
agreement and to address outstanding safeguards issues without delay. We call
on Iran to return to negotiations in Vienna without further delay.
Developments on the Korean Peninsula remain central to regional peace and development.
It is clear that the continued nuclear weapon and ballistic missile programmes
of the Democratic People’s Republic of
Korea is of utmost concern. We urge the
DPRK to fulfil its international commitments. The complete, verifiable and
irreversible denuclearisation of North Korea in accordance with UN Security
Council resolutions is the only way to sustainable peace and security on the
Korean Peninsula. We firmly believe that efforts to support dialogue must continue
to achieve lasting peace and stability on a Korean peninsula free of nuclear
weapons.
Mr. Chair
The erosion of norms against the use of weapons of
mass destruction is currently affecting the Chemical Weapons Convention.
The re-emergence of chemical weapons is one of the most urgent threats
to international peace and security and has to be dealt with firmly and
collectively.
We have witnessed use of chemical weapons in Syria, Iraq and Malaysia and
the UK, and most recently Russia.
The Nordic countries reaffirm their absolute condemnation of the assassination
attempt on Alexei Navalny, who was poisoned
in Russia by a military chemical nerve agent of the “Novichok” group. We reiterate our call on Russia, as a matter
of urgency, to investigate the matter and to be fully transparent. Those
responsible must be brought to justice, bearing in mind Russia´s obligations under
the Chemical Weapons Convention.
We condemn the Syrian Arab
Republic´s continued violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention. The use
of chemical weapons constitutes a serious breach of international law. We
welcome the decision adopted by the 25th Conference of the States
Parties to the CWC suspending voting rights and privileges of the Syrian Arab
Republic due to its failure to comply with the convention. We support the work of the Investigation and
Identification Team and we look forward to its next report.
Any use of
chemical weapons, under any circumstances, is a clear breach of international
law and the Chemical Weapons Convention, which prohibits the use of all
chemical weapons, and can amount to the most serious crimes of international
concern – war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Impunity
for the breaches of the global norms against chemical weapons cannot be
tolerated. Those responsible must be
held to account. The ability of the OPCW
to identify perpetrators of such heinous crimes will facilitate this.
We underline our
full and unequivocal confidence in the objectivity, impartiality, independence
and technical expertise of the OPCW Technical Secretariat.
Mr. Chair,
The Biological
and Toxin Weapons Convention is a
vital pillar of the disarmament regime.
With a view to the upcoming review conference next year and the global pandemic,
it is timely to recommit to this important treaty and constructively attend to
its implementation.
Mr. Chair,
Weapons of mass destruction are dominating the disarmament
dialogue and for valid reasons. However,
there are other important disarmament and arms control issues on the agenda in
this distinguished committee.
The Nordic countries are committed to the Anti-Personnel Landmine Treaty. The strong and ambitious action plan and the
road map needs to be implemented with strong determination in order to achieve
a mine free world by 2025. We urge other
participating states to join us in that effort and hope that more states sign
up to this successful treaty that contributes so much to the humanitarian
cause.
We call on all UN Member states to join the Arms Trade Treaty. The major arms exporters,
importers and transit countries carry special responsibility in this regard. Transparency
and information sharing are of utmost importance, in reducing the risk, of
diversion. Continued attention to the risks of serious acts of gender-based
violence is essential.
The illicit flows of small arms and light weapons
constitute a key challenge to international peace, security and development.
The Nordic countries support instruments addressing this important issue,
including The UN Programme of Action and the UN Secretary General’s Agenda for
Disarmament.
The Nordic countries support the work of the Group of Governmental Experts on Lethal
Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS), in particular the 11 guiding
principles. We consider the Conference
on Certain Conventional Weapons the right forum to discuss issues regarding
emerging technologies in the area of LAWS. It will be important to advance work
on these principles, especially regarding human – machine interaction, in the
GGE´s work leading up to the CCW review conference. One overriding framework
must be ensuring compliance with International Humanitarian Law.
The Nordic countries are firmly committed to the
prevention of an arms race in outer
space. We regard outer space as a common good for the benefit of all. Strengthened multilateral cooperation is
needed to preserve and enhance the safety, security and sustainability in outer
space activities. To this end, we welcome and support the resolution introduced
last year: „Reducing Space Threats Through Responsible Behaviour“.
A globally accessible, free, open and secure cyberspace is now, more than ever,
fundamental to how the world operates. The Nordic countries welcome efforts to support
the practical implementation of the UN framework for responsible state
behaviour in cyberspace by establishing a Programme of Action Such a programme
would create a permanent, long-term home for these issues under the aegis of
the United Nations.
Last but not least let me turn to an issue that ought
to come effortlessly and should be mainstreamed into our work, procedures and
substance, and that is gender. Gender equality and the empowerment of and
full inclusion of women into our substantive work should be the order of the
day. The Nordic countries accept nothing
less.
Mr.
Chair
The
Nordic countries will make every effort to contribute constructively to the important
work of the First Committee and beyond. In
that endeavour they will be guided by the time-tested spirit of Nordic cooperation and compassion.
Thank
you.