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Statement by at The General Debate of New York, 8 October 2007 Mr. Chairman, 1. I have the honor and privilege to speak on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement. 2. Allow me first of all to congratulate you on your assumption as Chairman of the Committee as well as the members of the Bureau on their election. We are confident that your able leadership and vast experience will further the work of the Committee. NAM will extend its full support and cooperation in facilitating your task in presiding over this 62nd Session of the First Committee. 3. NAM welcomes the restructuring of the Department of Disarmament Affairs into the Office of Disarmament Affairs as part of the Secretary-General’s commitment to revitalize the international disarmament agenda. In this regard, we wish to congratulate Ambassador Sergio Duarte for his appointment as High Representative of the Secretary General for Disarmament Affairs and reaffirm NAM’s continued support for the work of the new Office of Disarmament Affairs.
4. NAM strongly underlines and reaffirms that multilateralism and multilaterally agreed solutions, in accordance with the UN Charter, provide the only sustainable method of addressing disarmament and international security issues. It is our continued determination to promote multilateralism as the core principle of all our efforts and negotiations in these areas. We will continue to work constructively towards that end, including in this session of the First Committee. 5. NAM emphasizes that progress in nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation in all its aspects is essential to strengthening international peace and security, and we appeal to all States to pursue and intensify multilateral negotiations, as agreed by consensus in the Final Document of the SSOD-I, with a view to achieving nuclear disarmament under effective international control and strengthening the international disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation regimes. 6. As enumerated in the Final Document of the Havana Summit, NAM reiterates its principled position on nuclear disarmament which remains its highest priority, and on the related issue of nuclear non-proliferation in all its aspects, and underscores its deep concern over the lack of progress towards accomplishing the total elimination of nuclear arsenals by nuclear-weapon-States. We also express our serious concern that the development of nuclear weapons is in contravention with the assurances provided by nuclear-weapon-States at the conclusion of the CTBT. 7. NAM believes that efforts of the international community directed at non-proliferation should be parallel to the simultaneous efforts aiming at nuclear disarmament. NAM further believes that the issues of proliferation should be resolved through political and diplomatic means, and the measures in this regard should be taken within the framework of international law, relevant multilateral conventions, and the UN Charter. 8. NAM reaffirms the need for all States to fulfill their obligations in relation to arms control and disarmament and to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in all its aspects. NAM reiterates that the ultimate objective of the efforts of States in the disarmament process is general and complete disarmament. 9. NAM also reaffirms that the total elimination of nuclear weapons is the only absolute guarantee against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons. Therefore, pending the total elimination of such weapons, efforts for the conclusion of a universal, unconditional and legally-binding instrument on security assurances to non-nuclear-weapon-States should be pursued as a matter of priority. 10. The ongoing difficult situation we face in the field of disarmament and international security is unfortunate. We encourage all parties to intensify efforts to resolving the current impasse in achieving nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation in all its aspects.
11. NAM reaffirms the centrality of the First Committee as an essential subsidiary body of the General Assembly in addressing the important issues in the field of disarmament and international security, in particular due to the difficult and complex situation in this field. NAM would like to commend the Secretariat for the launching of the “Quickfirst” website, which we hope will serve as a useful tool in facilitating our work. 12. While underlining the role of the Conference on Disarmament (CD) as the sole multilateral negotiating body on disarmament, we reiterate our call on the CD to agree on a balanced and comprehensive program of work. 13. NAM reaffirms the importance and relevance of the United Nations Disarmament Commission (UNDC) as the sole specialized deliberative body within the UN multilateral disarmament machinery, and calls upon UN member states to display the necessary political will and flexibility in order to achieve agreement on recommendations based on its two agenda items during the current cycle.
14. The 2010 NPT review cycle had began modestly this year with the first Prepcom of the NPT in Vienna. We take note that delegations have engaged in useful substantive discussion. In this regard, NAM States Parties to the NPT hope that the results of the first Prepcom could serve as building blocks for subsequent Prepcoms and the Review Conference. 15. We take note with concern that large stocks of nuclear weapons continue to exist, and some nuclear-weapon-states are keen to develop even more sophisticated and greater arsenals of such weapons. 16. NAM would like to stress the significance of achieving universal adherence to the CTBT, including by all nuclear-weapon States, which, inter alia, should contribute to the process of nuclear disarmament. NAM reiterates that if the objectives of the Treaty were to be fully realized, the continued commitment of all States signatories, especially the nuclear-weapon States, to nuclear disarmament would be essential 17. NAM States Parties to the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) commend the agreement on a Final Document in the BWC Review Conference last year as a positive development not only in the implementation of the BWC but also in the multilateral security and disarmament diplomacy in general. 18. NAM States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) further take note of the 10th anniversary of the entry into force of the CWC and calls on all states to continue working to make the Convention more effective. 19. NAM States Parties to the Anti Personnel Mine-Ban Convention also note the commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Convention and look forward to the coming 8th Meeting of the States Parties to the Anti Personnel Mine-Ban Convention to be held in Amman, Jordan 17-22 November 2007. 20. NAM remains deeply concerned over the illicit transfer, manufacture and circulation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) and their excessive accumulation and uncontrolled spread in many regions of the world. We also emphasize the importance of early and full implementation of the 2001 UN Programme of Action (PoA) on SALW. We hope that the efforts of the UN with regard to implementation of the PoA should be focused on assisting and enabling developing countries to tackle the problem of illicit transfer, manufacture and circulation of SALW. We also take note of the conclusion of the work of the Group of Governmental Expert (GGE) on Illicit Brokering. 21. NAM takes note of the convening of the Open-Ended Working Group on the 4th Special Session of the General Assembly Devoted to Disarmament (SSOD-IV) and regret that the mandate of the Working Group cannot be accomplished due to the position of certain delegation. We recall that NAM has submitted proposals on the objectives and agenda of an SSOD IV during the substantive sessions of the Working Group. NAM stresses the importance of the General Assembly in continuing the Assembly’s active consideration with a view to reaching consensus at its 62nd Session of the objectives, agenda and the establishment of a preparatory committee for the SSOD IV, including by reconvening the Open-Ended Working Group to consider the objectives and agenda, including the possible establishment of the preparatory committee for the 4th Special Session of the General Assembly devoted to Disarmament. Mr. Chairman, 22. NAM continues to consider the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones created by Treaties of Tlatelolco, Rarotonga, Bangkok, Pelindaba, Semipalatinsk and Mongolia’s nuclear weapon free status as a positive step and important measures towards attaining the objective of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. We welcome the efforts aimed at establishing nuclear-weapon-free zones in all regions of the world and call for cooperation and broad consultation in order to achieve agreements freely arrived at among the States of the region concerned. 23. NAM reiterates its support for the establishment
in the Middle East of a nuclear-weapon-free zone, in accordance with
relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions adopted
by consensus. Pending the establishment of such a zone, NAM demands
Israel to accede to the NPT without delay, and place promptly all
its nuclear facilities under comprehensive IAEA safeguards.
25. The international community needs to take collective efforts to confront the serious challenges before us, to realize a future that is stable and free of deadly weapons. We must show greater political will to achieve our common objectives in this 62nd Session of the General Assembly. 26. Finally, let me conclude by reiterating the need for all States to demonstrate their necessary political will during the session of the First Committee. In this regard NAM will actively and constructively participate in the deliberations and negotiations, including by submitting its resolutions and decisions.
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