First Committee, 16th plenary meeting - General Assembly, 80th session

The 16th Meeting of the Disarmament and International Security Committee, First Committee of the 80th Session of the General assembly is called to order.

Distinguished delegates. In accordance with its program of work, the Committee will first hear a briefing by our panelists under the Cluster on Outer Space disarmament aspects and engage in an informal exchange with him. The Committee will then resume its discussion on conventional weapons. Before beginning consideration of the thematic Cluster on Outer Space, allow me to warmly welcome to the podium the Chair of the Open ended Working Group on the prevention of enamored race in Outer Space in all its aspects. His Excellency Mr. Carlos Maggio Fogadogi, Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of Argentina Republic to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva.

I now invite him to address the Committee. You have the floor, Ambassador.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It is my privilege to provide an update to the First Committee on the work of the Open ended Working Group on the prevention of a man race in Outer Space in all these aspects, in accordance with the General assembly decision 79 512. As you are aware, the Group was established pursuant to General assembly decision that just mentioned. Its mandate is to submit recommendations on the preventions of mal race in outer space in all these aspects and this decision was an important diplomatic achievement and required the expertise and tireless effort of the core Group to bridge the differences among the delegations regarding the resolutions 7820 and 78 to 38.

The group held an organizational session from 6th to 7th of February where it elected its chair for 2025 and due to the lack of time, the Group was unable to complete considerations of its organizational matters. I therefore convene informal consultations on the 4th and 6th of March to facilitate further discussions. The first session was held from 7 to 11th of April and ended with agreement at referendum on the agenda for the substantive sessions and a sense of the way forward on arriving at an indicative timetable and then a convening formal consultations on the 19th of June on this issue. The group held its second session from the 21st to 25th of July and in that session the Group was able to adopt its agenda and indicative timetable for the period 2025-28 and thereby enable it to commence its substantive work after a general exchange of views. Substantive discussions took place under Item 6 of the Agenda which is to consider and make recommendations on the prevention of alarm race in the Outer space in all its aspects, including unsubstantial elements of illegally binding instruments or instruments and non legally binding measures, inter alia norms on the prevention of an armed race in the outer space in all its aspects, including, inter alia, on prohibiting the placement of weapons in the outer space and on the dressing activities and behaviors with the aim of reducing space threats.

Under sub item 6A, General Considerations the Group discusses specific topics of the involving nature of outer space activities, threats and related capabilities, and on existing normative and legal framework, including measures related to the threat or use of force. Under Sub item B, focus on the substantial elements of legally binding instruments or instruments, the Group held a general exchange of all matters, including principles, objectives and preliminary elements. Finally, under subitem 6C, devoted to non legally binding measures, the Group held a general exchange of all matters in including principles and objectives. The Group has also heard a statement by observer organizations in accordance to the General assembly decision 79.512 in reflecting on our work and reminded of its urgency and purpose, outer space is no longer a distant frontier. It is now essential to the security, prosperity and development of all nations.

As our activities expand beyond this planet, so too does our duty to keep that vast domain peaceful, saf safe and open to all. The prevention of armed raids in territory space is not a technical goal. It's a moral one, central to the cause of international peace and security. I have been deeply encouraged by the spirit of cooperation shown by all delegations without exception. Yes, our strategies differ and our perspective vary, but we have moved forward together, guided by the sheer recognition that dialogue, and not division, is the only path to progress in times of global tensions.

That unity of purpose is no small achievement. I thank the many delegations for their flexibility and the Secretariat and the Core Group for their steady support. The spirit that has carried us this far must remain our guide to keep building trust, finding common ground and bringing our differences into harmony. If we continue with that same revolve and openness, I am confident that this group will move closer to what the world expect of us, taking into account that our common mission is simple and yet challenging. It is a dream, but an achievable one, inspiring yet complex.

As we work to end the wars that scare our planet, we must keep the skies above as a refugee, a place where we may rest our gaze contemplating a lasting peace. Thank you.

Chair I thank the Chair of the Open Ended Working Group on the Prevention of an arms race in outer Space in all its aspects for his remarks. In keeping with the established practice of the Committee, I will now suspend the meeting to afford the delegations the opportunity to have an interactive discussion on the briefing we just heard, through an informal question and answer session, the Meeting is suspended.

Does any delegation wish to make any comments or raise questions on the briefing we just heard?

I see no request for the floor, so on behalf of all delegations, I thank our panelists. Ambassador for his statement and the Committee will now resume its formal meeting. The meeting is resumed, Distinguished delegates. The Committee will now resume its thematic discussion under the cluster of conventional weapons. There are 13 speakers remaining on the list for this cluster.

As delegations are aware, Based on the current program of work, the Committee should have concluded its consideration of the cluster this morning. Delegations wishing to exercise the right of reply will be able to do so once the Committee exhausts the list of speakers for the current cluster.

I give now the floor to the distinguished representative of Iran

for giving me the floor. As a point of order, my delegation wish to inform you and the distinguished delegations that the host country has thus far failed to issue visas to members of the Iranian delegation who were scheduled to attend the meetings of the six main committees of the General assembly, including this Committee. Despite the timely submission of visa applications, none of our delegates, including the one designated to participate in this committee, have received their visas. This unjustifiable situation has seriously impeded the effective participation of the Iranian delegation in the work of the Committee. The obligations of the host country in this regard are clear and unconditional.

Section 13 of the Headquarters Agreement stipulates that when visas are required for persons referred to in that section, they shall be granted without charge and as promptly as possible. This legal duty is not discretionary and cannot be influenced by the host country's bilateral relations with any member state. It exists to guarantee the sovereign equality of all states and their equal right to participate in the work of this organization. My delegation therefore expresses its strongest objection to the Government of the United States and calls upon your Excellency, as the Chair of the First Committee, to take the necessary measures to address this urgent matter. I thank you, Mr.

Chair.

We've heard from the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran concerning issues related to participation of a member of its delegation in the work of the First Committee. The concerns raised by the distinguished delegate of the Islamic Republic of Iran have been well noted. I hope that those concerns will be dealt with expeditiously through appropriate channels.

We will continue with debate. I give now the floor to the distinguished representative of Australia.

The mic is on. No mic for Australia. Australia. Yeah.

Austria.

Austria is on.

Australia. Australia, please. Yes.

Thank you, Chair. The current conventional weapons control framework, consisting of treaties, conventions and political commitments, was built over time in response to the tragic lessons of Our past.

Australia is committed to this Framework. Chair. Anti personnel mines and cluster munitions can cause long term human suffering and pose a grave threat to countries during and after conflict. Recent Convention withdrawals, coupled with continued cluster munitions and anti personnel landmine use, including regrettably in our region, has underscored that more work is needed. Universalisation and implementation of the Anti Personnel Mine Ban and Cluster Munitions Convention must be front and centre in our efforts.

While the deteriorating international security environment is of grave concern, it also gives cause to recommit to these conventions. Earlier in this session we were pleased to join a statement on behalf of Pacific countries in support of mine action. We further welcome the recent accessions of Vanuatu to both the CCM and the Arms Trade Treaty and the Republic of the Marshall Islands and Tonga to the APMBC Chair. Small arms and light weapons, a leading cause of violent deaths globally are often used to facilitate gender based violence. This tragically remains widespread and persistent.

We were heartened by consensus agreement at the ATT Conference of States Parties in August and by the UK's five year strategy to guide implementation. This year's preparatory meeting on the Global Framework for Through Life Conventional Ammunition Management advanced efforts to promote good practices. Australia is pleased to serve as a Vice President of this process. We remain committed to building the capacity of States States to implement their commitments under the ATT and Program of Action. We encourage States to join Australia as donors to onsca and the ATT's voluntary trust fund.

Chair as technology advances, so do weapons. International humanitarian law continues to govern the development and use of these weapons and it is our solemn responsibility to uphold and promote ihl. Australia has been encouraged by the constructive spirit of the Group of Governmental Experts on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems. We remain focused on delivering a consensus outcome at the GGE in 2026 and encourage high contracting parties of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons to work with us to contemplate next steps to build on the GGE's progress. I thank you Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Australia for her statement. Give now the floor to the distinguished representative of Liberia.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Liberia aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the African Group and wishes to add the following remarks in its national capacity. The continued rise in terrorism, violent extremism and the illicit proliferation diversion and of safe management of conventional arms around the world pose a persistent threat to international peace, security and development. The humanitarian and developmental consequences of poorly malice ammunition stallpile from accidental exploration to displacement, environmental declaration to loss of livelihoods as severe and far reaching.

These challenges undermine the goals of the United nations and the principles that underpin the multilateral disarmament architecture. As a post conflict nation deeply committed to preventing any relapse into armed conflict, Liberia considers effective conventional arms control essential to fostering national resilience, regional stability and sustainable development. The Government of Liberia reaffirms its unwavering commitment to strengthening the multilateral approach in addressing issues of international security arms control. This approach provides the framework for adherence to key disarmament instruments including the Armed Trade Treaty, the UN Program of Action on Small Arms and Lead Weapons, the Global Framework for True Life, Conventional Ammunition Management, the Convention on Cluster Munitions and the Political Declaration on Explosive Weapons in Populated areas, among others. Mr.

Chair, Liberia's contribution to the implementation of these instruments and others not mentioned demonstrate our meaningful engagement within the international community in promoting peace and ensuring that our national policies continue to support global security and sustainable development. We welcome the outcome document of the four Review Conference on the Program of Ishon and we encourage continuing international cooperation, technical assistance and capacity building to ensure the full implementation of the POA, the International Tracing Instrument and other global commitments. Mr. Chair, it is important to honor school that conflicts are not driven solely by the availability of weapons, but also by the illicit economists that sustain their supply chains. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly Sustainable Development Goals sustained on peace, justice and strong institutions and the Secretary General New Agenda for Peace both call for an integrated approach that links peace building, security and sustainable development.

These frameworks clearly highlight the connection between arms control, natural resource governance and the queen of illicit financial flows. Liberia shares the view that the trade in rough diamond used to finance armed conflict. Conflict.

I thank the distinguished representative of Liberia for his statement. I give now the floor to Her Excellency, Permanent Representative of Cabo Verde.

Thank you, Chair. Cabo Verde aligns itself with the statements delivered on behalf of the Non Aligned Movement, African Group and cplp. In a world increasingly marked by armed conflicts, polarization and the resurgence of militarization, we reaffirm unwavering commitment to peace, multilateralism and the principles of the UN Charter. Conventional weapons, especially small arms and light weapons, continue to fuel conflict, organized crime, terrorism and gender based violence. They destabilize societies, obstruct development efforts and are the true weapons of mass destruction.

In 2024, over 270,000 people lost their lives to homicides involving small arms and light weapons. That's 46% of all violent deaths globally and it surpasses the number of those killed in armed conflict. These figures hide stories of fear, loss, grieving families and Orphans Left Behind. Cabo Verte reiterates full support to the UN Program of Action and to the International Tracing Instrument and recognizes their central role in strengthening national legislation, stockpile management and international cooperation and assistance. We encourage great attention to emerging technologies.

Cabo Verte is proud to contribute to efforts within the CPLP through the creation of national firearm focal points and the Commission on Arms and Explosives that promote information sharing, training and operational cooperation among its member states. ECOWAS continues to play a vital role and we commend the outcome of last year's meeting of national commissions on small arms focused on artisanal weapons and improvised explosive devices and reinforcing the coordination between national and regional priorities. Global military expenditure has reached an unprecedented $2.7 trillion. The SG New agenda for Peace reminds us that investing in social infrastructure, education and health systems, youth empowerment, and lifting millions out of poverty and hunger must take precedence over proliferation of arms. Let us commit our collective resolve to curb the illicit flow of arms, promote responsible state behavior, and advance the goals of disarmament as a foundation for a more secure and human world.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the Ambassador Caboverde for her statement. Give now the floor to the distinguished representative of Haiti.

Thank you, Chair. The Republic of Haiti aligns fully with the statement delivered by Belize on behalf of caricom. The threat of conventional weapons is global and constant. To master this threat, we must go beyond searching for a simple solution and instead focus on a set of concrete and specific measures aimed at consolidating peace. We underscore that all actors must be involved in the fight against illicit trade and the diversion of conventional weapons.

For Haiti, the fight against illicit weapons is an absolute and national priority. Without this, there will be no stability or development. By way of example, in the first half of 2025, more than 70% of the homicides recorded in Haiti were committed using illegally sourced firearms. According to the latest UNICEF report published on 8 October 2025, more than 680,000 children have been forced to flee their homes. We welcome the adoption of the Global Framework on the Management of Conventional Weapons, and we stress the critical importance of of regional and international cooperation to address the characteristics of transitional weapons and ammunition management linked to disarmament, demobilization and reintegration.

The challenges require unprecedented mobilization and that's why we're launching an urgent court appeal for substantial reinforcement of technical, logistical and financial assistance which is essential for the substance sustainable implementation of these multilateral commitments on the ground. Chair we are seeing a shift in threats, artisanal weapons and Modular weapons are a growing threat in Haiti and slip through the net of traditional regulations. And this is why we fully support the establishment of an open ended technical expert group on salw. We hope that this group will allow us to simultaneously explore the risks posed by the evolution of technologies and their diversion into the hands of illicit actors. And secondly, the positive use of technological innovations to better detect, trace and prevent illicit trade.

Finally, we are fully aware of the ethical, humanitarian and legal implications of lethal autonomous weapon systems laws. We support efforts to strictly supervise their development and use in full compliance with the principles of international humanitarian law. Chair. The fight against the proliferation of conventional weapons and in particular salw will only be effective through international solidarity with transparency and multilateral cooperation that has been reinforced. We thank all partners who support our efforts and call for increased mobilization so that the principles that we stand for together lead to real security for our populations.

I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Haiti for his statement. I give now the floor to His Excellency, Deputy Permanent Representative of Angola.

Thank you, Mr. President, Excellencies. Angola aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the Afghan group CPLP and nam. Armed conflict in Europe, Middle east and Africa and growing tensions in various parts of the world highlight the importance of greater coordination of global effort toward collective peace. The Republic of Angola expressed its concern regarding the current international security landscape. We support international effort to combat illicit trade and trafficking of conventional weapons, ammunitions and related materials.

Angular affirm its commitment to general disarmament and effective control of conventional weapons in accordance with relevant regional and internal instruments. Mr. Chair, the African continent continue to face serious challenge arising from the uncontrolled proliferation of conventional weapons, especially small arms and light weapons. These weapons cause an acceptable number of civilian casualties, fuel conflicts, promote terrorism and organized crimes and most importantly, destabilize national and regional peace and reconstruction efforts. Combating the proliferation of conventional weapons demands comprehensive approach to address the root causes of conflict such as poverty, inequality, social exclusion and governance.

Sustainable disarmament is only possible when accompanied by national reconciliation, tolerance, social development and social justice. Disarmament cannot be seen as a concession, but rather a collective responsibility for for the sake of human survival. Angola believes that strength multilateralism lies in the ability of state to transform moral and legal commitment into concrete and verifiable actions. We reaffirm that the global security depends on the commitment of nuclear weapons power to their obligation to eliminate their arsenal as established in Article 6 of the NPT in accordance with the principle of irreversibility, verifiability and transparency. In conclusion, Mr.

Chair, Angola reiterates its complete willingness to work with global effort to promote the achievement of the goal of a world free from scourge of armed violence and oriented toward development and human dignity. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Bengal. I give now the floor to the distinguished representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My delegation reaffirms that the UN Charter in particular Article 51 upholds the sovereign and inherent right of every state to acquire, manufacture, import, export and retain conventional arms for legitimate safety, defense and security purposes. This inalienable right cannot be restricted by any multilateral process. At the same time, we are gravely concerned by the continued expansion of the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons which fuels instability and terrorism.

The illicit trafficking of these weapons and their ammunition across borders undermines national security and sovereignty making structures strengthen regional and international cooperation, especially in tracing illicit flows. In this principle, a key obstacle remains the insufficient cooperation of some producing and exporting states that treat these issues through an economic lens. Arms producing countries bear a special responsibility to prevent the diversion and trafficking of weapons and ammunition they manufacture and export, particularly in regions such as the Middle east where illicit flows have devastating consequences. Genuine, sufficient and unconditional international cooperation and assistance are essential for the effective implementation of the poa, ITI and gfa. Support must be concrete, predictable and non discriminatory including technical and financial assistance, technology transfer and provision of equipment.

The establishment of the open ended Technical Expert group whose mandates explicitly include identifying practical and concrete measures for international cooperation and assistance together with the new UN funding mechanism for the implementation of the POA and ITI and fellowship training programs on small arms and light weapons and ammunition management can strengthen developing countries capacity to implement their commitments. Mr. Chair, arms transfer to aggressors and occupying powers is prohibited under international law. Continued supply of weapons to the Israeli regime by the United States and certain European states renders them complicit in grave violation of international humanitarian and human rights law. Amid the genocide in Gaza, this complicity is reinforced by the International Court of Justice requirements recognition of the plausible risk of genocide and the ICC prosecutors arrest warrants for Israeli leaders for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The regime's repeated acts of aggression against other states, including Iran, further destabilized the region. We therefore call for an immediate and comprehensive arms embargo on Israel. I thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Iran for his statement. I give now the floor to the distinguished representative of India.

Thank you, Chair. Good afternoon, colleagues. In an increasingly turbulent global security environment, India reaffirms its commitment to disarmament and arms control instruments in the field of conventional weapons. As a party to its five Protocols, India is committed to humanitarian principles enshrined in the Convention on Certain Conventional weapons. The amended Protocol 2 strikes a balance between humanitarian concerns arising from landmines and the legitimate defence requirements, particularly of states with long borders.

India has fulfilled obligations under the Protocol, inter alia related to the non production of non detectable mines as well as rendering all antipersonal mines detectable. The amended Protocol 2 also serves as an appropriate framework for addressing IEDs which which are often deployed by terrorist and illegal armed groups. Having fought the menace of IEDs, India calls high priority to IED threat mitigation and victim assistance. Chair as an original Signatory to Protocol 5, India is deeply aware of the grave humanitarian concerns caused by the explosive remnants of war. India for Humanity Initiative has organized over 30 limb fitment camps with over 15,000 artificial limbs fitted free of cost in various countries.

Chair the CCW also provides a platform to review and to meaningfully respond to the challenges arising from the evolving new technologies applicable to armed conflict. The GGE's deliberations on regulating lethal autonomous weapon systems have highlighted challenges posed by them and facilitated a deeper understanding of characterization possible restrictions and measures. India believes that the guiding principles and the previous reports contain a very powerful norm that the emerging technologies in the area of laws are not exempt from restrictions contained under the International Humanitarian law. India remains committed to the fulfillment of the current mandate of the GGE which is to consider and formulate set of elements of an instrument without prejudging its nature and underlines that issues relevant to laws should be discussed within the framework of CCW instead of any parallel process. Chair India supports the UNPOA on small and light weapons and the International Tracing Instrument and continues to work actively against illicit arms trade that exacerbates terrorism.

India has also worked closely with UNRCPD Kathmandu to increase regional awareness and formulate steps to combat illicit small and light weapons trade. Further, India has played an active role in the adoption as well as in advancing the global framework for through life conventional ammunition management. An Indian expert has engaged constructively in the Technical Review Board of the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines and has contributed to its ongoing refinement as a member of the relevant multilateral export control regimes. India remains committed to work towards further strengthening global non proliferation architecture in the area of conventional weapons and related dual use goods and technologies. The full version of the statement will be uploaded online.

I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of India for his statement. I give now the floor to the distinguished representative of Cambodia.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Cambodia aligns itself with the statement of ASEAN and the Non Aligned Movement. I would like to make a remark in my national capacity. The effective functioning of the conventional armed control regime is crucial for maintaining peace and security at both international and regional level.

Yet global security face serious challenges including structural instability, the weakening of the existing armed control mechanism, rising military expenditure and the weaponization of emerging domain. In this context, Cambodia wish to highlight a few points that reflect Cambodia's position. First, Cambodia remained committed to the anti Personal Minebank Convention. Last year we successfully hosted the fifth Review Conference of the Ottawa Convention in Siem Reap which concluded with the adoption of Siem Reap ONGO Action Plan that reaffirmed collective roadmap for state parties to accelerate mine clearance, strengthen victim assistance and ensure that no one is left behind in our shared journey toward the mine free world. This year, Cambodia, Japan and Zambia has submitted the draft resolution on the implementation of anti Personnel Minebank Convention and called for your ongoing support to promote its full and effective implementation.

In this context of the Convention of cluster munitions, Cambodia is deeply concerned that the ongoing use of cluster munitions remain a serious humanitarian concern. This weapon continues to use in certain conflict causing a long term risk and devastating harm to community and civilians. Second, Cambodia also emphasized the urgent need for international cooperation to stop the illegal trade in small arms and light weapons that drive conflict and instability around the world. Cambodia advocates the full implementation of the UN program action and the international tracing instrument. Cambodia called on state to working together but on implementing the recommendation on the consensual final document on the fifth Review Conference.

Third, Cambodia underscore the importance of ensuring the responsible transfer of lethal autonomous weapon system given their ability to operate without direct human control. In this regard, Cambodia expressed its appreciation for an active engagement of the GGE on lethal autonomous weapons. Cambodia reaffirmed its commitment to active support the work of the GGE and and call upon all members to continue working toward the full implementation of its mandate. In conclusion, Cambodia touched great importance on promoting human security and reduce the humanitarian impacts on conventional weapons. And Cambodia will continue to work closely with all partners to strengthen existing instruments promoting responsible behavior in emerging technology and supporting initiatives that prevent illicit arm flow.

I thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Cambodia for his statement. I give now the floor to the distinguished representative of Ghana.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Ghana aligns itself with a statement developed by the Afghan group and the Non Aligned Movement.

We add the following remarks in our national capacity. While Ghana reaffirms the sovereignty right of every nation to acquire and retain arms for self defense and national security, we equally emphasize that this right must go hand in hand with responsibility to ensure that such arms do not fuel instability or conflict. Mr. Chair, the LAC perforation of small arms and light weapons remains one of the most persistent threats to peace and stability on our continent. As the weapons of choice and the most easily accessible these arms sustain the operations of terrorists and criminal groups, escalates community criminal violence, weakens state authority, deepen insecurity and erode hard won development gains.

Compounding this, the effects of climate change through drought, resource scarcity and competition over land and water have worsened tensions between farmers and herders in many regions where small arms have become the weapons of choice. Despite determined efforts through regional and international initiatives such as the African Union's master roadmap of Silencing the guns by 2030, the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons and the Arms Trade Treaty, challenges persist, trafficking networks remain sophisticated and demand for weapons in fragile and conflict affected regions in endures. Mr. Chair, Ghana attaches great importance to global efforts aimed at closing mobility gaps in conventional arms control. We particularly welcome the global framework through the LIFE Convention Ammunition Management which fills a critical void as controlling ammunition remains the central to curbing the illicit flow and misuse of these weapons.

Without such measures and even the strongest arm management regimes fall short at the continental and regional levels, the AU is licensed guns by 2030 initiative and the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Coupons together provide a solid framework for licensing, marketing and export controls within Africa and West Africa at the national level and at the national level. As a committed state party to the Treaty, Ghana continues to promote the responsible trade in conventional arms. Thanks to the implementation of the Saving Life Entity found in partnership with the United Nations, Ghana is advancing a holistic, inclusive and data driven approach to combating a city arms flow. Through the Fund Ghana, Ghana has strengthened community engagement, youth outreach and evidence based reforms informed by national baselines surveyed by the Kofi Anna International.

I thank the distinguished representative of Ghana for his statement.

I give now the floor to His Excellency, Permanent observer of the Holy see.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The continued proliferation and misuse of conventional weapons poses a significant obstacle to peace. Rather than fostering stability, their unchecked spread breeds mistrust, fuels violence and undermines dialogue between states. In this regard, the dramatic rise in global military expenditure which last year reached $2.7 trillion, is deeply troubling the enormous allocation of resources to armaments contradicts the the pursuit of the common good.

As Poplio observes, how can we continue to betray the desire of the worst peoples for peace with propaganda about weapons building up? As if military supremacy will resolve problems instead of fueling even greater hatred and desire for revenge? Mr. Chair, the recent withdrawals from the Ottawa Convention are of grave concern. Anti personnel landmines inflict indiscriminate and enduring harm on individuals, communities and the environment long after conflicts have ended.

The fact that they can be inadvertently activated by anyone makes them incompatible with the principles of humanity and international law. The same concern applies to all weapons systems that operate without meaningful human control. Decision over life and death must not be surrendered to machines. The olsea, therefore strongly supports the Secretary General's call for a legally binding instrument prohibiting lethal autonomous weapons systems by next year. Mr.

Chair, there is also urgent need to stop the use of explosive weapons, including cluster munitions, in populated areas where their indiscriminate effects devastate schools, hospitals and places of worship. Equally pressing is the illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons. The unlawful proliferation of these weapons continues to take a heavy toll on the most fragile in society, particularly children, who are often recruited into criminal or terrorist groups, robbed of their innocence and denied the future. For this reason, my delegation calls for full implementation of existing frameworks and hopes for progress at the 9th Biennial Meeting of States. Mr.

Chair. In conclusion, the OLSE urges the international community to abandon the illusion of security through arms and instead to strive for a peace founded on dialogue, justice and the dignity of every human life. Thank you.

I thank the Permanent observer of the Holy See for his statement. Give now the floor to the distinguished representative of Interpol.

Mr. Chair, Excellencies, distinguished delegates. Firearms trafficking is a fundamental threat to peace.

It is a cause of conflict as it generates profits for criminal, terrorist and armed groups engaging in violence. It is an effect of conflict as weapons are often diverted from war zones and it is a source of daily destruction as firearms facilitate crimes which impede development. From murder to trafficking in persons. Allow me to highlight three ways in which Interpol is countering this threat. First, we enable information sharing to trace the movements of illicit firearms.

Our IARMS database is the only global database of stolen, lost and trafficked firearms with 2 million records. Since 2013, officers have conducted more than 2 million queries and tracing operations through iArms, revealing trafficking patterns and exposing criminal networks. We also created the Interpol Firearms Reference Table, an interactive online tool assisting police in identifying firearms based on their Technical characteristics. Second, we lead multinational operations to remove illicit firearms from circulation. In 2023, we coordinated Operation Trigger 9, our largest ever firearms operation, which seized over 9,200 firearms and over 330,000 rounds of ammunition from Central and South America.

It also seized drug supplies worth 5.7 billion USD, demonstrating the links between firearms trafficking and other organized crime. Finally, we strengthened the capacity of law enforcement to combat this threat. From 2020 to 2024, we trained more than 550 officers from 76 countries in firearms identification, tracing and investigation. We also developed the Firearms Recovery Protocol, guiding police to systematically investigate recovered firearms. Mr.

Chair, Global Police cooperation is essential to finally eradicate the illicit trade in firearms. Interpol's contributions have been recognized in the UN Program of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons and the International Tracing Instrument. Interpol remains firmly committed to to protecting civilians from firearm violence and building a more peaceful world. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Interpol for her statement.

I shall now call on delegations who have requested the right of reply. May I remind members that statements in the exercise of the right of reply are limited to four and a half minutes for the first intervention and two and a half minutes for the second intervention. I first call on the representative of the Russian Federation to take the floor. Thanks.

Mr. Chair. We are compelled to take the floor in right of reply. This is in connection with the statements of certain delegations that are trying to distort the situation around the anti personnel. My banned convention from.

For the second day in a row we've heard something totally unmoored from reality. I mean statements from Western states that at any price are trying to shift responsibility in Russia to justify their own destructive decisions and their sidestepping responsibility for undermining the Landmine Convention. The departure from the convention of Russia's neighbors is a telling example of their arbitrary relationship toward their international legal commitments. These Western countries are propelled to shed inconvenient restrictions whenever they please. However, they haven't even deigned to seek cogent arguments to back up their own actions.

They're just mechanically repeating the talking point that they are under some pressure, some military, supposed military pressure coming from Russia. Now I'll turn to the statement of Ukraine about the convention. I want to underscore that there's an order of the Ukrainian President. It's number 4412025 and dated 29 June. It specifically mentions Kyiv's withdrawal from this Convention.

Such a decision pursuant to this convention cannot enter into force for a party to an armed conflict until that conflict ends, the suspension of the effect of the Convention, and especially the suspension of certain of its provisions, was never mentioned from the very beginning. The effect of the Convention for Ukraine can be deemed suspended only if there's no objection from the other parties to the Convention. At any case, Kyiv steps are destructive amid an ongoing armed conflict and the obligations under the Anti Personnel Mine Convention, however, weren't implemented by Kyiv even before this decision. According to the requirements of the Convention, Ukraine should have destroyed all its stockpiles of anti personnel mines back in 2010, with the exception of a minimal amount needed to develop mine detection methods or trained specialists. But Kyiv never did this.

The use by the Kyiv regime of anti personnel mines against civilians has been regularly documented by Russian law enforcement structures. Furthermore, the violations of the aforementioned Convention have not been duly assessed by its parties. Instead, Ukraine was granted additional time to destroy its anti personnel mines, which it has and is actively using. The situation around the Convention, alas, merely confirms Russia's assessment about the weakness of this treaty regime. The Convention has no means of leverage against countries that in one way or another shirk the implementation of their commitments.

The acts of the Baltic states, Poland, Ukraine and Finland fully fit into the general course of the west and its satellites. A course toward rewriting and undermining the international legal system in terms of arms control, disarmament and non proliferation. They're asking for stricter and rigorous compliance of commitments by by other countries. But these states see no need to consistently abide by these treaties restrictions and at the same time they are shifting onto others the blame for the decisions that they have taken. That is they're shifting the blame.

In contrast to these aforementioned countries, the Russian Federation has continued in good faith to fully meet its commitments under Additional Protocols 2 and Protocol 5 of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons. As for the use of mines, from the very beginning of the special military operation, the Russian Federation's armed forces have acted in accordance with instructions on International Humanitarian law for the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. This document, inter alia, sets out the chief requirements for the use of anti personnel mines in accordance with Additional Protocol 2 of the CCW. The results of national work on the mine threat are regularly reflected in Russian reporting on this convention. The CCW, that is, and and its additional Protocol 2 and Protocol 5.

I thank you for your attention.

I thank the representative of the Russian Federation for his intervention. I give now the floor to the representative of Poland.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, for giving me the floor. I'm exercising the right of reply to shed some light on the widely commented withdrawal from the Anti Personal Mindband Convention announced by Poland earlier this year, as well as to respond to several Russia's comments. Mr. Chair, let me state this clearly.

The withdrawal from the Convention does not result in the immediate commencement of mines production. It does not reflect a change in values either. Poland is an ardent supporter of IHL norms. We remain deeply engaged in humanitarian demining worldwide. Our engineers have operated in Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Kosovo and most recently in Ukraine, wherein civilian areas, fields and roads have been indiscriminately mined by Russia.

We are fully aware of the tragic consequences of uncontrolled landmine use and we express our utmost regret that Russia's barbaric war of aggression, not a special operation, a barbaric war of aggression against Ukraine, has forced us to withdraw from the Convention. Poland's decision is aimed at adapting our defence posture to real threats, threats posed by Russia that has brought war back to Europe and is waging it against our neighbour Ukraine. Mr. Chair, Russia has never been a party to the Ottawa Convention and has never limited itself by its provisions. In fact, to the contrary, Russia employs landmines extensively, particularly in Ukraine.

But what is most disgraceful is that these facts do not prevent Russia from lecturing Ukraine on the matters of rightful or humanitarian behavior in a conflict. Well, it is yet another example of Russia's cynicism and hypocrisy. Mr. Chair, Poland cannot remain the only state in the region that voluntarily abandons defensive tools while facing an aggressor who uses them without any restraint. We simply cannot afford to be the victim of our own chivalry.

While landmines remain an option of last resort for Poland, really the last resort, to be employed only in the event of invasion. The onus is still on us to protect our borders and guarantee the safety of our people. And the recent events in NATO's airspace, illegally orchestrated by Russia, have proven that we are right to be both wary and worried. Mr. Chair, finally, on the military support Ukraine needs, I would like to highlight one issue and one issue only.

The one and only reason why Ukraine is in such desperate need of help is the brutal war initiated and waged by Russia. Let's not confuse the cause with the effect. If Russia had not invaded Ukraine, we would all be living in a more secure and peaceful world now. And surely we would not be providing such amounts of political and practical support to Ukraine. You may ask why?

Because Kyiv would not be forced to defend itself against Russia's insatiable appetite for the territories of its neighbors. We stand with Ukraine who is bravely facing the illegal Russian aggression and we are proud of it.

Thank you, Chair, for giving me the floor.

I thank the representative of Poland for his intervention. I give now the floor to the distinguished representative of Latvia.

Thank you, Chair. My delegation too wishes to respond to the statements concerning the anti Personal Mind Bank Convention. Latvia acceded to the convention in 2005 and for the past 20 years has fully complied with its provisions. Our decision to withdraw, taken after k. Careful consideration, must be understood in a broader context. It reflects the fundamentally changed security environment in Europe and in our region.

As several delegations have already noted, this decision comes in response to Russia's full scale military aggression against Ukraine, which constitutes a grave violation of international law, including international humanitarian law. Latvia would also like to express its appreciation to countries that have voiced their understanding of the reasoning for difficult decision. The steps we have taken to safeguard our sovereignty and territorial integrity are being pursued in a transparent manner and in full compliance with our international obligations. Latvia will continue to uphold these obligations, including international humanitarian law, while addressing our national security needs at the same time. Latvia remains committed to supporting humanitarian mine action both in word and in deed.

We contribute financially to UN Mine Action Service UNMAS and are actively engaged in demining projects in Ukraine and beyond. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Latvia for her intervention. I give the floor to the representative of Israel.

Thank you, Chair. Following the statement we heard from the representative of Iran, once again, the delegate of the Ayatollah regime sits here and distorts reality, hoping the speed of his words would blur our ability to see daylight. Beautiful words on international law, commitments and international obligations. While in the real world outside this room, this regime of terror is the number one global proliferator. Heavy arms, UAVs, missiles, you name it, from Lebanon to Yemen, from Iraq to Syria and way beyond the Iranian arms are causing death and suffering.

All these are to be found in endless reports, including by the un. I invite just an example to read the Security Council panel of experts reports on Yemen to understand how Iran is impacting another Middle east country. Perhaps the Iranian delegate should read it too, to be enlightened by what his regime is up to. But Chair, what can you expect from a country that launched almost 600 ballistic missiles at Israeli cities in a desperate attempt to save its military nuclear program? Over the course of the 12 day Operation Rising Line, which Israel launched to stop Iran's nuclear and ballistic programs, Iran aimed at Israeli hospitals, schools and mosques.

33 innocent civilians were killed, women, children and elderly. In Iran's intended and Lethal attacks. This is the regime the delegate here so proudly preaches for. This is a regime that will be vicious against anyone trying to stop its deadly plans, be it other countries or be it innocent Iranians seeking freedom from oppression. We must and we will hold Iran accountable.

I thank you.

I thank the representative of Israel for his intervention. I give the floor to the representative of dprk.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My delegation is also taking the floor in response to the allegations of Ukraine who. Who groundlessly slandered legal cooperation between DPRK and Russian Federation. As stated before several times, the DPRK Russia cooperation is for ensuring the sovereignty, territorial integrity and security interests of the States, as well as peace and stability in the region.

It is a legitimate exercise of DPRK's sovereign right, fully conforming to the Article 4 of the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between DPRK and Russia, which requires each of the parties to provide military and other assistance if an armed attack occurs against the other. DPRK will remain committed to the treaty and Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the DPRK and Russia and make joint effort to seek international peace and security. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the representative of DIP for his intervention. I give now the floor to the representative of Canada.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Further to the statements delivered by the Russian Federation in respect to the Anti Personnel Mine Ban Convention and Ukraine. Canada would like to note the following. Russia's ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine in violation of the UN Charter and its international humanitarian law and its large scale use of anti personnel landmines has resulted in many civilian casualties and contamination of vast areas of arable land to the detriment of the world's food supply.

We call on Russia to immediately cease its hostilities, withdraw its forces from Ukraine's internationally recognized territory and pay reparations for the damage caused, including by landmines. Instead of deflecting from its own outrageous behavior by criticizing Ukraine, Russia should put an end to its use of anti personnel landmines, join the APNBC and implement that treaty. I thank you.

I thank representative of Canada for his intervention. I now call on the representative of the Russian Federation for the second intervention.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We're compelled once more to avail ourselves of the right of reply. The reason is that we want to respond to attempts coming from the delegations of Poland, Latvia and Canada to deceive the international community. The logic presented by these delegations doesn't stand up to any scrutiny.

And it is absolutely. It doesn't hold any water and it doesn't reflect reality. The Russian Federation is acting in accordance with international law in our special military operation in Ukraine, and that includes in accordance with ihl and that continues to the conventional weapons used, including anti personnel mines. Turning now to the delegations of these countries, they once more are trying to justify an alleged threat emanating from Russia, which doesn't actually exist in reality for these countries. Their destructive actions and ramping up their military budgets, modernizing their conventional weapons and using this category of weapons for their own aggressive goals.

The Russian Federation again wishes to repeat and emphasize that this logic of shifting the blame onto someone else is a telling example of a bad faith relationship to their international legal commitments. As soon as it became inconvenient for these countries to remain within the international legal regime of the Anti Personnel Mine Ban Convention, without trying to find any cogent arguments, they withdrew from the Convention. And then as a smokescreen, they used a supposed threat coming from Russia. I want to repeat something. There is no Russian threat for these countries in existence.

All of this is imaginary. And the Russian Federation is a responsible partner in international relations and fully abides by international law. That includes international humanitarian law.

Thank you, representative of the Russian Federation, for his intervention. I give now the floor to the representative of Iran.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I took the floor not to dignify the baseless and outrageous accusations made by the representative of the Israeli regime, all of which I categorically reject and condemn. Such accusations, which have regrettably become a recurring pattern of distinct distraction and deliberate distortion, don't merit a detailed response. This persistent practice of misinformation seeks to obscure the Israeli regime's own record of systematic aggression, occupation and atrocity, the very realities that continue to unfold in our region.

But given that the representative of the Israeli regime has persistently sought to falsely portray resistance groups and others as as terrorists in an attempt to justify its own crimes, genocide and aggression in Gaza and across our region. I wish to clarify who the real terrorist is. Terrorists are those who over the past two years have killed and injured more than 200,000 innocent people in Gaza, including women and children. Terrorists are those who have killed people who are simply waiting in line for food, food and humanitarian aid. Terrorists are those whose warmongering officials have openly threatened Iran and Gaza with the use of nuclear weapons.

Terrorists are those for whom the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants, including the Israeli regime's Prime Minister and the former Defense Minister, for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Gaza. Terrorists are those who have turned Gaza into wasteland of rubble and human remains where survivors Men and women, children and the elderly struggle to survive amid disease, hunger and despair. Terrorists are those whose bombs have spared no one, not journalists, students, scholars, doctors, nurses, babies or even humanitarian workers, including United nations staff. Terrorists are those who in just 12 days have killed over 1000 innocent people in Iran, including women and children, injured more than 3,000 and attacked key infrastructures, including peaceful nuclear facilities operating under the full IAEA safeguards. If we were to continue, this blacklist of crimes would be endless.

So stop spreading lies, stop reversing the roles of victim and aggressor, and most importantly, stop your crimes against our region. I thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank Representative Rugan for his intervention. I give now the floor to the representative of New Zealand.

Thank you, Chair. Further to our conventional weapons cluster statement delivered yesterday, New Zealand wishes to make clear the following points. It has been three years since Russia commenced its illegal full scale invasion of Ukraine. New Zealand has consistently denounced that invasion, a grave breach of international law, including the UN Charter. New Zealand remains committed to upholding the Charter and international law, including the core rules and norms that underpin international peace and security.

Ukraine is the victim of an illegal act of aggression by Russia. We are gravely concerned by Russia's dissemination of millions of anti personnel mines and other ordnance contaminating vast swathes of Ukraine's territory and the humanitarian, environmental and economic catastrophe this is causing. We call on Russia to immediately cease its aggression and withdraw its forces from Ukraine's internationally recognised territory. We further call on Russia to cease the production and use of anti personnel mines, to join the Mine Ban Treaty and implement its provisions in full. I thank you.

I thank the representative of New Zealand for his intervention. I give the floor to the representative of France.

Thank you, Chair. Chair, France wishes to exercise its right of reply due to various statements made by the Russian Federation. I'm going to be brief, but I need to put things in the right place in this situation. There certainly is in a country that is the aggressor and a country that is the victim. I think the international community sees clearly the situation.

The recent withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention by certain member states of the European Union is the responsibility of Russia which returned war to the European continent. We regrettably have become used to Russia's rhetoric which seeks to reverse the responsibility. Russia is not a party to the Ottawa Convention. It systematically violates international humanitarian law in its war of aggression against Ukraine. This includes through the wide scale indiscriminate use of anti personnel mines which are used against civilians.

I thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the Representative of France for her intervention. I give the floor to the representative of Poland for his second intervention.

Still no? Yes. Thank you. Mr. Chair.

I didn't plan the second intervention. But I feel obliged to clarify one issue raised by the Russian Federation. Poland would gladly spend its taxpayers money somewhere else. Not on armament, not on extreme protection of our borders. The snagis we cannot.

Mr. Chair. A few weeks ago an unprecedented number of drones, and it was orchestrated by Russia, entered Polish airspace, NATO's airspace. One of these drones landed 30 kilometers from my hometown in Poland. If this is not a threat, then I don't know what is and what would constitute it.

Thank you.

I thank the representative of Poland for his intervention. I give now the floor to the representative of of Australia.

Thank you very much. Australia wishes to add its voice to those who have spoken in response to Russia's statements. Australia has been clear that Russia's invasion of Ukraine is a grave breach of international law, including the UN Charter. Ukraine is the victim here and we ask Russia to cease deflecting from its own unlawful behaviour. By criticising Ukraine, Russia should put an end to its use and production of anti personnel landmines and it should join the apbmbc.

Australia calls on Russia to immediately end its war and adhere fully to its obligations under international law, including in relation to protection of civilians and treatment of prisoners of war. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Australia for his.

The Committee will now begin its thematic discussion on outer space disarmament aspects. The first speaker on the list of speakers is the distinguished representative of Indonesia on behalf of nam.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm pleased to speak on behalf of the Non Aligned Movement. NOM recognizes the common interests of all humankind and the inalienable legitimate sovereign rights of all states in the exploration and use of outer space for exclusively peaceful purposes and for the benefit of all peoples, irrespective of the degree of their economic or scientific development. NOM expresses its serious concern regarding the threats to international peace and security by the possible weaponization of outer space, turning outer space into a domain for warfare and armed conflict. NOM emphasizes the paramount importance of strict compliance with existing arms limitations and disarmament agreements relevant to outer space, including bilateral agreements and with the existing legal regime concerning the use of outer space.

NAAM also called for the promotion and strengthening of international cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes. Non countries welcomed the consensual adoption on 16th of August 2024 of the report of the GGE on the substantive elements of a legally binding instrument on the prevention of arms race in outer space established pursuant to GA Resolution 77250 and consider this important and positive development as a key opportunity to advance further practical measures for prevention of an armed race in outer space and a good basis for further negotiations towards adopting an international legally binding instrument. NAM also views that the highly important and critical issue of PAROS should be addressed in a broad and holistic manner through the development of legally binding instruments on PAROs. Nom stresses the necessity of avoiding duplication of discussions at the UN regarding the prevention of an arms race in outer space and welcomes the efforts by non Member States to consolidate the discussion at the UN on prevention of arms race in outer space and takes note in this regard the GA decision 79512 which established an open ended Working Group on PAROS in all its aspects. NOM calls upon all States to engage constructively in the OEWG to adopt further measures on the prevention of arms race in outer space.

NAM calls upon all states, in particular those with major space capabilities, to contribute actively to the objective of the peaceful use of outer space and of the prevention of an arms race in outer space and to refrain from actions contrary to that objective and to the relevant existing treaties in the interest of maintaining international peace and security and promoting international cooperation. NAAM acknowledges the Declaration on International Cooperation in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space for the benefit and in the interest of all States and underlines the imperative of assisting developing countries to benefit from peaceful activities in in outer space in a fair and equitable manner. NOM continues to reaffirm the need for a universal, comprehensive and non discriminatory multilateral approach toward the issue of missiles in all its aspects negotiated multilaterally within the un. Any initiatives on this subject should take into account security concerns of all States and the relevant principles of of SSOD1 and their inherent right to peaceful uses of space technologies. The full statement of this cluster will be uploaded in the journal.

I thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Indonesia for her statement. Give the floor to the distinguished representative of Oman on behalf of Agab Group.

Mr. Chair, at the outset I would like to align the Arab Group with a statement of the Non Aligned Movement. We would like to stress that Arab priorities in this regard are based on the following five principles. First, it is important that the use of outer space remain limited mainly to peaceful purposes and the prohibition of all types of of armaments or armed conflict in outer space. Bearing in mind that outer space is a common province of humanity and therefore all peaceful activities in it should be codified under the umbrella of the UN in order to ensure the principles of universality and application of the rule of international consensus in this vital field.

This, in addition to the benefit of all states, regardless of their degree of progress or level of economic development of outer space, in line with the Outer Space Treaty of 1967. Second, the legal framework governing outer space through the five relevant instruments has played a positive role in promoting the peaceful use of outer space and regulating activities in outer space. However, this legal framework needs to be developed in line with the rapid changes in recent decades, especially with regard to the announcement by a number of States of the development of capabilities either to place weapons in outer space or to launch an armed attack against satellites and assets in outer space. 3. The Arab Group appreciates that the development of the current legal framework should be based on two parallel tracks.

First, by continuing to develop and strengthen norms and principles of responsible conduct in outer space, which remain important but insufficient. Second, by launching a course to discuss the possibility of reaching a binding international instrument that would prevent an arms race in outer space. Based on the report of the GGE on the substantive elements for a legally binding instrument on the prevention of an arms race in outer space, in accordance with the GEA Resolution 72 254, it is important to include in the desired binding international instrument for the prevention of an arms race in outer space the placement of offensive or defensive weapons, as well as the prohibition of any armed attack or any deliberate damage to objects in outer space and the prohibition of the development or testing of any weapons or techniques whose sole purpose is to carry out armed attack against objects in outer space. There needs to be mechanisms and procedures allowing verification of such commitments in a multilateral framework. 5.

The need to strengthen international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space and to work to integrate developing countries within the system of States using and benefiting from space activities applications including through capacity building, transfer of technology and exchange of information and expertise. In this context, the Group notes the important role by kopas, the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, which is currently chaired by the Kingdom of Morocco and was chaired by Egypt last year. In closing, the Arab Group welcomes in this context the adoption by the GA of Resolution 17 of Decision 79 512, which contributed to unifying the paths for addressing a vital dossier under the umbrella of the UN and welcome the positive progress achieved during the work of the meetings of the new merged Working Group that was launched under this decision, the latest of which was in July 2025 in Geneva we look forward to the continuation of the work of the Working Group in addressing the various areas for preventing an arms race in outer space.

I think I thank the distinguished representative of Oman for his statement on behalf of al. I give now the floor to His Excellency, Permanent Representative of Laos People Democratic Republic on behalf of asean.

Mr. Chair, I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Member States of the association of Southeast Asian nations or ASEAN ASEAN alliance itself. The statement delivered by Indonesia on behalf of the Non Aligned Movement ASEAN remains serious concern over threats to international peace and security by the possible weaponization of outer space or turning outer space into a domain for warfare and armed conflicts. We reaffirm the vital importance of preventing an arms race in outer space and call on the General assembly to continue playing a leading role in ensuring that the peaceful use of exploration of outer space. ASEAN notes the importance of ongoing multilateral discussions on outer space, inter alia, within the framework of the Open Ended Working Group or oewg, on the prevention of arms race in outer space in all its aspects 2024, 2028 which will help ensure the meaningful participation of States in shaping the institution, institutions and mechanisms that promote peace and stability in outer space.

We reiterate that access to outer space is an inalienable right of all States and must be pursued solely for peaceful purposes and for the collective benefit of humanity. ASEAN emphasizes that the OEWG is an important platform to foster common understanding on practical measures to reduce threats and prevent an arms race in outer space in order to maintain outer space as a peaceful, safe, stable and sustainable environment. The adoption of the final report by consensus at the Group of Governmental Experts established pursuant to the UNGA Resolution 77250 on further practical measures for the prevention of an arms race in outer space is proof that differences in positions on outer space among States are not intractable. ASEAN calls upon all states to ensure that the use and exploration of outer space remain peaceful. In this regard, the General assembly must play a vital role in fostering continued dialogue on current issues and challenges in this field.

We reiterate the urgent need for the commencement of substantive negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament on illegal dividing and multilaterally verifiable instruments, including the prohibition of the placement of weapons in outer space and the prohibition of the threat or use of force against outer space objects. In conclusion, ASEAN believes that creating a peaceful and sustainable outer space requires a collective commitment. We reaffirmed the importance of multilateral cooperation in addressing the challenges of outer space security and underscored the need to strengthen international cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes. I thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the Ambassador of Laos, People's Democratic Republic for his statement on behalf of asean. I give now the floor to the distinguished representative of the European Union.

And its member states. North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Monaco and San Marino align themselves with a statement. The EU and its member states are actively engaged in promoting the preservation of a safe, secure, stable and sustainable space environment and the peaceful use of outer space. We remain strongly committed to PAROS in all its aspects. Outer space has witnessed a surge in security challenges with threats and perceived threats.

Threats multiplying and compromising not only the long term sustainability of the space environment, but also the level of trust among space actors. Such a situation risks the safe and secure delivery of essential services on which the global community increasingly relies. The EU reaffirms the applicability of the international law and IHL to outer space, including the UN Charter and the Outer Space Treaty. All space activities must be conducted in accordance with Outer Space Treaty and we encourage all States to ratify and fully implement its provisions. We emphasize the obligations of the Outer Space Treaty, in particular those comprised in Article 4.

We categorically oppose the development and deployment of nuclear weapons and any other kinds of weapons of mass destruction in outer space which would constitute a severe breach of international law. In this context, the EU deeply regrets the use of the veto by the Russia in the vote on the Security Council resolution proposed by Japan and the US and welcomes the adoption by a vast majority of the UN resolution Weapons of Mass Destruction in Outer Space last year. The goal of PAROS is achievable through a combination of legally and non legally binding measures. Developing norms, rules and principles of responsible behavior is the most pragmatic and immediate way forward to make progress on PAROS and improve space security. The open ended Working Group on PAROS offers a valuable opportunity to build a new common understanding on what the prevention of arms race in action outer space means and to address security threats in outer space.

To achieve this, a balanced and inclusive discussion on threat perception and credible proposals needs to be held. Building on past efforts which include the GGG on PAROS and the open ended Working Group on Reducing Space Threats. The EU and its member states participate actively and constructively in this process and we call on all states states to do so. Mr. Chair, we remain concerned about the multiplication of ambiguous, unfriendly and hostile activities in outer space and underlined the importance of addressing such Developments promptly.

The EU strongly condemned the Russian Federation conduct of destructive direct ascent asset weapon test against its own satellite in 2021 as a clear act of irresponsible behavior in outer space. We welcome the commitments made so far by 38 UN member states not to conduct destructive direct anti ascent anti satellite missile tests and to encourage all states to make such commitments as soon as possible. The EU reiterates the importance of an inclusive format and a multi stakeholder approach, including engagement with international organizations, commercial actors and civil society representatives when addressing space threats to international peace and security. The EU and its member States therefore continue to be fully committed to engage actively and constructively in discussions that contribute to the overarching goal of the prevention of armed in outer space. Thank you, Mr.

Chair. I thank the representative of the European Union for his statement. I give now the floor to the distinguished representative of Costa Rica.

Gracias, Senor President. Thank you, Chair.

Space technologies and systems are an essential part of critical global infrastructure. Communications, health and emergency management depend on their stability as a common good of humankind. Space must remain free from confrontation, for its security is also human security. In this regard, allow me to highlight three points. First, Costa Rica reiterates that space must remain free of weapons and confrontation.

Disarmament Forum must promote measures that guarantee its peaceful use. Costa Rica calls on States not to place weapons in space and to avoid any action that jeopardizes orbital stability. Second, dual use technologies require coordination between disarmament fora and those dealing with peaceful uses. Ensuring consistency between security, safety and sustainability of space is key to reducing regulatory gaps and to strengthening confidence. This should be a common goal, especially in view of Unispace 4 where we will define how to ensure a sustainable and peaceful space environment.

Third, in the face of emerging risks and technologies such as artificial intelligence, orbital congestion and cyber vulnerabilities, coordination and collaboration must take precedence. Costa Rica highlights the importance of inclusive dialogue in involving states, the private sector, the scientific community, civil society, women, young people, so that technological innovation serves peace, sustainability and common well being. Chair Costa Rica recognizes the work of the Working Group on Paros. Agreeing on a common agenda and program of work provides a solid foundation for future recommendations. Costa Rica encourages all states to continue participating constructively towards a shared framework that can strengthen security, sustainability and peace in outer space.

I thank you.

I thank the representative of Costa Rica for his statement. I give now the floor to His Excellency, Permanent Representative of Germany to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Germany aligns itself with a statement delivered by the European Union. Mr. Chair.

Space infrastructure is the backbone of modern and connected societies. But it is also the Achilles tendon. Rising tensions on Earth and the accelerating buildup of counter space capabilities put this fragile environment increasingly at risk. With ever more reliance on space based services, the potential hazardous consequences of an escalation in space or against space related services would be catastrophic. At the same time, the probability of such an escalation is rising.

At least as long as we don't take meaningful action to reduce these risks. Mr. Chair, no one can deny that preventing an arms race in outer space has become more and more of an uphill battle. Destructive anti satellite missile tests have produced significant amounts of debris. Countries that advocate against what they call weaponization of space develop, test and deploy capabilities to destroy, blind, dazzle or manipulate satellites.

Yet progress is possible. Last year's merger decision 79, 512 created the OEWG on Paris which took up its work with the first substantive session in July. This was a significant step in the right direction. Germany firmly stands behind the comprehensive approach clearly laid out in in the decision combining binding and non binding measures addressing both capabilities as well as responsible behaviors in outer space. The commitment by a growing number of states, including all EU member states not to conduct destructive direct ascent anti satellite missile tests is a good example of responsible state behavior and has a direct impact on outer space security.

We call upon state not to undermine the work and progress of the oewg. I take the opportunity to thank once again the Chair of the oewg, Ambassador Carlos Foradori for his outstanding work and the report presented earlier today. Furthermore, we share many countries great concern over the possible deployment of a nuclear weapon in space by Russia. If this were to happen, it would be a clear violation of the Outer Space Treatment Treaty with potentially catastrophic consequences. The development alone of such a system goes against the expressed will of a mass majority of member states.

Chair at the end, we come together from all parties of the world crossing oceans, mountains and borders. In outer space there are no borders. We are all direct neighbors. Let's keep this in mind when we come together to preserve the benefits of space for all nations. Thank you very much.

I thank the representative of Germany for his statement. Give out the floor to the distinguished representative of United Kingdom.

Thank you, Chair. Thank you, Chair. Space is indispensable. It underpins our economies, our societies and our security. From disaster response to arms control verification, space based assets play a critical role in sustaining peace and development.

Yet the very systems that deliver these benefits are vulnerable to interference, disruption and attack. Space is no longer a benign domain. It is increasingly congested, contested and completed. There has been a notable rise in counter space capabilities, including systems that threaten satellites vital to global communications, climate monitoring and international security. The lack of norms governing civilian, commercial and military activities in outer space risks undermining strategic stability and increasing the likelihood of miscalculation.

That is why the United Kingdom strongly supports the open ended Working Group on PAROS and looks forward to contributing to the substantial discussions over the next three years. This body offers a vital forum for inclusive dialogue and we urge all Member States to engage constructively in its work. The OEWG must be empowered to deliver concrete recommendations that reduce risks and enhance trust. The Responsible Space Behaviours approach, supported and endorsed by 162 member states should remain central to to our approach. Voluntary, non binding norms can help prevent conflict, build confidence and may even lead to a legally binding instrument.

In recognition of the work of the OOWG and in the context of our collective drive towards greater efficiency, the UK has not tabled its traditional resolution this year. We would however, welcome Member States support for our draft decision to include the Responsible Space Behaviours approach on the provisional agenda for next year's First Committee. We urge States to move from dialogue to delivery by identifying, articulating and agreeing specific and implementable measures. These could include the development of guidelines for the safety of space operations or the establishment of norms for on orbit servicing and active debris removal. Chair Preventing the stationing of weapons of mass destruction in outer space is a foundational obligation under Article 4 of the Outer Space Treaty.

This prohibition must be upheld unequivocally. Reports of Russia's plans to place a nuclear weapon in space are deeply concerning and must be addressed directly. We must also reinforce the broader legal architecture that governs space activities, including the Outer Space Treaty, the UN Charter and international humanitarian law. Chair the stakes are high. The choices we make today and the discussions that we have in the OEWG will shape the future of space for generations to come.

Let us seize this moment to reaffirm our shared commitment to the peaceful use of outer space and to ensure that it remains a realm of opportunity and rules, not of conflict and rivalry. Thank you.

I thank the representative of the United Kingdom for his statement. I give now the floor to the distinguished representative of Egypt.

Mr. Chairperson. Let me start Egypt's statement by highlighting our concern on how the increasing militarization of outer space has transformed it into a contentious arena. Instead of a platform for peaceful cooperation and scientific exploration, nations are deploying anti satellite weapons, developing space based missile defense systems and competing for strategic dominance, raising the risk of conflict that could hinder global communications and destabilize international security. It's with that in mind that Egypt, in cooperation with a group of countries, has led efforts within the 79th session of the first committee to establish a single inclusive platform for discussions under the auspices of the UN on how to contain the growing arms race and preserve the peaceful nature of outer space. These efforts culminated by the adoptions of Resolution 79, 512 that paved the way for the convening of the formal sessions of the newly established OEWG on Paris and the adoption of an agenda, an indicative program of work under the able chairmanship of Ambassador Carlos Foradori, whom we welcome and appreciate his presence with us in this session.

Mr. Chair, Egypt believes that discussions within this nascent OEWG should be based on the following two pillars. First, the need for reviewing our international legal framework on outer space in a way that recognizes the need for the formulation of a legally binding instrument on the prevention of arms race in outer space in all its aspects, including through building on the consensual outcome document of the governmental group of experts in this regard, without prejudice to the value of TCBMs and the set of norms and principles of responsible state behavior as an entry measure in this regard. Second, the Centrality of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and the imperative to carry out activities in the exploration and use of outer space in accordance with international law and in a way that serves the cause of maintaining international peace and security and promotes international cooperation for the benefit of all nations, irrespective of their level of development. Mr. Chairman, Egypt will continue its efforts to push forward discussions in this domain and has as such once more joined Sri Lanka in tabling our traditional joint annual omnibus draft resolution entitled Prevention from Arms Race in Outer Space.

And we look forward to the support and co sponsorship of Member States to this draft resolution. Thank you so much.

I thank the representative of Egypt for his statement. I give now the floor to Her Excellency, Permanent Representative of France to the Conference on Disarmament.

Mr. Chairman, my delegation associates itself with the statement of the European Union and wishes to add the following remarks. In its national capacity, France, faithful to its long standing position, aims to preserve a safe, secure, stable and sustainable space environment. As outer space becomes a place of potential rivalry and confrontation between powers, our goal of preventing an arms race in outer space must necessarily include preventing any uncontrolled escalation and conflict. France will continue to support the ongoing work of the OEWG PAROS in all its aspects and welcomes in this regard, the adoption of an agenda respectful of a balanced approach between all aspects of PAROS as defined by the Mandate given by UNGA decision 79 512. Let me go back to the principles that will continue to guide.

First, France's action. Respect for international law applicable to space and its key principles stemming from the Charter of the United nations in the 1967 Outer Space Treaty remain a priority. Compliance with its provisions is the fundamental condition for any discussion. With a view to developing future measures and instruments to strengthen space security, we must also strive to complement this body of law with concrete and immediately enforceable measures. This means, first of all, more transparency on space activities, a major lever to minimize misunderstandings likely to fuel tensions.

France is playing its part by committing to implementing the transparency and confidence building measures agreed in 2013.

More and more states and international organizations have endorsed it, and we welcome that fact. In addition, substantive work on the characterization of behaviors that may constitute threats in outer space is necessary. This work on norms, rules and principles of responsible behavior is an immediate response for PAROS and provides a basis for possible future measures and instruments, whether political, whether politically or legally binding. Mr. Chairman, France is committed to making constructive progress in all efforts aimed at strengthening space security. This is also the position that will guide France on the resolutions presented under this cluster.

I thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the representative of France for her statement. I give now the floor to the distinguished representative of Mexico,

Senor Presidente. Chair. The use and exploration of outer space should be carried out for the interests of all states and be based on the principles of cooperation and mutual assistance. We should not lose sight of the fact that space activities represent an essential tool for social, economic, scientific and technological development, especially for developing countries.

Mexico reiterates its call for no actor to place weapons in outer space of any nature and under any circumstances. It's imperative for the international community to preserve outer space for exclusively peaceful purposes and for the benefit of humanity as a whole. Mexico considers that all weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, must be banned and eliminated, whatever their type or location. In accordance with the 1967 treaty, no weapon, and especially no weapon of mass destruction, may be placed or used in outer space. And we also reiterate the need to establish a legally binding international agreement that complies with the principles of equity, viability and verification, and that sets out concrete measures to prevent an arms race in outer space.

Such an instrument should guarantee that outer space is preserved as the common heritage of mankind and that it should also prohibit its use for any military purposes, including any type of placement of weapons. Chair. Mexico considers that it's essential for all relevant actors to participate in discussions on outer space. The development, operation and ownership of a large part of space technologies is no longer limited to states. Rather, increasingly, this involves the private sector, academia and civil society.

And therefore, multilateral frameworks should promote the inclusion of these actors in the design and application of rules and principles that guarantee transparency, responsibility and sustainability in space activities. In conclusion, we reaffirm that outer space must remain an area of cooperation, not confrontation. Preserving the peaceful nature of outer space is not just a matter of international security. It is also a moral duty for the sake of future generations. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Mexico for his statement. Give now the floor to the distinguished representative of Netherlands.

Thank you, Chair. In addition to the statement delivered by the European Union, I would like to make the following remarks in my national capacity. In order to enhance the safety, security, stability and sustainability of outer space, it is important to develop norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviors. This approach offers a constructive path forward to mitigate risks and to increase the predictability of space activities. An example of such efforts is the commitment not to conduct destructive direct ascent anti satellite missile tests.

It exemplifies how non legally binding agreements make an important contribution in reducing destabilizing actions which generate long lived debris, erode confidence and raise threat perceptions. The success of such commitments relies on effective verification. In that regard, space situational awareness plays a key role in monitoring responsible behaviors in outer space. This technology can detect sudden orbital deviations and helps to distinguish between counterspace actions and incidents. In doing so, SSA excels in identifying visible physical activities like debris generating direct descent, anti satellite missile tests, or rendezvous and proximity operations.

By increasing international SSA cooperation and promoting the exchange of information, we can contribute to verifying current and future international agreements on responsible behaviors in outer space. Chair While it is essential to develop new agreements, it is equally important to reaffirm that international law already applies to outer space. This includes the five United nations treaties on outer Space, the Charter of the United nations and international humanitarian law. In this regard, special attention must be given to Article 4 of the Outer Space Treaty. We welcome last year's adoption by the UN UN General assembly of the resolution on weapons of mass destruction in outer space.

This resolution not only reaffirms the obligation not to place in orbit around the Earth any objects carrying nuclear weapons or any other kind of weapons of mass destruction, but also urges Member States not to develop such weapons. The Placement of nuclear weapons in outer space would constitute a severe breach of international law and would have massive destabilized destabilizing effects worldwide. Chair in conclusion, the OEWG PAROS process presents a unique opportunity to strengthen the normative framework regarding outer space. We were not particularly pleased by the difficult start, but have full trust in the Chair and him taking the substantive work forward towards fulfilling the mandate of the group. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Nederland for her statement and give all the floor to the distinguished representative of the United States.

Thank you, Chair. Outer space provides significant opportunities for all of us. Satellite services enable additional connectivity and secure communication channels supporting our shared prosperity and security. All nations share an interest in advancing these benefits in outer space. Despite this reality, certain states are developing and deploying destructive weapons systems designed to degrade these very benefits, placing at risk global prosperity and security.

To address these risks, we must move beyond the narrow focus in the UN on legally binding measures on the prevention of the placement of weapons in space. The United States acknowledges the existing Outer Space Treaty as a framework for the exploration and use of space. For nearly six decades, all nations adhering to this framework have sought to ensure benefits from outer space. In that regard, we call on all countries to comply with their Outer Space Treaty obligations, particularly the prohibition on the placement of nuclear weapons in in orbit. The United States believes that we must develop non binding measures that can support efforts to avoid jeopardizing the viability and security of outer space.

We should focus on initiatives that advance and implement best practices for space operations, providing practical and realistic methods to mitigate the risks of miscalculation and misperception without constraining innovation and freedom to operate in outer space. Chair we must ensure that our discussions maintain a focus on these practical and realistic steps that all states should take to reduce the risks in to and from outer space. In contrast, the proposals contained in some annual resolutions supporting legally binding instruments, including L38 on further practical measures and L37 on no first placement, are unverifiable, hypocritical and must be rejected. States must develop common understandings of the relevant threats to space security and viability. Thank you, Chair.

I thank the representative of United States for her statement. I give now the floor to the distinguished representative of Switzerland.

Mr. Chair. Over the last decades, space based services have become increasingly critical to modern societies and thus preserving the peaceful nature of the exploration and use of outer space is more crucial than ever. The stakes have grown dramatically while international arms control measures have not kept pace. Against that backdrop, we welcome the Establishment and the beginning of the substantive work of the open ended Working Group on PAROS and all its aspects in Geneva.

The comprehensive approach of that group is an opportunity to effectively advance towards the adoption of further measures to prevent an arms race in outer space space, including towards appropriate binding international norms. In this regard, we would like to make the following three points. First, preventing armed conflicts from extending into outer space is of paramount importance. We've observed a number of disturbing developments including issuing of military doctrines and other policy documents designating outer space as a war fighting domain or aiming for supremacy in outer space. This includes military programs that envision the placement of weapons in outer space.

Such developments fuel tension where restraint is needed. Second, we are concerned by the developments of a number of military space capabilities which threaten the sustainability of outer space activities and the objective of preventing an arms race in outer space. This includes both kinetic means and non kinetic means. We are also alarmed by any notion of deploying nuclear weapons in outer space owing to the grave repercussions that their use would entail. We welcome the ongoing international efforts to address these these challenges.

Finally, in view of these developments, it is paramount to underscore that international law applies to outer space, including international humanitarian law. Recognizing this fact in no way legitimizes the use of force in outer space. Quite the contrary. The application of IHL entails severe constraints on any possible use of force in this area. Any attempt to call into question the application of IHL in outer space should be firmly rejected.

I thank you.

I thank the representative of Switzerland for his statement. Give out the floor to the distinguished representative of South Africa.

Chairperson. South Africa associates with a statement by the Non Aligned Movement and the one delivered to be delivered on behalf of the African Group. We are of the view that the international community has the responsibility to secure outer space from threats emanating from a limited group of States. We have supported the negotiations of a legally binding instrument on the prevention of an arms race in outer space. We also supported negotiations on transparency and confidence building measures as a temporary stopgap measure.

South Africa believes that there is no justification for the placement of weapons in outer space, nor does any State have the right to impede the use of outer space by developing countries for peaceful purposes or peaceful uses. We underscore that the scientific research and development needs of developing States should not be hampered and we should strive to maintain the integrity of space space systems. Chairperson. The existing framework such as Outer Space Treaty provides the foundation for international space law and clearly prohibits demilitarization of outer space. South Africa also reaffirms the importance of the Charter of the United nations, the adherence to international humanitarian law, as well as the implementation of the Partial Test Ban Treaty and the Moon Treaty.

We recognize the relevance of having norms, rules and principles on reducing space threats to protect the development of cooperation in the exploration and use of the Moon and other celestial bodies to promote trust and cooperation amongst space faring nations. South Africa believes that international cooperation and dialogue are essential for addressing the challenges and opportunities in outer space and for promoting the peaceful use of outer space. We therefore remain committed to working with the international community towards strengthening of existing space law and furthering the development of legally binding instruments that will serve to ensure the promotion of peaceful use of outer space, prevent the threat or use of force in space and ensure that outer space is used for the benefit of all humanity. In this regard, we thank Ambassador Foradori for steering the wake of the open ended Working Group on the prevention of an arms race in Outer space and look forward to the ensuing sessions. We call for the commitment to avoiding the duplication of efforts to prevent an arms race in outer space and call for a unified approach in this regard.

I thank you.

I thank the representative of South Africa for his statement. I give now the floor to the distinguished representative of Chile.

Thank you very much. Chair Chile has the conviction that the use of outer space must be peaceful, sustainable and always seek the benefit and interest of humanity. Under no circumstances should it become an area for military confrontation. It should be used for humanity and subject to the sovereign rights of all states and to only peaceful purposes and for the benefit of all peoples independently of their level of development, scientific, economic or otherwise. And this is why we call call for the promotion and strengthening of international cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes.

Chair, we reiterate that the main threat that we are facing is the placement of weapons in outer space. This cannot become a platform for aggression and war. It is primordial that we prevent an arms race. We express our concern for threats to international peace and security that stem from potential militarization of outer space or its use for military purposes. We should take into account also the humanitarian and environmental consequences of space systems in outer space.

We are aware of these risks. Misuse of outer space, such as the destruction of satellites, may have negative impacts on Earth.

This is why, Chair, my country advocates for the existence of norms, rules and principles of responsible behavior to regulate the actions of states in space systems. This should involve the negotiation of legally binding instruments that prevent an arms race in a outer space. In the same line. We encourage open discussions for the exchange of ideas and experience that will help us build a path towards binding and non binding norms for peaceful and secure outer space. Chair to conclude, we wish to express our concern for the interference and malicious use aimed at at navigation and satellite communications.

We call for an international framework applicable to outer space so that we can effectively address concerns on space security and the rapid pace of technological progress. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Chile for his statement. Distinguished representative of Portugal, you have the floor.

Chair as an area beyond national jurisdiction, outer space is increasingly recognized as a global commons.

We must therefore preserve its use for exclusively peaceful purposes. A safe and secure space is one where there is trust among actors, one where space is democratized for the benefit of societies and economies which may reap the scientific and commercial advantages arising from sustainable space exploration. In full respect of international law as such, outer space cannot and must not be weaponized. In particular, states must uphold the prohibition of placing weapons of mass destruction in orbit. However, recent years have witnessed the occurrence of ASAT tests and the development of dual use space technologies as well as of space launchers which share many similarities to ballistic missiles.

These developments risk increasing misperceptions, mistrusts and miscalculations. Part of our disarmament efforts should be about upholding spirit space law as enshrined primarily in the Outer Space Treaty, but also in the Rescue Agreement, the Liability Convention, the Registration Convention and the Moon Agreement. Further work should also be carried out to implement the commitments contained in the Hague Code of Conduct and other norms of responsible behavior, such as the commitment not to conduct direct ascent anti satellite missile test. Portugal looks forward to further progress in the work of the open ended Working Group on Paros. Paros should not be seen as a binary legally binding versus responsible behaviors, but holistically combining elements of both approaches.

In 2019, Portugal launched its own space agency. This year and building on the Lisbon Declaration on Outer Space adopted in 2024, we cooperated with UNOSA and UNITA to establish a UN Portugal Outer Space Fellowship. The first edition took place last July in Lisbon and provided training to participants from SIDS, LDCs and LLDCs on international space law. To conclude, let our discussions increase our resolve to prevent an arms race in outer space. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Portugal for his statement. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Mozambique. You have the floor.

Seven decades after Sputnik 1 launched the space era, humanity's newest frontier has become congested, contested and crowded and remains largely ungoverned. The cooperative spirit that once made the International Space Station possible, an emblem of shared human ingenuity, is fading away. Private and public actors alike are transferring their rivalries to orbit, leaving behind debris, dual use, uncertainty and the growing risk of cascading collisions. A single act of negligence or aggression could trigger chain reaction of debris, a Kessler effect from which recovery might take centuries. We must prevent the tragedy of the commons in orbit that will render the shared domain unusable for for future generation.

CHAIR While the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 remains the cornerstone of international space law, its principles peaceful use, non appropriation and benefit for all humankind are under increasing strain. Existing frameworks are no longer sufficient to prevent crowding, collisions or confrontation. Binding instruments negotiated under the auspices of the Conference on Disarmament are urgently needed to prevent the weaponization of space. Mozambique encourages PAROS to continue advancing this agenda with ambition, inclusion and renewed commitment to consensus. Mozambique joins the African group in reaffirming that outer space is the common heritage of humankind and must never become another domain of conflict.

Our continent too has an interest in space space, not as a bystander, but as a stakeholder. Guided by the African Space Policy and Strategy and the African Outer Space Agency, SEMBIK also commenced the work of onideir, including its interactive Lexicon for Outer Space Security and Real Time Risk Dashboards. Innovative tools that bridge the gap between low technology and transparency. These instruments can help states, especially developing ones, to navigate the complexity of orbital behavior, enhance situational awareness and build confidence across regions. Our shared challenge is not only to prevent an arms race in space, but also to prevent inequality in access, ensuring that all nations, regardless of size, can participate meaningfully in the peaceful exploration of the cosmos.

I thank you. I thank the distinguished representative of Mozambique for his statement. I now give the floor to His Excellency, the Deputy Head of Delegation, Ambassador for the Summer and Affairs of China. Excellency, you have the floor.

Mr. Chair, the security situation in outer space is becoming increasingly severe. Certain countries seeking dominance in outer space declared outer space as a war fighting domain, continued military buildup in outer space and announced the Golden Dome program, including its plan to deploy space based anti missile weapons, which makes arms race in outer space a real threat and seriously undermines global strategic stability, lasting peace, tranquility and sustainable development in outer space. China consistently advocates the peaceful use of outer space and opposes the weaponization, often arms raising outer space. Together with Russia Russia China has proposed and actively promoted the draft treaty on the Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space.

The threat or use of force against outer space objects. China wishes to propose the following. First, we should uphold the primary goal of perils. A space war cannot be won and must never be fought. If the trend towards weaponization of outer space and turning it into a battlefield continues unchecked, the peaceful use of outer space will be impossible.

Second, we should uphold international rule of law as the fundamental guarantee. The UN Charter and the 1967 Outer Space Treaty have laid the foundation for the international space law system and serve as the fundamental basis for advising security governance in outer space. We should seek sustainable solutions through improving and developing existing international law. In particular, we need to fill the legal loopholes under prohibition of placement of weapons in outer space and define clear boundary for activities to prevent its weaponization. Third, we should work in a coordinated manner.

China welcomes the OEWG on perils starting substantive discussion this year and supports the group too on the basis of its program of work this year. And the consensus report adopted last year by the GGE on perils focus on discussing possible elements of legally binding instruments on pyros. At the same time, in view of new development and the new challenges such as the deployment of weapons in outer space by certain states and the commercial space companies, intervention in other states, armed conflict, we can further discuss possible measures in response. Fourth, we should uphold multilateralism and the principle of consensus. We should maintain the intergovernmental nature of relevant UN working groups and support the primary role of Member States in this regard.

We should, in accordance with their respective mandate, apply the consensus based rules of procedure to the whole process of discussion, while taking into account the concerns of all states so as to bridge differences and build synergy to the greatest extent possible. Thank you, Chair. The full version of this statement will be uploaded to the First Committee website.

I thank the distinguished representative of China his statement. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Fiji.

You have the floor.

Microphone for Fiji.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Fiji is honored to address this committee on the Committee critical issue in relation to outer space disarmament. We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the peaceful use of outer space and the prevention of an arms race in this domain.

Peace is central to Fiji's national and foreign policy priorities. Consistent with its UN peacekeeping obligation and the Pacific Declaration of Oceans of Peace adopted in the Solomon Islands in September this year. Outer space must remain a global common, free from weaponization and conflict. We acknowledge the respective resolutions in this cluster that address these core objectives. The increasing militarization of space poses a grave risk to international peace.

And security and undermines the principles of transparency, trust and cooperation that underpin the United Nations Charter. Fiji calls for strength in multilateral frameworks to ensure that outer space is used solely for peaceful purpose. As urgent, we support the universalization and full implementation of the Outer Space Treaty and related instruments. And we welcome efforts to develop legally binding norms that prohibit the placement of weapons in outer space and the use of force against space assets. The deployment of weapons in outer space would not only violate the spirit of the Outer space treaty of 1967, but will also endanger satellites that support climate monitoring, early warning system, disaster response and global communications, those of which are essential to small island developing states like Fiji.

The weaponization of space threatens these lifelines and deepens global inequalities. Fiji welcomes the outcomes of the OEWG as a step in the right direction. Additionally, AI in outer space becomes a strategic domain. The rise of AI in global space raises questions about accountability, transparency and multilateral cooperation, which should be addressed. In closing, Fiji wishes to reiterate the need to ensure that we preserve outer space as a realm of peace, science and cooperation for present and future generations and accessible to all.

Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Fiji for his statement. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Zimbabwe. You have the floor.

Mr. Chair. My delegation aligns itself with the statement delivered by the Non Aligned Movement and the statement to be delivered by the African Group. We add the following in our national capacity Chair. The peaceful uses of outer space inherently demand that no weapon of any kind should be placed in outer space.

In this regard, and consistent with General assembly resolution 65 68, we applaud all efforts aimed at pursuing political commitments to ensure the peaceful uses of outer space. We commend initiatives undertaken through unilateral declarations, bilateral commitments or multilateral codes of conduct that reinforce transparency, transparency and responsible behavior in this shared frontier. We look forward to the recommendations on the prevention of an arms race in outer space in all its aspects, in line with the General assembly resolution 79512. We also note the progress achieved to date by the open ended Working Group on Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space, which has convened two sessions in Geneva in 2025. Chair, we welcomed the final report of the Group of Governmental Experts on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space, adopted by consensus in 2024.

This report marked an important step towards the development of an international, legally binding instrument. We anticipate that the OEWG will build on this work and elaborate substantial elements of the international legally Binding instrument. We further call for transparency and confidence building measures which contribute to the security of outer space activities. In this context, we remain concerned about dual use technologies in outer space and non kinetic attacks on space infrastructure. Zimbabwe reiterates the fundamental international legal position in line with the peaceful use of outer space that no member states should use outer space objects to destroy any targets on Earth in the airspace or in outer space.

And neither should any weapons testing of any kind be undertaken in outer space. Zimbabwe reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that outer space remains a province of peace and an accessible global commons. In conclusion, Chair, we call for capacity building and support support to enable all states to access outer space for peaceful purposes. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Zimbabwe for his statement. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Canada.

Merci, Monsieur le President. Thank you, Chair. Outer space is indispensable to modern society. It enables critical services that drive economic growth and support progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. However, in the context of rising geopolitical tensions, vital space systems face growing threats that can interfere with their operations.

Meanwhile, space activity continues to expand rapidly and efforts to promote space security are becoming ever more urgent.

Canada welcomed the establishment of the open ended Working Group on the prevention of an arms race in Outer Space in all its aspects. We were disappointed that that the first week of substantive discussions was delayed due to procedural issues. This forum is essential for all states to share views on space security.

Canada also strongly supports the active participation of civil society and believes that the work of the OEWG will be strengthened by including a diversity of perspectives, particularly from technical experts and commercial industry. OEWG has a clear mandate to consider both legally binding and non legally binding measures to enhance space security. As Canada has previously emphasized, these approaches are not mutually exclusive. Reaching agreement on a treaty is challenging even in stable strategies strategic environments. In times of mistrust, it becomes exponentially more difficult.

Norms can serve as incremental steps to build trust and lay the groundwork for future legally binding instruments. Furthermore, norms can enhance the predictability and transparency of space operations, reducing the risk of misperceptions that could lead to escalation or conflict. Such norms can take the form of political commitments such as the commitment not to conduct direct descent anti science satellite missile tests which Canada supports as meaningful unilateral measures that contribute to space security. Chair Canada has a long and proud history as a space faring nation. We fully recognize the importance of a secure outer space environment and remain committed to working with international partners to ensure that space remains safe.

Secure and sustainable for the development of all. I thank.

I thank the distinguished representative of Canada for his statement. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cameron.

Humanity is living through a tragic paradox. While we celebrate our space prowess, we struggle. And at the same time, this is outer space is becoming the next battlefield. As the guardian of our ancestral wisdom, we cannot divide the heavens. Our position is based on three fundamental principles that goes beyond technocratic issues and goes to the very essence of our shared humanity.

Firstly, we defend the idea of outer space as a common heritage. This goes back to the basic principles of international law. Fragmenting space would be a betrayal of our duty to future generations. Secondly, we call for a balanced approach between progress and preservation. It should serve humanity as a whole rather than a few privileged countries.

Thirdly, our vision highlights the inclusion of all cultures in space governance. African wisdom should contribute to shaping the future of our relationship with the cosmos. Our continent has for too long been a theater for strategic battles between the powers. Today, our vision looks to the heavens. The projects to militarize the skies creates a fracture that will have an impact on humanity as a whole.

An attack in space would impact our communication systems, our banking system, our food. Security would create chaos and no shield could protect us from it. And this is why my delegation calls for the urgent elaboration of a legally binding framework. The the 1967 treaty shows that we are facing new threats. We support the powers process and we call for the immediate opening of negotiations for a specific instrument preventing space weapons.

And we in particular call on emerging nations and all countries who are interested in preserving space for future generations. So we call on them to build a coalition for space peace. The real debate is not between security and disarmament. It is more fundamental one than that. Do we want to leave to our children a sky that they can be amazed at or one that will be a source of conflict?

The future is in your hands. I thank you. I thank the representative of Cameroon for his statement. I give now the floor to His Excellency Ambassador Permanent Representative of Italy to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva. Thank you, Chair.

Italy aligns itself with a statement delivered by the European Union. I would like to add some remarks in my national capacity. Outer space assets enable services that are vital for contemporary society and instrumental in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. But outer space is not just a new frontier for scientific and technological progress. It is also a fundamental pillar of the global security architecture.

Security in outer space is anchored in the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and in the obligations contained Therein. This is the cornerstone of outer space security, as was reconfirmed last year in this Committee when it approved by an overwhelming majority the resolution on the prohibition of the placement of weapons of mass destruction in outer space. New threats are appearing that were not foreseen or foreseeable until recently. Further development and implementation of norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviours and can complement the existing international legal framework governing space activities. These measures can serve as non binding tools for the gradual evolution of international law.

In fact, they can lay the groundwork for future treaties. This is why we reject the false dichotomy between legally binding and non legally binding instruments, as well as that between the behavioral and the capabilities approach. These two approaches are not contradictory. Rather, they are complementary. Let me give you a concrete example of this.

The commitment not to conduct destructive direct ascent anti satellite tests was contained in General Assembly Resolution 7741 and was endorsed by a large majority of states, including Italy. We now see a concrete opportunity in the future to move from this political commitment to a treaty banning this type of tests. Chair, we welcome the recent beginning of substantive discussions by the open ended Working Group on the prevention of an arms race in Outer Space established last year by the merger decision adopted by this Committee. The mandate of the Group provides us with a unique opportunity to consider and make recommendations on PAROS in all its aspects. It is crucial to preserve the OEWG as an inclusive forum that brings together states, international organizations, commercial actors, academia and civil society in a joint effort to achieve effective solutions.

Thank you, Chair.

I thank the representative of Italy for his statement. I give the floor to the distinguished, distinguished representative of Indonesia.

Thank you, Chair. Indonesia aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of NAAM and asean. As a common heritage of humankind, outer space must remain free from conflict and dedicated exclusively to peaceful purposes. For Indonesia, the stakes are particularly significant. As an equatorial country and emerging space faring nations, Indonesia, Spain is expanded expanding its reliance on space based technologies to support national development, connectivity and disaster preparedness.

Nevertheless, situated directly under the geostationary orbit also heightens our vulnerability to the danger of orbital congestion and space debris. Any militarization or conflict in outer space would therefore have severe consequences for our people. Mr. Chair, Indonesia remains deeply concerned about the rising risk of weaponizations and militarizations in outer space. Anti satellite tests, CO orbital threats and malicious cyber operations pose growing dangers.

The deployment of strategic missiles defense system also is triggering an armrest with grave consequences for international security. We believe that only universal legally binding instruments on the PAROS with effective verifications and accountability can provide the predictability, accountability and assurance to safeguard this domain for peaceful purposes. At the same time, Indonesia acknowledges the importance of practical undertakings. Therefore, it is also useful to pursue results oriented and flexible measures, including voluntary norms, confidence building arrangements and political commitments to reduce risk and foster trust. However, Indonesia emphasizes that practical measures are not substitute for negotiations of a legally bending Treaty on Paros.

Mr. Chair, the adoption of the GGA Consensus Report on Paros was an important milestone. Yet one year later, we must move beyond welcoming outcomes and focus on operationalizing into concrete negotiations. Similarly, while norms are full and voluntary measures have help reduce immediate risk, they cannot replace the imperative of treaty based solutions. Indonesia, together with like minded countries play an important role in initiating the open ended Working Group on Paros established by General assembly decision 79 512.

We view the forthcoming third substantive sessions in July 2026 as a pivotal opportunity to advance or progress toward concrete outcome. We encourage all Member States to engage constructively, bring forward practical proposals and seize the momentum to bridge differences and chart credible negotiating roadmap. Indonesia stands ready to contribute actively, including by sharing unique perspective as an equatorial state and by advocating for coherent and inclusive approaches that avoid duplications and fragmentations. Indonesia reform its commitment to work constructively with all.

I thank the Representative of Indonesia for his statement. I give now the floor to the distinguished representative of Saudi Arabia.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The kingdom of Saudi Arabia aligns itself with the statement made by the sisterly Sultanate of Oman on behalf of the Arab Group and the statement made by the Republic of Indonesia on behalf of the Non Aligned Movement. We present this statement in our national capacity. Outer space is a common province of all humanity and of future generations and in this spirit, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia stresses the importance of keeping the use of outer space limited to peaceful purposes and remaining an area of international cooperation for common interests of all Member States.

My country welcomes the initiatives aimed at regulating and controlling activities and exploration outer space in a way that contributes to promoting its use for peaceful purposes and for the service of humanity without prejudice to the existing international treaties and conventions in the area of space and without restricting the inherent right of States to the peaceful uses of of outer space, bearing in mind that any endeavor to regulate outer space activities must aim at preserving the interests of all states. Mr. Chair, it is essential that outer space remain a peaceful field free from conflict and military activities where any form of weaponization and armament would be prohibited that would cause serious harm to humanity. We stress the importance of enhancing transparency and confidence building measures so as to enable responsible and sustainable space exploration for all States without any discrimination and to reduce the risks of misunderstanding, miscalculation and threats related to outer space. In this context, the Kingdom stresses the need to limit activities related to weapon capabilities in space and and to prevent any attempt to damage satellites or physical or cyber damage to ground stations or intercept and jam signals.

We also stress the importance of reducing space debris in the long term. In which my country will organize the Space Debris conference in its second edition in Riyadh in January of 2026 with a view to reviewing global initiatives related to the sustainability of of the space sector and to face current orbital challenges. In this regard, we stand ready to cooperate with all parties to support international efforts to find effective and practical solutions to address the threats of outer space and to promote its security and sustainability. We also call upon all states to carry out their activities in outer space in the spirit of responsibility and transparency that would promote confidence and security measures in strict compliance with international law and its principles and thus contributing to curbing the arms race. The microphone has been cut off.

Saudi Arabia for his statement. I give now the floor to the representative. Distinguished representative of Sri Lanka.

At the outset, my delegation aligns itself with the statement delivered by Indonesia. On behalf of the nam. I wish to make the following remarks in my national capacity. Mr. Chair, for Sri Lanka, as for many nations, space is not a frontier of exploration, but a domain of our shared aspirations to advance knowledge and to ensure that progress benefit all humankind.

It is in this spirit that Sri Lanka has long recognized outer space as the common heritage of humanity used for exclusively peaceful purposes. We are deeply worried about any attempt to change outer space into a war fighting domain. Sri Lanka highlights the cardinal importance of strict compliance with existing arms limitations and disarmament agreements relevant to outer space. We strongly support the early commencement of substantive negotiations in the city on a legally binding, verifiable instrument to prevent in an arms range in outer space. To this end, we continue to attach importance to the draft treaty presented by the Russian Federation and China, as well as the consensual adoption last August of the report of the GGE established under Resolution 77 250.

Such multilateral initiatives provide a solid basis and an important opportunity to advance towards a comprehensive and binding framework that would keep outer space peaceful for future generations. We also note with appreciation the adoption of several GA resolutions which reaffirm the importance of PAROs, including through the principle of no first placement of weapons. However, these resolutions must never be viewed as a substitute for a binding International Instrument on Paros Mr. Chair, outer space should be free for exploration and use by all states without discrimination, on a basis of equality and in accordance with international law. Sri Lanka therefore stresses the need for international cooperation in advancing peaceful applications of space technologies.

For island developing states like Sri Lanka, such technologies are crucial tools that enhance resilience, support livelihood and safeguard communities against natural hazards. Mr. Chair, as the main sponsor of the resolution on the power host tabled with Egypt, Sri Lanka reaffirms our readiness to work with all partners in advancing this collective goal. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Sri Lanka for his statement.

I give now the floor to the distinguished representative of kazakhstan.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Outer space is a global commons that should serve all humanity. Yet what has once a frontier of exploration and cooperation is increasingly marked by rivalry, suspicion and the risk of militarization. The growing number of actors in outer space, states and private sector alike brings opportunities, but also new risks and challenges.

Development of anti satellite capabilities, cases of interference with satellites functioning and the prospect of weaponization of space based platforms threaten not only security, but the very infrastructure on which everyday life depends. Communications, navigation, agriculture, climate monitoring and humanitarian response. Kazakhstan emphasizes that while the existing legal framework remains indispensable, it is incomplete. The Outer Space Treaty established fundamental principles, but yet it prohibits only weapons of mass destruction in orbit, leaving other forms of military activity unregulated. The liability and registration conventions contribute to accountability and transparency, but are not universal.

These treaties enshrined the notion that outer space is the province of all humankind. Yet significant gaps still remain within this Committee. Resolutions on the prevention of harms race in outer space and on non first placement of weapons in outer space continue to enjoy broad support. However, persistent divisions over definitions, scope and verification alongside the paralysis of the Conference on Disarmament prevent progress on a legally binding instrument. Meanwhile, the risk of arms race in space is is accelerating.

Mr. Chair, Kazakhstan carries a special responsibility as host of Baikonur Cosmodrome, the starting point of humanity's journey into space. We have a historic duty to ensure that outer space remains a realm of peace. Kazakhstan has ratified all four core UN space treaties, maintains a national register of space objects transmitted to the United nations and and actively engaged in COPULSE First Committee and the UN Regional Centers to promote transparency, training and responsible behavior in space activities. We believe it is time for concrete action such as a moratorium on destructive anti satellite testing to prevent further creation of long lived orbital debris.

Universal adherence to the registration of space objects, ensuring transparency and accountability, negotiation of a legally binding instrument that prohibits the placement of any type of weapons in orbit addressing both kinetic and non kinetic counterspace capabilities with credible verification mechanisms and a clear safeguard against the use of artificial intelligence or autonomous systems in nuclear or space Common decisions ensuring that human judgment remains the ultimate guarantor of restraint. Mr. Chair, we cannot allow the deadlock in Geneva or divisions among.

I thank representative of Kazakhstan for his statement. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Zambia, the Chair. We align ourselves with the statement to be delivered by Africa Group and that delivered by the Non Alignment Movement and wish to make the following remarks in our capacity as a nation. Mr. Chair, Zambia remains firmly committed to the peaceful use of outer space and reiterate the need to ensure that it remains free of conflict, weaponization and military confrontation.

Outer space is the common heritage of humankind and must be preserved for peaceful use purposes and scientific advancement and sustainable development. We, however not with concern they follow the growing militarization of outer space as highlighted in the report of the Secretary General. The testing and development of space based weapons and satellite capabilities along with the incidences of interference increases the risk of misunderstanding and threatening the global peace and security. Mr. Chair, Zambia call for agent legal binding measures to prevent an arms race in the outer space.

The absence of regulatory framework on the use and deployment of weapons in outer space presents a serious gap in international law. We therefore support the efforts under the Conference of Disarmament to negotiate the binding instrument based on the draft treaty on the prevention of space placement of weapons in the outer space and of the threat or use of force against outer space objectives. While transparency and confidence building measures are useful in promoting trust among fairing nations they cannot replace clear and enforceable legal norms. We encourage all members states to support the work of the Group of Governmental Experts and the open ended Working Group on Outer Space Security to advance towards a universal and inclusive legal framework. Zambia underscores the importance of maintaining the outer space as an access domain for peaceful and development oriental purposes.

In conclusion, Zambia reiterates the outer space must become a theater of must not become a theater of conflict. We age all states, especially those with advanced space capabilities to demonstrate restraint, uphold militarism and international law and commit to rules based order that ensures peace and security beyond it. I thank you. I thank the representative of Zambia for her statement. I give now the floor to the distinguished representative of Kyrgyzstan.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Outer Space is a common heritage of humankind. It must remain a domain free from confrontation and devoted exclusively to peaceful purposes. We must not allow this unique environment above us to become another arena for competition or conflict.

The Kyrgyz Republic firmly believes that preventing an arms race in outer space is essential for maintaining international peace, security and strategic stability. We attach great importance to the international legal frameworks that govern activities in outer space, including the Charter of the United Nations. These principles remind us that peace and dialogue must must extend beyond our planet. In this regard, we support the draft resolutions entitled Prevention and Arms Race in Outer Space. No first Placement in Weapons in Outer Space, Further Practical Measures for the Preventing of the Arms race in Outer Space and Transparency and Confidence Building Measures in Outer Space activities.

The these initiatives play an important role in promoting trust, predictability and cooperation among nations. We encourage all member states to engage constructively and to work together toward preserving outer space as a peaceful, safe and sustainable environment for all. Let us ensure that outer space remains a realm of hope and innovation, not of confrontation or threat. The Kyrgyz Republic stands ready to work with all partners in preserving this shared domain for the benefit of all humankind now and for the future generation. I thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I thank the representative of Kyrgyzstan for his statement. I give another floor to the distance. Distinguished representative of Greece.

Sir. Greece fully aligns with the statement delivered by the EU and wishes to add the following remarks in its national capacity. My country strongly believes that the five United nations treaties on outer space, in particular the Outer Space Treaty, as well as the relevant UN General assembly sets of principles, constitute the cornerstone of international space law and attaches great importance to their implementation. Greece supports that the peaceful use of outer space should by all means prevail over any use of force in space. In this context, we consider KOPUOS and its two subcommittees as unique platforms for an inclusive dialogue on space law and policy issues.

We recognize the need for the international community to come together and discuss ways and means to reinforce space governance in the interest of maintaining a sustainable outer space for the benefit of present and future generations. In this context, we believe that international cooperation should by all means prevail over any use of force in space. And we welcome in this regard the adoption by the General assembly resolution 7987 on international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space, which, among others, expresses its serious concern about the possibility of an arms race in outer space and reaffirms the significance of international cooperation for a space free from an arms race and conflict for the benefit of all. Mr. Chair, we strongly believe that peace cannot be achieved without preventing an arms race in outer space.

Thus, the the goal of PAROS is achievable by a combination of legally binding and non legally binding tools based on capabilities and behaviors. We echo all those who believe that an approach based on responsible behaviors offers a more realistic framework to improve space security today, given the dual use nature of many space systems, without excluding the possibility of new legally binding instruments in the future. Greece Support Resolution 7922 which affirms that all States must conduct their activities in the exploration and use of outer space in conformity with international law, including the UN Charter. Mike Cadre welcomes the initial discussions within the new open ended Working Group on PAROS and aspires that it will serve as an inclusive and transparent platform for dialogue. Furthermore, we recognize that regardless the scientific and technical progress of the last decades, significant obstacles persist on definition, verification and attribution concerning the satellite missile tests, in particular regarding the types of direct ascent and CO orbital ASAD as well as laser and radio frequency jamming.

We call upon all states to continue discussions in the relevant bodies and to establish and develop further practices Practical steps in order

I thank the representative of Greece for his statement. I give now the floor to the distinguished representative of Spain,

Gracia Senhor presiding. Thank you. Chair Spain aligns itself with the statement of the European Union and we'd like to make the following remarks. Our National Capacity Spain is firmly committed to the prevention of of an arms race in outer space in order to strengthen the security, international security and stability.

We're also committed to the use of outer space for peaceful ends. We should not allow international tensions to endanger the security or sustainability of outer space. At the same time, we should work for new technologies and for the inclusion of new actors to contribute to developing a peaceful space environment that is secure and for the benefit of all. Chair we must work on aspects linked to the security of outer space and as a result on international security with the ultimate aim of ensuring a peaceful, secure and stable outer space environment. It's also a priority that we reduce the risks that may affect the essential services that are based on the use of outer space and that we enjoy every day.

We are opposed to the development and to the deployment of nuclear arms or any other type of weapons of mass destruction in outer space or celestial bodies. We underscore the need to comply fully with the provisions of the Treaty on the Use of outer space of 1967. We condemn anti satellite missile tests and we welcome the commitment of growing number of states, including my own country, not to undertake destructive tests or anti satellite missiles direct ascent. Spain has since the beginning supported the creation of a new open ended Working Group in Paris. We welcome the work undertaken so far by this group in its formal consultations in July of this year.

We reiterate Spain's commitment to continue making progress at the next meeting planned for July 2026, both within the framework of legally binding instruments and also non legally binding instruments, because we are convinced that both can contribute to the goal of the PAROS process. We're also convinced that transparency and trust is essential also for increasing the level of confidence between States. This is why we advocate for measures that go in this direction. We support measures for the exchange of information and prior notification subject to the HA Code of Conduct to reduce the risks of calculation errors raised by ballistic missiles tests and peaceful satellite launches. We urge all States to abide by this Code and to fully implement its provisions.

I thank you Chair.

I thank the representative of Spain for his statement. Give the floor to the distinguished representative of Australia.

Thank you, Chair. Space is integral to daily life, underpinning development, security and resilience. From communications to climate monitoring. Space technologies support essential services globally. As space grows more congested and contested, risks of miscalculation and conflict increase.

Integration of space systems into military operations heightens these risks. Actions in space, whether intentional or not, can be misinterpreted and escalate tensions. Australia believes preventing an arms race in outer space requires a modern inclusive approach that reflects evolving threats and activities. Chair Australia supports a pragmatic approach to space security focused on shaping responsible behaviour in a domain of dual use technologies and where rigid definitions of weapons are quickly outdated. We need a behavioural approach which promotes safety, transparency and strategic stability.

Some States argue we should govern only activities we disagree. A proximity operation, for example, may seem cooperative or threatening depending on how it is conducted. Behaviour is key. This must be the focus of of our normative efforts. Responsible behaviours promote safety and stability through observable transparent practices like maintaining safe separation and avoiding long lived debris.

These behaviours are defined by impact, not intent, and support norms like voluntary guidelines. Australia supports UN resolutions shaping space norms and resolution systems. 7741. Urging states to avoid destructive anti satellite missile tests is a valuable risk reduction step. Chair Outer space is not lawless.

International law, including the UN Charter and the Outer Space Treaty apply. The treaty prohibits weapons of mass destruction in orbit and mandates peaceful use of celestial bodies. However, gaps and uncertainties remain.

Australia supports clarifying how international law applies and developing additional measures if needed. Non binding measures foster transparency and trust. These include pre launch notifications, data sharing and multilateral participation to demonstrate peaceful intent. Chair Australia Advances space security through practical steps. Next month we will co chair an ASEAN Regional Forum workshop with Singapore and the Philippines and invite ARF participants to join us in Manila.

We look forward to working with all states to advance a cooperative, inclusive and forward looking approach to space security for future generations, including in the Oewg on Paros. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Australia for his state. Distinguished delegates. I shall now call on delegations who have requested the right of reply. I remind members that statements in the exercise of the right of reply are limited to four and a half minutes and for the first intervention two and a half minutes. For the second intervention.

I call on the representative of Russia Federation to take the floor.

Mr. Chairman, we repudiate all of the baseless and groundless accusations that we've heard about these outer space activities of the Russian Federation. The activities of our country in the exploration and use of outer space are carried out in accordance with international obligations exclusively for peaceful purposes and they do not threaten the activities of other states in outer space. Russia strictly complies with the 1967 Outer Space Treaty which is the centerpiece of international space space law and we also strictly comply with other agreements in this area. Article 4 of the treaty clearly bans launching into or the Earth orbit any object with nuclear weapons or other WMDs and it bans the installation or deployment of such weapons in outer space and any other way. Russia has unstintingly complied with this provision.

No Congress confirmation is required by the Treaty by the Outer Space Treaty, including in the Security Council. Furthermore, any attempts to directly or indirectly rewrite this treaty or other instruments of outer space law is superfluous. The ludicrous conjecture that we've heard is fully unhitched from reality and is part of a propaganda campaign seeking to discredit the outer space activities of Russia and its initiative to protect prevent an arms race in outer space. Our country for many years has substantially contributed to preserving outer space free from weapons of any type. And we've made a significant role in preventing it from transforming into yet another arena for tensions and armed confrontation.

It was Russia that tirelessly proposed that Member States adopt nationally and internationally a legal commitment not to deploy deploy weapons of any type in outer space and also to refrain from the use of threat of force against outer space objects or using outer space objects. We want to see a comprehensive ban on outer space based strike weapons intended to strike outer space objects. We would recall our proposal to UN Member States to join an international initiative political obligation to refrain from the first placement of weapons in Outer space. The list of participants of this initiative is growing. It is now close to 40.

It calls for the promotion or whether it's intended to promote international peace, equal and indivisible security for everyone and to enhance predictability and sustainability of the activities of space and the peaceful exploration and use of outer space. To preserve outer space as the common heritage of all humankind. Unfortunately, these goals are far from being shared by all countries. We've seen a growing risk of transforming outer space into a platform for aggression and war. A number of western countries are openly charting a course toward deployment of weapons in outer space and using outer space in order to carry out combat and to ensure their domination and supremacy.

There are large scale programs to develop weapons systems that are designed to use force or threaten the use of force in outer space, from outer space or against outer space. As a result of this, substantial risks are being created for the long term sustainability of peaceful outer space activities and also for the socioeconomic processes on the earth which determine the well being of people, primarily in developing countries. This policy merits strong condemnation by the international community and calls for measures to be taken to stop it. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Russian Federation for his intervention. Distinguished delegates, we have exhausted the time available for this meeting. The committee will reconvene on Monday 27th October at 10am in this conference room when we will continue our thematic discussion under the Cluster on Outer Space. The meeting is adjourned. It.