First Committee, 5th plenary meeting - General Assembly, 80th session

The fifth meeting of the Disarmament and International Security Committee, First Committee of the 80th session of the General Assembly is called to order. Distinguished delegates, the Committee will continue this afternoon with its general debate on all disarmament and international security agenda items allocated to it. I do count on your cooperation to respect the time limit for statements and to speak at a reasonable speed to allow adequate interpretation. Longer statements can be shared to e-statements to be posted on the UN journal. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Ukraine on behalf of a group of states.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have the honor to speak on behalf of Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and my own country, Ukraine. We reaffirm our firm commitment to the rules-based international order founded on the UN Charter and fundamental principles of international law. Russia's ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine represents a blatant violation of international law and a direct threat to global peace and security, undermining efforts to uphold non-proliferation and disarmament stipulated by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Russia's actions endanger global food security, energy stability, nuclear safety and security, and the environment, disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable populations worldwide. We condemn in the strongest possible terms Russia's aggressive actions and irresponsible and nuclear rhetoric in its illegal, unjustified and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine. We express our serious concern with Russia's most recent airspace violations in Estonia, Poland and Romania, which are unacceptable, escalatory and irresponsibly undermining international security. We strongly condemn Russia's continued indiscriminate attacks killing civilians and destroying civilian objects, including critical energy infrastructure. Especially regarding the approaching winter, the energy security of Ukraine is seriously undermined by Russia. We express serious concern that the situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant remains precarious, with six of the seven indispensable pillars for nuclear safety and security of the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency being compromised fully or partially. We are also deeply concerned by the nuclear safety and security risks posed by the vulnerabilities in Ukraine's electricity grid resulting from Russia's attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. This includes the disconnection of Ukraine's ZNPP. from its last external power supply since 23rd September which poses significant challenges for nuclear safety we also note with concern the damage arising from the 14th February 2025 drone strike against the new safe confinement at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant built with International effort to ensure nuclear safety we firmly reject any attempts to consider the restart of the reactors at Ukraine's znpb which would be inconsistent with well-established nuclear safety principles. Any restart of the reactors at the ZNPP can only take place once the facility has been returned to the legitimate control and oversight of Ukraine's competent regulatory authority. We support the continued physical presence of IAEA experts at Ukraine's ZNPP in full respect of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. The safety and security of the agency staff remain of paramount importance. Delays in the completion of the IAEA's support and assistance mission to Zaporizhzhia rotations are unacceptable and we call on the Russian Federation to immediately cease any actions which hinder the timely conduct of ISAM's rotations and put the safety of the agency staff at risk. We urge Russia to immediately cease all hostile actions against Ukrainian nuclear facilities and to withdraw its military and associated personnel from Ukraine's NPP without delay, as required by the resolutions of the IAEA General Conference and Board of Governors, as well as the UN General Assembly. Moreover, the release of the unlawfully detained Ukrainian ZNPP personnel by the occupying Russian authorities remains not only a humanitarian imperative, it is a precondition for restoring basic trust and operational safety at the site. We are seriously concerned by reports of the use of riot control agents by Russia as a method of warfare, as well as the alleged use of choking agent chloropicrin against Ukrainian servicemen. In this regard, we note the findings of the technical secretariat of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons reports of 18 November 2024, 14 February 2025, and 20 June 2025 concerning the OPCW technical assistant visits requested by Ukraine, which confirm the presence of riot control agents in samples taken from the front lines in the Dnipro Petrovsk region of Ukraine. We stress that any use of riot control agents as a method of warfare or chloropicrin constitute a violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention and the global norm against the use of chemical weapons and must be stopped immediately. Mr. Chair, we strongly condemn the continued military support provided to Russia by Belarus, Iran, and the DPRK, which enables Russia to sustain its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. We strongly condemn the ongoing military cooperation between the DPRK and Russia, including DPRK's provision of ballistic missiles, artillery shells, other military material, and the deployment of significant number of DPRK troops to Russia in combat operations against Ukraine. Such actions mark a dangerous expansion of the war with serious consequences for European and Indo-Pacific security and represent flagrant violations of multiple UN Security Council resolutions. We remain alarmed about the statements made by Russian officials claiming that the DPRK's denuclearization is off the table, which is inconsistent with Russia's NPT obligations. The DPRK cannot and will never have the status of a nuclear weapons state in accordance with the NPT. We strongly condemn the transfer of advanced weaponry by Iran to Russia, which are used in Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine and in relentless attacks against the civilian population. These transfers directly contribute to Russia's escalating violence in Ukraine, further threatening European security. We urge all countries to immediately cease any direct or indirect assistance to Russia in its war of aggression against Ukraine, including the provision of direct military aid and the supply of use goods and sensitive items that sustained Russia's war effort. Mr. Chair, we reaffirm our commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, extending to its territorial waters, as well as for Ukraine's inherent right to self-defense against the illegal Russian aggression. We remain steadfast in our commitment to ensure Russia's accountability for the serious crimes under international law committed in the Ukrainian territory and for the extensive damage caused by its actions. We welcome the joint efforts by the United States, Ukraine, Europe and others to stop the killing, to end Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine and to achieve just, comprehensive and lasting peace consistent with the Charter of the United Nations. We urge the international community to use its influence and maximize pressure on Russia to immediately end this unlawful aggression. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Ukraine for her statement on behalf of a group of states, and I give the floor to her Excellency, Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations Office in Geneva and to the Conference on Disarmament.

Thank you, Chair. Let me begin by welcoming the breakthrough on the first phase of the plan to bring peace to Gaza. Agreement to a ceasefire and the disarming of Hamas are of special importance to the work of this committee. We acknowledged President Trump's leadership and the role of Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey in this outcome. Chair, 80 years ago, emerging from the devastation, grief, and the ruin of war, the people of our nations came together and put their trust in each other's humanity. Since then, the UN has achieved much through collective effort to achieve global peace and security. Building a strong disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control architecture. Guarding against the spread of nuclear weapons and working for a world free of nuclear weapons. Developing norms and regulating the development, use and trade in weapons. Chair, our collective efforts here in First Committee matter. The world faces increasingly complex challenges. Russia's ongoing illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine exemplifies the extent of these challenges and the institutions we have worked arduously together to build are under strain. International peace and security needs effective multilateralism. This is not somebody else's problem. It is up to each member state to do its part. Chair, we must lift our gaze and be laser focused on what we are here to do. For Australia, this means First, fighting hard to hold on to what matters, those irreplaceable institutions and rules that we have built and which continue to make us safe. The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, and international humanitarian law. Second, complex challenges require us to be creative, innovative, and to find new ways of working. Not every problem needs a treaty. Political declarations, norms of responsible state behavior, effective export control regimes, confidence building measures, these help reinforce and support this architecture. Third, how we do our work matters, collaboration, listening, dialogue, and inclusion. We must look for modest, incremental, practical measures to move us forward. Chair, we need to stand up for what matters. The NPT is one of the great achievements of multilateralism. It has made the world safer and continues to do so. It is essential to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and build realistic pathways to their elimination. At next year's review conference, Australia will work to preserve the ongoing security benefits of the treaty and strengthen its implementation, to address proliferation threats like that posed by Iran's nuclear program and DPRK's ongoing development of nuclear weapons in violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions, to back the independent technical authority of the IAEA, to negotiate for more transparency, accountability and effective reporting, to agree practical measures for action to reduce the risk of nuclear conflict. Chair, the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty has created powerful global rules against nuclear testing, which have a high compliance track record and must be protected. Its international monitoring system provides an essential global public good. The Chemical Weapons Convention has helped rid the world of all declared chemical weapons, but some states are flouting its rules. We must work together to ensure that the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons can respond effectively to chemical weapons threat and use and prevent the re-emergence of stockpiles. We must also address growing biological threats, including through strengthening the Biological Weapons Convention. Chair, humanitarian disarmament treaties are under increasing pressure and states are having to grapple with difficult choices. Landmark treaties such as the anti-personnel mine ban and cluster munition conventions have helped save countless lives since entering into force. So it is regrettable that some states have decided to withdraw from these conventions. Australia will continue to reinforce their value and urge their universalization and implementation. Chair, Australia supports creative and innovative approaches to address the challenges of our times. Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence present great opportunities. They also present risks. Australia is committed to the responsible use of AI in the military domain. AI technologies must comply with international law, including IHL and international human rights law throughout their life cycle. Chair, space touches every aspect of our lives, from international communications networks to military and defense capabilities. Australia supports an approach centered on responsible behaviors that actively promote safety, predictability, and stability in the space environment. We are firmly committed to promoting peace and security in cyberspace by shaping and upholding the framework for responsible state behavior in cyberspace. Chair, Australia's commitment to bolstering the non-proliferation and disarmament regime is not rhetorical. We back our words with actions. As permanent chair of the Australia Group, which celebrated its 40th anniversary this year, we are proud to be a global leader in multilateral export control regimes that deliver vital outcomes to prevent the proliferation of chemical and biological weapons. As co-chair of the ASEAN Regional Forum's work on non-proliferation and disarmament with the Philippines and New Zealand, Australia is working with ASEAN partners to build mutual understanding and reduce the risk of conflict in the Indo-Pacific. As joint coordinator of the nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament initiatives with Philippines and Japan, we are working to build consensus at next year's NPT review conference. And as chair of the IAEA Board of Governors for 25-26, Australia is working hard to support the IAEA to deliver vital nuclear safeguards, security and safety outcome for its members. Chair, how we work together as an international community is critical to our success. Australia values listening, dialogue, inclusivity, respect. Durable peace is impossible without the full, equal and meaningful participation of diverse voices. Here at the United Nations, all voices are welcome. Limit those voices and we limit our successes. Ahead of the 25th anniversary of the landmark UN Security Council Resolution 1325, Australia is proud to champion the Women, Peace and Security agenda as a cornerstone of our foreign and defence policy. Chair, first committee gives us, the international community, five weeks to work together to make progress and protect the rules and institutions we all rely on. We all have a part to play and Australia will play its part. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Australia for her statement. I give now the floor to His Excellency, Permanent Representative of Ireland to the United Nations Office in Geneva.

Chairman, thank you. Firstly, congratulations on your assumption of the chair. Ireland, of course, offers you our full support. Ireland aligns, Chair, with statements of the European Union and the New Agenda Coalition. Once again, Chair, we meet amidst multiple serious crises, each of which reflects and shapes our work on disarmament, global challenges and threats to peace. Russia's unjustified and illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine is now in its fourth year. Russia's use of nuclear rhetoric and threats, violations of international law, targeting of civilians, use of chemical weapons on the battlefield, and ongoing illegal occupation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant are unacceptable and reprehensible. Ireland unequivocally condemns Russia's actions. A comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine based on the principles of the UN Charter and international law is a key priority. Ireland welcomes that Israel and Hamas have agreed on the first phase of a peace deal to end the war in Gaza and that all living hostages have been released. The peace deal offers an opportunity to address the catastrophic humanitarian situation and unconscionable human suffering in Gaza. to put an end to the man-made famine and to restore the vital medical, educational and other social services which have been decimated in Gaza over the past two years. All members of this United Nations must reflect on what more they can do. The non-proliferation challenges in Iran are profound and urgent. Iran must engage meaningfully and in good faith with the international community to satisfy concerns about its nuclear programme. The JCPOA showed that when all relevant parties are engaged, Iran's nuclear activities can be verifiably constrained. We must recommit to a lasting and sustainable diplomatic solution. This must involve Iran's full cooperation with the IAEA, including through implementing its legal obligations. Chair, through these urgent and pressing crises, we can see disturbing themes. We have seen conflicts involving nuclear armed states, continued obstruction in multilateral organizations, attacks on the integrity of international institutions, including the IAEA, flagrant breaches of international law, including international humanitarian law, violations of sovereignty and territorial integrity, and attacks on nuclear facilities. Ireland echoes the concern of the IAEA Director General at the UN Security Council on the consequences of such attacks, including for regional and global stability. Amidst this, the disarmament and non-proliferation architecture is under real strain. Upholding it and its successes is not a passive exercise. It takes real political will and effort. Over the next year, we will come together in the context of a number of review conferences. We will engage in good faith to achieve a positive, meaningful outcome at the NPT Review Conference. We are not unaware of the challenge involved, but it is crucial that we maintain the NPT as an essential element of the disarmament and non-proliferation regime. We continue to call for the balanced implementation of its three pillars, in particular disarmament, which has lagged behind. We will advance proposals for increased transparency, especially by the nuclear weapons states, to drive accountability for disarmament obligations and commitments. We welcome the establishment of the independent scientific panel to examine the effects of nuclear war, mandated by the General Assembly and proposed by Ireland and New Zealand. The panel will provide an up-to-date understanding of the consequences of these weapons, demonstrating with the latest science, scientific data, and modeling. that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought. We look forward to the presentation by the chair of the panel to this committee. In its 30th anniversary, we will call for long overdue progress made more difficult still by Russia's deratification towards the effective implementation of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. We must continue to safeguard the norm against nuclear testing. We will continue to advocate for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons as an effective means of advancing and achieving nuclear disarmament motivated by the awareness of the catastrophic humanitarian and environmental consequences of nuclear weapons, and this in full complementarity with the global disarmament and non-proliferation regime. We will support international organizations, in particular the IAEA and the OPCW, in their crucial and impartial work. We call on all states to ensure full cooperation with the work of the agency. Ireland strongly supports the OPCW in identifying, documenting, and eliminating chemical weapons in Syria. We take good note of the UN Secretary General's call for urgent progress on a legally binding instrument on lethal autonomous weapons systems. We welcome the work of the group of governmental experts in the CCW. The rolling text currently being developed represents a comprehensive set of elements sufficient to form the basis of negotiations. and in that spirit we are pleased to co-sponsor with Austria and the cross-regional group a resolution on this topic. Chair, Ireland is a proud champion of the Secretary General's advocacy campaign on humanitarian disarmament and mine action. The Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, the Convention on Cluster Munitions and the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons are key treaties that continue to save countless lives and prevent serious injury during conflict and for decades after. We call on all states parties to uphold their commitments under these conventions and we call on all those who have not yet done so to join without delay. It remains a key priority for Ireland to address the wide-ranging effects of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. In 2024, EWEPA affected 74 countries and territories. Over 90% of casualties were civilians. Ireland encourages states that have yet to do so to endorse and implement the EWEPA political declaration. Ireland looks forward to the international conference in Costa Rica with a view to advancing best practice for civilian protections in conflict zones. We all have a stake in disarmament. The invaluable contributions of civil society, academia, and most importantly, the input and perspectives of victims and survivors of these weapons must be recognized and promoted. Chair, the achievement of gender equality is a longstanding priority for Ireland. But in terms of progress, the disarmament and non-proliferation field continues to lag in this area. Today, we are even in danger of reversing that limited progress. To achieve sustainable peace and development, the full, equal, and meaningful participation of women in all our efforts must be realized. Chairman, in conclusion, international disarmament and non-proliferation architecture provides the structure to tackle the challenges we face today. and to protect civilians from the impact of armed conflict. That architecture must be protected and it must be reinforced. Ireland reaffirms its commitment to that task and to upholding and strengthening international humanitarian law. Thank you, Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Ireland for his statement. I give now the floor to the distinguished representative of Czechia.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Let me begin by congratulating you on your election as chair of the first committee. Czechia fully subscribes to the statement delivered by the European Union. Allow me to add several remarks in our national capacity. At a time of profound crisis for international peace and security, Czechia reaffirms its unwavering commitment to international law, effective arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation. The first committee remains an essential forum for upholding these principles, fostering dialogue, and strengthening collective security. That is why we condemn Russia's deliberate targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure, including repeated strikes on Ukraine's energy grid that has caused immense suffering and heightened nuclear safety risks. Adding to that, Russia's reckless nuclear rhetoric, nuclear threats, and announced deployment of nuclear weapons to Belarus are provocative, dangerous, and destabilizing. The continued occupation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant with repeated outages of the plant's off-site power supply illustrates Russia's blatant disregard for nuclear safety and security. We thank the IAEA for its impartial efforts to uphold safety at the power plant and reiterate that the plant must be returned to full Ukrainian control. We also remain deeply alarmed by Russia's use of chemical agents as a method of warfare in Ukraine in flagrant violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention. Czechia expresses its appreciation to the OPCW for its indispensable work in upholding the global prohibition of the use of chemical weapons. We fully support the OPCW's ongoing efforts in Syria and hope that the new Syrian authorities will cooperate fully and transparently to ensure the complete elimination of all remaining chemical weapons and related capabilities in full compliance with the convention. Chair, the NPT remains the cornerstone of the global security architecture. Its three pillars are of equal importance, and we must ensure their balanced implementation. Czechia attaches the highest importance to the NPT. and wishes to see a constructive and forward-looking outcome of the forthcoming 11th Review Conference. We stand ready to work closely with the Chair of all States Parties to ensure the continued strength and effective implementation of the NPT. It is responsibility of all NPT nuclear weapon states to act transparently and responsibly. In this regard, we are increasingly concerned by China's opaque and rapid nuclear buildup, which is inconsistent with its declared no first use policy. We call on China to engage in meaningful arms control discussions. Likewise, we underscore the importance of the New START Treaty as a key element of global strategic stability and call on Russia to meaningfully engage with the United States in negotiations on a successor agreement that preserves and strengthens the existing arms control architecture. On Iran, the IAEA has repeatedly concluded that it cannot confirm the exclusively peaceful nature of its nuclear program. Iran must resume full cooperation with the IAEA without preconditions. Failing to meet its legal obligations stemming from its NPT safeguards agreement, Iran has left the international community no choice but to reimpose lawful UN sanctions. We call on Iran to address all concerns arising from its nuclear program and engage in good faith negotiations. Similarly, we condemn the DPRK's continued illegal nuclear and missile programs, as well as Russia's attempts to shield Pyongyang from accountability and to exploit illicit arm transfers. This is a direct violation of the relevant Security Council resolutions and a grave threat to regional and global security. We are alarmed that, in pursuit of its neo-colonialist objectives in Ukraine, Russia has repeatedly undermined the very core of the NPT by claiming support for DPRK's status as a nuclear weapons state. Chair, on emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and lethal autonomous weapon systems, we must move urgently to establish norms of responsible use and behavior. Czechia fully supports the Responsible Artificial Intelligence in the Military Domain Initiative as an important forum for addressing the military uses of artificial intelligence and promoting responsible behaviors in this field. We also thank the Chair of the GGE on Laws, Ambassador of the Netherlands, for his effective leadership and continued efforts to advance discussions within the CCW framework. Similarly, we need to uphold and develop existing norms of responsible behavior in outer space, where irresponsible actions risk undermining the peaceful use of this domain. Czechia welcomes the beginning of substantive work in the open-ended working group on PAROS and regrets that Russia continues to disregard the overwhelming consensus on this issue. Mr. Chair, Czechia reiterates its strong commitment to multilateralism. This is why we cannot remain silent about the persistent deadlock of the Conference on Disarmament combined with its lack of inclusivity. This situation runs counter to the very spirit of the UN 80 process, which should strengthen, not weaken, multilateralism and inclusion. Russia bears much of the responsibility for this situation by systematically blocking numerous observers from participating in the work of the conference, which should be plainly reflected in its report. Mr. Chair, the profound deterioration of the security environment, driven above all by Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, leaves us no choice but to increase our defense spending, not out of preference, but out of necessity to protect our people and uphold peace. It is therefore not surprising that under such dire security circumstances, several states have also felt compelled to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention, forced to take such steps by Russia's aggression and persistent threats to their very existence. That said, we remain committed to working constructively with all UN members to ensure that disarmament and non-proliferation deliver real security for future generations. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, distinguished representative of Czechia, for your statement. I give now the floor to the distinguished representative of Malaysia.

Thank you, Chair. My delegation congratulates you and the members of the Bureau on your election and assures you of our full support. Malaysia aligns itself with the statements made by NAM and ASEAN. Conflicts around the world are poignant reminders of the urgency of concrete action on disarmament and international security. In Gaza, there must be an end to the horrific death, destruction, and humanitarian catastrophe suffered by the Palestinian people. Eighty years after the establishment of the United Nations, much more needs to be done to reaffirm the faith of the global community and the sanctity of its charter and international law and the founding aspiration of the UN to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war. Malaysia remains deeply concerned over the unchecked expansion and qualitative enhancement of nuclear arsenals as well as the persistence of nuclear sharing arrangements and extended deterrence doctrines, which collectively undermine international peace and security. While possessed or relied upon by a select group, these weapons pose an existential threat to all states. Following two consecutive review conferences without substantive outcome, it is vital that we uphold the credibility and integrity of the NPT, renewed political will is required to ensure a successful NPT review conference in 2026, the universalization of the Treaty and the realization of the grand bargain upon which it is predicated. The nuclear weapons states, if full and effective implementation of their disarmament obligations and commitments cannot be indefinitely deferred and should be supported by increased transparency and accountability. Malaysia welcomes the steady advancement of the TPNW, which reflects the moral, security and humanitarian imperative of the total elimination of nuclear weapons. We will maintain an active role in the Treaty's intersessional work ahead of the first review conference next year. At the same time, other components of the nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation architecture must be strengthened. Malaysia reiterates its call on the remaining Annex II States to sign and ratify the CTBT without delay or preconditions. We also call for the resumption of the implementation of the New START Treaty and the negotiation of a successor agreement by its parties. This is essential in preserving arms control gains and implementing Article VI of the NPT. Malaysia fully supports efforts to strengthen existing nuclear weapon free zones and to establish new zones, including in the Middle East. As ASEAN chair during the current session of the first committee, Malaysia will coordinate the tabling of the biennial resolution on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone, SEANWFZ or Bangkok Treaty. We remain committed to continuously engaging all nuclear weapon states, including those with reservations, and to intensifying the efforts of all parties to resolve all outstanding issues in accordance with the objectives and principles of the Chonfess Treaty. In addition, Malaysia will present our annual first committee resolution on follow up to the advisory opinion of the ICJ on the legality of the threat or use of nuclear weapons, which remains of contemporary relevance. Malaysia reiterates its firm commitment to the CWC, including as a current member of the Executive Council of the OPCW. We will also continue to advance the objectives of the BWC by strengthening national implementation measures in accordance with Article IV and supporting the constructive discussions under the Working Group on Strengthening the Convention, particularly on effective verification. Chair, it is important that multilateral discourse on security issues proceeds in an inclusive manner, avoiding fragmentation and duplication, and facilitating the effective participation of developing countries. In this connection, my delegation is pleased with progress made under the OEWG on the prevention of an arms race in outer space pursuant to GA decision 79/512. Outer space must be protected in the common interest of all states, and be used exclusively for peaceful purposes. We also welcome the adoption of the final report of the OEWG on ICT security 2021 to 2025 and look forward to the operationalization of the new global mechanism. Further, my delegation recognizes the need for sustained dialogue on, inter alia, lethal autonomous weapon systems and the impact of artificial intelligence in the military domain with effective human control and compliance with international law as key considerations. Chair, in his recent report, the UN Secretary General noted the prevailing cycle of escalating military investment that stifles human development and feeds systemic instability. This underlines the indispensable role of the First Committee and the UN disarmament machinery more broadly especially in times of heightened major power rivalry and geopolitical tension. Let us work together in navigating the challenges at hand, guided by the enduring value of multilateral cooperation, the principles of the UN Charter and international law. I thank you, Chair.

Thank the distinguished representative of Malaysia for his statement. I give now the floor to her Excellency, Permanent Representative of Cabo Verde.

Thank you, Mr. Chairperson. Since this is the first time we are taking the floor, we would like to congratulate you and the members of the Bureau on your election to lead the work of the first Commission. We also express deep appreciation for the work carried out by the previous Chair and her team. You can count on Cabo Verde's continuous support. We align ourselves with the statements by the non-aligned movement and the African group and add the following in national capacity. Cabo Verde, a peaceful island state committed to multilateralism, welcomes the opportunity to participate in this discussion on disarmament and international security. Although we do not possess nuclear weapons, Cabo Verde ratified all major international disarmament instruments, reaffirming our commitment to peace, collective security, and the primacy of international law. We live in peace, but we are not immune to the cross-cutting impacts of global insecurity. Armed conflict, weapons proliferation, and the absence of clear norms directly affect human security, sustainable development and regional stability. The continued existence of nuclear arsenals poses an existential threat to humanity. The instability they generate undermine collective security and diverts resources that could be applied in the SDGs and save millions of lives. Total elimination of nuclear weapons is a collective responsibility and a moral imperative. Durable security can only be achieved through the permanent removal of these weapons from the international landscape. We therefore call for the universalization of the TPNW, the revitalization of the NPT, with renewed focus on Article 6 and the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, CMTBT, by the remaining states. Peace is not merely absence of war, but also the absence of existential threats. We strongly condemn the use of threat and use of chemical and biological weapons. Seats, with limited resources are particularly vulnerable to the cross-border impacts of incidents involving such weapons. We advocate for strengthening verification mechanisms under the Chemical Weapons Convention and enhancing international cooperation for technical capacity building, especially in developing countries. Effective prevention requires robust norms and international solidarity to ensure that all states have adequate response capabilities. The security of some states cannot be built upon the vulnerability of others. Accountability and transparency in conventional weapons production and trade are essential and we urge industrial capacity states to assume greater responsibility in export regulation, especially small arms, whose proliferation fuel conflicts beyond borders and undermine development efforts. There's a need for regional platforms with UN technical support for tracking and destroying obsolete stockpiles. Tabouert advocates that outer space remains a common good of humanity, free from militarization that would pose systemic threats to global peace and civilian infrastructure. Space must be preserved as a domain of scientific cooperation and collective progress, not transformed into a new arena of geopolitical confrontation. It is time to negotiate a legally binding instrument prohibiting the placement of weapons in space and ensuring the peaceful and equitable use of space technologies. Digital security is another integral part of international security. Digital trust is a pillar of international stability. Cyber attacks and digital misinformation have disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable states. The global digital compact and the work of the open ending working group on ICTs have our total support. The role of UN regional centers for peace and disarmament and the creation of a South Atlantic forum for sustainable security with UN support and participation of coastal states are vital. Regional capacity building in the South Atlantic and elsewhere is essential to ensure that all states can fully participate in multilateral disarmament and security processes. Regional peace is built through inclusion, cooperation and mutual respect. To strengthen multilateral disarmament mechanisms and international security, we need to assure inclusiveness and full participation. This is not only a matter of fairness, but a necessary condition for the effectiveness and legitimacy of multilateral decisions. Mr. Chair, Cabo Verde reaffirms its commitments to peace, disarmament and the strengthening of the multilateral system and stands ready to work with you, your team and all member states and partners. We are better together. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Cabo Verde for her statement. I give now the floor to the distinguished representative of Nepal.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. At the outset, let me congratulate you and the members of the Bureau on your election. I assure you of my delegation's full support and cooperation in discharging your responsibilities. Nepal aligns itself with the statement delivered by Uganda on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement. Mr. Chair, the world is witnessing the highest number of conflicts since World War II. The architecture of global peace and disarmament has come under severe pressure. To our utmost dismay, the defense budget is skyrocketing, reaching USD 2.7 trillion in 2024, while development cooperation is declining. And above all, the specter of nuclear war still haunts us. This year marks 80 years since the first use of nuclear weapons and 55 years since the entry into force of the landmark treaty on non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. These anniversaries underscore the urgency of our renewed commitment to disarmament and multilateral cooperation. At it is distressing that we are backtracking on many fronts of nuclear disarmament. Trust among nations has eroded. States are increasingly inclined towards policies such as nuclear deterrence and nuclear sharing. The prominence of nuclear weapons in military doctrines remains undiminished. The modernization of nuclear capabilities, including the potential integration of artificial intelligence, has posed new challenges. These developments threaten to undermine decades of progress towards a world free of nuclear weapons. Mr. Chair, it is our strong belief that total elimination of nuclear weapons is the only guarantee against the use or threat of such horrendous weapons. Nepal unequivocally calls for the general and complete disarmament of nuclear weapons in a time-bound manner. We also call for a robust verification mechanism to ensure that all parties adhere to the agreed terms, considering the interrelated and mutually reinforcing nature of the three pillars of the NPT. In this regard, we look forward to a successful convening of the 11th Review Conference of the NPT slated for next year under the presidency of Vietnam. As the cornerstone of the global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime, we urge the universalization of the NPT. Nepal underscores the urgent resumption of negotiations on a fissile material cut-off treaty to further strengthen nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regimes. We express our full support for the establishment of nuclear weapons-free zones in all regions. We support the inalienable rights of all states, as enshrined in Article IV of the NPT, to develop and utilize nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. The IAEA should continue to promote the peaceful uses of nuclear energy while further strengthening its safeguards mechanisms to prevent proliferation. We call for legally binding security assurances to non-nuclear weapon states against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons under any circumstances. As a party to the Chemical Weapons Convention, Nepal calls on all to comply fully with the Convention and its verification regime. This year, as we mark the 50th anniversary of the enforcement of the Biological Weapons Convention, we must ensure that the treaty is enforced effectively to prevent the misuse of biology and respond effectively to emerging biological risk. The illicit trade in small arms and light weapons must be effectively controlled to prevent conflict, reduce violence, and promote sustainable peace. As emerging and dual-use technologies are posing new challenges to disarmament, it is essential to strengthen inclusive global governance that guarantees human oversight, ensures responsible, well-regulated, and ethical use of AI technologies, fosters stronger international cooperation, and supports capacity building in developing nations. It is critical to regulate lethal autonomous weapon systems by considering their ethical, legal, humanitarian, and technological aspects. Mr. Chair, the advent of space-based weapons and anti-satellite systems represents a new frontier in arms control, underscoring the need for innovative approaches to disarmament. Outer space must be spared from the perils of arms race and weaponization of any kind while utilizing it exclusively for peaceful purposes. We call for enhanced transparency and confidence building measures in all activities related to outer space. Nepal underscores the importance of establishing a global regulatory framework to ensure an open, secure and accessible information and communication technology environment and cyberspace. Mr. Chair, the disarmament machinery such as UN Disarmament Commission and the Conference on Disarmament needs to be further extended to deliver on their mandates. Nepal supports incorporating gender perspectives into disarmament frameworks, recognizing the catalytic roles that women, youth, and civil society actors can play within the disarmament architecture. The regional disarmament architecture complements the global disarmament framework by fostering understanding, dialogue and confidence building measures. As in the past years, Nepal will table a draft resolution entitled United Nations Regional Center for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific in our capacity as the host state. We look forward to receiving the continued support of all member states for the adoption of this resolution by consensus. In conclusion, Mr. Chair, disarmament is not merely about abolishing weapons. It is about saving lives. A fraction of global military spending could fund the UN's sustainable development goals, including eradicating extreme poverty and hunger. I appeal to the international community to pursue disarmament in action together. Only then can we build a safe, peaceful and prosperous world for all. I thank you.

Thank the distinguished representative of Nepal for his statement. I give now the floor to the distinguished representative of Kyrgyzstan.

Mr. Chair, let me also congratulate you on your election as the chair of first committee. You have the full support of my delegation during your chairmanship. I also congratulate the members of bureau on their elections. Mr. Chair, Kyrgyzstan reaffirms its commitment to international law and UN charter. We fully support the UN's efforts to maintain peace and security. Today's complex global realities test the UN's strength and effectiveness as a universal decision-making body. An effective first committee focused on security and disarmament will promote global peace and stability. As the president of the Kyrgyz Republic, His Excellency Sadyr Japarov mentioned at the GA, we face the stark paradox. More than three trillion US dollar is spent on weapons every year, while millions of people lack access to water, healthcare and education. We call to redirecting this resource to improve lives and hunger, protect the environment and to clean our air. Military spending in conflicts harm many countries. This increases poverty and inequality. We must shift resources from war to solving global challenges, climate change, displacement, and building future generations. Investing in people, education, and sustainability, not weapons, is the path to peace. We must rethink global security priorities. True security means cooperation, understanding, and trust. Ladies and gentlemen, recent developments in Central Asia highlight positive examples of states peacefully addressing longstanding border disputes. Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan demonstrated political will and diplomatic maturity by engaging in peaceful dialogue and signing agreements on border delimitation. These efforts represent a significant contribution to regional peace and set a strong precedent for other regions facing similar challenges. Continuing the discussions on borders, I am pleased to announce the new resolution. Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan will submit a new resolution entitled Support for the Peaceful Settlement of Border Disputes under agenda item prevention of armed conflict. We count on the support of the member states this important and timely initiative. Kyrgyzstan as a candidate for the non-permanent member to the Security Council for 27, 28, and as a country that has never been elected to the Security Council, is ready to contribute to the efforts on maintaining peace. Mr. Chair, let me once again reiterate our support for the global efforts for the nuclear weapon free world. Their total elimination is only guaranteed against use and threat. During the high level week, Last month, Kyrgyzstan signed the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, TPNW. This shows our strong commitment to nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation, and global security. Our accession reflects Kyrgyzstan's consistent support for the nuclear weapon free world. Kyrgyzstan has ratified the additional protocol to the IAEA safeguards agreement. and together with the NPT is another testament to our transparency and readiness to cooperate. We firmly believe that the CTBT's early entry into the force is vital for strengthening the global non-proliferation and disarmament regime. We also highlight the key role of the NPT as a foundation of the nuclear disarmament. Ahead of the 2026 NPT refcon, we reaffirm our obligations and seek stronger verifications and transparency. As a part of the nuclear weapon free zone in Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan will continue to promote cooperation between such zones. The International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness is a key platform for raising global awareness, youth engagement and education, promoting dialogue and cooperation, and supporting international commitments. A side event dedicated to this international day was held in March of this year, organized jointly by Cornell Repp Institute, the Kyrgyz mission, and the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs. Experts and panelists discussed how to inspire and educate students about disarmament, especially in the regions with limited access of such education. Mr. President, As artificial intelligence develops, it is crucial to closely monitor its potential impact on international stability. This includes military use of AI, autonomous weapons, and cybersecurity risk, and this information. As my president mentioned during the Security Council open debate, Kyrgyzstan believes AI must serve peace, conflict prevention and the protection of human life. We call for international rules on the responsible use of AI. All countries, not only developed ones, must benefit from these technologies. We also stress the need to prevent an arms race in outer space. Space must be used only for peaceful purposes. Weaponizing space threatens global security. Let us choose cooperation over confrontation, Let space remain a shared frontier of peace. Kyrgyzstan supports trust, solidarity, and cooperation in global affairs. We aim to build a multilateral system that fits today's changing world. And I thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Kyrgyzstan for his statement. I give now the floor to the distinguished representative of Jordan.

Mr. Chair, allow me to begin by congratulating you on assuming the chairmanship of the first committee in the current 80th session of the General Assembly. We wish you every success. My country's delegation looks forward to closely working with your chairmanship to achieve the goals that we have set out. Mr. Chair, my country's delegation aligns itself with the statement made by the Arab group and NAM. We wish to make the following remarks in our national capacity. We reiterate the importance of international concerted efforts to peacefully settle conflicts, including a durable end to the war against the Gaza Strip. We welcome the signing of the agreement on Gaza today in Sharm El-Sheikh, and we commend the decisive role undertaken taken by the US president to reach this agreement, to commit to the end of war and to advance peace in the region. We underline the importance of honoring the ceasefire in Gaza, the implementation of all of its provisions to end the war and to remedy the disastrous consequences of the aggression against the Gaza Strip, as well as to allow the delivery of adequate and immediate humanitarian assistance to end the famine caused by the wanton aggression against the Gaza Strip. As for our topic of discussion today, we reiterate our steadfast position. in support of advancing nuclear disarmament and an honoring of our agreed commitments, including to achieve the universality of the NPT, to address current mounting international tension. We call for the honoring of these commitments within a defined timeframe to pave the way for total elimination of nuclear weapons. without supplanting this with interim measures that do not respond to the needs of non-nuclear weapon states. We warn against the integration of AI in the administration of nuclear weapons. We stress the need to ensure human control over these weapons to pave the way for their total elimination. We look forward to the success of the NPT Review Conference to be held next year. and the adoption of a comprehensive and balanced outcome document that focuses on the implementation of agreed commitments, especially the elimination of nuclear weapons, the universality of the Treaty and the establishment of a nuclear weapons-free zone in the Middle East. We call for full implementation of the 1995 Conference resolution on the establishment of this zone. We urge member states to support the outcomes of the various sessions of the conference on the establishment of the WMD and nuclear weapons free zone in the Middle East. We call upon all countries to support efforts made in the region to ward off the threat of unconventional weapons against it. as this jeopardizes international and regional peace and security. Based on the aforementioned, we once again renew our call to Israel to partake in the conference without preconditions and to accede to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and place its nuclear facilities under the comprehensive safeguards of the IAEA. Mr. Chair, Jordan underlines the need for outer space to remain limited to peaceful uses. We call for a legally binding instrument to prohibit non-peaceful uses and we welcome resolution 512/79. We also welcome the achievements made in the framework of the open-ended working group on the prevention of an arms race in outer space. As for cybersecurity, we support international efforts to ensure ICT security. We welcome the final report of the open-ended cybersecurity working group last July, and we express our full appreciation to its chair, permanent representative of Singapore, and we welcome the reports findings on the need to establish a global platform to address this vital file under the auspices of the United Nations. We look forward to the beginning of its work through the coming organizational meeting to be held in the coming month of March. As for conventional weapons, we stress the need to implement the United Nations Program of Action on Small Arms and light weapons to ensure non-acquisition of such weapons by terrorist groups. We call on the strengthening of the support provided to developing states to foster their border security. We welcome the outcomes of the preparatory meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Global Framework on Ammunition held in New York. in June, as well as the outcome document adopted by consensus, in addition to the template for national voluntary reporting and the priority matrix. And we look forward to the Conference of the Parties to be held in 2027. We stress the need to ensure that this global framework does not overlap with other mechanisms, namely the Programme of Action on Small Arms and light weapons. There is a need to ensure complementarity between all those mechanisms at the same time. We stress our full support to the deliberation of the first committee and we look forward to cooperating with Member States during the current session. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Jordan and I give now the floor to the distinguished representative of the State of Palestine.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Allow me, Adal Sid, to congratulate you and the members of the Bureau on assuming the chair of the First Committee this session. The State of Palestine places full confidence in your stewardship and reaffirms its commitment to supporting the successful work of this Committee. The State of Palestine associates itself with the statements of Arab Group and Non-Aligned Movement. Mr. Chair, the State of Palestine reiterates that only adherence to the Charter of the United Nations and to international law remains the indispensable foundation of international peace and security. The position use or threat of use of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction under any circumstances continues to constitutes a grave breach of the fundamental principles of international law. We reaffirm that the only durable remedy to the threat posed by nuclear weapons is their complete and verifiable elimination. Nuclear weapons states and nuclear-armed states bear a special responsibility for our collective security and must take concrete, time-bound and transparent steps toward dismantling their arsenals rather than expanding or modernizing them. Mr. Chair, While weapons of mass destruction pose existential threats to humanity, the immediate and catastrophic humanitarian toll of conventional weapons, especially when used in populated areas, demands urgent attention. Explosive weapons in all its forms have been shown to cause the vast majority of civilian casualties. Their effects and the systematic damage they inflict on innocent civilians and civilian infrastructure is catastrophic. A genocide can be committed by using conventional weapons when employed in unconventional manners. In Gaza, the consequences of sustained use of explosives in densely populated areas have been devastating. Extremely high civilian casualty figures, widespread injury and trauma, the destruction of vital civilian infrastructure and mass internal displacement. These are the horrifying consequences to the intensive use of explosive weapons by the Israeli war machine. When such conventional weapons are employed indiscriminately or in disregard of international law, their effects become mass scale in both scope and severity. In human terms, they function as weapons of mass destruction. We are further alarmed by the humanitarian and legal implications of integrating advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, into military surveillance, targeting, and strike systems, especially when rigorous human review and control are not guaranteed. As we have witnessed the horror of its use in Gaza, AI-assisted systems, including autonomous weapons systems, can accelerate targeting cycles. generate expansive target lists, and heighten the risk of misidentification and disproportionate harm to civilians. We underscore that meaningful human control must be preserved over the use of force at all times, and that any employment of AI in military domain must be governed by strict legal, ethical, and operational safeguards with transparent accountability. In this vein, we support the negotiation of a legally binding instrument on autonomous weapons systems that prohibits systems that cannot be subject to meaningful human control and all systems designed to target persons and establishes positive obligations and regulations on all other systems to ensure effective human judgment, predictability and accountability. Mr. Chair, the Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction is a priority of profound regional and global significance. The United Nations Conference mandated by General Assembly decision 73/546 has already convened five sessions, adopting rules of procedure, establishing working committee and modalities, and issuing outcome reports that reflect constructive engagement. We look forward to the sixth session in next November under the presidency of the Kingdom of Morocco, and we commend the progress achieved thus far in consolidating this conference in an inclusive and consensus-based platform. Yet, despite these important steps, the conference cannot fulfill its mandate as long as the only nuclear-armed state in the region continues to remain outside the process. has not acceded to the NPT and refuses to place its nuclear facilities under full scope of IAEA safeguards. This persistent refusal defies repeated UN resolutions, including the 1995 resolution on the Middle East, and prevents the realization of the zone, which is an integral part of the package deal that enabled the indefinite extension of the NPT. Universal participation is therefore indispensable. The State of Palestine continues to engage in good faith so that the Conference can agree on a legally binding treaty. We call upon the international community to provide sustained support to this process and to urge the only non-participant to join without delay, so that the Middle East may finally be freed from the threat of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction for the benefit of present and future generations. Mr. Chair, with respect to outer space, the State of Palestine stresses the necessity of preserving the exclusively peaceful use of this domain. Preventing an armed race in outer space must be treated as a priority. We support multilateral negotiations toward a legally binding treaty that prohibits military activities, protects civilians and scientific assets, establishes norms of responsible behavior. Mr. Chair, we believe that security built on armament is fleeting. Lasting security is built on law, justice, development, and cooperation, and I thank you.

Thank you, the distinguished representative of the State of Palestine for his statement. Before giving the floor to the next speaker, I would like to consult the committee on its program of work. Members would recall that the general debate is expected to conclude on Friday 17 October in the afternoon. Given the progress made so far in terms of exhausting the list of speakers for the debate, and I do thank delegations for respecting the time limit, the Bureau would like to propose that the Committee begin listening to statements under the nuclear weapons cluster in the thematic discussions on Friday 17 October should the need arise. This change to the programme of work is without prejudice to the schedule of panels and briefings set out in document A/C.1/80/CRP/2. The Committee will also continue to devote at least half a meeting 90 minutes on 17 October in the afternoon to hear statements by representatives of civil society in an informal setting as agreed at the committee's organisational meeting. If I hear no objection, may I take that the committee wishes to proceed accordingly? I hear none. It is so decided. The committee will now continue its general debate. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Belarus.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Congratulations on your election to this very responsible post. You can count on the support of the Republic of Belarus. Today, the world stands at a crossroads. The current anniversary session of the UN General Assembly marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, a tragedy which claimed tens of millions of lives, leaving destroyed cities and mutilated lives in its wake, a war that changed the fate of humanity. Years have gone by and history is once again putting us to a tough test. on which the fate of our entire planet depends without exaggeration. The global crisis besetting the world order determines the international agenda. The architecture of international security underpinned by bilateral and multilateral mechanisms, non-proliferation and arms control continues to deteriorate. Conflicts are prompting an increase in military spending and provoking an escalation of the arms race. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, SIPRI, in 2024, military spending increased by 9.4%. That's equivalent to 2.7 trillion US dollars, a record not seen since the 1980s. The destructive conflict on Europe's borders rages on. We are located on the cusp of this bloody confrontation, and we, more than anyone else, see the corrosive consequences of this conflict. Against this backdrop, we're seeing active militarization on the European continent. We see ongoing tensions in the Middle East. From time to time, we see volatile hotspots emerging in South Asia, in Africa, and in other regions as well. New weapons, new kinds of weapons are emerging, which could change the strategic balance of power. Given that states don't have reliable security guarantees, nor genuine confidence building measures, the role of nuclear deterrence is on the rise. Belarus stands convinced an arms race in the 21st century is madness, something humanity cannot afford. Thus, we'd like to reiterate our full commitment to multilateral efforts to strengthen global security and our undertakings on non-proliferation, disarmament, and arms control. We believe that the NPT is a key component of the nuclear non-proliferation regime on which the entire system of international security hinges. We're disquieted by the fact that the third session of the NPT Review Conference PrepCom which was held in the spring of this year did not manage to adopt substantive outcome recommendations. This attests to the fact that there are ongoing divergences of principle between nuclear and non-nuclear states, which will have an impact on the overall unfavourable state of affairs in the run-up to the NPT review conference scheduled for next year. We call on all states to exhibit political resolve and to do their utmost to find points of convergence with a view to ensuring that the RevCom scheduled for 2026 to ensure that it makes a tangible contribution to strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation regime. We remain convinced that an inextricable component of these efforts are measures to develop an universal agreement on non-nuclear weapon states safeguards, as well as safeguards against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons. We're in favor of mobilizing international efforts so as to ensure the immediate entry into force of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. We call on states who haven't yet done so to immediately set in motion domestic procedures to accede to the CTBT. Belarus continues to actively cooperate with the IAEA on peaceful nuclear power. We are committed to our undertakings as regards nuclear security at the highest level. Mr. Chairman, what is equally dangerous is what's happening in cyberspace. Cyber threats are on the rise, as is manipulation of information, the use of digital technologies to exert political pressure and to interfere in the internal affairs of other states. All of this requires urgent international regulation. We welcome the outcome of the 11th substantive session of the OEWG on security of and in the use of ICTs held in July, as well as the unanimous adoption of the session's final report. We stand ready to actively contribute to the work of the future permanent open-ended mechanism on ICT security. The parameters thereof were determined by the OEWG session. A number of countries are withdrawing from the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention. This serves to weaken this important disarmament and humanitarian mechanism. What it also does is further destroys the security system on the European continent. The Chemical Weapons Convention remains one of the key disarmament and non-proliferation instruments at our disposal. We call for the OPCW to be depoliticized, for its activities to return to consensus with a view to restoring the effectiveness of the convention regime. We support efforts to strengthen the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention, we're in favor of legally binding norms for verifying compliance with the convention's provisions. We're concerned by reports about the fact that in some countries there are projects underway to establish large-scale biotechnological centers, including in very close proximity to Belarus. Such sites are usually highly closed and as a rule of thumb, their range of functions is unclear and opaque. We call on countries involved in the establishment of such centers to exhibit greater transparency as per their undertakings under the BWC. We believe that Security Council Resolution 1540 is a singular instrument allowing us to adopt a comprehensive approach to combating the proliferation of WMDs and related materials. We stand ready to continue sharing our experience of cooperation on how to fulfill the full potential of resolution 1540 at the national and regional levels. We attach particular importance to the prevention of an arms race in outer space. We support the initiative on no first placement of weapons in outer space, as well as other initiatives aimed at strengthening confidence and transparency in this sphere. Belarus stands ready to engage in constructive cooperation with all UN member states at the First Committee with the view to de-escalating tensions, strengthening peace, security and stability. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Belarus and I give now the floor to the distinguished representative of Philippines.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My delegation congratulates you on your assumption as Chair of the First Committee. We are confident that under your leadership we will navigate the complex issues before us. The Philippines aligns itself with the statements delivered by Malaysia on behalf of ASEAN and by Uganda on behalf of NAM. Mr. Chair, we meet at a time when multilateralism is under strain yet never more essential. The trust deficit among states demands that this committee remain a forum for principled engagement and collective resolve. The Philippines reaffirms its constitutional and moral commitment to the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime. The NPT remains an indispensable foundation. We congratulate Ambassador Do Hung Viet of Vietnam on his designation as President of the 2026 NPT Review Conference and look forward to working closely with him toward a successful outcome. Progress on the implementation of the NPT has long been at a standstill. We urge renewed dialogue and meaningful action, especially on the practical steps under Article VI toward verifiable, irreversible disarmament, and for nuclear weapons states to accelerate the implementation of their obligations under the 64-point action plan. We likewise call on states to join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which reinforces the humanitarian principles underlying the NPT. As a member of the IAEA Board of Governors, the Philippines stresses that peaceful uses of nuclear energy must not be treated as secondary to disarmament and non-proliferation. The recent passage of our National Nuclear Energy Safety Act underlines our commitment to this advocacy. Access to nuclear science, technology and innovation remains an inalienable right of all states parties to be pursued safely, securely and sustainably for development and human welfare. CTBT's entry into force remains one of the clearest, most attainable measures to contain nuclear escalation. Yet, entry into force is blocked by outstanding ratifications among the annexed two states. The Philippines urges those states to undertake the political decisions required to remove this obstacle and to refrain from conduct that would undermine the global testing taboo. As co-president of the 2025 to 2027 Article 14 process alongside Sweden, the Philippines remains committed to universalizing the CTBT and strengthening its verification regime. We also reiterate the long-standing call for the immediate commencement of negotiations on a fissile material cut-off treaty. Such a treaty is an essential and long overdue confidence-building measure. The Conference on Disarmament must be resourced and politically supported to resume meaningful work on this treaty without preconditions. Our delegation regrets the continued paralysis, but this should not diminish our determination. Instead, it should compel renewed political courage. Mr. Chair, the evolving character of conflict demands that we expand our legal and norm building efforts to emerging technologies. Cyber operations, artificial intelligence in the military domain, and lethal autonomous weapons system pose systemic risk to civilians and global stability. We urge all state parties to develop binding measures to ensure that military applications of AI remain consistent with international law, especially international humanitarian law. The recently concluded open-ended working group on security of and in the use of ICTs has started the path toward a permanent global mechanism. The Philippines supports its prompt operationalization and resourcing to ensure inclusive participation of developing states. On lethal autonomous weapons, we continue to support the Convention on Conventional Weapons Group of governmental experts and encourage it to pursue measures that uphold international humanitarian law and human responsibility for use of force decisions. We join like-minded states in urging the development of a concrete, universally applicable and legally binding instrument to govern lethal autonomous weapons system. We must not forget the human dimensions of conventional weapons, the cross-border and transnational threats of small arms and light weapons and their illicit trade fuel conflict, organized crime and human suffering. We welcome progress under the global framework for through life conventional ammunition management, including the 2025 preparatory meeting that advanced practical cooperation on safety and accountability. The Philippines has further demonstrated dedication to global disarmament through the recent enactment of our Chemical Weapons Prohibition Act, which bans the development, production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons in fulfillment of our CWC obligations. We continue to advocate for stronger legal frameworks for chemical weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. We affirm our support for both the norms, rules and principles of responsible behavior for reducing space threats and a legally binding instrument on the prevention of an arms race in outer space to maintain outer space as a peaceful and cooperative environment. Regionally, the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapons Free Zone exemplifies cooperative risk reduction. We welcome recent movement toward broader protocol adherence by nuclear weapon states, which would buttress regional stability. The Philippines will continue to pursue practical measures that lock in non-use and protect our people from the specter of nuclear harm. The Philippine champions the participation of civil society, youth, women, consistent with the women peace and security agenda to ensure that our deliberations reflect the diversity of most affected by conflict. At the recent IAEA General Conference, the Philippines, as penholder on behalf of the G77 and China, helped secure a consensus resolution on staffing and women in the IAEA Secretariat, guiding human resource development in the nuclear field worldwide, especially for developing countries and women. Mr. Chair, our appeals are not abstract. We propose concrete, verifiable steps. Together, these measures will reduce risk and restore credibility to multilateral arms control. We further call on the parties to the New START Treaty to extend it or conclude a successor agreement before its 2026 expiration, preserving verifiable limits on strategic nuclear arms. Mr. Chair, the Philippines stands ready to work constructively with all partners to offer capacity building, to support verification friendly language, and to champion human security as a central objective of disarmament. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Distinguished representative of Philippines for her statement. I give now the floor to his Excellency, Permanent Representative of Timor-Leste.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We congratulate you on your assumption of the chair of the first committee. Timor-Leste aligns itself with the statement delivered by the non-aligned movement and wish to offer the following remarks in our national capacity. Mr. Chair, Timor-Leste reiterates its unwavering support for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, which serves as a cornerstone of disarmament and non-proliferation architecture. We welcome the Secretary-General's recent report which encourages renewed momentum toward the universalization of its goals, especially in light of the increasing nuclear risks and technological developments in 2025. We call on the eight remaining Annex II states whose ratification is required for the treaty's entry into force to do so without delay. The continued existence of nuclear weapons is an unacceptable threat to humanity. It undermines global security, diverts resources from development, and contravenes the principles enshrined in the UN Charter. We therefore urge all nuclear weapon states to fulfill their Article 6 obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, NPT, and to heed the 1996 International Court of Justice advisory opinion, which affirmed the illegality of the threat or use of nuclear weapons and underscored the legal obligation to pursue and conclude negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament. Timor-Leste supports the development of a legally binding instrument on negative security assurance to guarantee that non-nuclear weapon states will not be subject to the threat or use of nuclear weapons. Such a measure would strengthen confidence in the NPT, reduce asymmetries in the security landscape and advance the cause of a world free of nuclear weapons. Mr. Chair, Timor-Leste welcomes the ongoing process to establish a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. Establishing such a zone would not only contribute to regional security, but also reinforce the global non-proliferation regime. More broadly, Timor-Leste recognises the crucial role of regional and sub-regional confidence-building measures. These include transparency in military expenditures, prior notifications of military exercises, and conventional arms control measures. Such steps foster mutual trust, reduce misperceptions, and prevent escalations of the situation. Mr. Chair, in our region, Timor-Leste reaffirms its strong support for the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone, CNWFZ. As a candidate for ASEAN membership, Timor-Leste is committed to fully upholding the principles of the treaty and contributing to a region free of nuclear weapons. We urge nuclear weapons states to sign and ratify the protocol of the Southeast Asian Nuclear Weapon Free Zone without reservations, which would strengthen the treaty's integrity and enhance regional peace and stability. The treaty serves as a successful example of how regional cooperation can advance global disarmament objectives. Mr. Chair, Timor-Leste welcomes the continued operation and further development of the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms and encourages all member states to provide greater support and greater reporting to enhance transparency in arms transfers. Transparency is not an end in itself. It is a critical measure for building confidence, preventing diversion, and reducing the risk of destabilizing accumulations. We also commend the strong cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. The Chemical Weapons Convention remains a landmark in multilateral arms control. Its implementation must be strengthened, including through accountability for violations and universalization of the convention. No state should be outside this norm. Mr. Chair, Timor-Leste remains gravely concerned about illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. which continues to fuel armed conflict, destabilize communities, and impede sustainable development. While these weapons are small in size, their impact is devastating. Timor-Leste has taken concrete measures to address this challenge, including the adoption of national legislation, implementation of community-based disarmament initiatives, and close cooperation with regional partners to curb illicit trafficking. However, international efforts alone are insufficient. National efforts alone are insufficient. We therefore recommend enhanced international assistance for capacity building, especially in developing states, full implementation of the Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons and the International Tracing Instrument, including improved data collection and reporting, stronger integration of armed controls with sustainable development goal 16, recognizing that peace, justice, and strong institutions are mutually reinforcing with disarmament objectives. Mr. Chair, the rapid evolution of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, autonomous weapons systems, cyber capabilities, and space technologies presents both opportunities and risks. Timor-Leste supports efforts to ensure that such technologies are developed and used in strict conformity with international humanitarian law, ethics standards, and multilateral oversight. We welcome the work of the open-ended working group on ICT security and encourage inclusive, transparent, and gender-sensitive participation in these discussions. The military applications of AI, if left unregulated, could lower the threshold for conflict, increase the speed of escalation, and undermine human accountability. Therefore, Timor-Leste calls for greater transparency and reporting on military AI programs. Second, the development of norms and guidelines to ensure human control and accountability in the use of autonomous systems. And third, inclusive international dialogue to ensure that developing countries can meaningfully contribute to norm setting in this evolving domain. Mr. Chair, verification and transparency remain at the heart of effective disarmament. Timor-Leste supports the work of the Group of Scientific and Technical Experts on Nuclear Disarmament Verification, whose efforts contribute to the development of robust and credible mechanisms that build confidence and ensure compliance. Mr. Chair, Timor-Leste strongly condemns any attempts by non-state actors to acquire or use weapons of mass destruction. We call for strengthened international cooperation to prevent terrorism-related proliferation, including through through full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1514, enhanced border and export controls, and targeted capacity support for states with limited resources. Finally, Timor-Leste reaffirms its support for the follow-up to the 2013 High-Level Meeting on Nuclear Disarmament, and we welcome ongoing efforts to revitalize the Conference on Disarmament and the broader disarmament machinery. The upcoming 2026 Non-proliferation of nuclear weapon treaty review cycle represents a critical opportunity to rebuild trust, renew commitments, and chart the clear path toward a world free of nuclear weapons. Timor-Leste stands ready to work with all member states to advance disarmament, uphold international peace and security, and ensure that future generations inherit a safer, fairer, and more peaceful world. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Sir Walter for his statement. We now go to the distinguished representative of Turkey.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. At the outset, I wish to extend my sincere congratulations to you and esteemed members of the Bureau on your election. You can count on my delegation's full support. Mr. Chair, we are in a period of persistent political instability. Challenges around us have placed considerable strain also on effective multilateralism and disarmament architecture. This year we commemorate the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. As such, it is also a sobering period to remember the need to preserve the integrity and relevance of established disarmament and non-proliferation regimes. Mr. Chair, the wars in Ukraine and Gaza challenge the very principles we seek to uphold, protection of civilians, peaceful resolution of disputes, and the ultimate pursuit of a world free of weapons of mass destruction. After years of intense conflict with immense humanitarian consequences, the war in Ukraine continues to have profound global implications for international peace and security, while adversely affecting European security. Hence, we must persist in seeking a peaceful and negotiated settlement to the conflict. Our unwavering commitment to diplomacy is guided by the principles of international law, the UN charter, and the imperative of ensuring Ukraine's sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity. Turkey will continue with its diplomatic efforts to that end. We welcome the ceasefire in Gaza announced on October 9 and the efforts of the United States, Egypt, and Qatar. Ceasefire should be fully implemented. Humanitarian aid should go into Gaza without any restriction. Recovery and reconstruction should be launched right away. A lasting peace in the Middle East can be achieved only through a just settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We hope that the momentum achieved in the ceasefire negotiations will also contribute to the realization of a two-state solution in the coming period. Mr. Chair, Turkey remains committed to the ultimate goal of a world without nuclear weapons and to ensuring safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear energy. Yet this process demands realism, sustained engagement, and the active participation of nuclear weapons states. The path towards a world without nuclear weapons is not easy, and even with the strongest political will of all states, could take years to achieve. In the meantime, reducing nuclear risks is critical. This is not an alternative to efforts towards nuclear disarmament, but to ensure that nuclear weapons will never again be used even while they exist. We remain committed to the NPT and its full implementation across all three mutually reinforcing pillars, disarmament, non-proliferation and peaceful uses. The upcoming 2026 NPT Review Conference provides another important opportunity to advance the treaty's objectives. Turkey remains committed to contributing constructively to efforts towards and during the review conference for a successful transition towards the subsequent review cycle, upholding the treaty's integrity and credibility, as well as maintaining the momentum on its universalization. Turkey regards the CTBT as another cornerstone of the global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation architecture. We reiterate the importance of its universalization and urge the remaining Annex II States to take the necessary steps towards its entry into force and for all countries to uphold the moratorium against nuclear testing. As we approach the special 30th anniversary, it is worthy calling the motto, one treaty, one goal, zero tests. As the expired date of the New START is approaching, we welcome recent political statements for continuation of adherence to numerical limits and remain supportive of efforts and engagement for a follow-on arrangement. Recent situation in the Middle East, including the de facto recognition of nuclear weapons possession by a non-NPT state, also reaffirms the urgency of pursuing a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, as envisioned in the 1995 Review Conference and the 2010 Action Plan. The international community must amplify efforts alongside all willing regional partners to advance this longstanding goal. Mr. Chair, despite the current situation with the JCPOA, Turkey continues to believe that concerns related to Iran's nuclear program should be settled through dialogue and diplomacy. We reiterate the need for all relevant parties to engage in negotiations for reaching a follow-on arrangement and remain supportive of efforts in that regard. At the same time, it also remains essential that the IAEA will continue to fully exercise its monitoring and verification activities in accordance with its mandate, and that its credibility and professionalism be upheld. We also reiterate our serious concerns regarding the continued development of the nuclear and ballistic missile programs of the DPRK. We firmly support the goal of complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. In this context, we call for the resumption of meaningful dialogue and negotiations among the relevant parties. Mr. Chair, after years of obstruction by the former Syrian regime, the political situation since 8 December has opened a window of opportunity for the OPCW to establish a more effective working relationship in Syria. This new dynamic provides a basis to address longstanding issues related to Syria's chemical weapons programme and to advance sustained compliance with the CWC. We welcome the ongoing cooperation and engagement between the Syrian authorities and the OPCW. We also take note of the concept plan prepared by the Syrian authorities for the destruction and verification of any remaining chemical weapons. Mr. Chair, Turkey place high priority on strengthening international cooperation in the realm of conventional weapons. We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the comprehensive implementation of the United Nations program of action on small arms and light weapons alongside the international tracing instrument. We regard the arms trade treaty as a key instrument for fostering responsible arms transfer and enhancing transparency. Turkey is a member of all export control regimes and maintains a robust and comprehensive export control system. Turkey remains firmly committed to counterterrorism and to advancing international cooperation in this domain. We urge all stakeholders to take concrete measures to prevent the diversion of arms to terrorist entities, which undermines regional and global security. The evolving applications of emerging technologies, particularly lethal autonomous weapon systems powered by artificial intelligence, remain a matter of strategic importance. Turkey is committed to ensuring that ethical safeguards, meaningful human control, and full compliance with international law and norms guide all AI-related developments, including the military domain. We also reaffirm our support for advancing norms of responsible state behavior in outer space and for strengthening transparency and confidence building measures in this increasingly vital domain. The escalating scale and sophistication of cyber threats underscore the urgent need for collective action and responsible state behavior in the digital domain. The continued proliferation of WMD and their delivery systems pose a serious threat to international peace and security. Of particular concern is the risk of such weapons and the materials used in their manufacture falling into the hands of terrorist groups and organizations. Turkey attaches high importance to collective efforts aimed at reversing this alarming trend and reinforcing the global non-proliferation regime. Mr. Chair, before concluding, let me also recall the Pact for the Future, which we welcome as a landmark initiative that also reaffirms the centrality of disarmament, non-proliferation, and arms control in the UN's vision for global peace and security. We stand ready to contribute constructively to the work of the UN First Committee. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Turkey for his statement. I give now the floor to the distinguished representative of Mauritania.

Mr

Chairman, Excellency Maurizio Massari, Permanent Representative of Italy, at the outset I would like to congratulate you on your election to steer the proceedings of the first committee during this session. Our congratulations also go out to members of the Bureau. You can count on on the staunch support of my delegation throughout this session. We support the statement delivered by the African group, the Arab group, NAM as well, and would like to make the following remarks in a national capacity. The government of my country has firmly condemned the Israeli war of genocide in Gaza, which has cost the lives of roughly 70,000 martyrs, mostly women and children. It's destroyed entire cities. It's meant that the occupation power has violated the sovereignty of Lebanon, Syria and Qatar as well. We hope that the ceasefire will bring an end to the war against the Palestinian people and an end to the humanitarian suffering in a definitive fashion. We welcome the mediation efforts undertaken by the US, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey. We hope that this will be an opportunity to restart the political process so as to establish an independent Palestinian state with 1967 borders and East Jerusalem as its capital, so as to guarantee justice, security and stability throughout the region. Mr. Chairman, my country stands convinced. that multilateralism has an unlimited capacity to bring about peace in our world, to help our development and prosperity. Nonetheless, we're all well aware of the very serious challenges our world is facing. First and foremost, the catastrophic consequences of climate change, pandemics, and deadly diseases. This compels us to direct our efforts towards tackling these challenges as opposed to tackling one another. Nonetheless, we're seeing the vertiginous increase in military spending, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. In light of the concerning polarization we're seeing throughout our world, this process continues, and therefore we believe that first and foremost we should be spending on development, combating poverty and climate change, instead of spending on a race that could result in the end of the human race. We're disappointed by the failure to make progress on nuclear disarmament and the universalization of the NPT. Nonetheless, we stand ready to partake in the 11th NPT review conference so as to garner consensus on an outcome document reflecting renewed commitment on the part of states, commitment to the NPT's objectives, that is, to avoid the failures seen at the previous two sessions. We hope to come up with a reference document as regards nuclear non-proliferation. The Pelindaba Treaty establishes a nuclear weapons free zone in Africa, we're in favor of Middle Eastern nuclear weapons and WMD free zone being established as well. We welcome the progress made over the last five sessions of the relevant conference. We were proud to preside over the fifth session in November of last year and look forward to the next session, which will be presided over by our sister country Morocco. We will be engaging with all states parties and the UN to establish a Middle Eastern nuclear weapons and WMD free zone as per resolutions adopted at the Conference of Parties which reviewed and extended the NPT in 1995. We call on all parties to effectively participate in that upcoming conference. Furthermore, we call on Middle Eastern parties, specifically Israel, to join the conference as well as the NPT. We call on Israel to respect IAEA's comprehensive safeguards regime as well. We stand against terrorism, organised crime and tensions at the international and regional level. Therefore, we attach particular importance to the theme discussed, the topics discussed here in the first committee. As regards outer space, this is a very key domain. We therefore need to update relevant international conventions to ensure the peaceful use of outer space and guarantee the states, of all states, an inalienable right that all states enjoy to use outer space in a peaceful fashion. We need an international legally binding instrument prohibiting the placement of weapons in outer space. We commend the progress undertaken by the group of government experts on recommendations with the view to signing a legally binding convention. We welcome the fact that this group adopted by consensus its final report. This created momentum towards negotiations on an internationally legally binding instrument in the very near future. Turning now to conventional weapons, and given the link between the rise of terrorist groups and the ease with which SALW can be acquired, we attach particular importance to the work of the United Nations, specifically the Programme of Action on SALW. In our national efforts, we try to combat the aforementioned phenomena and the tensions resulting therefrom in the Sahel and throughout the African continent. Despite the security and humanitarian importance of combating salve after all they do exacerbate conflicts we believe that under no circumstances can we impose restrictions on states legitimate trade in small arms and light weapons this is part of their right to self-defense as per article 51 of the UN Charter we applaud also the adoption of the outcome document at the review conference which took place in July. Furthermore, we'd like to welcome the completion of the preparatory meeting on the global framework for through life conventional ammunition which was held in June in New York. We welcome the outcome report and the voluntary national reporting template. Next, we welcome the adoption of the final report of the in July 2025 and the mechanism so that at the United Nations we can continue to build states capacity, capacity to tackle the use of these means for criminal purposes. We are very much looking forward for that mechanism to start its work in March 2026. By way of conclusion, we'd like to reiterate our unswerving support for the work of the first committee. We stand ready to work in tandem with all member states to ensure that this session is a resounding success. We are available to take part in all consensus-based processes aiming for general disarmament so as to bolster international security on a permanent basis. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Mauritania for his statement. I give now the floor to the distinguished representative of Hungary.

Thank you, Mr Chair. Let me join previous speakers in congratulating you upon your election and assure you of my delegation's full support. Hungary associates itself with the statement delivered and to be delivered by the EU in all clusters. However, in relation to Russia's war aggression against Ukraine, Hungary has more reservations compared to other EU member states. Mr. Chair, global security is increasingly challenged by persistent conflicts, terrorists, the erosion of arms control agreements, the spread of weapons of mass destruction, and the misuse of emerging technologies. In this complex security environment, the risk of escalation and miscalculation has never been higher. No state can address these threats alone. Hungary firmly believes that the objective of arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation is more important than ever. Hungary attaches great importance to the full implementation and universality of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which is the cornerstone of the global non-proliferation architecture and nuclear disarmament. We support concrete progress under Article 6 towards the ultimate goal of a world free of nuclear weapons and look forward to the 11th Review Conference to be held next year in New York. Hungary remains committed to the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty and calls on all states, particularly the remaining Annex II states, to ratify the treaty without delay. It is regrettable that after more than three decades, the CTBT is still without entry into force. Hungary is deeply concerned about the nuclear and ballistic missile programmes of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, which pose serious threats to regional and global security. We urge the DPRK to comply with all relevant UN Security Council resolutions and to abandon its nuclear weapons in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner. Hungary is also concerned about Iran's nuclear activities and emphasizes the importance of full compliance with its obligations under the NPT and its safeguards agreement. The International Atomic Energy Agency's independent verification role remains indispensable and Hungary will continue to contribute actively to its work. Mr. Chair, Regarding nuclear disarmament, Hungary shares the ultimate objective of achieving a world free of nuclear weapons. In light of the growing threat of nuclear weapon use, it is imperative that we intensify our efforts to defend and reject policies that threaten with their use. At the same time, it is important to recognise that there is no shortcut to nuclear disarmament. It requires an incremental approach that can yield tangible results. Our focus should be on identifying those areas where common ground and consensus that includes nuclear weapons states can be reached. We must actively explore avenues for achieving significant progress in strategic nuclear risk reduction, transparency and confidence building, as well as in working out robust verification measures. We also continue to support negotiation on a verifiable Fissile Missile Cutoff Treaty, the FMCT. Regarding existing and newly emerging risk, Hungary recognizes the growing impact of emerging technologies on international peace and security. We support decisions on the responsible military use of artificial intelligence and remain committed to advancing work within the Group of Governmental Experts on Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems. Hungary reaffirms its unwavering support for the Biological Weapons Convention and the Chemical Weapons Convention. The use of chemical or biological agents under any circumstances is unacceptable and must not go unpunished. Hungary supports efforts to strengthen the BWC, including through the ongoing work of its working group, and highlights importance of the OPCW in ensuring full accountability for violations of the chemical weapon ban. Hungary attaches great importance to conventional arms control and disarmament instruments. We emphasize supporting the Mine Ban Convention, the CCW and the new global framework on ammunition management. We stress the need to prevent the diversion and illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons, which continue to fuel conflicts around the world. Hungary also stresses the importance of preventing an arms race in outer space. We support the universalization of the Outer Space Treaty, the development of responsible norms of behavior, and the strengthening of the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs. We are content that the open-ended working group on PAROS was able to start its work this July. We strongly support international efforts to effectively prevent the weaponization of space and believe that outer space must remain a domain free of conflict. In cyberspace, Hungary supports the UN framework for responsible state behavior and advocates for confidence-building measures, capacity building and the strengthening of global cyber resilience. Mr. Chair, Hungary stands ready to work with all partners to advance peace, security and disarmament. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Hungary for her statement. I give now the floor to His Excellency, Ambassador of Switzerland for Disarmament and Multilateral Affairs.

Mr. Chairman, I wish to congratulate you on your election to the chair of our committee. We assure you of our delegation's full support. Mr. Chairman, Switzerland welcomes the 20-point plan of the United States of America, whose aim was to put an end to the war in Gaza. Any initiative must be rooted in international law and lay the foundations for a lasting peace in the Middle East based on the two-state solution. The release today of the 20 living hostages, the ceasefire in place and the delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza are crucial stages of the first phase of the plan's implementation. Switzerland calls upon all parties to honour their commitments. Mr Chairman, developments in the field of international security in recent years are a source of grave concern. The policies of might is right is on the rise and that poses many challenges to multilateralism. The world has become less stable, increasingly unpredictable and more and more divided. As such, military arsenals, including nuclear arsenals, are also growing. A certain number of international norms are being called into question, namely through open violations of the UN Charter. We've seen violations of the prohibition of the use of force or and in attempts to undermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states. Key international instruments have been violated, international humanitarian law has been violated. We're seeing increasing recourse to weapons viewed as running counter to international humanitarian law by the majority of states. Global economic competition is going hand in hand with arms races that we're seeing on the battlefield. I have talked about difficulties in terms of upholding international law and difficulties in export control regimes but these are more necessary than ever before we cannot lose sight of goals in this area and the importance protecting civilians from the effects of hostilities fostering de-escalation and building trust between states making progress towards general and complete disarmament under effective control and strengthening IHL as a whole a world governed by force and not by law imperils peace, security and prosperity in all corners of the globe. As such, the global rules-based international order and the international order based on consensus-based arms agreements negotiated decades ago must be upheld and promoted. International instruments in this area must be supplemented where that proves necessary. In this connection, I wish to underscore three crucial points. Firstly, The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons is the cornerstone of disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation regimes. It is also a central instrument in terms of global stability. The upcoming review conference in 2026 must produce positive outcomes. We call upon all states parties to collectively work towards that goal. My second point is that we must focus on the risks and challenges linked to emerging technologies and provide responses to them, namely by establishing new norms when necessary and by preparing the ground for future frameworks and new instruments whenever possible. My third point, we must preserve progress made in terms of humanitarian disarmament, progress made in the last 30 years. Renewed efforts must be made to promote norms established in this regard. Finally, we need to build trust, increase transparency, foster dialogue and encourage constructive discussion between states in order to abate risks and avoid misunderstandings. Mr Chairman, the crisis affecting the multilateral system coincides with an important juncture for the United Nations, namely the celebrations of its 80th anniversary. Against that backdrop, my delegation is closely following the UN 80 process, namely regarding the peace and security thread thereof. The savings plan proposed by the United Nations here points to the fact there are resource deficiencies, so there needs to be structural reform. And the structural reform within UNAT must be carefully done and managed in an ordered fashion. We must preserve multilateralism, preserve what works, and ensure that the UN is able to hold substantive technical debates. This UNAT process gives us an opportunity to assess the functioning of disarmament mechanisms established by the first emergency special session of the United Nations General Assembly devoted to disarmament. Such an assessment has been postponed for too long and we need to seize the opportunity to make this disarmament regime evolve if necessary. We underscore the unique added value that Geneva provides as a global centre of disarmament diplomacy and in terms of arms control. There we have the expertise of the diplomatic community, relevant organisations and everyone else combined. The UN in Geneva hosts many disarmament organisations and many legal technical experts. There is a strong presence of the disarmament office in Geneva and that is essential to ensure the effective running of the UN peace and security architecture. Switzerland is ready to constructively work to ensure that UN 80 allows us to equip the UN with the means necessary to address today's and tomorrow's challenges. Mr Chairman, in a world characterised by the riding tide of risk, and the erosion of norms, Switzerland remains determined to promote human sharing values and defend the rule of law. We must strengthen multilateralism and ensure the United Nations preserves the tools and the trust it requires to preserve peace and security for generations to come. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you to the distinguished representative of Switzerland for his statement. Again, I'll go to the floor to His Excellency, Permanent Representative of Moldova.

Mr. Chairman, let me begin by congratulating you and the members of the Bureau on your election. You can count on the full support of my delegation for a successful and forward-looking session. We align ourselves with the statement delivered by the European Union and would like to offer a few remarks in our national capacity. Mr. Chair, As Russia's unjustified and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine continues, we reiterate our strongest condemnation and reaffirm our unwavering support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within the internationally recognized borders. As a neighboring country, Moldova remains directly exposed to the effects and impacts of this aggression. We continue confronting destabilizing hybrid operations with cyber attacks, disinformation, and foreign information manipulation, interference designed to undermine our democracy, artificially create ambiguity among population, and derail our European path. Despite these challenges, environment, where we maintain peace and stability across our entire territory, including in the Transnistria region, where Russian troops remain stationed illegally. Their presence violates our constitutional neutrality and increases the risk of instability. We therefore call for the complete, immediate, and unconditional withdrawal of Russian forces and the removal of and destruction of ammunition stored at Calbasna in line with the UNGA resolution 72/282. We remain fully committed for peaceful and political transition settlement rooted in respect for Moldova's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Our strategic approach prioritized maintaining dialogue, preventing escalation, and pursuing gradual integration through sectorial cooperation. We are confident that Moldova's European integration will play a constructive role in this process. Mr. Chairman, turning to the global disarmament and non-proliferation agenda, the Republic of Moldova reaffirms its strong support for the Treaty of Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, NPT as the cornerstone of a global disarmament architecture. We welcome the convening of the first Preparatory Committee for the 2026 Review Conference and urge all States to pursue disarmament goals in good faith. We support the universalization and entry into force of a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty. We are deeply concerned by other states' continued violation of international norms and call on them to abandon their nuclear weapons program in a complete, verifiable, and irreversible manner. We emphasize the importance of a biological weapon convention. and welcome the outcome of its ninth review conference. Moldova remains committed to advancing its effective implementation. On conventional arms, our country supports existing frameworks, including the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, the Anti-Personnel Land Mine Convention, and the Convention on Cluster Munitions. Their implementation remains essential to minimizing civilian harm and upholding international humanitarian law. We stress the need for strong controls of the transfer of small arms and light weapons, and call for universalization and full implementation of Arms Trade Treaty, ATT, the POA, the ITI, and related instruments. Finally, the Republic of Moldova welcomes the adoption this July of the final report of the open-ended working group on security of and the use of ICTs, 2021-2025. We believe this marks a significant step towards establishing responsible state behavior in cyberspace and enhancing global digital security. Finally, and importantly, integrating gender perspectives across all disarmament processes is essential for inclusive and sustainable peace. Mr. Chairman, the Republic of Moldova remains deeply committed to this committee's work in promoting international security and a safer rules-based order. I thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I thank you, distinguished representative of Moldova, for your statement. I will now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Romania.

Thank you very much, Chair. This is the first time that I take the floor. Allow me to congratulate you on your election and assure you of Romania's full support. While we align with the statement delivered by the European Union, my delegation would like to place on the record the following remarks in our national capacity. In her address during the high-level week, the President of the General Assembly reminded us that we are faced with the reality of conflicts and crises in Ukraine, Gaza, Haiti, and beyond. Unfortunately, the session of the first committee takes place again while Russia is pursuing its illegal, unjustified, and unprovoked military aggression on Ukraine. My delegation firmly condemns Ukraine's illegal invasion by its neighbor, Russia, which has shown total disregard for the UN Charter international law. This is a blatant violation of the UN Charter from a permanent member of the UN Security Council. We reiterate the call on Russia to immediately and unconditionally stop its aggression and to cease its attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, including on Danube ports, which are very close to the border of my country, Romania. Russia has repeatedly violated the sovereign airspace of Romania and other European countries in the same disregard towards the UN charter. Russia is responsible for the deaths of thousands of Ukrainian civilians and has caused extensive damage to Ukrainian civilian infrastructure. Attacks against critical energy infrastructure of Ukraine increases the risk of a nuclear accident or incident with potential severe consequences for the region and beyond, for which there is only one responsible actor. Romania will use every opportunity to emphasize its full support for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine in accordance with international law and the UN Charter. Mr. Chair, Nuclear safety is of particular concern to us as we are witnessing Russia's unlawful seizure, continued control of, and alarming conduct of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. The latest report presented by Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency assesses it again as precarious with six of the seven pillars being compromised either fully or partially. We remain deeply concerned about the consequences of the continued military activity close to the site and in the surrounding area of the NPP. Additionally, the continued frequent interruption of off-site power supply at the NPP continues to be a source of concern. Coupled with the lack of maintenance, licensed staff, and cooling water, it would not allow for normal operating conditions. This is an unacceptable situation and poses severe risk For nuclear safety and security, there is only one suitable solution. Russia must stop its war of aggression, withdraw all its armed forces, military equipment, and other personnel from the entire territory of Ukraine, including from the ZNPP, and fully respect Ukraine's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. We welcome the tireless efforts of the IAEA sorry, IAEA to ensure nuclear safety and security at ZNPP and we reiterate our continued support to the agency's safeguard system, a fundamental instrument for ensuring global non-proliferation. Mr. Chair, While we are in session today, several proliferation challenges plague the international disarmament and non-proliferation regime as was established by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. We have witnessed the regretful outcome of the NPT Refcon of 2022, as well as the three Prepcoms of the 2026 Review Conference. The 2026 Refcon would be a crucial moment in advancing the review process, consolidating the treaty in accordance with its current challenges, preserving its integrity, promoting its universalization and full implementation. Romania continues to reaffirm its commitment to the fundamental principles of the NPT, which remains the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament regime and a key instrument to the maintenance of international peace and security. Moreover, this treaty is beneficial for the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. We continue to promote the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, and we support the immediate start of negotiations on a fissile material cut-off treaty. And just in the same line, we also join other speakers who previously expressed concern over China's insufficient transparency with regard to its nuclear policy. Mr. Chair, we are concerned about every escalation of tensions in the Middle East and reiterate our commitment to the stability of the region and to the security and well-being of all states in the region. In this regard, we welcome the Gaza peace plan presented last week by President Trump and note to satisfaction the first steps to implement that they have already taken place. We stand ready to support this process and call on all actors in the region to play a constructive role in fostering stability and peace. Alongside our partners, we have stated that Iran must not have a nuclear weapon. We urge Iran to fulfill an open and constructive cooperation with IAEA, as recorded in the September 9, 2025 agreement signed in Cairo. We continue to support the diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue. Romania remains deeply concerned. about other proliferation challenges, namely the DPRK's advancement of its nuclear and ballistic missile program in breach of several UN Security Council resolutions. At the same time, we condemn the dangerous and destabilizing activities of the DPRK that undermine regional international peace and security, such as its substantive support to Russia's effort against Ukraine. This is a dangerous expansion of its ongoing support for Ukraine's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. Moreover, increasing military cooperation between Russia and the DPRK is a breach of several UN Security Council resolutions. Chair, to conclude, Romania remains committed to promoting and strengthening multilateral instruments in the field of arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation. Despite the currently tense political context and the vast number of topics on the agenda, we strongly believe that the following sessions will engage all states in constructive efforts towards achieving our common goal of enhancing peace and security. And I think.

I thank the distinguished representative of Romania for her statement. I give now the floor to the distinguished representative of Croatia.

Mr. Chair, Croatia's path to sovereignty has been shaped by our commitment to peace, freedom and democratic values. From our non-aligned position during the Cold War, through the experience of armed aggression in the 1990s, into EU and NATO membership. Croatia has consistently demonstrated dedication to collective and cooperative security. Guided by these principles, Croatia remains concerned by the grave humanitarian situation in Gaza. We commend President Trump's leadership in bringing about a negotiated agreement and commend all efforts aimed at de-escalation and alleviating civilian suffering. It is essential to ensure full unimpeded humanitarian access, uphold international humanitarian law, and secure the safe release of hostages. Croatia expresses hope that these steps will pave the way for a new dialogue and lasting peace. At the same time, Croatia unequivocally condemns the Russian Federation's unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine. and firmly supports its independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. We actively contribute to efforts aimed at safeguarding nuclear safety and ensuring accountability for violations of international law. We remain a strong advocate of multilateralism and rules-based international order. Arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation are not ideals, but instruments of peace and security. Our own experience when facing aggression without deterrence has taught us the cost of insecurity and the value of solidarity. In this context, nuclear deterrence within NATO's collective defense posture remains a key to strategic stability and peace. It is defensive, proportionate, and consistent with the UN Charter and international law, providing credible security assurances to non-nuclear allies to reduce proliferation incentives. Croatia calls on all nuclear weapons states to recommit to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Ahead of the 2026 review conference, we urge transparency, accountability, and a meaningful outcome. We support the early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and regret the Russian Federation's deratification. Remaining Annex II states should sign and ratify the treaty without delay. Additionally, we support prompt negotiations on a fissile material cut-off treaty and a global moratorium on fissile material production for nuclear weapons pending its adoption. Strategic stability requires transparent nuclear doctrines. We urge all nuclear-armed states to align policies with verifiable actions, enhance transparency about their arsenals, and engage in meaningful risk reduction. We particularly encourage China to increase transparency regarding its nuclear doctrine and arsenal and to take tangible steps to reduce strategic risks. Mutual trust must rest on openness and dialogue. We remain deeply concerned by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's continued nuclear and missile development in violation of the United Nations Security Resolutions and urge its return to full compliance with its international obligations and dialogue toward denuclearization. Croatia reconfirms the importance of the New START Treaty and supports expanding strategic arms control frameworks. We urge all nuclear-armed states to engage constructively in nuclear arms control negotiations, which are essential for global security. We strongly support arms trade treaty, which promotes transparency and responsibility in the global arms trade, and emphasize the full implementation of the ATT to prevent diversion and strengthen expert controls, especially for dual-use goods and technologies. Russia commends the International Atomic Energy Agency's role in ensuring nuclear energy use for peaceful purposes and supports its full, timely, and transparent cooperation with Iran. Full access and compliance are critical for regional stability and the integrity of the non-proliferation regime. We welcome the renewed cooperation of the new Syrian authorities with the Organization on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and encourage further engagement to verify the complete elimination of chemical weapons. Constructive participation is vital for restoring trust and upholding Chemical Weapons Convention. Korea reiterates its firm support for both the CWC and Biological and Toxins Weapons Convention. The use or threat of use of chemical or biological weapons is unacceptable. In this regard, we underscore the importance of safeguarding the independence and credibility of mechanisms such as OPCW and the UN Secretary-General's mechanism. As a country once heavily affected by landmines, Croatia remains committed to the full implementation of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention and continues to support demining, particularly in Ukraine, through technical expertise and humanitarian aid. Solidarity in demining is an investment in lasting peace. Krishan underscores the persistent threat of small arms and light weapons and supports full implementation of the UN Programme of Action and the Global Framework for Through-Life Conventional Ammunition Management. Strengthened controls, stockpile security and expert monitoring are key to preventing conflict and enhancing human security. Regarding emerging technologies, creation emphasizes that legal autonomous weapon systems must comply with international humanitarian law, ethical standards, and democratic values. We also recognize that both outer space and cyberspace, while offering immense potential, also pose serious security challenges. Responsible behavior must extend beyond Earth and into cyberspace. We support the application of international law to space activities and welcome the work of the UNOWG on the prevention of an arms race in outer space, as well as UN framework for responsible state behavior in cyberspace and the new global mechanism on ICTs to advance transparency, capacity building, and accountability. Strengthening responsible conduct and resilience in this domain is essential to safeguarding international peace and security. Mr. Chair, Croatia remains a constructive partner in advancing peace, security, and disarmament. Guided by our national experience, anchored in international law, and our strategic alliances, we will continue to support diplomacy, responsibility, and multilateral cooperation to address the challenges of today and tomorrow. I thank you.

Thank you, the distinguished representative of Croatia, for her statement. I give now the floor to the distinguished representative of Slovenia.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Let me join others in congratulating you and the members of the Bureau upon your appointments. Slovenia will be engaging constructively throughout the session. We align ourselves with the statement delivered by the European Union and wish to make the following additional remarks in our national capacity. Mr. Chairman, we meet at a time of profound uncertainty. Conflicts are intensifying, trust among states is strained, arms control and disarmament frameworks are eroding, while new technologies are reshaping the world. What can the international community do, as well as what can this organization do? For Slovenia, the answer is clear. Respect and uphold international law and bring more certainty into an uncertain world. I wish to begin this year's intervention by focusing on regional security issues. We condemn Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine, which continues to cause immense human suffering and destabilise the wider region. Slovenia stands with Ukraine, its right to self-defence, and with international efforts towards an unconditional ceasefire and a comprehensive, just and lasting peace. We call on Russia to respect the UN Charter and international law and to end its war in Ukraine immediately. We welcome the comprehensive plan to end the war in Gaza. and the beginning of the ceasefire, offering an opportunity for a lasting peace. Wars, even when IHL is respected, brings death, destruction and suffering that transcends a single generation. When the law is ignored or deliberately violated, accountability must be ensured. Impunity cannot be tolerated. This is true for the war in Ukraine, in Gaza and all other conflicts around the world. Slovenia will continue working with the partners to both alleviate the humanitarian crisis and to pursue negotiated solutions to conflicts. This includes supporting a deal that would prevent Iran from acquiring the nuclear weapons in return for lifting nuclear-related sanctions. Slovenia wishes to see the regime and objectives of the JCPOA meaningfully restored. There is no other but diplomatic solution to the challenge of Iran's nuclear program. Mr. Chairman, turning to the NPT, Slovenia will work towards a successful outcome of the 2026 review conference. The NPT remains the cornerstone of nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation architecture, and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Article six awaits its full implementation. Slovenia calls on nuclear weapons states to meet their disarmament obligations, enhance transparency and risk reduction measures, and re-engage in a substantive arms control dialogue. NPT is much more than a legal instrument. It represents an understanding between generations, a promise to prevent the nuclear flames of war, to advance the peaceful atom, and to keep alive the hope of the world free of nuclear weapons. A comprehensive ban on nuclear tests is an essential step toward that world. Slovenia urges all states, especially those whose ratification is required, to sign and ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Mr. Chairman, let me turn to the issue of technology. The rapid development of artificial intelligence in the military domain makes ongoing discussion on lethal autonomous weapon systems increasingly urgent. AI brings threats as well as opportunities in maintaining peace and security, as we have recently discussed in the Security Council. Slovenia acknowledges the limited but meaningful progress achieved in the Group of Governmental Experts on Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems, as well as the work undertaken through initiatives such as the RE-AIM process. While we recognize the potential of AI technologies, it is vital to remember that behind every algorithm, there still stands a human. This underscores the central principle of human responsibility and accountability, which must guide both our multilateral efforts and national approaches. On a related note, Slovenia welcomes the successful conclusion of the open-ended working group on security and use of information and communication technologies. We look forward to continuing discussion on development in the field of ICT in the context of international security and advancing responsible state behavior in the use of ICTs within the new global mechanism. Mr. Chairman, Slovenia remains fully committed to the Ottawa Convention, including through its engagement in the convention's machinery, such as Committee on Enhancement of Cooperation and Assistance in the 26-27 period. Slovenia will continue to work towards a mine-free world, including through ITF Enhancing Human Security, a humanitarian organization which continues to help communities worldwide to overcome deadly legacy of mines. Before concluding, I wish to reiterate Slovenia's commitment to a multilateral system based on international law, in particular the UN Charter. We also wish to emphasize the obligations stemming from binding international treaties, In this context, and being aware of the importance of the Chemical Weapons Convention and its universality, Slovenia has decided to run for the seat in the Executive Council of the OPCW for the period of 2026 to 2028. We are determined to contribute to the effective work of the Organization, prevent further proliferation of chemical weapons and their use, and contribute to the destruction of all remaining stocks of re-emerged chemical weapons. I wish to conclude, Mr. Chairman, by highlighting the importance of gender dimension in arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation. Slovenia firmly believes that the meaningful participation of women in these processes contributes to more effective, inclusive and sustainable outcomes. We will share additional views on specific issues in our cluster statements. I thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I thank the distinguished representative of Slovenia for her statement. I give now the floor to the distinguished representative of Gabon.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Like previous speakers, I wish to warmly congratulate you on your election to steer our work. I can assure you of our full support as you discharge your mandate. Gabon aligns itself with the statements made by the African Group and by the Non-Aligned Movement. We wish to make a number of comments in our national capacity. Chair, my delegation is gravely concerned by the proliferation of nuclear weapons and by their modernization in view of the grave risks this poses to international peace and security. This proliferation and modernization also fuels fear of global destabilization and unspeakable humanitarian disasters. In a world that is destabilized, in a world of conflict and manifold crisis, and given the challenges posed by new technologies such as AI and autonomous weapons system, it is more urgent than ever before to renew our collective commitment to disarmament, non-proliferation and international security. In view of the aggressive rhetoric of a number of States rooted in the possession of nuclear weapons, we must succeed in their immediate, complete, irreversible and verifiable elimination. In this connection, my delegation reaffirms the importance of international instruments in the field. Specifically, the Non-Proliferation Treaty, which is the cornerstone of the disarmament regime, and the CTBT. we must achieve the universalization of the NPT and in that vein my delegation calls upon all stakeholders to engage in candid comprehensive dialogue to guarantee a successful outcome for the 11th NPT review conference to be held in 2026 this is vital in order to guarantee consensus on a comprehensive outcome document moreover we encourage the international communities to support other treaties such as the TPNW. Mr. Chair, my country wishes to recall the exemplary role played by Africa through the Pelindaba Treaty that enshrined the continent as a nuclear weapons free zone. We call for the extension of such nuclear weapons free zone to other regions of the globe in order to bring about a safer world. We also hail the crucial role played by the IAEA. Their technical support and cooperation with them are both vital, as is the support they provide to States to promote civilian nuclear energy for the benefit of scientific progress, socio-economic development and the well-being of people. Whilst nuclear weapons are harmful to humankind, the civilian applications of nuclear energy are beneficial to humankind and must be harnessed and promoted. Another major challenge is that of the irresponsible trade in small arms and light weapons. The proliferation of these continues to fuel conflicts, terrorism and organised crime. And these phenomena have particularly devastating effects on civilians, namely on women and children. We must step up international cooperation by ensuring stringent implementation of tracing and marking mechanisms. We must also ensure that manufacturers and exporters shoulder their responsibilities in this regard if we are to effectively thwart illicit trafficking in these weapons and contribute to increasing the peace and security of our people. The time has come to do just that, Chair. Protecting outer space has also become an imperative for our collective security. Space is essential for communication, navigation and crisis management. As such, it must not become a new arena for military confrontation. The establishment of legally binding norms and rules will allow us to prevent an arms race in space and to guarantee that it can be used peacefully for the benefit of us all. In the face of the aforementioned threats, capacity building remains a prerequisite for developing countries to effectively contribute to global disarmament and non-proliferation efforts. This involves specialized training programs, the creation of modern surveillance infrastructure and increased access to knowledge transfer. Chair, cooperation, dialogue and diplomacy must prevail over confrontation and mistrust. Sustainable peace is a matter of shared responsibility and to achieve it, each and every one of us must be resolute and committed. There is an urgent need to reduce herculean military expenditure and to instead funnel these resources into global priorities, combating climate change, responding to health crises, preventing humanitarian disasters and achieving sustainable development goals. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Gabon 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 call on the representative of the Russian Federation to take the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Earlier in this room, the Russian Federation exercised a right of reply that remains relevant However, we see some delegations continue to speculate against Russia. We invite on those delegations to see our previous ROIs. We categorically reject Western states insinuations related to the situation surrounding the Zaporizhzhia ZNPP. They are divorced from reality. Let us remind you, the ZNPP is a Russian nuclear facility located under Russian jurisdiction following the Zaporizhzhia region becoming a constituent entity of the Russian Federation following the September 2022 referendum. Any pronouncements contradicting this reality and calling for a return of the ZNPP to Ukraine or to establishing control, international control over the ZNPP is tantamount to an attempt to infringe on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Russian Federation. We never deployed on the territory of the ZNPP military contingents nor military equipment intended for action, as frequently groundlessly alleged by Western colleagues. The ZNPP has their only forces necessary to protect it from Ukrainian attacks, as well as addressing the potential consequences of such attacks. In contrast to Ukraine, which made a habit of attacking nuclear facilities, our country has never conducted such attacks. Over the last few months, Kiev has stepped up the intensity of strikes on the ZNPP and the city of Zniogodar, where personnel and their families reside. broadening the geography of Ukrainian diversions as well. We've seen Smolenskaya, Kurskaya, Novovoronezhskaya, ZNPP attacked by reckless provocations of Ukraine. We inform the IAEA about such incidents on a regular basis and in great detail, and this via the IAEA's information circulars. The latest refers to the Ukrainian Armed Forces conducting an attempt to conduct an attack on a UAV using a UAV on the Novorossiysk NPP on 6 October. The UAV was suppressed via radio electronic warfare. hitting a cooling tower of unit six of Vynnytsia ZNPP and detonated on the 7th of October, yet another plane type UAV was spotted 100 meters above Nova Vynnytsia ZNPP. Such reckless actions by Kyiv wouldn't be possible were it not for the constant political support provided to Ukraine by the West, hushing up Ukrainian provocations, not calling a spade a spade, in essence that's tantamount to complicity with Kyiv. All of this imbues the Kyiv authorities with hope for impunity, prompting them to engage in more ventures. With the connivance of their Western backers, Ukraine is using the tactic of direct attacks on the largest NPP in Europe and other Russian nuclear sites. We are doing everything that's within our power to ensure effective and safe presence of IAEA experts at the ZNPP starting on 1st of September 2022. The mechanism for rotations of experts via Russian territory is up and running. 30 such rotations have taken place. the latest at the start of October. Such a decision was taken together with the IAEA following unceasing attacks by the Ukrainian armed forces. This is a decision we took with the IAEA leadership. On our side, we will continue ensuring protection of Russian nuclear sites in such a way to stop Kiev and Western states from creating threats to their safe functioning.

I thank the distinguished representative of Russian Federation for his intervention. I call on the representative of DPRK to take the floor.

Thanks, Mr. Chair, for giving me the floor. My delegation totally rejects the stereotyped and absurd arguments of the delegations like Ukraine, Australia, Czechia, Turkey, Hungary, Romania and Croatia, who groundlessly blamed the DPRK's sovereign rights and defensive measures. DPRK's possession of nuclear weapons is the sovereign entitlement and right to defend itself from the nuclear threats of US, which have been lasting for several decades. We have become a nuclear state. And this was an inevitable choice we made at the crossroads of rise and fall of the state. The ever increasing physical deterrent of DPRK has completely set the wheel of its enemy states to unleash a war and ensure the balance of strength in the region. Today's reality testifies that the DPRK's painstaking efforts to speed up the accumulation of physical strength without interruption are entirely justifiable. DPRK enshrined the nuclear possession in its supreme law as sacred and absolute, which cannot be affected or amended in any case. The fact that the DPRK is possessed of nuclear weapons will remain permanently as it is, whether those Member States like it or not, and however ardently they call for denuclearization. We will never lay down our nukes. DPRK will invariably, firmly and without the slightest deviation defend its constitution and the basic law on the nuclear force policy and thoroughly safeguard the supreme interests of its people. Mr. Chair, as stated before several times, the friendly tie between the DPRK and Russian Federation is just and legal. I thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, distinguished representative of DPRK for his intervention, and I call on the representative of Israel to take the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My delegation wishes to take the floor to comment on the statements by some delegations today. Today is a profoundly moving day in Israel, a day of hugs and hope. There have been two long years of war, a war we did not initiate, but we had to fight to make sure that Gaza will never again pose a threat to the Israeli population. A war prolonged unnecessarily because of a terrorist organization that cowardly entrenched itself among the Gaza population defending its tyranny on their expense. instead of returning the hostages and laying down its arms as any terrorist organization should. Chair, delegates, just recently an internal document handwritten by the Hamas chief, Yahya Sinwar, has been exposed to remind Sinwar, a mega terrorist with blood on his hands from multiple nationalities, not just Israeli. In this document, which Sinwar wrote in preparation to October 7 in the Hamas invasion, one can find the following instructions, I quote, "Things are to be carried out deliberately, stepping on the heads of soldiers, pointing black shootings, slaughtering people with knives. Preparations must be made for two or three operations whose objective is to burn entire neighborhoods, kibbutz and so on. The place will be burned and the images will be broadcast." End of quote. The full document is easily accessed online. Mr. Chair, this is the terrorist organization Israel has been fighting during the last two years. It is time that Hamas and its supporters be held responsible for the actions and decisions, for using the population as human shields, for denying civilians the possibility to move to safe areas. for withholding humanitarian aid in Gaza from Gaza citizens to maintain power, for wasting the world's aid to build terror tunnels, for using civilian infrastructure to launch rockets at our cities and then hiding among the most vulnerable, and for committing the worst pogrom since Holocaust. Hamas, as we speak now, is executing people in front of a crowd in Gaza. You can check that. Hamas has to step down and submit its arms so the security of Israel and the region will not be threatened again. It is the international community's duty to ensure Hamas will comply. Dear colleagues, today is a time of rejoicing and embrace that was broken for two years between hostages and their families. The October 7 massacre, meticulously crafted by Hamas chiefs to terrorize us, has ultimately made us stronger. We hope that the implementation of President Trump's plan will open the door for further progress toward a more secure and prosperous Middle East. We are ready to foster the Abraham Accords that Hamas and Iran tried to blow on October 7. But we will never forget October 7. Israel will continue to exercise its right to defend itself and its duty to ensure that Gaza can never again threaten our population. I thank you, Chair.

Thank the distinguished representative of Israel for his intervention, and I call now the representative of the USA to take the floor.

Thank you, Chair. I would like to respond to several inaccurate and misleading statements during the general debate regarding US extended deterrence, defense spending and force modernization, and conventional weapons deployments. The United States has long worked to advance global non-proliferation objectives and prevent additional states from acquiring nuclear weapons. In the face of growing threats, U.S. extended deterrence arrangements have successfully reassured allies that they can remain secure without acquiring nuclear weapons of their own and contributed to the preservation of regional stability and the prevention of nuclear war, core goals we all share. The strategic nuclear forces of the NATO alliance, and particularly those of the United States, are the supreme guarantee of NATO's security. NATO's nuclear burden sharing arrangements have always been fully consistent with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, including throughout its indefinite extension. The United States maintains full custody and control of its nuclear weapons wherever they are in full conformity with Articles I and II. While we consult with our allies about matters of security and defense, No NATO allies or otherwise ever have control over U.S. nuclear weapons. Our further extended deterrence consultation mechanisms with the Republic of Korea, Japan, and Australia are a critical pillar in a broader strategy designed to preserve peace, deter conflict, and ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific. Turning to defense investments and force modernization, maintaining a safe, secure, reliable, and effective nuclear deterrent to defend our homeland and our allies remains a top priority. We readily acknowledge and are transparent about the modernization of our nuclear forces. These efforts stand in stark contrast to some nuclear weapons states' non-transparent expansion of their arsenals, open threats to use nuclear weapons, and development of novel weapons, which we will address during the nuclear cluster. Chair, two states have accused the United States of increasing the risk of escalation. One even said the United States might launch a nuclear war. This is a preposterous fiction. It is the United States that has remained committed to our arms control obligations and repeatedly called for these two states' serious engagement in arms control negotiations. The United States also has a longstanding track record of taking concrete actions to reduce nuclear risk and avoid miscalculation that could lead to a nuclear war. With the highest nuclear safety and security standards in the world, the United States has taken numerous steps to ensure nuclear weapons are never employed accidentally. Since the end of the Cold War, U.S. strategic bomber forces have been dealerted, which is to say they are not loaded with nuclear weapons day-to-day. In addition, all of our intercontinental ballistic missile systems and submarine-launched ballistic missiles have been de-targeted to ensure, in the extremely unlikely event of an accidental launch, that they could not strike another country. Forces on day-to-day alert are subject to multiple layers of control, and the United States retains rigorous procedural and technical safeguards to prevent misinformed, accidental, or unauthorized launch. Chair, it is concrete measures like these and others, such as ballistic missile launch notifications and the use of secure communication centers that build the confidence and trust that is so lacking in the current environment and demonstrate my country's commitment to a safer world. On references to the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, one country's rebuff of six years of U.S. efforts seeking a return to compliance with that treaty. after that country produced, tested, and deployed a ground-launched intermediate-range cruise missile in direct violation of that treaty caused its demise. As for the specific allegation about US deployments of medium and intermediate-range missiles, the deployments of US long-range fires are conventional, not nuclear, in nature and align perfectly with our goal of enhancing NATO's collective defense, our strategy of deterring aggression in Europe, and our alliances and security arrangements in the Indo-Pacific. At the same time, another nuclear weapons state has deployed such systems in significant quantities across the Indo-Pacific for decades, and including intermediate-range ballistic missiles that are capable of carrying both nuclear and conventional payloads. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, distinguished representative of the United States, for her intervention. I now call on the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to take the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It is absurd that the representative of the Israeli regime, rather than providing a proper and convincing response to the serious concerns raised by many delegations, including some of its close allies, about its crimes and genocide in Gaza over the past two years, has chosen to distort reality and resort to a disinformation campaign against Iran and Palestinian resistance groups. The Israeli regime and some of its Western partners have consistently sought to mislabel legitimate resistance groups in the region as terrorists. Let us be clear, according to the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 46/51, These groups are not terrorists. They are legitimate resistance movements fighting against occupation, apartheid, aggression, and genocide in the Palestinian and other occupied territories. International law explicitly recognizes the right of peoples to resist foreign occupation and defend themselves against aggression. The real terrorists are those who killed more than 200,000 innocent people, bomb hospitals and schools, massacre civilians, and violate international law with impunity. Mr. Chair, distinguished colleagues, when assessing any conflict involving occupation and resistance, we must ask a fundamental question. When a population is under foreign occupation, do the occupied not have the right to resist? History offers countless examples of oppressed people rising against occupiers in pursuit of freedom and self-determination. In the case of Palestine, it is the Israeli regime that is the occupying power and the Palestinians who are resisting, not the other way around. History did not begin on October 7th. Yet Israeli regime continues to isolate specific actions from the broader historical and political context, one marked by decades of occupation, systematic violence, massacre, apartheid, and genocide against the Palestinian people. To truly understand the present moment, we must place it within the long trajectory of Palestinian experience, a history of dispossession, resistance, and resilience spanning nearly 80 years. Without that context, our understanding of this conflict will remain shallow and distorted. I thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the representative of Iran for his intervention. Distinguished delegates, we have exhausted the time available for this meeting. Before we adjourn, let me remind delegations that the deadline for submission of draft resolutions and decisions under all agenda items is this Wednesday, October 15, at noon. The next meeting of the Committee will be held tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m. in this conference room. I appeal to all delegations to be punctual to enable us to proceed with our work in a timely manner. The meeting is adjourned.