First Committee, 8th plenary meeting - General Assembly, 81st session

Good morning, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates. The eighth meeting of the Disarmament and International Security Committee of the 81st session of the General Assembly is called to order. Distinguished Delegates, the Committee will continue this morning with its general debate on all disarmament and international security agenda items allocated to it. Delegations are reminded that the Committee will meet all day today. We will now turn to our list of speakers for today, and I urge all the delegations taking the floor to kindly keep in mind the suggested time limit for the statements. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Ukraine.

Mr. Chair, Ukraine aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union and wishes to make additional remarks in its national capacity. As we gather today in this important committee, Russia continues its brutal war of aggression against Ukraine with no respite. Every day, Russian missiles, drones, and aerial bombs strike Ukrainian cities and communities, killing civilians, destroying residential buildings, hospitals, schools, and critical infrastructure. While Ukraine and its partners are working towards ending this war through diplomacy, Russia responds with more missiles, more drones, and more killings. Moscow's actions demonstrate its true intentions. Russia has no genuine interest in ending the war it has been waging against Ukraine since 2014. Mr. Chair, in 1994, in good faith and with security assurances of the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Russian Federation, Ukraine made the historic decision to relinquish the world's third largest nuclear arsenal and accede to the NPT as a non-nuclear weapons state. In return, despite being one of the guarantor states that provided such assurances, the Russian Federation is waging a war of aggression against Ukraine and repeatedly threatening it with the use of nuclear weapons. Russia has revised its nuclear doctrine, expanding the circumstances under which it could resort to the first use of nuclear weapons, while continuing to modernize its nuclear arsenal and delivery systems. The deployment of Russian tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, joint Russian-Belarusian nuclear exercises, and Moscow's persistent efforts to promote the perception that it would prevail in any nuclear escalation have further aggravated the security situation in Europe. We urge the international community to make it unequivocally clear to Russia that nuclear threats are unacceptable and must end immediately. Mr. Chair, the DPRK continues to advance its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs in flagrant violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions. Of particular concern is its expanding military cooperation with Russia. The DPRK has supplied Moscow with weapons, including ballistic missiles, and deployed its troops to participate directly in this war of aggression against Ukraine. The security implications of this cooperation extend far beyond Ukraine, affecting stability in Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the wider international community. We call on the international community to take decisive actions to address these growing threats and prevent further expansion of Moscow-Pyongyang military cooperation. Iran's nuclear program remains a matter of serious concern. Ukraine calls on Tehran to cooperate fully with the IAEA and stresses the importance of implementing the relevant Security Council resolutions, reinstated in September 2025. Mr. Chair, Russia's seizure and militarization of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the NPP, continues to pose an unprecedented threat to nuclear safety and security. By turning Europe's largest nuclear power plant into an instrument of coercion and nuclear terrorism, Russia has put the international community in a situation when a nuclear catastrophe with consequences across the wider European region might be a matter of weeks, not years. Nuclear safety and security situation at the NPP remains extremely fragile. Repeated losses of offsite power, equipment degradation, maintenance constraints, increased fire risks, unreliable water supply and shortages of qualified personnel continue to undermine systems and functions essential for nuclear safety. The IAEA has also repeatedly reported restrictions on access for the IAEA support and assistance mission to Zaporizhzhia. Russian UAV operators are using the premises of the ZNPP to launch combat drones against Ukrainian government-controlled territory. Ukraine considers such actions to constitute nuclear terrorism. The ZNPP seizure has also resulted in serious human rights violations that are integral part of Russia's genocidal policy. Ukrainian plant employees and residents of Enerhodar, the satellite city of the ZNPP, have been illegally detained, subjected to torture and ill treatment and prosecuted or convicted on fabricated charges. Pressure on Ukrainian personnel further undermines the preconditions of the safe and secure operation of the plant. Ukraine is grateful to 48 countries and the European Union for the joint statement calling for the immediate release of the detained Ukraine ZNPP personnel, endorsed at the 70th session of the IAEA General Conference. Unless the ZNPP is demilitarized and returned under the full sovereign control of Ukraine, the continued deterioration of the situation will inevitably lead to irreversible consequences for the nuclear safety and security of the whole of Europe. Thank you for your attention.

I thank the distinguished representative of Ukraine. Now I give the floor to the distinguished permanent representative of Angola.

Mr. Chair, at the outset, allow me to congratulate you and the other members of the Bureau on your election and to assure you of my delegation's full cooperation throughout the work of this committee. Angola aligns itself with the statement delivered by Namibia on behalf of the African Group. Mr. Chair, The first committee meets amid persistent conflicts, deepening mistrust, rising military expenditure, and rapid technological change. These challenges demand renewed commitment to multilateral disarmament, arms control, and nonproliferation. For Angola, the Charter of the United Nations must remain the foundation of collective security. Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, the nonuse of threat of force, and the peaceful settlement of disputes are indispensable to rebuilding trust and advancing and diminish security for all. Angola's own experience of conflict and peace building confirms that disarmament is not an end in itself. It must reduce human suffering, prevent renewed violence, and create conditions for sustainable development. Angola reaffirms that The total elimination of nuclear weapons remains the only absolute guarantee against their use or threat of use. We call for concrete, transparent, and verifiable progress in nuclear disarmament, full implementation of obligation under the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and stronger support for nuclear weapon-free zones, including the Treaty of Pelindaba. At the same time, The inalienable right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy must be preserved in conformity with safeguards, safety and security standards and the mandate of the IAEA. Angola's election of IAEA Board of Governors for 2026-2028 strengthen our determination to contribute constructively to these objectives. Angola also supports the complete prohibition and elimination of chemical and biological weapons. We call for universalization and effective implementation of the relevant conventions, strengthen national capacities, international cooperation, and measures to prevent acquisitions by non-state actors while protecting legitimate peaceful scientific cooperation. Mr. Chair, preventing an arms race in outer space must remain a priority. We support transparency and confidence-building measures and the development of effective multilateral arrangement to preserve outer space for peaceful purposes. Developing countries must participate fully in shaping applicable norms and benefit equitably from peaceful space technologies. On conventional weapons, Angola remains deeply concerned by the illicit trade, diversion, and uncontrolled circulation of small arms. light weapons and ammunition, which fuel armed conflict, terrorism and transnational crime. We call for strong implementation of the UN Programme of Action, improved tracing, secure stockpile management and enhanced regional and international cooperation. Our experience further underlines the importance of mine action. Sustained support for clearance, risk education, victim assistance, and social economic reintegration is essential to restore land to productive use and protect affected communities. Emerging technologies must also require urgent multilateral attention. In the use of information and telecommunication technologies, states should act responsibly and in accordance with international law and the Charter. In the military application of artificial intelligence and autonomous systems, human responsibility, accountability, protection of civilians, and compliance with international humanitarian law must remain central. Capacity building must enable developing countries to participate effectively in shaping future norms. At the regional level, Angola supports the African Union's effort to silence the guns under Agenda 2063. Arms control must be reinforced by conflict prevention, mediation, cross-border cooperation, and stronger UN-African Union regional coordination. We encourage adequate support for the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa. Mr. Chair, The credibility of multilateral disarmament machinery depends on its ability to deliver. Angola, therefore, calls for a new political will to overcome persistent deadlock in the Conference on Disarmament, strengthen the United Nations Disarmament Commission, and preserve the First Committee as an inclusive forum for practical convergence. We must move from repeat expressions of concern to measurable action, reducing risks strengthening compliance, building confidence, supporting implementation, and ensuring that new technologies do not outpace our capacity to govern them. Angola stands ready to work with all delegations towards balanced and consensual outcomes that advance international peace and security and strengthen the protection of present and future generations. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished Permanent Representative of Angola. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Hungary.

Mr. Chair. 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 fully associates itself with the statement delivered by the European Union. The existing security landscape is highly complex and difficult. Global security is increasingly challenged by persistent conflicts, terrorism, the erosion of arms control agreements, the spread of weapons of mass destruction, and the misuse of emerging technologies. The risk of escalation and miscalculation has never been higher. The objective of disarmament, nonproliferation, and arms control is more important than ever. Hungary shares the goal to create the security environment for a world without nuclear weapons, consistent with all provisions of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, including Article VI. It is important to recognize that there is no shortcut to nuclear disarmament. Our focus should be on identifying areas where common ground and consensus that includes nuclear weapon states can be reached. Hungary is fully committed to implementing the NPT, which is the cornerstone of the global nonproliferation and nuclear disarmament architecture. We regret that for the third consecutive time, the States Parties were unable to reach agreement on a substantive consensus-based final document at the NPT Review Conference in New York this May. Hungary strongly stands up for NATO's nuclear sharing arrangements. The past decades have conclusively demonstrated that nuclear deterrence effectively ensures the security of the Euro-Atlantic region, and prevents a senseless arms race in the region. Nuclear powers are developing and modernizing their nuclear arsenals at an unprecedented rate. We draw attention to the special responsibility that nuclear powers bear in the field of nuclear disarmament. Nuclear weapons states with the largest stockpiles have a specific obligation regarding nuclear disarmament and arms regulation. In this context, we urge the early conclusion of a multilateral agreement that reflects the changed reality and takes existing stockpiles into account, thereby ensuring strategic stability. Hungary is deeply concerned about the nuclear and ballistic missile programs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, which pose serious threats to regional and global security. We call for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and condemn the DPRK's nuclear and missile activities, which violate United Nations Security Council resolutions, and urge its return to compliance with the NPT. We are also concerned about Iran's nuclear activities and emphasize the importance of Iran's full compliance with its obligations under the NPT and its safeguards agreements. Hungary strongly supports and commends the IAEA and its safeguards system for the role they play in verifying nuclear materials and facilities in order to prevent nuclear proliferation. Hungary remains committed to the entry into force of the CTBT and calls on all states, particularly the remaining Annex 2 states, to ratify the treaty without delay. It is regrettable that after more than three decades, the CTBT is still without entry into force. We consider the role of the Conference on Disarmament as the sole international multilateral disarmament forum to be of paramount importance. We regret that for some 30 years now, the CD has been unable to fulfill its main task, namely the negotiation of new international disarmament and nonproliferation agreements. It is essential that the CD resumes effective activities in accordance with its mandate. We are convinced that the CD must not remain a forum for a select group of countries. We find it unacceptable that a significant number of countries should be excluded from the work of the CD, and we strongly urge that all countries wishing to participate in the conference's work as observers be allowed to do so without restriction. Hungary is fully committed to the establishment of a legally binding treaty banning the production of fissile materials for weapons purposes, the so-called FMCT. Starting the negotiations of such treaties, since the Shannon Mandate of 1995, an integral part of the mandate of the CD. The voluntary moratorium on the production of fissile material for military purposes undertaken by the nuclear powers that are parties to the NPT is a significant step forward the establishment of the FMCT. We call on the only NPT nuclear weapons state that has not yet committed to the moratorium to do so as soon as possible. Hungary reaffirms its unwavering support for the Biological Weapons Convention and the Chemical Weapons Convention. We support efforts to strengthen the BWC, including through the ongoing work of its working group, and highlights the importance of the OPCW in ensuring full accountability for violations of the chemical weapons ban. Turning to conventional weapons, Hungary attaches great importance to conventional arms control and disarmament instruments. We emphasize supporting the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, and the Convention on Cluster Munitions. 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. We fully support the Arms Trade Treaty and its universalization and effective implementation. Hungary attaches great importance to the prevention of an arms race in outer space and emphasizes the outer space must remain a peaceful domain accessible to all states for the benefit of humankind. Scientific and technological progress cannot be stopped. If you look at military space technology and even commercial technology, it is clear that progress is happening at every level, presenting new challenges and in some cases, threats. Such new threats as radiological weapons, cyber warfare, cyber threats, artificial intelligence, and the emergence of AI-controlled military capabilities require urgent attention. The set of elements of an instrument and other possible measures to address emerging technologies in the area of lethal autonomous weapons systems, agreed by consensus in the GGE on Laws, represent an important milestone. Hungary remains fully committed to building on this positive outcome within the framework of the CCW. In conclusion, Hungary remains committed to working with countries to achieve tangible progress in disarmament and nonproliferation. We must strengthen our collective efforts to overcome differences and move forward with substantive negotiations. Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the distinguished representative of Hungary. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Gabon.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. On behalf of the delegation of Gabon, I would like to warmly congratulate you for your election to the chairmanship of the First Committee in this 81st session, as well as other members of the Bureau. Let me assure you of our full support and cooperation as a delegation. Gabon joins these statements delivered by Namibia on behalf of the African Group. My delegation would like to add the following observations on a national basis regarding nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, Mr. Chair. The NPT Review Conference in 2026 finished without a substantive final document, like in 2015 and 2022. These successive failures plunge multilateral disarmament in a constant crisis of trust. The expiration of the New START Treaty without successor, paralysis in the disarmament conference, the modernization of arsenals, and the normalization of the nuclear threat worsen this issue. The NPT is the cornerstone of the disarmament and non-proliferation regime. Its credibility depends on the balance between its three pillars and, above all, on States respecting in good faith their disarmament obligation. This applies to NWS. My delegation calls for tangible, transparent, verifiable, and irreversible measures. Moreover, let us recall the importance of the Pelendaba Treaty. Gabon reiterates its staunch attachment to nuclear weapons-free zones that contribute critically to regional and international security, and we support the creation of new NWFCs. My country reaffirms the inalienable right of all NPT State Parties to peacefully use nuclear energy. We welcome the critical role played by the IAEA. in the application of assurances and in technical cooperation, and we support the strengthening of the African Commission for Nuclear Energy. It is a pleasure for me to point out here that Gabon signed on September 23, 2026, the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which completes the NPT. This act is part of the continuity of our commitment, something that everyone knows. My country voted to adopt this treaty in 2017, and we have constantly supported annual resolutions from the General Assembly on the matter. We call on States that haven't yet done so to join it, so that its first review conference is a decisive milestone toward a world without nuclear weapons. Regarding artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, and nuclear risks, Mr. Chair, like other countries, Gabon is concerned by the risks of integrating AI and other emerging technologies in command, control, and communication systems for nuclear forces. as well as in decision-making processes for this. These systems are exposed to hacking, data theft, and manipulation by state or non-state actors. A cyberattack against a nuclear chain of command could have devastating consequences. and aware of this concern, my delegation supports the discussions around resolution 79/239 on artificial intelligence in the military domain and its impacts on international peace and security. And in this framework, we urge the international community to provide itself with a common legal framework that is robust and operational to face cybercrime, the kind of cybercrime that does not know borders. Mr. Chair, Gabon is deeply concerned by the uncontrolled proliferation of small arms and light weapons in different regions of the world. Their illegal trade, their transfer, their circulation, and their manufacture continues to feed armed conflicts, terrorism, and organized transnational crime. Once again, my country would like to express its attachment to the United Nations Plan of Action, as well as the International Tracing Instrument and the Arms Trade Treaty. We fully support the Silencing the Guns Initiative the African Union. Mr. Chair, when it comes to outer space, Gabon would like to highlight not just the importance of stopping the arms race that is happening there, but of stopping it going forward. Space is the common heritage of mankind and its use should be purely peaceful. My delegation is in favor of adopting a legally binding instrument for this. When it comes to information and communications technologies, Gabon welcomes the implementation of the global mechanism established by resolution 80/16. My country supports the common African position on the application of international law to the use of ICTs in cyberspace. Reinforcing capacities and international cooperation should be central pillars of our action in this domain. They are indispensable in order to reduce the digital divide and close technological gaps. To conclude, Mr. Chair, my country reaffirms its availability to work alongside all Member States to build a world that is safer, based on cooperation, mutual trust, and human dignity. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Gabon. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Lao PDR.

Mr. Chair, at the outset, I wish to congratulate you and the other members of the bureaus on your election to lead the works of the first committees. My delegation aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the non-aligned movements and ASEAN. Mr. Chair, the international security environment remains increasingly complex and challenging, marked by ongoing conflicts, geopolitical tensions and growing threats to international peace and security. These developments underscore the importance of upholding the United Nations charters, strengthening multilateralisms and resolving dispute through dialogue and peaceful means. The Laupia reaffirm its commitment to general and complete disarmaments, particularly nuclear disarmaments. We remain deeply concerned about the continued existence of nuclear weapons and their possible catastrophic humanitarian consequences. We therefore reiterate our support for global efforts towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons. In this regard, Liberia underscored the importance of the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons as a cornerstone of the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regimes. Although the 2026 NPT review conference concluded without a consensus outcome, we commend Vietnam as president of the conference for its delicate leadership and tirelessly efforts to facilitate negotiation. We encourage all state parties to maintain constructive dialogues and strengthen their commitment to full and balanced implementation of the treaty's three pillars, particularly nuclear disarmament obligation under Article 6. We also reaffirm our support for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapons Free Zone Treaty, which contribute to regional and international peace and security. Mr. Chair, As a country severely affected by unexploded ordnance, the Lao PDR attaches particular importance to the Convention on Cluster Munitions. It remains essential to address the humanitarian consequences of these weapons. In this connection, we are pleased to highlight the successful convening of the Third Review Conference of the CCM, hosted and presided over by Lao PDR in Vientiane in September 2026. We welcome its outcomes, including the VNTN Capital Action Plan 2027-2031. It provides an important framework for advancing the implementation of the Conventions. The Lao PDR remains committed to strengthening national efforts in UXO clearance, victim assistance, and risk education. We call upon the international community to enhance cooperation, technical assistance, and sustainable support for affected countries in order to reduce the humanitarians and develop means impacts of unexploited on ends we also recognize the importance of addressing the LLC trees in small arm and light weapons we continue to pose serious challenges to international peace and security in this regard we support the foods and effective implementation of the United Nations program of action on small and light weapons mr. chairs Rapid technological developments, including artificial intelligence and information and communication technologies, present both opportunities and emerging challenges to international securities. We recognize the importance of retaining international cooperation and developing appropriate norms and frameworks to promote the peaceful, responsible, and secure use. In this regard, We welcome the establishment of the Global Mechanism on developments in the field of ICTs in the context of international security as an important platform for continued dialogues and cooperation among member states. In conclusion, the Lao PDR firmly believes that effective multilateralism, mutual trust, and international cooperation remain essential to addressing global security challenges. We stand ready to work constructively with all member states to advance this summit in strengthening international peace and security and build a safer and more peaceful world for present and future generations. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Lao PDR. Now I give the floor to the distinguished permanent representative of Mozambique.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, firstly, I would like to congratulate you on your election as chair of the First Committee. I also congratulate the members of the Bureau and assure you of Mozambique's full support throughout the Committee's work. Mozambique aligns itself with the statements delivered by the African Group and the Non-Aligned Movement. In our national capacity, we wish to highlight the following points. Mozambique's position on nuclear disarmament, international peace and security is grounded in pacifism, multilateralism, and the principle that disarmament, nonproliferation, and the peaceful use of nuclear science and technology must advance together. We remain committed to the efforts of the African and international community to prohibit nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, and to the goal of a world free of nuclear weapons. Mozambique welcomes the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. We actively participated in its negotiations and voted in favor of its adoption in 2017. In August 2020, Mozambique became the 83rd country to sign the treaty. Our Council of Ministers has now approved the proposal for parliamentary ratification, bringing the process to its final phase under our internal procedures. The government continues to work with international partners, including the International Campaign to Abolish nuclear weapons to complete all necessary legal and administrative requirements for Mozambique to become a state party. We equally support the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. Entry into force of the CTBT remains a priority, and we call on all Annex 2 states that have not yet done so to sign and ratify the treaty without further delay. Mozambique also advocates for the immediate commencement of negotiations on a fissile material cut-off treaty. The FMCT must be concluded within a defined timeframe and with a robust verification protocol. No time remains for continued delay in the Conference on Disarmament. Mr. Chair, Mozambique highly values and reaffirms its partnership with the International Atomic Energy Agency, technical cooperation with the IAEA, advanced third pillar of the NPT, which is the peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology in support of sustainable development. The radiotherapy center at Maputo Central Hospital established through IAEA support is a concrete example of this partnership and of how nuclear science strengthens healthcare capacity. We advocate for universal adoption of the Additional Protocol to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, which enhances verification and strengthens the non-proliferation framework. Mr. Chair, the collapse of major bilateral arms control agreements, coupled with rapid technological advances, represents one of the most serious challenges to the disarmament and international security agenda. Deepening geopolitical mistrust, continued nuclear modernization, the regulatory gaps in emerging domains are placing the global nonproliferation frameworks under severe strain. Mr. Chair, we observe with concern that states increasingly regard nuclear arsenals as instruments of national power. Rapid nuclear weapons modernization and emerging military technologies, including hypersonic light vehicles, automated command systems, and artificial intelligence-driven military software, are advancing faster than multilateral frameworks can adapt. Artificial intelligence and autonomous military systems accelerate the pace of critical decision-making and increase the risk of unintended escalation. Decisions with potentially catastrophic consequences must remain subject to responsible human judgment and effective international oversight. Therefore, First Committee must address these challenges with urgency. When states regard their security interests better served through bilateral leverage than through collective frameworks, consensus-based multilateral processes become difficult to sustain. We cannot allow this dynamic to undermine the nonproliferation regime. The international community must invest in multilateral alternatives that strengthen security without reliance on nuclear weapons. Mr. Chair, nuclear weapons-free zone demonstrate that states can strengthen international security without nuclear weapons. We strongly support the African Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Treaty, the Pelindaba Treaty, which established Africa as a nuclear weapon-free zone and prohibits the stationing and testing of nuclear explosive devices throughout the continent. Mozambique supports other similar nuclear weapons-free zones in Latin America and Caribbean, Southeast Asia, the South Pacific, and Central Asia, which have successfully reduced regional tension and provided security without the nuclear arsenals. Mr. Chair, in conclusion, Mozambique remains firmly committed to global denuclearization and to a collective security architecture grounded in international law. The ultimate prerequisite for lasting international peace and security is complete, verifiable, and irreversible nuclear disarmament. We must strengthen multilateral frameworks, support African-led peace initiatives, and ensure that new technologies do not outpace our collective capacity for arms control and verification. I thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the distinguished Permanent Representative of Mozambique. Now I give the floor to the distinguished Permanent Representative of Guatemala.

Mr. Chair. Guatemala would like to congratulate you and the other members of the Bureau for your election, and we assure you of our full support and cooperation during your work. This statement aligns with those delivered by the groups to which Guatemala belongs. We are meeting in a moment that is especially complex for international peace and security, persistent armed conflicts, the intensification of nuclear rhetoric, and the deterioration of trust among states. Make this a moment when disarmament should be reaffirmed as a tool to reduce risks, prevent confrontation, and strengthen collective security. Guatemala remains deeply concerned by persistent risks associated with nuclear weapons and the humanitarian and environmental consequences that any use of these weapons would have. The modernization of arsenals, the intensification of nuclear rhetoric, and the continued reliance on deterrence-based security doctrines contribute to feed an environment of uncertainty that affects all of our security. This scenario is even more concerning because there's a lack of substantive progress within key multilateral disarmament and nonproliferation mechanisms. The lack of an outcome in the most recent review conference of the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons, as well as the conclusion of the three-year cycle of the Disarmament Commission without consensus-based recommendations, are signals that we cannot ignore. Paralysis cannot replace action. Therefore, it is indispensable to advance measures on risk reduction, transparency, verification, and confidence building, while keeping at the heart of our deliberations the humanitarian consequences of weapons of mass destruction. Only through a genuine commitment to multilateralism can we move toward greater collective security. Latin America and the Caribbean have shown that cooperation and collective commitment can create meaningful progress when it comes to disarmament and nonproliferation. The region's experience as a nuclear-weapon-free zone constitutes a significant contribution to strengthening peace and security and reaffirms the value of regional legal instruments in order to create confidence and stability. This experience should continue to inspire multilateral efforts to strengthen nuclear-weapon-free zones and to prompt an international environment that is conducive to disarmament. Mr. Chair, the challenges in the sphere of international security go beyond the nuclear domain. Guatemala also recognizes the importance of strengthening international efforts to prevent and combat the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. Their proliferation continues to affect our societies and feeding different forms of violence. At the national level, Guatemala promotes inter-institutional efforts through the National Commission for the Prevention of Armed Violence. These efforts are geared towards enhancing institutional coordination, preventing armed violence, and strengthening national capacities to address the illicit trafficking and misuse of weapons. In this regard, it is essential to continue strengthening information sharing, as well as national capacities and mechanisms designed to prevent diversion and illicit use. Likewise, Technological transformation and the increasing reliance on information and communication technologies pose new challenges for international peace and security. It is critical to promote a cyberspace that is open, secure, stable, and peaceful, where States act in accordance with international law and responsible norms of State behavior. It is also especially important to strengthen the exchange of experiences and capacities of developing countries in order to prevent and effectively respond to threats in the digital sphere. These efforts should be complemented by a responsible dialogue on emerging technologies, including AI, ensuring that their development and use contribute to international peace and do not create new risks for stability. Chair, as reflected in the theme of this session, restoring trust is a collective task. Trust is not built by accumulating weaponry or through the threat of force. It is built through dialogue, respect for international law, the fulfillment of commitments, and the strengthening of multilateralism. Without trust, it is impossible to build consensus, prevent conflicts, or advance sustainable solutions to common challenges. Guatemala is convinced that differences among States can and should be resolved through peaceful means. Negotiating is not a sign of weakness. Speaking together does not mean renouncing our principles. On the contrary, they are an expression of the shared responsibility that we all have toward present and future generations. This is the time for multilateralism to show its value. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished Permanent Representative of Guatemala. Now I give the floor to the Distinguished Permanent Representative to the Conference on Disarmament of India.

Thank you, Chair. Allow me to congratulate you and the members of the Bureau on your election and to assure you of my delegation's full support and cooperation. Chair, we meet amid conflicts and crises. Taken together, the perspectives offered by the speakers before me already give us a comprehensive picture of the geopolitical backdrop to our meeting. The picture is sobering. I will not paint it again, but allow me to add a few further shades that deserve our attention. The security landscape is also being redefined. The technology is moving faster than our understanding of it. New operational domains are emerging. Trade, finance, resources, connectivity, as well as technology are increasingly being used as instruments of pressure. Arms control and disarmament architecture is under increasing strain. Chair, at this time of growing uncertainty, our task is not merely to respond to threats, whether existing or emerging, but to ensure that the multilateral institutions and instruments designed to safeguard international peace and security remain credible, effective, and fit for purpose. Chair. As a responsible nuclear weapons state, India is committed to a policy of credible minimum deterrence with the posture of no first use and non-use against non-nuclear weapons states. India's commitment to universal, non-discriminatory, and verifiable nuclear disarmament remains undiminished. This goal can be and should be achieved by a step-by-step process underwritten by an agreed multilateral framework that is global and non-discriminatory. Expanding the global elimination of nuclear weapons, India has put forward in document CD/1816 submitted to the Conference on Disarmament a number of proposals for reducing nuclear risks and dangers in all their aspects. Chair, the prominence of outer space in every facet of contemporary life has grown rapidly. New actors have emerged. Dual-use technologies and assets are now widespread. It is our view that outer space should remain a realm for cooperation, not conflict. India supports the negotiation of a legally binding instrument on PAROS at the Conference on Disarmament. In addition, India is open to the development of universal and non-discriminatory, non-binding norms and measures on transparency and confidence building, which can complement a legally binding instrument. Chair. Emerging technologies are adding a new dimension to military capabilities and therefore to the conduct of warfare. As these technologies evolve and integrate with legacy systems, they are changing military effectiveness and creating new forms of advantage, vulnerability, and competition. India is committed to addressing these challenges, including through a UN system-wide assessment of the impact of science and technology developments on international security. At the same time, we stress that emerging technologies have transformative potential to reduce poverty and improve people's lives. This potential is especially significant for the global south. Chair, India is committed to the responsible use of AI in the military domain. Human judgment and oversight are essential to ensure compliance with international humanitarian law, as well as to mitigate associated risks. India presented its domestic framework for evaluating trustworthy AI in the defense sector at the informal exchanges on AI in the military domain held in Geneva this year, which India was also pleased to co-sponsor. The framework is centered on five principles, including reliability and robustness, safety and security, and transparency. We believe these principles provide a useful foundation for further discussions on global governance of military AI. India has also acknowledged that the use of AI in the nuclear command, control and communications raises questions. We underscore the principle that the decision to use nuclear weapons should be taken by humans. Chair, the AI Impact Summit hosted by India in New Delhi earlier this year focused on harnessing AI for practical impact, particularly for the Global South. The summit was anchored in three themes, people, planet, and progress, highlighting AI's potential to advance development and inclusion, and the need to democratize access to it. Chair, India welcomes the significant progress made by the Group of Governmental Experts on Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems. The outcome document reflects, for the first time, an agreement on a working characterization on laws and proposed a set of elements built around a two-tier approach. This attests to the continuing and growing relevance of the CCW as the appropriate forum for addressing challenges posed by new and emerging weapon technologies. Chair, India accords great importance to the multilateral norms established by CWC and BWC and participates actively in the related processes. Last year, India hosted a conference to mark the 50th anniversary of the BWC with participation from more than 80 countries from the Global South. The conference highlighted that gaps in health infrastructure are not only developmental challenges, but shared security risks. Chair, India attaches importance to disarmament education and capacity building. In January this year, we hosted the sixth edition of our fully funded Disarmament and International Security Affairs Fellowship. This year's cohort was our largest yet, with participation of 40 diplomats from 38 countries. Chair, before I conclude, I wish to state that India will table four resolutions this year. These are well-known resolutions that highlight crucial issues pertaining to disarmament and international security and have enjoyed wide support of the UN membership. We request continued support. While tabling these resolutions, India remains mindful of efforts to rationalize the work of the First Committee and will consider taking appropriate steps in this regard next year. I thank you, Chair.

I thank the distinguished Permanent Representative to the CD of India. Now I give the floor to the distinguished Permanent Representative of Mongolia.

Mr. Chair. I congratulate you and other members of the Bureau on your election and wish you every success in steering the work of the First Committee. You can count on Mongolia's full support and cooperation throughout this session. Amid growing uncertainty in the international security landscape, the importance of dialogue, mutual understanding, and multilateral cooperation cannot be overstated. Addressing today's complex security challenges requires sustained engagement, collective responsibility, and shared commitment to international peace and security. While geopolitical tensions, rising military expenditures, and renewed reliance on nuclear deterrence continue to pose serious challenges, Mongolia firmly believes that lasting peace and security are best achieved through diplomacy, mutual restraint, and respect for international law and effective multilateral cooperation. For Mongolia, nuclear disarmament is a long-standing national commitment, reflected in our foreign policy, our international engagements, and our nuclear-weapon-free status. Mr. Chair, we remain fully committed to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons as the cornerstone of the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime. It was regrettable that the 11th NPT Review Conference concluded without a consensus outcome, following similar setbacks in 2015 and 2022. Nevertheless, we commend Vietnam's leadership as the President of the Conference in fostering an inclusive and transparent process. bridging differences and introducing innovative procedural approaches. These efforts helped sustain meaningful engagement among state parties and reaffirmed the importance of the continued dialogue and commitment to the treaty's objectives even under challenging circumstances. While differences among state parties persist, the obligations undertaken under the treaty remain binding and previous commitments towards to its full implementation must be upheld. We must preserve the integrity and pursue the implementation across all three mutually reinforcing pillars: nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation, and peaceful uses of nuclear energy. We further underscore the necessity of bringing the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty into force. Greater transparency, nuclear risk reduction, and preservation of existing arms control commitments are equally essential. Mr. Chair, Mongolia's nuclear-weapon-free status reflects our conviction that national security can be strengthened through peaceful policies, international cooperation, and legally grounded commitments. Since declaring its territory nuclear-weapon-free in 1992, Mongolia has consistently worked to consolidate and promote this status. Since 1998, the General Assembly has addressed Mongolia's international security and nuclear-weapon-free status through biennial resolutions providing an important framework for international support and cooperation. At this session, Mongolia has submitted its draft resolution entitled "Mongolia's international security and nuclear-weapon-free status" under agenda item 101R. sincerely appreciate the long-standing support extended by Member States and invite all delegations to co-sponsor the draft resolution and support its adoption by consensus, as in previous years. Mr. Chair, as a State Party to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, Mongolia continues to support its effective implementation and universalization. We welcome the preparation for the first review conference of TPNW later this year under the presidency of the Republic of South Africa. We hope that the conference will provide an opportunity to assess progress, advance practical implementation and strengthen cooperation among State Parties. Mr. Chair, earlier this year, Mongolia had the honour of assuming the first presidency of the 2026 session of the Conference on Disarmament. Guided by the principles of inclusiveness, transparency and constructive engagement, we facilitated the adoption of the conference's annual agenda and worked to advance dialogue and build consensus among its members. While long-standing differences continue to constrain progress in multilateral disarmament negotiations, we remain convinced that sustained dialogue and political will are indispensable to breaking the current stalemate. Mongolia's commitment to international peace and security is also reflected in our continued efforts to promote dialogue and confidence building in Northeast Asia. Since its launch in 2013, the Ulaanbaatar Dialogue on Northeast Asian Security has continued to grow in both participation and scope, becoming an increasingly recognized platform for open and constructive exchange on regional security issues. In June this year, Mongolia successfully hosted the 11th International Conference of the Ulaanbaatar Dialogue, bringing together presenters, experts, and researchers from across the region and beyond. At a time when regional security challenges remain complex and mutual trust is increasingly difficult to build, the Ulaanbaatar Dialogue demonstrates the value of sustained engagement and inclusive dialogue. Mongolia remains committed to further strengthen this initiative as a platform for promoting mutual understanding, confidence building and practical cooperation in the region. Mr. Chair, the challenges facing the international community are considerable, but they should strengthen rather than diminish our commitment to multilateral disarmament. Mongolia will continue to pursue its peaceful, open, independent, and multi-pillar foreign policy and work closely with all member states towards strengthening international peace and security. We remain convinced that genuine and lasting security must be built through cooperation, adherence to international commitments, and practical towards a world free of nuclear weapons. I thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the distinguished permanent representative of Mongolia. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Islamic Republic of Iran.

Mr. Chair, I congratulate you on your election as chair of this committee and assure you of my delegation's full cooperation. This year's first committee is meeting under extraordinary circumstances, marked by the ongoing suffering of the Palestinian people and two rounds of US-Israeli regime military aggression against Iran, including attacks on its peaceful nuclear facilities. Yet, statements delivered over the past two weeks have largely failed to acknowledge these grave events, as if nothing had happened. This disconnect between the gravity of the challenges before us and the focus of our deliberations raises serious questions about the Committee's priorities. Ironically, some delegations that remain silent on these challenges call for greater efficiency through superficial procedural measures, such as reducing speaking time by a minute or two. The Committee's effectiveness depends not on the speed of its work, but on substantive deliberations confronting the real threats to international peace and security and upholding international law without double standards. By establishing the United Nations, we, the peoples, envisioned a world in which cooperation, multilateralism, and respect for the UN Charter would prevail over brute force. Today, This vision is under profound strain as force increasingly displaces law and established rules and institutions, faces selective application and political pressure. In February 2026, the United States and the Israeli regime launched further unprovoked, premeditated attacks against Iran, compounding their June 2025 aggression. More than 4,000 Iranians were martyred, including the Supreme Leader, military and political leaders, 168 schoolgirls in Minab, and civilians attending a wedding. Civilian infrastructure, including peaceful nuclear, chemical, and biological facilities, were also attacked. Responsibility extends beyond the perpetrators to those who facilitated or enabled these acts. We strongly deplore the provision of territory, military bases, facilities, and logistical support by neighboring states for this aggression. Iran's defensive actions against U.S. military bases and facilities in the region were undertaken in the exercise of its inherent right of self-defense under Article 51 of the Charter. The international legal order is undermined when rules are selectively applied, institutions politicized, and disarmament obligations treated as optional. States invoking proliferation concern against Iran have failed even to condemn attacks on peaceful IAEA safeguarded nuclear facilities. The 11th NPT Review Conference concluded without an outcome, despite the commendable efforts of its Vietnamese presidency. owing to the lack of political will among certain nuclear-weapon States and States relying on nuclear sharing to advance disarmament. Instead, nuclear-weapon States continue modernizing their arsenals and delivery systems in violation of Article VI obligations. Nuclear sharing and extended deterrence perpetuate the rule of nuclear weapons in security doctrines and constitute a violation of the obligations of States Parties under Articles I, II and VI of the NPT. Five NATO States, including Belgium and Germany, host US nuclear weapons, while more than 30 countries, including Albania, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden remain under U.S. extended nuclear deterrence. France has announced discussion on nuclear cooperation with seven NPT state parties, including Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, and plans to expand its arsenal. AUKUS also raises serious concerns regarding the implementation of Australia's Comprehensive Safeguard Agreement. These double standards are particularly evident in the Middle East, where the Israeli regime continues expanding its arsenal, including weapons of mass destruction, outside a comprehensive international verification regime, while other states face coercive pressure in the name of nonproliferation. The prolonged failure to implement the 1995 resolution and the 2010 plan of action on establishing a Middle East soon free of nuclear weapons remains unacceptable. First proposed by Iran in 1974, this initiative must be realized. The Israeli regime must renounce its nuclear weapons, accede to the NPT as a non-nuclear weapon party, and place all its nuclear facilities under comprehensive IAEA safeguards. Mr. Chair, we underscore the importance of universal adherence to the CWC and BWC, particularly in the Middle East. We categorically condemn the US and Israeli regime aggression against Iran's peaceful chemical and biological facilities. Such attacks undermine the global disarmament and non-proliferation regime. The announced deployment of weapons in outer space by the United States constitutes a serious violation of its obligations under the 1967 Outer 1967 Outer Space Treaty and poses a direct threat to international peace and security. It underscores the inadequacy of voluntary measures and the urgent need to negotiate a legally binding instrument in conference and disarmament to prevent an arms race in outer space. We welcome the commencement of the UN Global Mechanism on International Information Security and stress strict adherence to its approved modalities, mandate, intergovernmental character, and consensus-based decision-making. Finally, my delegation strongly deplores the host country's refusal to issue visas to Iranian delegates, in clear and serious violation of its obligation under the Headquarter Agreement. This discriminatory conduct undermine the sovereign equality of Member States and their right to participate in the work of the United Nations. I thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Islamic Republic of Iran. Now I give the floor to the distinguished Permanent Representative of Argentina.

Buenos dias. Good morning, Mr. Chair, Ambassador Lhak Bhadur. At the formal beginning of the work of this first committee, I would like to reaffirm Argentina's commitment to disarmament and international security and express our support for your presidency and the Bureau so that you may work fruitfully. The current international context poses challenges for the entire disarmament architecture and ergo to the work of this committee. Perhaps the most clear proof of the current situation is that the 11th Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty concluded without an outcome document for a third consecutive time. We have stated that the NPT is the cornerstone of the disarmament, non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear technology regime, and we reaffirm that now. Nevertheless, we must recognize that in the past RevCon, we were not able to send clear signals to the entire international community about beefing it up. We hope that this new cycle will allow us to move in the right direction. For that, it is critical that nuclear weapons states comply with their obligations to negotiate in good faith in order to eliminate their nuclear arsenals in a manner that is complete, verifiable, and irreversible pursuant to Article VI of the Treaty and the commitments derived from the Review Conferences. Another key element for the disarmament regime has to do with nuclear testing. We urge for the swift entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty and we call for a respect of the moratorium so that there are no additional tests as long as this instrument is not in force. We reiterate our deep concern over possible non-peaceful uses of Iran's nuclear program and we reaffirm that this country should not develop nor should it acquire a nuclear weapon. We also condemn military nuclear program of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Once again, we call for these countries to cooperate fully and in good faith with the International Atomic Agency, whose work we support. It has been almost 60 years since we signed the Tlatelolco Treaty. We urge nuclear weapons states to withdraw all interpretative statements to Protocols I and II that are contrary to the purposes and principles of the aforementioned treaty. We would also like to renew our commitment to export control regimes and recall that this year we are chairing the Nuclear Suppliers Group, NSG. Mr. there. When it comes to biological weapons, we consider that we should continue working on strengthening biosecurity and biocustody at the global and regional level, and at the same time, we should ensure that this technology is used for peaceful purposes. We also reaffirm that the use of chemical weapons on behalf of any actor, anywhere, or under any circumstances is unacceptable and constitutes a manifest violation the international obligations pursuant to the Convention on Chemical Weapons and international law. With regard to weapons of mass destruction in general, I would like to highlight that in June of this year, Argentina was the headquarters for the meeting of the Operational Group of Experts and a regional workshop in the framework of the Proliferation Security Initiative that allowed us to renew our exchanges on the issue. When it comes to conventional weapons, we would like to highlight emerging challenges of these technologies in the domain of autonomous systems. We would like to highlight the need to work on preventing, combating, and eradicating the illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons. as well as the transparency in the responsible trade of these weapons. We support work in the framework of the Arms Trade Treaty and the Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons. And we hope to work together to prepare the first meeting of states of the Global Framework for Through-Life Conventional Ammunition Management in 2027. We would like to highlight the articulation achieved at the regional and sub-regional level when it comes to this issue. Mr. Chair, we are aware of the value and the challenges that are posed by outer space. We reaffirm the critical role played by the Outer Space Treaty in order to keep outer space as an area that should be used for peaceful purposes and also for the promotion of the purposes and principles of the UN Charter in order to maintain international peace and security and promote international cooperation. We are convinced that an arms race in outer space constitutes a serious threat to international peace and security. Therefore, Argentina continues to chair the Open-ended Working Group on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space in all of its aspects, and we are working to advance discussions in a constructive spirit. On a different note, we value the commitments in the framework of the Hague Code of Conduct against ballistic missile proliferation, and we urge States that still have not done so to join this code of conduct. On the other hand, we welcome the start of the work on the global mechanism on developments in the field of ICTs in the context of international security and advancing responsible State behavior. Mr. Chair, to conclude, I would like to renew our country's commitment so that the work of this committee is fruitful and contributes to the main purpose of this organization, which is to maintain international peace and security. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished Permanent Representative of Argentina. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of San Marino.

Mr. Chair, allow me to congratulate you and the members of the Bureau on your election. San Marino aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union. Now I would like to add some remarks in my national capacity. Mr. Chair, San Marino is deeply concerned about the continued deterioration of the global security environment and the erosion of trust among states. Armed conflicts in several regions persist with grave humanitarian consequences, including unacceptable levels of civilian harm, large-scale displacement, and the destruction of essential infrastructures. We are particularly troubled by the reports of indiscriminate attacks, the use of starvation as a method of warfare, and conflict-related sexual violence, serious violations of international humanitarian law. We call on all parties to ensure full respect for international law and international humanitarian law. San Marino remains deeply concerned about the ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine, which continues to produce devastating humanitarian and environmental consequences and worrying security impacts. We welcome all diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in accordance with the UN Charter and international law. Turning to the Middle East, San Marino has firmly and repeatedly condemned the horrific attacks of October 7th. But nothing can justify the suffering and collective punishment in Gaza. The comprehensive peace plan for Gaza and UN Security Council Resolution 2803 must be implemented without delay and in full compliance with international law. Ultimately, a political resolution rooted in the two-state solution is the only viable path to long-term peace, stability, and security for both Israelis and Palestinians, as well as for the entire region. San Marino firmly believes that only through renewed commitment to multilateralism can the international community address today's interconnected crisis and uphold the principles of the UN Charter. Mr. Chair, global instability continues to heighten nuclear risks. San Marino is deeply concerned by the reemergence of nuclear rhetoric and threats of nuclear use, which we strongly condemn. We are also worried about the attacks on nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, which sharply increase regional nuclear safety risks. Furthermore, the incorporation of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and cyber capabilities, into nuclear weapons system introduces additional vulnerabilities and increases the risks of nuclear weapon use by heightening the likelihood of miscalculation and escalation. Growing scientific evidence shows that humanitarian, environmental, and economic impacts of nuclear weapons would be transboundary, deeply complex, and likely to unfold in cascading ways. The catastrophic humanitarian and environmental consequences of any nuclear detonation must remain central to our deliberations. Nuclear weapons pose a severe fundamental threat to the security of every nation. We regret that the 11th Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons was unable to adopt an outcome document. We missed another opportunity to uphold the integrity of this treaty. San Marino reiterated its firm commitment to the NPT, the cornerstone of the global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime, and believes that maintaining trust in this instrument remains crucial. San Marino also reaffirmed its strong support for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. We are proud to have signed and ratified this instrument, convinced that it strengthens the disarmament architecture. San Marino remains convinced that the TPNW complements the NPT and reinforces our shared objective of a world free of nuclear weapons. We encourage all states to consider joining this treaty, and we look forward to participating in the first review conference of states parties later this year. Mr. Chair, San Marino remains concerned about the rapid evolution of new technologies in the military domain. Advances in artificial intelligence have enabled increasing autonomy in weapon systems, creating both unprecedented capabilities and profound risks, thus raising and deepening significant humanitarian, legal, ethical, and security questions. Growing autonomy in weapon systems risk eroding meaningful human control in the use of force. increasing the likelihood of non-compliance with core principles of international law and accountability, and potentially intensifying conflicts and dehumanizing violence and warfare. For these reasons, San Marino believes that meaningful human control and human judgment must be retained in all decisions involving the use of force. San Marino continues to support the initiation of negotiations on a legally binding instrument on autonomous weapons systems, based on a two-tier approach that establishes clear prohibitions and restrictions. Mr. Chair, global military expenditures have reached unprecedented levels, while international aid is decreasing. San Marino is convinced that sustainable security cannot be achieved through arms race. Instead, investments in prevention, disarmament, and development constitute investment in long-term peace and stability. San Marino stands ready to work with all member states to advance the work of this committee and to contribute to a safer and more stable international environment. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of San Marino. Now I give the floor to the distinguished permanent representative of Azerbaijan.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. At the outset, I would like to congratulate you and the other members of the Bureau on your respective elections. Mr. Chair, Azerbaijan is firmly committed to the full and faithful implementation of its arms control, nonproliferation, and disarmament obligations. We also reaffirm our commitment to the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the cornerstone of the global nuclear nonproliferation regime and an essential framework for nuclear disarmament and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Its three mutually reinforcing pillars must be implemented fully, faithfully, and without discrimination. At the same time, the failure of three consecutive NPT review conferences to reach consensus on a substantive outcome document underscores the need to restore confidence in multilateral processes and demonstrate their capacity to deliver practical results. The International Atomic Energy Agency remains indispensable to promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and strengthening confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of nuclear activities. Azerbaijan values its cooperation with the agency under the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and the Additional Protocol, as well as through the agency's technical cooperation program. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the opening for signature of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Three decades after, however, the treaty has yet to enter into force. Pending its entry into force, existing moratoria should be maintained and the integrity of the treaty's verification regime upheld. The destruction of all chemical weapons stockpiles declared by states parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention was a historic milestone. The task now is to preserve the authority of the convention, prevent the reemergence of chemical weapons, and ensure that chemistry continues to serve peaceful purposes. For Azerbaijan, it's established petrochemical sector, the safe and peaceful application of chemical technologies is also of practical national importance. We value the role of the OPCW in promoting international cooperation and providing effective technical assistance and capacity building within its mandate. With regard to outer space, its peaceful and sustainable uses are becoming increasingly important to human advancement. The benefits of space science and technology should be accessible to all countries, with international cooperation and capacity building enabling states to participate in and benefit from space activities. As our reliance on space-based services continues to grow, we share responsibility to preserve outer space for peaceful purposes and to prevent an arms race in outer space. Turning to the use of ICT in the context of international security, Azerbaijan supported the work of the Open-Ended Working Group and welcomes the commencement of the substantive work of the global mechanism. the first permanent and inclusive platform within the United Nations for ongoing multilateral dialogue on developments in the field of ICTs in the context of international security. ICTs, artificial intelligence, and other new and emerging technologies can contribute to peaceful cooperation, technological progress, and sustainable development, including through improved public services and expanded economic opportunities. At the same time, their malicious use, including against critical infrastructure, can pose serious risks to international security and must be effectively addressed. Azerbaijan is also exploring, in cooperation with international partners, the application of emerging technologies, including AI, to rehabilitation and reconstruction, as well as to mine action in its territories liberated from occupation. Mr. Chair, landmines and explosive remnants of war continue to endanger civilians, impede reconstruction, and hinder the safe return of displaced persons. More than 400 citizens of Azerbaijan, including women and children, have been killed or maimed in mine incidents since 2020, while the total number of victims over the past three decades has exceeded 3,500. These figures underscore the need for sustained international support for mine clearance, victim assistance, and the strengthening of national mine action capacities. Mr. Chair, effective multilateral institutions remain indispensable to advancing these objectives. Azerbaijan reaffirms its commitment to the objective of general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control and underscores the continued importance of the United Nations disarmament machinery. The Disarmament Commission should continue to serve as an inclusive forum for in-depth deliberations and for developing practical recommendations on the items on its agenda. To conclude, I assure you of my delegation's full support for efforts to guide the First Committee towards a successful outcome. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished Permanent Representative of Azerbaijan. Now I give the floor to the distinguished Permanent Representative of Zambia.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. At the outset, let me just say that Zambia warmly welcomes and congratulates your election as chair of this first committee, and also congratulates the rest of the Bureau. Zambia is confident that our collective efforts on international security and disarmament will be advanced and with renewed vigor under your guidance. Zambia welcomes this opportunity to contribute to the committee's deliberations. We fully align ourselves with the statements delivered on behalf of Africa Group and the Non-Aligned Movement. Mr. Chair, Zambia remains deeply concerned by the continuing challenges to international peace and security. Growing geopolitical tensions, armed conflict, the continued existence of modernization of nuclear weapons, and the illicit flow of small arms and light weapons, and emerging security challenges underscore the urgent need to strengthen multilateralism and advance the international disarmament and nonproliferation agenda. Zambia therefore reaffirms its commitment to general and complete disarmament under effective international control and emphasizes the importance of preserving and strengthening the existing multilateral disarmament architecture. Dialogue, diplomacy, and international cooperation remain indispensable to building a peaceful and secure world. Mr. Chair, Zambia remains committed to the goal of a world free of nuclear weapons. The continued existence of nuclear weapons poses a threat to humanity, and their total elimination remains the only absolute guarantee against their use or threat of use. We therefore call for renewed commitment to nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation, and full implementation of relevant international obligations and commitments. Zambia further emphasizes the importance of strengthening multilateral approaches to addressing emerging and evolving security challenges. Advances in science and technology must be harnessed for peaceful purposes and for the benefit of humanity, while the international community must remain attentive to their potential implications for international peace and security. Mr. Chair, conventional arms also continue to cast a dark shadow over peace and security in regions already burdened by armed conflicts, organized crime, and underdevelopment. The unregulated and illicit flow of small arms and light weapons has become a devastating multiplier of violence. These weapons erode state authority, derail peace processes, and suffocate socioeconomic progress. The scourge of anti-personnel mines and explosive remnants of war further compounds human suffering, obstructing recovery and threatening the very fabric of human security. Zambia therefore emphasizes that robust and well-resourced disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration programs in war-torn regions remain indispensable. Disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration is both a shield against a lapse into conflict and a bridge towards reconciliation and nation-building. Mr. Chair, we urge the international community to reaffirm its commitment to multilateralism as the as the most credible path to addressing contemporary international security and disarmament challenges. Zambia strongly supports the full implementation of the UN program action on small arms and light weapons and the international tracing instrument. We commend the African Union's silencing of the GUNS initiative and call for deeper UN regional cooperation in arms control, disarmament, and peace building. Regional Economic communities, including SADC, have an important role to play through security sector reform programs, early warning systems, and cross-border arms control measures. The cost of inaction is measured in loss of lives, community destabilized, and futures destroyed. For Zambia, to domesticate the Silencing the Guns Initiative, Zambia has declared the month of September as Firearms Amnesty Month for the effective populace to surrender illegal acquired arms, firearms, as well as prohibited firearms, accessories, and ammunition without prosecution. Mr. Chair, Zambia remains a steadfast state party to the Arms Trade Treaty, the Mine Ban Treaty, and the Convention on Cluster Munitions, reinforcing our domestic frameworks for arms control. This is consistent with Zambia's current effort to domesticate the Arms Trade Treaty for effective implementation. We recognize the intrinsic link between disarmament and the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 16, and emphasize the necessity of gender-sensitive, youth-focused approaches to peace and security. Peace cannot be sustained if women and young people, those most affected by conflict, are excluded from its dividends. As a measure to curtail the illicit trade of small arms and light weapons, the Firearms Act of the Laws of Zambia regulates the licensing and certification of controls of the import, export, movement, storage, possession, sale, manufacture and repair of firearms and ammunitions. Zambia has also adopted Article 12 of the SADC Protocol on Control of Arms, Ammunition and Related Material. In conclusion, Mr. Chair, international community must renew its commitment to addressing the full range of disarmament and international security challenges confronting the world. Nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation, conventional arms control, emerging security challenges, and strengthening of multilateral cooperation are integral to human security, sustainable development, and protection of human rights. Zambia calls for renewed global commitment urgent, united, and unwavering to advance the cause of disarmament and build a safer, more peaceful, and secure world for present and future generations. I thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the distinguished Permanent Representative of Zambia. Now I give the floor to the distinguished Permanent Representative of Slovakia.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. And let me begin by congratulating you on your election as chair of the first committee. It goes without saying that you can count on Slovakia's full support. Slovakia aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the European Union. Now, most important, the international security environment continues to deteriorate. putting international law and established disarmament and non-proliferation framework under increasing pressure. Mr. Chair, let me now summarize Slovakia's position in four key areas. And please know that this is a shortened version of our statement, and the full version will be provided to the conference services. So four key areas, firstly on nuclear issues. Slovakia reaffirms its commitment to all three pillars of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and regrets the repeated failure to reach consensus at its review conference. Following the expiry of New START, we call for renewed nuclear arms control dialogue and practical nuclear risk reduction. We support the CTBT. negotiations on Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty, and the strengthening of international verification. We remain deeply concerned about Russia's irresponsible nuclear rhetoric threatening nuclear safety and security in Ukraine. As a newly elected member of the IAEA Board of Governors, Slovakia will contribute constructively to the agency's work. We call on Iran to comply fully with its safeguards obligations and remain deeply concerned about the DPRK's nuclear and ballistic missile programs. We urge the DPRK to pursue the complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Secondly, on chemical weapons. Slovakia, elected to the OPCW Executive Council for years 26-28, will actively support the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, including its verification and compliance mechanisms. We welcome progress in Syria's cooperation with the OPCW and call for the complete and verifiable elimination of its remaining chemical weapons program. certainly on outer space and cyberspace. Slovakia supports preventing an arms race in outer space, a responsible state behavior, and the implementation of the UN framework for responsible behavior in cyberspace. We welcome the permanent UN global mechanism on ICT security. Regarding emerging technologies, Slovakia supports the responsible use of artificial intelligence in the military domain in accordance with international law, international humanitarian law, with human responsibility and appropriate human control. Now, Mr. Chair, finally, on conventional weapons, Slovakia supports effective implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty, the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, and the Convention on Cluster Munitions. We also advocate revitalizing the Conference of Disarmament. Slovakia remains committed to effective multilateralism, meaningful dialogue, and the preservation of the international disarmament and nonproliferation architecture. Our candidature for the non-permanent seat on the Security Council for 2028-2029 reflects our determination to uphold the UN Charter and international law and promote practical solutions to share security challenges. Guided by our Security Council slogan, respect, dialogue, stability, and peace, Slovakia will continue working with all partners towards a safer and more peaceful world. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the distinguished Permanent Representative of Slovakia. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Suriname.

Mr. Chair, Suriname congratulates you and the members of the Bureau and assures you of our full cooperation. Suriname aligns itself with the statements delivered by CARICOM and the NAM and wishes to add the following in its national capacity. We meet at a difficult moment for international peace and security. Armed conflicts continue to claim innocent lives, geopolitical tensions are rising, and confidence in international institutions and agreements is under pressure. Suriname as a developing state, for Suriname as a developing state, this is not a distant debate. We depend on a rules-based international order. Without the consistent application of international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter, small and vulnerable states cannot be assured of their sovereignty, security, or independence. Mr. Chair, the consequences of war do not stop at national borders. Conflict disrupts food and energy supplies, displaces people, and diverts resources from development. Countries far from the battlefield feel the consequences through their higher prices, greater insecurity, and reduced resources for education, health, and climate resilience. Our region has long sought to remain a zone of peace. Suriname, therefore, continues to call for dialogue and diplomacy, respect for international humanitarian law, and the protection of civilians. Security cannot be measured only in military capacity. Lasting peace also requires investment in prevention, diplomacy, strong institution and sustainable development. Mr. Chair, among the gravest dangers before humanity is the continued existence of nuclear weapons and the possibility that they may be used deliberately or accidentally in an environment of heightened geopolitical tension. The consequences would not remain confined to those directly involved. They would transcend borders and generations. As part of a region established as a nuclear-weapon-free zone under the Treaty of Tlatelolco, Suriname remains committed to nuclear nonproliferation, nuclear risk reduction, and the ultimate objective of a world free of nuclear weapons. Latin America and the Caribbean have demonstrated that regional security can be built on dialogue, cooperation, and mutual trust, rather than on weapons of mass destruction. At a time when nuclear arsenals continue to be modernized and existing arms control arrangements are under pressure, renewed dialogue is urgently needed. Suriname calls particularly upon nuclear weapons States to reduce nuclear risks and pursue concrete, verifiable and irreversible progress towards nuclear disarmament. At the same time, we must strengthen the international nonproliferation and nuclear security architecture. Suriname is doing its part. The establishment of the Suriname Nonproliferation Authority in 2024 has strengthened our national capacity and cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency. Mr. Chair, disarmament is also a development issue. States have a legitimate responsibility to provide for their security. But at a time when many developing countries struggle to finance education, health, food security, and climate resilience, we must also consider the growing resources devoted to military competition. Security is ultimately about people, their safety, their livelihoods, and their ability to build a future. Peace, good governance, and sustainable development reinforce one another. New technologies are also changing the nature of warfare and international security. Artificial intelligence is advancing rapidly, while increasingly autonomous weapons systems raise serious questions about accountability, escalation, and human control. Suriname recognizes the opportunities presented by technological innovation, but innovation must remain responsible, controlled, and consistent with international law. Human responsibility must remain central to decisions involving the use of force. Mr. Chair, outer space is another area where prevention must precede crisis. Space is indispensable to communications, navigation, weather forecasting, disaster management, scientific research, and sustainable development. The international community must preserve outer space for peaceful purposes and prevent an arms race in outer space. Existing international law provides an important foundation. As technology advances, we must continue to strengthen international rules, transparency, confidence-building measures, and responsible behavior. Mr. Chair, Suriname comes from a region that has chosen dialogue over confrontation and cooperation over militarization. President Jennifer Simons reminded this General Assembly that Suriname's commitment to multilateralism is rooted in necessity. For countries such as ours, the United Nations is where sovereign equality must have practical meaning. The First Committee must therefore keep dialogue open, defend international agreements, and pursue practical progress on disarmament. We should not wait for another catastrophe before acting. We must use diplomacy while diplomacy remains possible and uphold international law as our common foundation. Mr. Chair, Suriname stands ready to work constructively with all Member States towards a safer world and a stronger multilateral system, one in which security is measured not by the number of weapons we possess, but by the security, dignity and prospects we can provide for our people. In the end, only a United Nations capable of safeguarding international peace and security can truly deliver for all. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Suriname. Now I give the floor to the distinguished permanent representative of Timor-Leste.

Ex-Chair, Excellencies, Timor-Leste aligns itself with the statements delivered by ASEAN and the Non-Aligned Movement. We congratulate you on your election as Chair of the First Committee and assure you of our full support. In the interest of time, I will deliver an abbreviated statement. The full version is available on eDelegate. For Timor-Leste, peace and disarmament are deeply connected to our history, our people's struggles, and our hopes for the future. Our journey towards independence has taught us that peace is more than the absence of war. It means rebuilding trust, protecting human dignity, and creating opportunities for future generations. This is why we believe that disarmament, international security, and sustainable development must go hand in hand. Mr. Chair, we remain concerned about growing geopolitical tensions, rising military expenditure, and the modernization of nuclear arsenals. When millions still lack healthcare, education, and basic services, the enormous resources devoted to arms competition should give us all reason to reflect. The 2026 NPT Review Conference failure to achieve substantive consensus was disappointing. Yet, it must not weaken our determination to pursue dialogue and cooperation. Timor-Leste remains committed to the NPT's three pillars, nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation, and peaceful uses of nuclear energy. We urge nuclear weapon states to make measurable progress toward fulfilling their Article 6 obligations. As a state party to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, we reaffirm our commitment to a world free of nuclear weapons. We support the early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, stronger verification arrangements, and renewed negotiations on a verifiable fissile material treaty. As an ASEAN member, we remain committed to preserving Southeast Asia as a nuclear-weapon-free zone and support efforts towards establishing a similar zone in the Middle East and other parts of the world free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. Mr. Chair, our concern extends to conventional weapons and their lasting humanitarian consequences. On 15 September 2020, Timor-Leste signed its declaration on accession to the Convention on Cluster Munitions in Vientiane, Laos. We welcome the Viviani Capital Action Plan for 2027-2031, particularly its emphasis on clearance, victims' assistance and risk education. For countries that have experienced conflict, these commitments are deeply personal. Even after the guns fall silent, families continue to suffer. Land must be made safe. Survivors need care, and communities deserve the opportunity to rebuild with dignity. We therefore support the universalization and effective implementation of international conventions addressing chemical and biological weapons, landmines, and cluster munitions, alongside responsible arms transfers and strong action against illicit small arms trafficking. Excellencies, rapid technological change brings opportunities, but also new security risks. We welcome the United Nations Global Mechanisms on Information and Communications Technologies in International Security. Responsible state behavior, respect for international law, and capacity building must guide our cooperation. Artificial intelligence and emerging weapon technologies also demand stronger safeguards for human control, accountability, and civilian protection. Small developing countries must have a meaningful voice in shaping these rules. Mr. Chair, Timor-Leste's admission to the International Atomic Energy Agency in September 2026 is an encouraging milestone. For us, peaceful nuclear science can help improve cancer treatment, agriculture, food security, and water management under appropriate safety and safeguards arrangements. Looking ahead, we emphasize three priorities. First, restore trust in nuclear disarmament through concrete commitments, transparency, risk reduction, and renewed negotiations. Place people at the center of humanitarian disarmament by protecting civilians, assisting survivors, and supporting communities affected by conflict. Third, link disarmament to sustainable development through peaceful technologies, strong institutions, education, and the meaningful participation of women and young people. Chair, Excellencies, Timor-Leste believes that peace is never guaranteed. It must be nurtured through dialogue, reconciliation, respect for international law, and cooperation. The true measure of security is not simply the strength of a nation's weapons, but the safety, dignity, and well-being of its people. For Timor-Leste, peace is the legacy of our struggle and the responsibility we owe to future generations. Let us work together for a world where cooperation prevails over confrontation, where resources serve human development rather than destruction, and where every nation, large or small, can look towards the future with confidence and hope. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished Permanent Representative of Timor-Leste. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Sudan.

Thank you, Chair. At the outset, allow me to extend my delegation's congratulations to you and to the other fellow members of the Bureau. I also wish to express my sincere appreciation to the African Group for entrusting me with the responsibility of representing the group in the Bureau of the First Committee. Sudan aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the African group, the Arab group, and wishes to offer the following observation in its national capacity. We convene at a time when international architecture underpinning global strategic stability is facing unprecedented strain. As the High Representative and numerous delegations have observed in recent deliberations, Trust remains the indispensable foundation of multilateral system. Regrettably, unprecedented levels of military expenditure, increasingly pronounced nuclear rhetoric in conflict settings, and persistent challenges to compliance with key arms control instrument continue to erode that trust. We have reached a critical juncture in the NPT review cycle. following the third consecutive failure of the review process to achieve consensus. However, the NPT remains the cornerstone of the nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation. NPT's credibility requires balanced implementation of its three pillars. States possessing the largest nuclear arsenals bear a particular responsibility to pursue irreversible and verifiable reduction in fulfillment of their obligation under Article VI. Sudan reiterates its the urgent need to establish a zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East. We further express our serious concern regarding the continued refusal to the one state party to accede to the NPT and to place all their nuclear facilities under the comprehensive IAEA safeguards. In this regard, we call for the full and timely implementation of the resolution on the Middle East adopted by the 1995 NPT Review and Extension Conference, which constituted and continues to constitute an integral element of the decision to extend the NPT indefinitely. Emerging technologies must not develop beyond the effective reach of international law and responsible governance. Advances in artificial intelligence, the potential weaponization of outer space, and military applications in cyberspace are rapidly blurring established distinctions between peace and conflict. We welcome the first session of the Global Mechanism on ICT security chaired by El Salvador and will engage constructively to strengthen this inclusive platform towards building a safe, secure, and interoperable digital environment. Sudan supports inclusive processes under the auspices of the United Nations aimed at ensuring that lethal autonomous weapons systems remain subject to meaningful human control, and we welcome the consensus report of the GGE in this regard. Outer space must be preserved exclusively for peaceful purposes. The placement of weapons in orbit or the pursuit of so-called preemptive capabilities would risk setting in motion destabilizing chain reactions. Sudan unequivocally oppose such developments. Recent deliberations on the working methods of the first committee have underscored legitimate concerns regarding institutional effectiveness and the prudent use of resources. While we support reasonable measures to enhance efficiency, we firmly oppose any attempt to invoke streamlining as means of constraining the sovereign rights of a state to advance substantive initiatives. Sudan support the immediate commencement within the Conference on Disarmament of negotiations on a treaty banning the production of fissile materials for nuclear weapons, including appropriate provisions addressing existing stockpiles. The early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty is likewise of paramount importance. We urge all remaining annexed states to sign and ratify the treaty without further delay. The treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons constitute a historic milestone and complements the broader international framework for nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation. Sudan reaffirms its unequivocal commitment to upholding the international norms prohibiting the existence and use of chemical, biological, and radiological weapons. In its capacity as a member of the Executive Council, Sudan fully supports the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in the effective discharge of its mandate as the implementing body of the Chemical Weapons Convention in a comprehensive, objective and impartial manner and in complementarity with the work of the United Nations. Mr. Chair, disarmament is not merely a technical undertaking. It's a political imperative indispensable to the maintenance of international peace and security, and ultimately the survival of humanity. We call upon all the states possessing significant military capabilities to refrain from employing the disarmament machinery as an instrument of political pressure, and instead to uphold it as an essential means for advancing our common security. My delegation stands ready to engage constructively in good faith in all substantive efforts genuinely directed towards reducing strategic risk and advancing collective security. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Sudan. And now I give the floor to the distinguished permanent representative to the conference, and the disarmament of Japan.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would first like to congratulate you, Ambassador Lok Bahadur Thapa, on your election as chair of the First Committee, and assure you of my delegation's full support and cooperation. Mr. Chair, This year's NPT Review Conference was held amid an increasingly severe security environment and deep divisions within the international community. While the States Parties could not reach consensus on an outcome document, the intensive deliberations undertaken at the Conference demonstrated the unwavering commitment of the States Parties to the NPT and strengthening of its implementation. Japan is seriously concerned about the advancement of the DPRK's nuclear and missile development and its military cooperation with Russia. It is essential for the international community to be united and fully implement the relevant UN Security Council resolutions to achieve the complete, verifiable, and irreversible dismantlement of the DPRK's all weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles of all ranges. Japan urges Pyongyang to abide by all the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and fully comply with the NPT and IAEA safeguards. Mr. Chair, the tragedies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki must never be repeated. Japan has assigned to itself the mission of taking the lead in international efforts to achieve a world without nuclear weapons. In this spirit, my delegation will submit a draft resolution to the UN General Assembly First Committee entitled "Common Steps Towards a World Without Nuclear Weapons." The resolution seeks to encourage the international community to move forward together by focusing on realistic and practical measures. Japan hopes to obtain the widest possible support from member states. Mr. Chair, The use of biological or chemical weapons is unacceptable under any circumstances. Japan actively participates in the Working Group on Strengthening the PWC, now in the final year of its current mandate, and supports the OPCW's efforts to address concerns over the use of chemical weapons in recent years. Mr. Chair. Urgent action is needed to address the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. Together with Colombia and South Africa, Japan submitted a draft resolution on the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects, and strongly hopes that this resolution will be adopted by consensus again this year to demonstrate our collective commitment. Japan has been a staunch supporter of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention and its core objective. Japan, together with Zambia and Belgium, submitted a draft resolution on implementation of the APMBC and calls for the widest support for it. Mr. Chair, we are also facing a pressing need to address a number of challenges deriving from the development of new technologies and new domains. Japan considers that military use of emerging technologies should be examined comprehensively, taking into account both humanitarian considerations and security perspectives. Japan believes it essential to continue substantive discussions on laws under the CCW framework. We strongly hope that the upcoming review conference can form a common ground to enable the CCW to advance its work based on the consensus achieved at the GGE roads. Japan welcomes the ongoing discussions at the Palos open-ended working group. Japan strongly supports the continuation of discussions on reducing space threats through norms, rules, and principles of responsible behavior, with the aim of seeking a common ground among member states. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the distinguished permanent representative to the Conference on the Department of Japan. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of North Macedonia.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Honorable Chair, distinguished delegates, the delegation of the Republic of North Macedonia is pleased to address the First Committee and reaffirm our strong commitment to international peace, security, and cooperation. We align ourselves with the statement delivered by the EU and Ukraine. In our national capacity, we would like to add the following remarks. The global security environment is becoming increasingly difficult. These challenges show how important it is for the states to maintain dialogue, to build trust, reduce risks, and work together to prevent conflict. As a member state of the UN and NATO and a candidate country for the European Union membership, We believe that international security must be based on international law, respect for sovereignty, dialogue, and strong multilateral institutions. We see EU enlargement as an important investment in peace and stability in our region. Our European path reflects our commitment to democracy, the rule of law, regional cooperation, and full alignment with the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy. We believe that a credible and merit-based enlargement process is essential for a more stable, resilient, and secure region. We remain firmly committed to the maintenance of the international peace and security and actively contribute towards the regional stability, development, and good neighborly relations in Southeast Europe. In the spirit of supporting the ongoing reform of the UN and helping streamline the work of the First Committee, We have decided this year not to submit the resolution entitled "Maintenance of international security, good neighborliness, stability and development in Southeast Europe". This decision reflects our support for making the work of the UN more effective, focused and efficient. It does not change our strong commitment to good neighborly relations, regional cooperation and stability in Southeastern Europe. We were the first country in the region to sign a security and defence partnership with the European Union in November 2024. This partnership strengthens cooperation in areas such as cyber security, hybrid threats, crisis management, counter-terrorism and defence capabilities. It also supports joint efforts to assist Ukraine. This demonstrates that we are already contributing to European security as we continue our path towards EU membership. The war in Ukraine has shown how a conflict in one part of the world can have wider consequences for international peace and security. We continue to support Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. We call for a peaceful and lasting solution based on UN Charter and international law. We are also concerned about the wider effects of the war, including threats to energy security, critical infrastructure, cybersecurity, and the spread of disinformation. This challenges require stronger international cooperation and coordinated response. Honourable Chair, we attach great importance to arm control, disarmament and non-proliferation. We remain committed to the NPT and all three of its pillars: preventing the spread of nuclear weapons, promoting the peaceful use of nuclear energy and achieving nuclear disarmament. We regret that the 2026 NPT Review Conference was unable to reach consensus on a final outcome document. Nevertheless, we recognize the continued commitment of the State Parties to the Treaty and stress the importance of maintaining the central framework for global nuclear security. We fully comply with our obligations under the NPT. As a NATO ally, we also remain committed to NATO's nuclear sharing arrangements, which contribute to collective security and strategic stability in the Euro-Atlantic area. We believe that credible deterrence remains an important part of our collective defence in today's challenging security environment. We also support stronger international efforts to prevent the illegal trafficking of small arms and light weapons. Better border controls, improved tracing, secure stockpiles, and closer international cooperation are essential to prevent these weapons from falling into the wrong hands. At the same time, effective export controls are important to prevent the spread of weapons and sensitive technologies, while allowing legitimate trade and economic development to continue its transparent and predictable way. We must also prepare for new and emerging security challenges, including cyber threats, artificial intelligence, and autonomous weapons. International cooperation is needed to develop responsible standards, ensure accountability, and protect human control over decisions involving the use of of force. In particular, the military use of artificial intelligence requires careful consideration. We must ensure that technological progress does not weaken our international obligations or undermine global security. Meaningful human control over nuclear weapons must remain essential. Honorable Chair, distinguished delegates, we call on all member states to respect and strengthen existing international agreements, improve transparency and verification, and deepen cooperation. These efforts are necessary to protect international order based on rules and maintain peace and stability for future generations. Our delegation stands ready to work constructively with all member states toward a safer, more peaceful, and secure world. Thank you, honorable Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of North Macedonia. Now I give the floor to the distinguished permanent representative of Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. At the outset, allow me to congratulate you and the other member of the Bureau on your election. My delegation extends full support and cooperation to you, Mr. Chair. Since the founding of the United Nations, the first committee has tirelessly endeavored for more than 80 years to promote efforts of the international community to maintain international peace and security. However, today, the humanity's aspiration to build peaceful and prosperous the world is confronted with serious obstacles and challenges. The current international situation is plunging ever deeper into turmoil and instability. This is largely attributable to the hegemonic and arbitrary practice of the United States and its Western allies, which have seriously undermined foundations of the international peace and security. With the United States unilaterally abandoning the strategic arms reductionism that has served as cornerstone of the global strategic stability for three decades since end of the Cold War, The long-standing framework, the New START, has finally come to an end. This has driven United States to race headlong into unbridled nuclear arms buildup. By providing its allies with a nuclear umbrella, the United States is hellbent on establishing geopolitical encirclement against its strategic rival, while simultaneously intensifying bloc-based confrontation. The United States has encouraged and led the NATO, the world's largest military alliance, to expand its influence into Asia-Pacific region. The even nuclear-armed states in Europe are rapidly changing their military posture by strengthening their nuclear capabilities and moving nuclear weapons close to potential front lines. In Europe, the hotbed of two world wars in the last century, reckless expansion of the NATO toward the East has created worst regional security crisis with actually the armed conflict taking place there for the first time in nearly 80 years. Meanwhile, the Middle East has become the bloody theater where genocide and military attack against sovereign states are being openly perpetrated. The Japan A defeated country in Asia is openly transforming itself into a war-capable state, taking advantage of the current chaotic situation as a golden chance to remove all shackles that have constrained its military expansion. This is provoking strong opposition and grave concern from the international community. Mr. Chair. The Korean Peninsula and its surrounding regions have been subjected to persistent instability and escalating tensions as a result of the United States and its followers' persistent hostile policy and security threatening measures against DPRK. Consequently, the regional security environment is becoming increasingly grave with each passing day. The large-scale joint military drill, such as Ulchi Freedom Shield, conducted by United States and ROK, pose the most direct and overt threat to the security of our state. These drills have evolved in scale, scope, and provocative nature compared with previous years. They are being conducted across all domains of actual wartime operational execution, including the land, sea, air, space, cyber, and psychological operation, thereby pushing the situation on the Korean Peninsula to the brink of war. What is most dangerous is the fact that the United States and ROK repeatedly hold military simulation through nuclear war mechanism, namely Nuclear Consultative Group, while openly making nuclear threat rhetoric against DPRK and talking about our nuclear disarmament. Meanwhile, Japan is eagerly joining these efforts, seeking to transform its self-defensive forces into modernized preemptive strike capable military force under the pretext of possessing counterattack capabilities. Comrade Kim Jong-un, President of the State Affairs of DPRK, has stressed the need to make more proactive efforts to further expand and strengthen a powerful and absolutely reliable self-defensive deterrent in order to cope with the prevailing geopolitical crisis. DPRK is committed to consolidating its war deterrent with nuclear forces at its core. This is a responsible choice to firmly safeguard sovereignty, right to development, and security interests of the nation, while contributing to the regional and global peace and security in today's world where law of the jungle prevails. Mr. Chair, It is our consistent position that in order to achieve complete elimination of the nuclear weapons, the United States, as the world's largest nuclear power and the first country to use nuclear weapon, must take a lead in nuclear disarmament and cease act or nuclear proliferation, including provision of extended deterrence and nuclear sharing, which fuels geopolitical instability and intensifying confrontation. At the same time, we will consistently oppose all forms of the weapons of the message destruction and arms race, as well as militarization of outer space. In conclusion, the DPRK will continue to fulfill its responsible role in safeguarding peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and throughout the world. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished Permanent Representative of the DPRK. Now I give the floor to the distinguished Permanent Representative of Tajikistan.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Allow me to congratulate you and the members of the Bureau on your election. You have our full support during this session. International security is under growing pressure. We face geopolitical tensions, armed conflicts, nuclear risks, and emerging technologies. Trust among states is also declining. In this environment, multilateralism remains indispensable. The UN remains central to our common efforts. Sustainable security requires international law, sovereign equality, and dialogue. Against this backdrop, Tajikistan would like to emphasize three closely connected priorities. First, we attach the highest importance to nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation. The Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons remain the cornerstone of the international nuclear regime. We regret that the 2026 NPT Review Conference was unable to adopt an agreed substantive outcome. This should strengthen our resolve to preserve dialogue, fulfill existing obligations, and advance practical measures. Tajikistan reaffirms its unwavering support for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty As we mark 30 years since it was open for signature, we call for its earliest entry into force. The humanitarian and environmental consequences of nuclear testing remind us why this work matters. A nuclear explosion lasts seconds. Its consequences can last for generations. In Central Asia, these challenges are also linked to former uranium mines. processing facilities and radioactive waste. Tajikistan therefore supports international cooperation on remediation, safe waste management, and the protection of affected populations. Regional cooperation is equally important. The Central Asian Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone is a concrete example of legally binding regional nonproliferation. Tajikistan supports further strengthening of the zone and calls on the nuclear weapons states to ratify its protocol. This commitment to prevention extends to other weapons of mass destruction. Tajikistan supports the full implementation of the chemical weapons and the biological weapons conventions. The use of chemical or biological weapons is unacceptable and requires a firm international response. Second, we must address the risk risks posed by conventional weapons and emerging technologies. Tajikistan advocates a Central Asia free from the threats of landmines. We continue our humanitarian mine action efforts and stand ready to share our experience in clearing contaminated areas and protecting communities. We also support stronger action against the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. through border controls, law enforcement cooperation, and regional coordination. The same principle of prevention applies to the digital domain. Tajikistan welcomes the conclusion of the UN Open-Ended Working Group on ICTs and the establishment of a new permanent global mechanism for intergovernmental dialogue. It should promote responsible state behavior, capacity building, and equal participation of developing and least developed countries. This is especially important as artificial intelligence develops rapidly. Its military applications require inclusive dialogue on human control, autonomous systems, and the possible use of AI in nuclear command, control, and communications. Scientific progress must serve peace and security, not create new avenues for conflict or instability. The need for responsible conduct also extends to outer space. Tajikistan supports preventing an arms race and the placement of weapons in outer space. We support the peaceful and responsible use of space. Third, regional stability and the culture of peace must remain central to our work. The continuing instability in Afghanistan requires stronger international and regional cooperation. Tajikistan supports efforts to prevent terrorism, violent extremism, drug trafficking, and the illicit movement of weapons. We also support confidence building and peaceful cooperation across the region. However, durable security requires more than managing existing threats. It requires dialogue, prevention, and trust. Tajikistan experience of national reconciliation offers an important lesson. Political will and inclusive dialogue can transform conflict into cooperation. For this reason, we attach particular importance to the International Decade of Strengthening Peace for Future Generations for 2027-2036. We will work with member states, UN, United Nations and other partners to translate the decade into practical action, including through an international conference on peace in Dushanbe in 2027. Dear colleagues, disarmament is not an end in itself. It is a bridge between the security we seek today and the peace we owe future generations. Tajikistan remains ready, Mr. Chair, to engage constructively with all member states. Together, we can advance disarmament, nonproliferation, and international peace and security. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the distinguished Permanent Representative of Tajikistan. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Ethiopia.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. At the outset, I would like to congratulate you and members of the Bureau on your election to steer the work of the First Committee. Rest assured of my delegation's support and cooperation throughout the work of the committee. My delegation aligns itself with the statement delivered by Namibia on behalf of the African Group. Mr. Chair, the global peace and security landscape is becoming increasingly complex and unpredictable. The threat of use of nuclear weapons, mounting military spending, modernization and stockpile of other weapons of mass destruction, as well as conventional arms, and the emergence of new domains of warfare are seriously undermining the multilateral disarmament and arms control architecture. The rapid pace of technological development in fields such as artificial intelligence and cyberspace pose complex challenges. Governance of such emerging technologies in a way that ensures such technologies adhere to international law and serve humanity rather than warfare is an issue of critical importance. Mr. Chair, it is highly concerning that the risk of nuclear weapons continue to jeopardize the very promise of saving the next generations from devastation of war. Against this backdrop, curbing intensification of the nuclear arms race and decreasing the stockpile of other weapons of mass destruction through the full implementation of the existing international legal instrument is necessary. While such highly concerning global security threats are on the rise, the landscape of international cooperation, unfortunately, is in a state of paralysis. The multidimensional global peace and security challenges our world is currently facing require effective multilateral response. Ethiopia attaches great importance for the Conference on Disarmament as a single multilateral disarmament negotiation forum, and at the same time, express its concern over the longstanding operational deadlock in the Conference. We appreciate the work of the Conference to promote discussion on substantive issues and call for greater flexibility to overcome the current impasse and commence its substantive work without further delay. Ethiopia regrets that the 11th Review Conference of the NPT, held earlier this year, once again concluded without substantive outcome. This fact, however, should not diminish the status of NPT as the cornerstone of the international nuclear nonproliferation regime. Ethiopia emphasizes that advancing nuclear disarmament must remain at the center of the NPT review process. Equally important, Mr. Chair, is enabling developing countries to benefit fully from peaceful application of nuclear science, among others, in the energy sector. Ethiopia firmly believes in the inalienable right of each state to develop, research, produce, and use of nuclear energy, including the sovereign right to develop full national nuclear fuel cycle for peaceful purposes. At the regional level, Ethiopia reasserts its firm commitment to the African Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Treaty. Ethiopia considers the Treaty of Pelindaba to be an important contribution to regional and international peace and security. The treaty demonstrates that regional nuclear weapon-free zones can strengthen nonproliferation while contributing directly to the broader objective of nuclear disarmament. Mr. Chair, the illicit proliferation and trafficking of small arms and light weapons remains an immediate and devastating security challenge, fueling instability, terrorism, and transnational crime across various regions of Africa, particularly in the Horn of Africa. Ethiopia attaches great importance to the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons and the Nairobi Protocol as instruments designed to address this critical challenge. While calling for their effective implementation, on our part, we are fully committed to strong implementation of the instruments through law enforcement cooperation, border security, and stockpile management. Our efforts to curb illicit flow and misuse of small arms and light weapons must match technological developments, which present opportunities, challenges, and emerging threats. Ethiopia welcomes the initiative for a comprehensive review of the Nairobi Protocol, which was launched during the 20th anniversary of the Protocol. The initiative was an important milestone for evaluating implementation progress across 13 member states in the Great Lakes region, the Horn of Africa, and bordering states. Mr. Chair, I would like to conclude by reaffirming my country's commitment to discharge all its treaty obligations. And we look forward to a productive deliberation of the committee. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Ethiopia for her statement. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Paraguay.

Muchas gracias. Thank you very much. First, I would like to congratulate the Ambassador of Nepal for being elected to the chairmanship of the First Committee, and I would like to congratulate all of the Bureau as well. I offer you my most candid and warm support. My delegation joins the statement delivered by Uruguay on behalf of CELAC, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States. For my country, respect for international law, dialogue, and the peaceful solution of disputes are not merely principles that we champion at the United Nations. They are based on our own constitution, and they guide our foreign policy. And from there, we look at the challenges that this committee is facing. From that standpoint, we are living through a moment of heightened tensions, conflict, and mistrust, but mostly mistrust. And that is why we need more dialogue. We need to seek points of convergence, and we need to care for the instruments that we have built together up until this point. Security and development cannot be seen as separate things. We recognize the legitimate security and defense needs of states, but at the same time, we cannot but point out the sustained rise in world military expenditure while there are still enormous development needs and serious humanitarian crises. Latin America and the Caribbean have shown that it is possible to build security on the basis of common commitments. The Tlatelolco Treaty that keeps our region as a nuclear weapons-free zone is tangible proof of this. Paraguay's goal is a world free from nuclear weapons. Therefore, we reaffirm the importance of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and we reiterate the need of moving towards the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. And we are aware of the fact that the way forward is complicated, but it is our understanding that this should not hinder our aspirations, nor should it undermine our commitment to disarmament. Chair, the threats that we are facing also do not happen in separate vacuums. Transnational organized crime, drug trafficking, money laundering, the illicit trafficking of weapons, and terrorism can be interlinked, they are interlinked, and they sustain each other. Therefore, for Paraguay, combating the illicit trafficking of small arms and weapons, their parts, components, and munitions is a tangible contribution to the security of our societies. It is not just about preventing that weapons circulate illegally. We must also address the criminal networks that benefit from the aforementioned trafficking, and for that, we need cooperation among states. In this sense, we value the beginning of work on the Global Framework on Munitions and we hope that it will contribute to a more effective and tangible kind of cooperation. At the same time, today we must address threats that some years ago were not as prominent. Cyberspace is clearly one of those. Paraguay champions a cyberspace that is safe, open, and peaceful. International law, including the Charter of the United Nations, and, as applicable, international humanitarian law, should also guide the behavior of states in this domain. We must protect critical infrastructure, create trust, and, yes, I repeat this, create trust and strengthen capacities and broaden international cooperation. This is why we value the start of the work of the global mechanism on ICTs in the context of international security. For Paraguay, Science, technology, and AI are also opportunities for development. This vision is part of our public policy, but their use in the military domain poses challenges that we must address. These technologies should be used responsibly, pursuant to international law, and always preserving human dignity. Chair, finally, I would like to conclude with a specific example. On October 1st, we launched GuaraniSat-2. GuaraniSat-2 is the first satellite that was designed and built completely in Paraguay with scientific purposes for us. This step is much more than a technological achievement. It shows what a country can do, what a developing country such as ours can do when we combine public policies, knowledge, international cooperation, and a foreign policy that is geared towards development. this committee must address the risks posed by new technologies, but we must also recognize what they can contribute when we put them at the service of people and we use them for peaceful purposes. This is the road that we want to promote, science and technology in the service of development, cooperation in the service of security, and dialogue in the service of peace. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Paraguay for his statement. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Libya.

Mr. Chair, ladies and gentlemen. It is my pleasure at the outset to express my sincere congratulations to you and the Bureau on assuming the leadership of the work of the First Committee during this session. My delegation fully supports your work, and we associate ourselves to the statements of the Arab Group, the African Group, and the statement of NAM. We are fully confident that your acumen and experience will support us all to ensure that our work will be crowned with success. with outcomes that would promote international peace and security, Mr. Chair. Our meeting today comes at a very critical moment where our world is navigating increasing challenges, especially with the extreme geopolitical tensions. This, in addition to a diminishing trust in the multilateral organization, these exceptional circumstances necessitate that we all prioritize serious and direct dialogue and to work with responsibility, especially a sincere collective responsibility that would promote disarmament and ensure that we will not be drawn into further tensions. In this vein, we reiterate the following principles. First, the complete and total nuclear elimination, the total and complete elimination of nuclear weapons is the only guarantee to ensure comprehensive international security. The continued modernization of nuclear arsenals is a violation of the spirit of international conventions. Therefore, we call upon all countries, especially nuclear weapons states, to fully adhere to the principles and articles of the NPT. We have to meet their pledges to disarm without any conditions. Second, the Middle East must be freed from any weapons of mass destruction. We reiterate the urgent and serious need to ensure the establishment of the Middle East free from nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction. ensuring stability in our region will not be complete when there are exceptions or facilities that are not subject to monitoring. Therefore, we call for the subjecting of all facilities to the IAEA safeguards agreement to limit any further tension and to ensure building regional trust. Third, digital safety and new technologies in outer space. In light of this rapid technological evolvement, we have to protect the outer space as a common good for humanity dedicated for peaceful, exclusively peaceful uses. It must not be turned into a new battlefield for military confrontations. We reiterate the vital need to put legally binding international rules and code of conduct agreed upon to prevent the militarization of outer space and to ensure the control of any use of weapons on outer space so that such technologies will be subjected to international law and international humanitarian law. Mr. Chair, the state of Libya was not only content with raising banners or delivering statements. Instead, we have provided a practical and tangible step when it let go of any programs of nuclear development. Thus, to serve the international and maintain international peace and security, the state of Libya is going to nominate for, uh, a… seat in the Security Council in 2028-2029. Through this nomination, we try to prioritize the peaceful settlement of disputes, promoting dialogue and representing the issues of our region, the Middle East and Africa, in transparency and neutrality to ensure their settlement. To conclude, Mr. Chair, we sincerely hope that this year's session will come up with practical recommendations and courageous decisions that will promote international peace and security and serve all our aspirations for a world more free, just, and peace. We wish you all the success. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Libya for his statement. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Lebanon.

Mr. Chair, I would like to congratulate you on assuming the chairmanship of the First Committee, I wish you and the Bureau all the success in conducting your work. The Lebanese delegation will provide full support to your effort. We associate ourselves to the statement of the States of Libya on behalf of the Arab Group, and I'll present the following statement in our national capacity. Mr. Chair, we meet today in light of a very concerning international landscape, where security challenges are escalating and paradoxes are deepened. between the resources allocated to promote military capabilities and develop arsenals and what the humanity needs to invest in building sustainable peace and ensure a better future for the new generations. In 2025, global military expenditure reached $2.9 trillion, a record level, according to the International Stockholm Institute of Peace Research. Um, in return, the annual fi- uh, financial gap needed to achieve the SDGs in developing countries reached $4 trillion, according to this sum. The problem is not choosing between security and development. Both of them are fundamental pillars for stability. However, the question is, what is our ability to build sustainable peace that is not only underpinned on military capabilities? Instead, it should be built on mutual respect and trust, respect of international law, and promoting multilateral diplomacy. Should the world's security be measured by the size of its arsenal or our ability to prevent their use? That question imposes a collective responsibility in maintaining weapons control and nonproliferation regime. We have to exert serious and common international effort with a sense of responsibility to reach an outcome document on the NPT Review Conference. After the failure to adopt a consensual outcome document in the previous three Review Conferences, there is a dire need to overcome our differences to avoid this collective disappointment once again, especially for non-nuclear weapons state parties. Mr. Chair, at the time when we're meeting today, Lebanon is still facing the dangerous repercussions of the ongoing Israeli aggressions that have become more grave and diverse, targeting civilians, military personnel, and relief and medical workers. leaving thousands of killed and injured. In this vein, the villages of South Lebanon are facing the repercussions of this scorched earth policy adopted by Israel through their destruction and erasing its viability. They use a huge spectrum of military methods and means, including artillery shells containing white phosphorus and pesticides with very high concentrations of glyphosate. Such practices cannot be divorced from the greater challenges facing security and stability in the Middle East, or the dire need to promote efforts aimed at supporting the work of the conference on establishing a zone free from nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East. Thus, we regret the continued refusal of Israel to participate in the aforementioned conference since its first at a time when it continues its aggression against Lebanon with little accounting, uh, accountability, disregarding the direct and long-term repercussions of such violations on all levels, as well as the obligations, in the UN Charter and the rules of international law. Mr. Chair, we seize this opportunity today to reiterate a number of priority issues for Lebanon. First, we are proud to have acceded to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production, and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines on the 1st of May this year. This is a very important step to promote the protection of civilians, especially in areas affected by Israeli aggression. for explosive mines are still hindering the safe return of inhabitants or agricultural activities. This commitment complements Lebanon's participation in relevant international instruments, including the Convention on Cluster Ammunition that we ratified in 2010. Second, we look forward to holding the meeting of State Parties to the Global Framework for Through-Life Conventional Ammunition Management in 2027, after it was first held in, um, July of 2025, this will promote international cooperation in this domain and support efforts aimed at, um, containing the dangers of such, um, conventional ammunitions. Third, we welcome the start of work of the Global Mechanism in Cyber Security and the appointment of the co-facilitators of the working groups. It's an important step to promote multilateral dialogue, promoting international understanding in the ICT security domain. We hope that the brotherly Republic of Egypt will be successful in representing the Arab Group. Fourth, Turning to the rapid development in emerging technology, especially AI applications in military use, we stress the need to continue the international dialogue on the repercussions of such developments in a comprehensive and in integral frame that respects international law. Fifth, there is a need to protect outer space from any arms race or pollution. We have to maintain its nature as a common good for humanity that should be used exclusively for peaceful purposes. We must redouble international efforts to reach a legally binding international instrument that prohibits the placement of weapons in outer space, prevent any launch of attacks against space objects, or deliberately damaging them. Mr. Chair, Our responsibility today is not only to preserve the achievements in disarmament. Instead, it extends to safeguarding the credibility of our regime and renew our commitment so that the arms control rules are not hostage to political shifts or immediate security calculations. In a world where destinies are intertwined and challenges are interlinked, investment in international cooperation and commitment to disarmament remain a responsible and urgent choice that not be postponed. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Lebanon for her statement. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Uganda.

Delegation congratulates you and your Bureau on your election and assures you of our full cooperation. We align ourselves with the statement by Namibia on behalf of the Africa Group. Uganda approaches this debate from a comprehensive understanding of international peace and security, one that links disarmament and arms control with conflict prevention, counterterrorism, responsible technologies, regional cooperation, sustainable development, and respect for international law. Chair, the global security environment is increasingly fragile. Armed conflicts are multiplying, geopolitical rivalries are deepening, and longstanding arms control agreements are eroding. Terrorism and transnational criminality persist, while global military expenditure continues to rise. At the same time, cyber threats, climate-related pressures, disinformation, and rapidly evolving technologies are generating new and complex risks. These challenges are interconnected and require cooperative, preventive and people-centered responses, consistent with resolutions on promotion of multilateralism in disarmament and non-proliferation and the role of science and technology in international security. Within this broader agenda, nuclear disarmament remains an urgent priority. The catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons are undeniable, and their complete elimination is the only absolute guarantee against such devastation. Uganda, therefore, calls for concrete, irreversible, time-bound implementation of the NPT and reduced reliance on nuclear deterrence and renewed commitment to the global disarmament architecture. Uganda underscores the importance of peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology in health, agriculture, water management, energy and security, and sustainable development. Access must remain equitable, self-guarded, and non-discriminatory. We encourage stronger cooperation with IAEA, including capacity building and technology transfer for developing countries. Distinguished delegates, conventional weapons remain an immediate threat to communities. The listy flow of small arms and light weapons fuels conflict, terrorism, organized crime, and gender-based violence, threatens civilians, and obstructs development. Uganda calls for strengthened implementations, the UN program of action, and international tracing instrument, and improved stockpile management, deeper international cooperation, and sustained support for national and regional initiatives. We advocate for responsible arms transfers, and we call upon exporting states to exercise due diligence to ensure weapons do not fall into the wrong hands. We also support stronger action against improvised explosive devices, landmines, explosives, remnants, explosive remnants of war, and diversion of ammunition. Chair, emerging and disruptive technologies are shaping the security landscape. Autonomous weapons systems, artificial intelligence, cyber capabilities, and military uses of the outer space. may offer benefits, but they also pose grave risks of miscalculation, escalation, and harm to humanity. The widening digital divide further risks excluding developing countries from shaping the rules that will govern those technologies. Uganda supports inclusive negotiations on norms, confidence building measures, transparency, and where necessary, legally binding frameworks. Human control, accountability, civilian protection, and compliance with international law must remain central. The outer space must be preserved for peaceful purposes, and those states require capacity building to participate meaningfully in cyber and technological governance. Our chair, Uganda reiterates its unwavering commitment to multilateralism and the UN Charter. Global challenges cannot be solved through unilateral action or military competition. In its capacity as chair of the 2025 meeting of high contracting parties, to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, Uganda will be tabling the draft resolution on convention on prohibitions, restrictions on the use of certain weapons which may be deemed to be excessively injurious or to have indiscriminate effects. We encourage all delegations to engage constructively with this process. Uganda stands ready to contribute across the full spectrum of international peace and security, advancing disarmament and non-proliferation, curbing illicit arms flows, and addressing terrorism. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Uganda for his statement. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Eritrea.

I thank you, Mr. Chair. I congratulate you and the members of the Bureau on your election to steer the work of the First Committee for the 81st session of the General Assembly, and I assure you of Eritrea's cooperation and support. Eritrea aligns itself with the statements delivered by the distinguished delegation of Namibia on behalf of the African Group. allow me to make the following remarks in my national capacity. Mr. Chair, the 81st session of the First Committee takes place amid a very fragile international peace and security environment characterized by heightened geopolitical tensions, military adventurism, zero-sum security logic, policies of containment, and illegal unilateral sanctions, as well as proxy wars, among other challenges. The failed attempts to sustain unipolarity and unilateralism, as well as the so-called rules-based order, have proved ineffective in addressing existing and emerging global crises. Despite the collective wisdom of the international community and the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, attempts to advance narrow geopolitical interests through military pressure, coercive measures, and the revival of military blocs continue to heighten tensions and undermine international peace and security. The prevailing challenges underscore the imperative of upholding international law and respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states, as well as the principles of non-interference in their internal affairs and the sovereign equality of nations. These principles are not merely formal obligations. They're indispensable foundations for peaceful coexistence, international stability, and the prevention of conflict. In this regard, multilateralism, dialogue, and a peaceful settlement of disputes must remain central to the conduct of international relations. No state can achieve lasting security at the expense of the security of others, nor can unilateral actions and the pursuit of perceived strategic interests provide a sustainable alternative to international cooperation and respect for the UN Charter. The international community must reaffirm its collective commitment to resolving differences based on mutual respect through peaceful means, strengthening confidence among nations, and preserving the credibility of the multilateral system. Mr. Chair, while saving succeeding generations from the scourge of war remains one of the core purposes of the United Nations, the continued existence of nuclear weapons and the possibility of the use or threat of use undermine international peace and security. These threats are compounded by ongoing conflicts and geopolitical tensions across various regions, further weakening the global security architecture. It's particularly alarming that advances in technology, alongside the military doctrines of some nuclear weapon states, are contributing to the development of new and increasingly sophisticated nuclear weapons. The risk of nuclear proliferation remains another grave concern associated with the continued existence of these weapons. Regrettably, these distressing developments persist despite the international disarmament regime established under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, and other relevant international obligations and commitments. Article 6 of the NPT obliges all state parties to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to nuclear disarmament and a treaty on general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control. However, in the absence of the requisite political will and the failure of nuclear weapons states to fulfill their disarmament obligations, the goal of eliminating nuclear weapons remains far-fetched, and humanity continues to face grave threats. The failure to reach consensus on substantive outcome documents on the last three consecutive NPT Review Conferences further underscores the persistent challenges facing the international community in realizing the objectives of nuclear disarmament and the total elimination of nuclear weapons. Chair, in light of these daunting challenges, nuclear weapons states must take transparent, verifiable, and irreversible steps towards fulfilling their obligations under the NPT, NCTBT, and other relevant commitments. Moreover, the establishment of nuclear weapon-free zones, particularly in the Middle East, must be advanced in accordance with relevant UN General Assembly resolutions. It's high time for a collective resolve to avert one of the gravest threats to humanity and to uphold the Charter's promise of saving succeeding generations from the scourge of war, particularly nuclear war. Furthermore, legally binding negative assurances at the universalization and entry into force of CTBT and universal adherence to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons are important steps towards a world free of nuclear weapons. Nuclear weapons are not the only sources of threat to international peace and security. Conventional weapons, as well as the proliferation, transfer, and illicit circulation of small arms and light weapons, continue to cause destruction across all regions. In addition, other weapons of mass destruction, including chemical and biological weapons and toxins, pose threats, serious threats, to international peace and security. While disarmament and non-proliferation are central objectives of the NPT, the peaceful use of nuclear energy must also be upheld as the inalienable right of all States to develop all aspects of nuclear science and technology for peaceful purposes without discrimination. consistent with their treaty obligations. The free, unimpeded, and non-discriminatory transfer of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes must therefore be fully respected. In this context, the International Atomic Energy's assistance to developing countries in nuclear power, nuclear safety and security, and the application of nuclear technology is commendable. In conclusion, as the global order undergoes transformative changes, easing geopolitical tensions, building confidence and mending the trust deficit remain critical imperatives. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Eritrea for her statement. Distinguished delegates, we have exhausted the time available for this meeting. The next meeting of the committee will be held this afternoon at 3:00 p.m. sharp in this conference room. The meeting is adjourned.