STATEMENT BY H.E.MR.ENKHSAIKHAN JARGALSAIKHAN,

AMBASSADOR AND PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF MONGOLIA
TO THE UN OFFICE IN VIENNA AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS,
AT THE GENERAL DEBATE OF THE FIRST COMMITTEE OF THE 63RD SESSION OF

THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

October 10, 2008

Mr. Chairman,

My delegation aligns itself with the statement made by the representative of Indonesia on behalf of NAM earlier this week. I will therefore make a few additional remarks from the Mongolian national perspective.

Nuclear disarmament

My delegation shares the growing concerns about the difficulties that disarmament and international security are facing today. Disarmament machinery is both under strain and under-performing. This applies especially to the CD. We commend the efforts of its six Presidents to break the so-called procedural deadlock and express the hope that their efforts would soon yield positive results. Earlier speakers in this debate have rightly identified the international security environment and lack of political will as the main underlying causes of blockages in these multilateral disarmament fora. We share such assessment and support the suggestion to review CD’s procedural mechanisms in 2009 so as to make it an important means of promoting the common noble objectives rather than pursuing narrow national interests.

The nuclear issues related to Iran and DPRK remain the concern of the international community. They need to be addressed and resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. My Government consistently supports the multilateral efforts to resolve the issue of denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. We share the concerns over the current difficulties in the talks and DPRK’s relations with the IAEA, and express the hope that they would be successfully addressed by the parties concerned, and that the second phase of negotiations would be revived soon.

My country continues to place high importance to the early entry into force and the universality of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. The Deputy Foreign Minister of Mongolia took part in the ministerial meeting of the States Parties to the treaty on the sidelines of the general debate of this UNGA session and supported its outcome.

In view of persistent disagreements on major issues at the two previous sessions of the Prepcom for the 2010 NPT conference, we believe that efforts need to be redoubled by the States Parties to address and overcome their differences prior to the work of the Committee’s third session in next year.

Mongolia commends highly the work of IAEA aimed at making sure that nuclear technologies and know how are used solely for peaceful purposes. The role of this Agency will increase since many countries are turning to nuclear power as an important source of energy and as engine of their development and social progress. At present there are 439 nuclear power reactors in operation, while 36 new are under construction. Almost 50 countries have expressed interest in considering the possible introduction of nuclear power. Under these circumstances the role of safeguards agreements and especially of the Additional Protocol is increasing. Therefore my delegation calls on the States that have not yet done so to conclude Additional Protocols with the Agency as soon as possible.

Mongolia is one of the countries that is thinking of introducing nuclear power as an important means of ensuring energy security and promoting goals of national development. A draft state nuclear energy policy including exploitation of its uranium reserves, an implementation plan and a draft comprehensive nuclear legislation, drawn up bearing in mind IAEA’s strict safety and security standards and requirements, would soon be considered by the Parliament for its adoption.

Nuclear-weapon-free zones

Nuclear-weapon-free zones play an important role in nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. Hence we support convening of the second NWFZ conference in 2010 prior to the NPT conference as an important means to enhance cooperation of members of NWFZs that already make up almost 2/3 of the United Nations membership. Following the decisions of the first NWFZ conference held in 2005 in Mexico, Mongolia has established its focal point to deal with NWFZ-related issues, which has already established formal relations with the focal points of other NWFZ treaty agencies. In order to contribute to the preparations for the second follow-up conference, Mongolia expressed its readiness to host the meeting of the focal points in spring 2009 in Mongolia.

More than three decades have passed since the General Assembly had considered a comprehensive study on NWFZs in all its aspects, and almost a decade since it adopted guidelines for establishing new NWFZs. My delegation believes that the changing political environment needs a fresh study to evaluate the role that NWFZs have played and could play in the future in promoting the goals of nuclear non-proliferation, nuclear disarmament and conflict prevention.

NWFS policy

Mongolia’s NWFS has become an essential element of the global non-proliferation regime. My Government is working to institutionalize the status and in that regard attaches particular importance to the conclusion of a treaty with its two immediate neighbors clearly defining the terms of that status.

As pointed out in the Secretary-General’s report on this item, the draft trilateral treaty has been presented in September 2007 to its immediate neighbors for their consideration. Content wise its main provisions resemble those of other international treaties that establish NWFZs and yet at the same time also reflect its good-neighborly relations with Russia and China. My delegation expects that the informal consultations regarding the draft trilateral treaty held on the margins of this Committee meetings would be useful and productive.

This year marks the 10^th anniversary of the adoption of the first General Assembly resolution on the issue. The Mongolian delegation would be submitting for the consideration of this Committee a draft resolution on this item based on the previous consensus resolutions. It is our hope that, as before, the draft would enjoy wide support and be adopted by consensus.

Conventional weapons

Though reduction and elimination of weapons of mass destruction is important in ensuring international peace and security, the international community should not ignore the dangers posed by the small arms and light weapons (SALW) that annually kill and maim thousands of people throughout the world. My delegation welcomes the progress achieved in this area. Thus it welcomes the progress made at the third Biennial Meeting of States to consider the UN Program of Action to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in SALW. It also welcomes the adoption of the Convention on Cluster Munitions which would help limit and bring to an end the use of these inhumane munitions.

Finally, my delegation encourages the Group of Government Experts on the issue of feasibility, the scope and the parameters of an arms trade to continue its efforts to draft a treaty that would firmly engage all the stakeholders in the process. Mongolia favors a clear normative framework in this important area.

Thank you.