STATEMENT BY H.E.MS.ENKHTSETSEG OCHIR,

AMBASSADOR AND PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF MONGOLIA TO

THE UNITED NATIONS, AT THE GENERAL DEBATE OF THE FIRST COMMITTEE OF THE 64TH SESSION OF THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

October 9, 2009

Mr. Chairman,

My delegation aligns itself with the principled position of NAM, outlined by Ambassador Marty Natalegawa, Permanent Representative of Indonesia in his statement earlier this week.

Over the course of this week many delegations underscored, albeit to a varying degree of enthusiasm, the encouraging developments occurred on the international disarmament and non-proliferation agenda since we last met. The highlights include the Secretary-General’s five-point proposal, break-up of stalemate in the Conference for Disarmament, start of US-Russia talks on further reductions of their strategic offensive arms, entry into force of two NWFZs, holding of the first ever Security Council summit on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation and the recent CTBT’s Article XIV Conference.

Positive developments were also repeatedly mentioned on conventional arms control area, including issues related to cluster munitions, work toward an arms trade treaty, preparation for forthcoming meetings on land mine as well as regulating illicit trade in small arms and light weapons.

Yet, fundamental challenges and serious threats continue to hinder our efforts of building a more secure and safer world.

23,000 nuclear weapons and thousands of missiles and bombers to deliver them are still in possession.

Weapons of mass destruction treaties fall short of universal and strict adherence.

There are still no legally binding treaties to deal with missiles, trade in small arms and cutting off fissile-materials.

Past commitments, including the 13 practical steps towards nuclear disarmament from the 2000 NPT review conference, have yet to see their full implementation.

Hence, the outstanding issues on disarmament and non-proliferation agenda need to be addressed with renewed vigor and pragmatic approach. Here, my delegation would like to underscore the significance of establishing NWFZs. As long as nuclear weapon states argue for gradual and step-by-step nuclear disarmament, creation of NWFZs should be strongly encouraged as one of the most feasible and pragmatic approach. NWFZs not only complement global efforts towards nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation but they also strengthen the NPT regime. Therefore, we call on nuclear-weapon States that have not yet done so to sign and ratify the respective treaty protocols.

Mr. Chairman,

In the history of NWFZs this year will go down as a remarkable one with two treaties entering into force in Central Asia and Africa respectively.

This year has also witnessed some initial steps towards enhancing cooperation among NWFZs. At the first meeting of focal points of NWFZs and Mongolia held in Ulaanbaatar last April the participants discussed the implementation of the Tlatelolco Declaration adopted at the first NWFZ Conference in 2005. In addition, contribution of NWFZs to the 2010 NPT review conference, practical issues related to promoting cooperation and strengthening the coordination among focal points of zones as well as the preparations for the second conference scheduled for next year were also on the agenda. I wish to inform the interested delegations that we have submitted the Chairman’s statement of the Ulaanbaatar meeting as an official document of this session of the General Assembly.

Having its status recognized by the General Assembly since 1998 and assured by P-5, Mongolia will continue to work with other focal points as well as members of NWFZs to jointly promote the goal of creating a world free from nuclear weapons in the lead-up to the 2010 NPT Review Conference and the Second Conference of NWFZs.

Mr. Chairman,

Mongolia, as a non-nuclear-weapon State with a unique location that does not permit it to be part of any regional (traditional) NWFZs, is pursing the policy of institutionalizing its nuclear-weapon-free status by concluding an appropriate international treaty. We hope that the relevant trilateral meetings at Geneva would soon bring about concrete results.

Looking back we could conclude that declaring our territory nuclear-weapon-free in 1992 did not weaken our security. On the contrary, as our Secretary of State pointed out at the ARF Ministerial Meeting in Phuket, Thailand last July, the nuclear-weapon-free regime along with the open, transparent and predictable foreign policy of Mongolia strengthened our security. This policy made the territory of Mongolia safe from either national or foreign programs and practices that are inconsistent with the NWFS. Thus, we earned confidence and comfort of our partners and discarded the reason for the unnecessary potential interest from the military of other countries.

Another benefit worth mentioning in this regard is the fact that now we talk with comfort about peaceful use of nuclear energy. And no one frowns at us. On the contrary, everyone endeavors to support our modest ambitions. If it worked for us, there is no reason why it would not work for other countries be it in NEA or beyond.

Taking this opportunity, I would like to express my delegation’s gratitude to the NAM and other members of the international community for their continued support for Mongolia’s nuclear-weapon-free status.

Mr. Chairman,

I join other delegations in underlining that the chances for the CTBT’s entry into force today are higher than ever before. Its effective implementation and adherence is an imperative for the effective and viable NPT regime.

Apart from their primary purpose, the CTBT’s International Monitoring Systems (IMS) proved to be useful for broader civil and scientific applications. Mongolia, being a host to 4 IMS (International Monitoring Stations) stands ready to work with others in exploring this untapped potential.

Mr. Chairman,

In addition to its humble efforts to promote global disarmament and non-proliferation, Mongolia is endeavoring to contribute its share to the maintenance of international peace and security through its active involvement in peacekeeping operations. We are proud that Mongolia is becoming one of the top 20 troop contributors to the UNPKOs with its latest deployment of the battalion to MINURCAT, Chad. Mongolia stands committed to further enhancing its contribution to the UN peacekeeping operations and efforts by the international community in pursuit of global peace, security, disarmament and non-proliferation.

In concluding, let me reiterate my delegation’s full support to your efforts, Mr.Chairman, to lead the work of this Committee to a meaningful conclusion.