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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, 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 others.
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.