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PHILIPPINE STATEMENT
Delivered by H.E. AMBASSADOR LOURDES O. YPARRAGUIRRE
at the General Debate
2015 Review Conference of the Parties to the
Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
28 April 2015
United Nations, New York
Madam President, Excellencies, Distinguished delegates, good afternoon.
On behalf of the Philippines and the Filipino people, allow me to extend our deepest condolences to the government and people of Nepal. Our prayers are with the families of the victims and on Nepal’s immediate recovery.
Five years ago we all stood united to successfully breathe in new life to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) – the only such international legal instrument we have to pursue our decades-old goal of ridding the world of nuclear weapons.
The memories of five years ago remain vivid to my country, as we took on the formidable task of steering one of our Review Conferences towards a consensus outcome that we had hoped would take us closer to achieving our objectives until we meet again in 2015.
One cannot help but ponder on the stark differences between where we were then and where we are now. 2010 and the years leading up to it were replete with positive momentum and good news stories that ushered our work at the last Review Conference. Impetus that was glaringly, and unfortunately, missing over the last five years.
Madam President,
The Philippines, while appreciative of the NPT’s invaluable existence, does not see the Treaty as an end in itself. More than the Treaty, it is the legacy of the NPT that will eventually make the difference to the lives we have sworn to protect from nuclear weapons. The NPT will be a mere piece of paper if we continue to drag our feet in implementing its provisions.
The Philippines believes that the only genuine way we can truly reaffirm our commitment to this Treaty is by demonstrating consistent and continued implementation of its provisions, through real, concrete, and urgent actions.
Let this Review Conference be as it should be – a look back on what we have achieved and have yet to achieve, as well as a preview of what needs to be done urgently.
Madam President,
The Philippines decided to serve as Vice-President of this Review Conference to help ensure a strengthened and successful review process, and based on the confidence that under your skillful leadership, we will be able to continue or even surpass what we have achieved in 2010.
Your job will not be effortless challenging but rest assured that we will stand beside you and support your efforts throughout the next four weeks.
Philippine Implementation of the 64-Point Action Plan
Madam President,
Any State Party’s credibility to advocate for urgent implementation of Treaty obligations will largely rest on its own actions.
In this regard, the Philippines intends to submit its own report on the actions that my country had undertaken over the last five years to implement the 64-Point Action Plan adopted in 2010.
Allow me, Madam President, to highlight some of these actions.
Under nuclear disarmament, Article II Section 8 of the Philippine Constitution is the cornerstone of Philippine policy on the prohibition with regard to the presence of nuclear weapons within our territory. From this policy emanates the Philippines’ goals of maintaining international and regional peace and stability; promoting a nuclear weapon-free world; and ensuring the country’s and the Filipino people’s protection from the threat or use of weapons of mass destruction.
Over the years, the Philippines has strongly supported initiatives to highlight the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons. Most recently, the Philippines has endorsed the Austrian Pledge which, among others, calls for effective measures to fill the legal gap for the prohibition and elimination of nuclear weapons.
Together with our long-time partners in the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the Philippines will continue to call for a Nuclear Weapons Convention that will finally give meaning to the NPT’s Article VI.
The Philippines is committed to strengthening the Bangkok Treaty or the Southeast Asian Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Treaty and welcomes continued dialogue between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the five nuclear weapon states as regards the latter’s signing of the Protocol to the Bangkok Treaty.
On the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), the Philippines has repeatedly called for the prompt entry into force of the Treaty and has promoted its universalization at the bilateral, regional and international fora.
The Philippines has also consistently called for the principles of irreversibility, verifiability and transparency in implementing the NPT. We have joined hands with the members of the Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Initiative (NDPI) to push for transparency measures, as well as with a group of States that are looking into nuclear verification systems.
The Philippine Government has worked together with civil society organizations and educational institutions to raise awareness about nuclear disarmament, including by providing resource persons to disarmament symposia in schools, and facilitating the participation of students in international events, such as the Youth Exchange Event of the 8th NPDI Ministerial Meeting held in Hiroshima, Japan.
On non-proliferation, the Philippines has signed an agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for the Application of Safeguards in connection with the NPT.
The Philippines is working to pass a piece of legislation called the Strategic Trade Management Act (STMA) that will prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction by managing the trade in strategic goods.
On the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, the Philippines uses nuclear techniques to help secure a safe and clean environment, to improve agricultural productivity, to enhance industry competitiveness, to provide quality healthcare, and to ensure nuclear safety and security.
While taking national actions in line with its international commitments, the Philippines has also partnered with other countries, regional partners, and international organizations in promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. The Philippines hosts regional training courses and meetings, expert missions, and scientific visits on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
On encouraging national, bilateral and international efforts to train the necessary skilled workforce needed to develop peaceful uses of nuclear energy, the Philippines hosts regional training courses and meetings, expert missions, and scientific visits on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. From March to June 2015, the Philippines will be hosting at least six regional training courses in various fields of nuclear applications.
Finally, the Philippines is firm in its commitment to strengthen its nuclear and radiological security infrastructure. Complementing national efforts are cooperative efforts with groups such as the Global Partnership and the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism that have allowed the Philippines to boost its own efforts.
Philippine Priorities for the 2015 NPT Review Conference
Madam President,
This Review Conference must be a step forward, and not backward, from 2010. Efforts must be made in order to bolster the agreements in 2010 and not dilute them through a mere “roll over” of the 64-Point Action Plan.
This Review Conference must be able to thoroughly appraise the Treaty’s implementation – across all three pillars – and must prescribe specific future actions and timelines on areas where implementation remains lacking.
This Review Conference must be able to reflect the real and continued lack of progress in the area of nuclear disarmament. It must reflect the growing attention placed on the importance of the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons, and more importantly, calls for effective measures to fill the legal gap for the prohibition and elimination of nuclear weapons.
Finally, this Review Conference must address the failure to convene the Conference on the Establishment of a Middle East Free of Nuclear Weapons and All Other Weapons of Mass Destruction, as called for in the Outcome Document of the 2010 NPT Review Conference.
We must all forge ahead to ensure that the Conference be held soonest.
In closing Madam President, undoubtedly there is a lot of work ahead of us. The quest for consensus will be difficult but if we allow diplomacy and dialogue to guide our work, armed with the requisite political will, we believe we can achieve something concrete and meaningful by the end of our Review Conference.
Thank you.u.