Mr. President,

At the outset, my delegation wishes to join previous speakers in congratulating you Ambassador Gustavo Zlauvinen, on your election as president of the 10th NPT Review Conference. We would also like to extend our congratulations to all members of the Bureau.

My delegation associates itself with the statements made by Azerbaijan and Cambodia on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Mr. President,

To ensure global peace and security, the Lao PDR reiterates its strong support to international efforts towards making our world free from nuclear weapons. We are of the view that nuclear weapons remain a serious concern and continue to pose major threats to international peace and security. As long as nuclear weapons exist, the risk of its use can cause massive catastrophic destruction to humanity. The total elimination of nuclear weapons is the only fundamental guarantee against their use or threat of use. Against this back drop, my delegation calls for the strict adherence to Article VI of the NPT towards complete nuclear disarmament.

The Lao PDR is of the view that the NPT remain the cornerstone of the nonproliferation and disarmament regime which needs to be fully implemented. Therefore, it is more crucial than ever for the international community to reaffirm its commitment in pursuit of the Treaty’s objectives through the implementation of the three pillars of Nuclear Non-Proliferation, Nuclear Disarmament and Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy, which serve the best interest of the international community.

In this connection, the Lao PDR recognizes the significant role of the IAEA in nuclear non-proliferation and promotion of peaceful use of nuclear science and technology. In this regard, the entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) on 22 January 2021 marked a significant milestone to further strengthen the global norms against nuclear weapons and complements other disarmament and non-proliferation instruments. My delegation is of the view thatthe creation of regional Nuclear-Weapon-Free-Zones, the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and the implementation of relevant UNSC Resolutions could make significant contributions to the strengthening of the global nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation.
 

In conclusion, my delegation stresses the importance of renewing strong political will and determination by all State Parties in order to ensure genuine dialogues and negotiations for the successful outcome of this Review Conference.

Thank you, Mr. President.