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STATEMENT BY MR. SUKHEE SUKHBOLD, AMBASSADOR AND PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF MONGOLIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS AT THE GENERAL DEBATE OF THE FIRST COMMITTEE OF THE 72nd SESSION OF THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Thursday, 05 October 2017

                                                                    STATEMENT BY

MR. SUKHEE SUKHBOLD, AMBASSADOR AND PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE

OF MONGOLIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS AT THE

GENERAL DEBATE OF THE FIRST COMMITTEE OF THE

72nd SESSION OF THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

5 October 2017, New York

Mr. Chairman,

At the outset let me join the previous speakers in congratulating you on your election as Chair of the First Committee and assure you and members of the Bureau of our delegation’s full support and cooperation.

Mr. Chairman,

My delegation aligns itself with the statement delivered by the delegation of Indonesia on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement. After more than seventy years, ever since the very first General Assembly resolution to the recently negotiated Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, global nuclear disarmament and the overall objective of achieving a world without nuclear weapons continues to be characterized by impasse.  Nevertheless, against a backdrop of considerable challenges to disarmament and non-proliferation and tensions at the global and regional levels, the international community has once again demonstrated that progress is both possible and desirable. In this regard, the adoption of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in July 2017 marks a significant step forward in outlawing and gradually eliminating nuclear weapons.    

Mr. Chairman,

The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is the cornerstone of the nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation regime and essential part of the global security regime. Pursuant to the NPT nuclear-weapon States have a legal obligation not only to pursue, but also to bring to a conclusion, negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament under a strict and effective international verification system.  It is regrettable that at the 2015 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty we could not reach an outcome document that would further build on the consensual Final Document of the 2010 NPT Review Conference. Successful convening of the Conference represents an essential part of the NPT. Hence, efforts should be made to avoid another such stalemate in the current review cycle.

Mr. Chairman,

We are fully convinced that only a world free of nuclear weapons would guarantee a safer future for humankind which is indispensable for the fulfilment of the principal aims of peace, security and development.

This year marks the 25th Anniversary of Mongolia’s nuclear-weapon-free status and on this occasion the Secretary-General António Guterres and the President of Mongolia exchanged reciprocal congratulatory messages. The Secretary-General said I quote: “As Mongolia celebrates 25 years of the declaration of its nuclear-weapon-free status, … this status is unique – and is a testament to its patient and productive engagement with its neighbors in pursuit of nuclear-weapon-free status and the benefits of such diplomatic initiatives. Over the past five decades, efforts towards establishing nuclear-weapon-free zones worldwide have covered almost 60 per cent of the UN membership. Such zones are valuable concrete steps towards a world free of nuclear weapons. These initiatives have helped to build regional trust and confidence by facilitating dialogue among neighbors and with the nuclear-weapon States. They have contributed to the disarmament and non-proliferation regime, and to regional and international stability and security… ” (end of quote)

As a result of its consistent efforts and the support of the international community, the nuclear-weapon-free status of Mongolia enjoys today a wide international recognition and its unique status has been recognized as a contribution to nuclear non-proliferation and promoting regional confidence and predictability. In this regard, Mongolia values the 2012 P5 joint declaration as a basis of its nuclear security policy. As a responsible member of the international community, Mongolia will continue its efforts to help lead the way to a more peaceful and prosperous world by further consolidating its international security and nuclear-weapon-free status. I also would like to reiterate my government's strong support for nuclear-weapon-free zones and to reassure that Mongolia will continue its cooperation efforts with the United Nations and Member States in strengthening the non-nuclear aspects of its security that would contribute to stability, greater regional confidence and mutually beneficial cooperation in and beyond the region.

The repeated nuclear tests and launching of ballistic missiles by DPRK in defiance of the international community’s will and in violation of the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council poses a grave threat to international peace and security. As a country with a 25-year-old nuclear-weapon-free status, Mongolia reiterates its principled position that the Korean Peninsula must be nuclear-weapon-free. Mongolia reaffirms its firm position for the maintenance of peace and security in North-East Asia and resolve the issue through peaceful means. 

Mr. Chairman,

The entry into force of the CTBT is the only legally binding assurance against the recurrence of nuclear testing that is most urgently awaited by the international community. Mongolia is firmly committed to an early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and its implementation thereafter. Mongolia considers the verification system as the core of the CTBT, particularly the International Monitoring System (IMS). Mongolia is proud to host three geophysical monitoring stations and commends the efforts of the Preparatory Commissions in completing and installing the final hydro-acoustic station HA04 in the IMS, after nearly 20 years of hard work. It is crucial that we continue to build and maintain the system so that it is fully operational at the Treaty’s entry into force.

As a party to the NPT and the CTBT, Mongolia takes every opportunity, to promote the importance of the Treaty. Hence, through its initiative Ulaanbaatar Dialogue on Northeast Asian Security Mongolia strives to instigate regional efforts and talks aimed at promoting peace and security in the Northeast Asian region. It is an open mechanism that ensures the participation of all countries in Northeast Asia to encourage exchange of ideas and views to build mutual trust and understanding. Last June we have organized the 4th International Conference in Ulaanbaatar with a focus on policy options to improve current security situation in the region where over 150 delegates from the regional countries and international organizations participated including the UN, the EU as well as the Provisional Technical Secretariat (PTS) of the Preparatory Commission of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban-Treaty Organization.

Mr. Chairman,

Mongolia recognizes the value of multilateralism and underscores the importance of convening the Fourth Special Session of the General Assembly on Disarmament (SSOD-IV) and support the 2018 UN High-Level Conference on Nuclear Disarmament to review the progress made in this regard. It is our sincere hope that we will be able to achieve concrete progress on this year's disarmament and non-proliferation agenda that will strengthen international peace and security.

I thank you.