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10th Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Subsidiary Body 2 (Regional issues, including with respect to the Middle East and implementation of the 1995 Middle East resolution)

Wednesday, 10 August 2022
Presenter: 
Ms. Diane Shayne D. Lipana, Third Secretary to the Philippine Mission to the United Nations in New York
Location: 
UNHQ Conference Room 4

 

Madam Chair,

We associate ourselves with the statement delivered by Indonesia on behalf of NAM. We also reiterate the substantive recommendations related to this pillar in the NPDI Landing Zone Paper which have been mentioned by previous speakers.

In this regard, we reiterate the recommendations of the Non-Aligned Movement, in particular, Recommendations  47, 48, 49, 50 and 51 of Working Paper 26 and of the Nuclear Nonproliferation and Disarmament Initiative, in particular Paragraphs 59, 60, 61, 62 and 63 of Working Paper 10.

In the Main Committee, we echoed the views expressed about Nuclear Weapons Free Zones being building blocks of the global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation framework. To this effect, we wish to emphasize the following:

FIRST - In this Review Conference, we must reaffirm that the establishment of internationally recognized nuclear-weapon-free-zones such as the Treaties of Bangkok, Pelindaba, Rarotonga and Tlatelolco, and the Treaty on a Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia, as well as Mongolia’s nuclear-weapon-free status, represent positive steps towards attaining the objectives of the NPT in nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and enhancing international peace and security.[1] The outcome document can consolidate  these positive steps by promoting further efforts to enhance the institutionalization, cooperation and consultations among the existing nuclear-weapon-free zones.[2]

SECOND - The outcome document must maintain that the fulfilment of the obligations of the nuclear-weapon States to provide to all non-nuclear-weapon States parties to the Treaty effective, universal, unconditional, non-discriminatory and irrevocable legally binding security assurances against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons under all circumstances is essential in the realization of the objectives of treaties establishing such zones. [3]

THIRD - We note that Nuclear-weapon States have signed or ratified some of the relevant protocols to a treaty establishing a nuclear-weapon-free zone, with reservations or unilateral interpretative declarations that are incompatible with the object and purpose of such treaties and affect the denuclearization status of that zone. We urge them to withdraw such reservations or unilateral interpretative declarations and to fulfill their obligations to achieve the objectives of the treaties to establish nuclear weapon-free zones and their protocols.[4]

With respect to other NWFZ treaties ratified and signed by nuclear-weapon States already, we encourage nuclear-weapon States to take all measures necessary to bring into force the pending protocols to the nuclear-weapon-free zone treaties.

FOURTH - Nuclear Weapons States must accede to the Nuclear Weapons Free Zone treaties including the Bangkok Treaty and its relevant protocols.  In our sub-regional group, ASEAN, we reiterate our commitment to preserving Southeast Asia as a zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction as enshrined in the ASEAN Charter and the Bangkok Treaty. ASEAN stresses the importance of the full and effective implementation of the Plan of Action to Strengthen the Implementation of the Treaty on SEANWFZ (2018–2022). We also reaffirm our commitment to continuously engage the Nuclear Weapon States and intensify the ongoing efforts of all parties to resolve all outstanding issues in accordance with the objectives and principles of the Bangkok Treaty.[5]

FIFTH - The 1995 Resolution on the Middle East, which provides for the establishment of a Nuclear Weapons Free Zone in the region, must be implemented.

Along with NAM and the NPDI, we call for further efforts aimed at establishing nuclear-weapon-free zones in the regions where they do not exist, in particular in the Middle East. In this context, we reaffirm the importance and validity of the 1995 resolution on the Middle East until all its objectives are achieved.  We strongly support the conference, and thus we are urging all States/parties of the Middle East, as well as the nuclear-weapon States, especially the three co-sponsors of the 1995 resolution on the Middle East, to participate in this conference and to extend the necessary support for its work and objectives.[6]

Madam Chair,

We take this opportunity to invite others to review these recommendations with utmost openness and good  faith and with due consideration of the lapse of many decades where actions and commitments have been on stand still.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

 

[1] See Paragraph 59 of the NPDI LZP, WP 10 and see NAM Recommendation 47, WP 26.

[2] See Paragraph 63 of the NPDI LZP, WP 10.

 

[3] see NAM Recommendation 49, WP 26.

[4] NAM Recommendation 51, WP 26. See also Paragraph 61 of the NPDI LZP, WP 10, which call upon all nuclear-weapon States to review any reservations or interpretative declarations made to the nuclear-weapon-free zone treaties and their protocols contrary to the object and purpose of such treaties, with an aim to their withdrawal.

[5] ASEAN GD Statement for the 10th NPT RevCon, Paragraph 9.

[6] NAM Recommendation 48, WP 26. See also Paragraph 62 of the NPDI LZP, WP 10, which notes note the conference process on the establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction and encourage countries of the Middle East to continue dialogue in this regard, as agreed in the 1995 resolution on the Middle East and at the 2010 Review Conference.