logo_reaching-critical-will

UNGA Disarmament Index 2019: S-Z

This is an index of all references made to issues of disarmament and arms control made during the 74th General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly from 26 September - 30 September 2019. 

A-G | H-R | S-Z 

Saint Kitts and Nevis | Saint Lucia | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Samoa | San Marino | Sao Tome and Principe | Saudi Arabia | Senegal | Serbia | Seychelles | Sierra Leone | Singapore | Slovakia | Slovenia | Soloman Islands | Somalia | South Africa | South Sudan | Spain | Sri LankaSudan | Suriname | Swaziland | Sweden | Switzerland | Syrian Arab Republic 
Tajikistan | Tanzania | Thailand | Timor-Leste | Togo | Tonga | Trinidad and Tobago | Tunisia | Turkey | Turkmenistan | Tuvalu 
Uganda | Ukraine | United Arab Emirates | United Kingdom | United States | Uruguay | Uzbekistan
Vanuatu | Venezuela | Viet Nam | Yemen | Zambia | Zimbabwe

  

 Saint Kitts and Nevis
H.E. Timothy Harris, Prime Minister

27 September 2019

No relevant references.

 Saint Lucia
H.E. Allen Michael Chastanet, Prime Minister 

27 September 2019

No relevant references.

 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
H.E. Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister

27 September 2019

No relevant references.

 Samoa
H.E. Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, Prime Minister 
27 September 2019

Disarmament: “We take pride in our Police peacekeepers deployed to Sudan and South Sudan including our active engagement in the disarmament agenda.” 

TPNW/ATT: “As well we played host to the 2nd Pacific Islands Roundtable on International Humanitarian Law which looked at ways to promote the principles of the Geneva Convention as well as encourage the region to ratify key weapons treaties such as the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and the Arms Trade Treaty.”

 San Marino
H.E. Nicola Renzi, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Political Affairs

28 September 2019 

No relevant references.

 Sao Tome
H.E. Evaristo do Espirito Santo Carvalho, President

26 September 2019

SALW: “The situation of persistent political-military instability in the Central African Republic greatly challenges us and calls for all of us to undertake concerted efforts to silence the guns, thereby enabling a negotiated solution through permanent dialogue with a view to ending the suffering of the Central African people.”

 Saudi Arabia
H.E. Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz Al-Assaf, Minister for Foreign Affairs

26 September 2019 

Missiles: "The reprehensible attacks on the Kingdom's oil facilities by 25 cruise missiles and drones, which nearly cut oil production by half, an amount that is equivalent to 5.7 million barrels, is a flagrant violation of international laws and regulations. They were also an attack on international peace and security and constituted a significant threat to oil supplies."

 Senegal 
H.E. Macky Sall, President 

24 September 2019                                                              

No relevant references.

Serbia
H.E. Aleksandar Vučić, President
26 September 2019

Statement not yet available.

 Seychelles
H.E. Danny Faure, President

25 September 2019

No relevant references.

 Sierra Leone
H.E. Julius Maada Bio, President

26 September 2019

No relevant references.

Singapore
H.E. Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister

27 September 2019

No relevant references.

 Slovakia 
H.E. Zuzana Čaputová, President 
24 September 2019

No relevant references. 

 Slovenia
H.E. Marjan Šarec, Prime Minister
27 September 2019

No relevant references.

 Solomon Islands
H.E Jeremiah Manele, Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade

27 September 2019

Nuclear weapons/WMD: “Solomon Islands reaffirms its continuing commitment towards maintaining the nuclear free Pacific, through the Rarotonga Treaty. We reiterate our call for the total elimination of nuclear weapons by all nuclear weapon states, including those holding onto all forms of weapons of mass destruction. We would also like to see a world free of weapons of mass destruction.

Somalia
H.E. Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmajo, President
26 September 2019

Statement not yet available.

South Sudan
H.E. Taban Deng Gai, First Vice-President

26 September 2019

No relevant references.

Spain 
H.E. Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón, President 

24 September 2019 

Cyber: “The Digital revolution has transformed our societies…We now face previously unimaginable phenomena that can undermine States; cyber attacks and fake news constitute different manifestations of the use of technology as a transnational weapon of attrition.”

JCPOA: “I am concerned by the heightening of tensions in the Gulf, and the possibility that the wrong response could trigger a conflict with serious consequences in the Near East…. The dismantling of the Nuclear Deal with Iran would constitute a huge international failure. This deal is a key element in the fight against nuclear proliferation, and an essential milestone for the security of the region.”

Sri Lanka 
H.E. Ravinatha P Aryasinha, Secretary, Foreign Affairs 
30 September 2019 

Disarmament/CD: “Sri Lanka's commitment to disarmament remains steadfast. With the increasing challenges to global arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation regimes, Sri Lanka continues to recognize the pivotal role of the Conference on Disarmament (CD), and urges the resumption of substantive negotiations under its mandate. Decision CD/2119 adopted in February 2018 under Sri Lanka's presidency of the CD was a modest contribution towards bridging different viewpoints, focusing on the early resumption of negotiations. We see value in the continuation of this process.” 

CWC/CCW/CMC: “Additionally, in the recent years, Sri Lanka acceded to a number of disarmament treaties, including the Ottawa Convention. Sri Lanka has also presided over the States Parties Meetings on the Conventions on Certain Conventional Weapons and also that on Cluster Munitions.” 

NPT: “The 2020 NPT Review Conference will also provide an opportunity for Member States to deliver on its commitments, as the Treaty marks the 50th anniversary of entry into force next year. Sri Lanka reiterates its commitment to a successful Review Conference, focusing on progress in the three pillars of the Treaty.” 

Sudan
H.E. Abdalla Hamdok, Prime Minister

27 September 2019

No relevant references.

Suriname
H.E. Ashwin Adhin, Vice-President

26 September 2019

No relevant references.

Sweden
H.E. Ann Christin Linde, Minister for Foreign Affairs
28 September

Statement not yet available.

Switzerland
H.E Ueli Maurer, President
24 September 2019

Statement not yet available.

Syria
H.E. Walid-Al-Moualem, Deputy Prime Minister

28 September 2019 

No relevant references.

Tajikistan
H.E Qohir Rasulzoda, Prime Minister

27 September 2019

No relevant references.

Tanzania
H.E. Prof Palamagamba J.A.M. Kabudi, Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation 

27 September 2019

No relevant references.

Togo
S.E.M. Kokou Kpayedo, Ambassador

30 September 2019

Militarism: “The magnitude and acuteness of the new challenges, fed and maintained by wars, socio-political crises, poverty and the effects of climate change, urge us to immediate awareness and concrete, concerted and pragmatic actions.”

Nuclear weapons: “The survival of hotbeds of tension, (...), the temptations to nuclear proliferation, endanger international peace and security, without which our actions in favor of development can not prosper.”

“It can not be said enough that nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction continue to pose serious threats to international peace and security.”

Nuclear energy: “My country, which has as one of its priorities the general and complete disarmament, has always advocated for the use of nuclear energy for civil purposes. It is with this choice that the Togolese Government has just adopted, on 7 August, a draft law on the safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear energy, aware of the positive applications, particularly in the field of health, safety and agriculture and the industry of ionizing radiation, of which nuclear power is an important vector.

By this law, Togo aims to comply with the IAEA's recommendations by allowing it to have a well-structured legal framework to meet international standards in terms of legislation and the safe and secure use of nuclear power for peaceful purposes. This is the place to salute IAEA's watchdog role in constantly ensuring that the atom is put at the service of peace, by ensuring that the wealth of nuclear applications is not diverted for inumane purposes.”

Tonga
H.M. King Tupou VI, King

26 September 2019

No relevant references.

Tunisia
H.E. Khemaies Jhinaoui, Minister of Foreign Affairs
27 September 2019

No translation available.

Turkey
H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President

24 September 2019

Nuclear weapons: “The inequality between nuclear weapon states and non-nuclear weapon states is alone enough to undermine global balances. 

It bothers us like everyone else that the weapons of mass destruction are used as leverage in every crisis, instead of their total elimination.

The possession of nuclear power should either be forbidden for all or permissible for all.

For the sake of a peaceful future for all humanity, let us solve this problem as soon as possible on the basis of justice.”

Turkmenistan
H.E. Rashid Meredov, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet 

28 September 2019

No translation available.

Tuvalu
Hon. Minute Alapati Taupo, Deputy Prime Minister

28 September 2019 

No relevant references.

Trinidad and Tobago
H.E. Keith Rowley, Prime Minister

27 September 2019

Nuclear weapons: “Trinidad and Tobago maintains that the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons constitutes a crime against humanity and a violation of international law, including international humanitarian law and the Charter of the United Nations.” 

TPNW: “Trinidad and Tobago, as part of the Caribbean Community, in 2017, participated in the United Nations Conference to Negotiate a Legally Binding Instrument to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons, Leading towards their Total Elimination and welcomed the adoption of the historic Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons. In this regard, I am proud to announce that yesterday September 26, Trinidad and Tobago signed and deposited its Instrument of Ratification for the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.”

Uganda
Hon. Dr. Ruhkana Rugunda, Prime Minister

28 September 2019 

No relevant references.

Ukraine
H.E. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President
25 September 2019

Statement not yet available.

United Arab Emirates 
H.H. Sheik Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

28 September 2019 

JCPOA: “Even when there was international consensus on the need to take collective measures to maintain peace and security, such as the need to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions by signing the nuclear agreement with Iran, such agreement could not achieve the expected change in Iran's behavior or compel Iran to abide by international law and the principle of good neighborliness. The nuclear agreement should have taken into consideration the views of the countries of this vital region who fully understand its history. The agreement should have also addressed all aspects of Iran's behavior, including its interference in the internal affairs of states, its development of a ballistic missile program, and its provision of arms to terrorist groups.”

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
H.E. Boris Johnson, Prime Minister 
24 September 2019 

Statement not yet available.

United States
H.E. Donald Trump, President
24 September

Statement not yet available.

Uruguay 
H.E. Rodolfo Nin Novoa, Minister of Foreign Affairs
30 September 2019

JCPOA: “We are deeply concerned about the United States’ withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, a laboriously achieved agreement, that stretches a cloak of anxiety over the future of a country in a fragile region that could lead to Iran retaining a nuclear program with unpredictable consequences for the country and for international security. 

In Uruguay, we are a firm defender of denuclearisation and we urge the parties to reconsider their positions and to act with universal awareness, setting aside discourse of short-lived political gain but of very serious global consequences.” 

SALW: “(...) My country is concerned about the proliferation of arms, especially small arms and light weapons, whose indiscriminate access by individuals in countries with weak legislation is responsible for a growing tendency for vigilante justice.” 

Vanuatu
H.E. Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas, Prime Minister

27 September 2019

Arms race: “We are meeting when the world faces complex challenges. Conflicts accompanied by humanitarian crises are increasing; the threat of the arms race is on the rise (....).

Viet Nam 
H.E. Pham Binh Minh, Deputy Prime Minister 

28 September 2019 

EWIPA: “Battlegrounds are no longer confined within designated warzones, but have spread to densely-populated cities and villages.”

Arms Control/Non-proliferation: “The global arms control and non-proliferation regime is becoming more fragile.”

Emerging technologies/Military spending: “The development of science and technology have brought about new means and methods of warfare. Global military spending is at its highest.”

Venezuela
H.E. Delcy Rodriguez Gomez, Vice-President
27 September 2019 

Statement not yet available.

Yemen
H.E. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Hadhrami, Minister for Foreign Affairs 

28 September 2019 

No translation available.

Zambia
H.E. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, President

25 September 2019

WMD: “Zambia hosted a SADC regional awareness meeting on the implementation of UN Resolution 1540 of 2004. The resolution is a vital element in the global architecture to prevent the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons to non-state actors, including terrorists.

Properly implemented world-wide, it stands as a major contributor towards preventing possible humanitarian, political, economic and environmental catastrophes should any of these weapons be used to cause large-scale casualties and suffering. It is clear that such a possibility is not just theoretical.”

Zimbabwe
H.E. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, President

25 September 2019

No relevant references.