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UNGA Disarmament Index 2020: A-G

This is an index of all references made to issues of disarmament and arms control made during the 75th General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly from 22 - 29 September 2020. 

A-G | H-R | S-Z

UN Secretary-General | UN General Assembly President
Afghanistan Albania | Algeria | Andorra | Angola | Antigua and Barbuda Argentina | Armenia | Australia | Austria | Azerbaijan
Bahamas | Bahrain | Bangladesh Barbados | Belarus | Belgium Belize | Benin | Bhutan | Bolivia | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Botswana | Brazil | Brunei Darussalam | Bulgaria | Burkina Faso | Burundi | Cabo Verde | Cambodia | Cameroon | Canada | Central African Republic | Chad | Chile | China | Colombia | Comoros | Congo | Costa Rica | Côte d'Ivoire | Croatia | Cuba | Cyprus | Czech Republic
Democratic People's Republic of Korea | Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark | Djibouti | Dominica | Dominican Republic
Ecuador | Egypt | El Salvador | Equatorial Guinea | Eritrea | Estonia | Eswatini | Ethiopia | European Union
Fiji Finland | France
Gabon | Gambia | Georgia | Germany | Ghana | Greece | Grenada | Guatemala | Guinea | Guinea-Bissau | Guyana

  

UN Secretary-General
Antonio Guterres
22 September 2020

Cyber: "We are moving in a very dangerous direction. Our world cannot afford a future where the two largest economies split the globe in a Great Fracture — each with its own trade and financial rules and internet and artificial intelligence capacities."

Ceasefire: “As the pandemic took hold, I called for a global ceasefire.Today, I appeal for a new push by the international community to make this a reality by the end of this year. We have exactly 100 days. There is only one winner of conflict during a pandemic: the virus itself. My original appeal was endorsed by 180 Member States along with religious leaders, regional partners, civil society networks and others. A number of armed movements also responded—from Cameroon to Colombia to the Philippines and beyond—even if several of the ceasefires they announced were not sustained. Enormous obstacles stand in the way: deep mistrust, spoilers and the weight of fighting that has festered for years. 

But we have reasons to be hopeful. 

  • A new peace agreement in The Republic of the Sudan between the Government and armed movements marks the start of a new era, particularly for people living in Darfur, South Kordofan and the Blue Nile.
  • In Afghanistan, the launch of the Afghanistan Peace Negotiations is a milestone after years of effort. How to reach a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire will be on the agenda. An inclusive peace process with women, young people and victims of conflict meaningfully represented offers the best hope for a sustainable solution. In several situations, we have seen new ceasefires holding better than in the past —or intheirabsence,a standstill in the fighting.
  • In Syria, the ceasefire in Idlib is largely intact. After more than nine years of conflict and colossal suffering, I renew my appeal for an end to hostilities across the country as we work toward convening the next round of the Constitutional Committee.
  • In the Middle East --with a period of calm in Gaza and annexation of parts of the occupied West Bank put aside at least for the time being --I urge Israeli and Palestinian leaders to re-engage in meaningful negotiations that will realize a two state-solution in line with relevant UN resolutions, international law and bilateral agreements.
  • In Libya, fighting has subsided but the massive buildup of mercenaries and weapons—in flagrant violation of Security Council resolutions —shows that the risk of renewed confrontation remains high. We must all work together for an effective ceasefire agreement and the resumption of intra-Libyan political talks.
  • In Ukraine, the most recent ceasefire regime remains in place, but progress on the outstanding security and political issues under the Trilateral Contact Group and the Normandy Four format to implement the Minsk agreements will be critical.
  • In the Central African Republic, last year’s peace deal helped deliver a significant reduction in violence. Under the auspices of our UN peacekeeping mission–and with the backing of the international community --the national dialogue is underway to support upcoming elections and continued implementation of the peace agreement. •And in South Sudan, we have seen a troubling spike in inter-communal violence but the ceasefire has mostly held,with our UN peacekeeping mission providing support for monitoring as well as implementation of the peace agreement.

Even where conflict is raging, we will not give up the search for peace.

  • In Yemen, we are fully engaged in bringing the parties together to reach an agreement on the Joint Declaration comprised of a nationwide ceasefire, economic and humanitarian confidence-building measures, and the resumption of the political process.

….

I appeal for a stepped-up international effort —led by the Security Council —to achieve a global ceasefire by the end of this year. We have 100 days. The clock is ticking.The world needs a global ceasefire to stop all “hot” conflicts. At the same time, we must do everything to avoid a new Cold War.”

Armed conflict: “And we must not forget the dramatic humanitarian cost of war. In many places, the pandemic coupled with conflict and disruption is dealing crippling blows to food security. Millions of people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, northeast Nigeria, South Sudan as well as Yemen face the risk of famine.”

President of the General Assembly (opening)
H.E. Volkan Bozkir, President of the 75th Session of the General Assembly
22 September 2020

No relevant references.  

Afghanistan
H.E. Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, President
23 September 2020

Ceasefire: “The role of the UN and our international partners and allies will continue to be extremely important as our negotiating team sits across from the Taliban in Doha. At those talks, the Afghan people have a clear and urgent priority: a ceasefire. An urgent end to the violence will, more than anything else, give us a chance to progress.”

Albania
H.E. Ilir Meta, President
24 September 2020

Ceasefire: “Albania’s OSCE Chairmanship 2020 is a tangible demonstration of our steadfast commitment to promote international peace and security through dialogue and multilateral co-operation, at a time of raising tensions and polarisation. In its capacity as Chair of the OSCE, Albania has strongly supported the call of the United Nations Secretary-General for a global ceasefire.” 

Algeria
H.E. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, President
23 September 2020

No translation available.

Andorra
H.E. Xavier Espot Zamora, Head of Government
26 September 2020

Ceasefire: “On 23 March, the Secretary General called for a ceasefire to put an end to all hostilities throughout the world, and he asked us to join forces against this pandemic and to facilitate the work of humanitarians. “The fury of the virus illustrates the folly of war... Silence the guns... Let us take inspiration from the coalitions and dialogue slowly taking shape among rival parties to enable joint approaches to COVID-19”, Mr. António Guterres urged. This was an appeal to our good sense which we hope will be permanent, and Andorra aligns itself fully with his call.” 

Angola
H.E. João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President
22 September 2020

Armed conflict: “Thus, we think within this spirit we should focus our endeavours in the search for fair and long lasting solutions to the problems of the Middle East, that have to do with Security Council pertinent resolutions on the matter, as well as those that are afflicting the African continent, where conflicts and instability still prevail, such as the case of Libya, Sahel Region and others conflicts of minor scale in other regions of the continent”.

Antigua and Barbuda
H.E. Gaston Alphonso Browne, Prime Minister and Minister for Finance and Corporate Governance
25 September 2020

No relevant references.

Argentina
H.E. Alberto Fernández, President
22 September 2020

No relevant references.

Armenia
H.E. Nikol Pashinyan, President
25 September 2020

Ceasefire: “I want to once again stress Armenia's unequivocal support to the Secretary-General’s appeal for a global ceasefire and UN Security Council Resolution 2532 on COVID-19, demanding general and immediate cessation of hostilities in all situations.”

Armed conflict/militarism/Armed drones/conventional weapons: “While global efforts were directed at coping with Covid-19, we have been witnessing deplorable attempts to destabilize peace and security in our region. This July Azerbaijan ventured yet 2 another act of aggression. The armed forces of Azerbaijan initiated a military offensive in the borderline Tavush region of Armenia.

As Armenia had called for an immediate de-escalation and agreed to end hostilities of hours after their outbreak, Azerbaijan continued targeting civilian population and infrastructure, and attacking Armenia’s borderline areas by employing artillery, heavy weaponry, UAV’s, and large infantry units. Moreover, the Azerbaijani authorities had also escalated their war threats, which crossed all the imaginable boundaries of a civilized world. Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Defense even threatened to launch a missile strike at the Nuclear Power Plant in Armenia, which is tantamount to a threat of “nuclear terrorism”. The July battles shattered the myth of Azerbaijan’s military superiority and validated the obvious that there is no military solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. It is long overdue for the Azerbaijani leadership to acknowledge this fact and renounce the use of force and threat of force in the context of the conflict resolution. 

Ceasefire: “The ceasefire must be strengthened by concrete actions on the ground. Renouncing bellicose rhetoric and hate speech, expanding OSCE monitors on the line of contact and the borders, establishing an investigative mechanism into ceasefire violations and setting up direct communication lines between commanders on the ground are essential in this regard.”

Militarism/Armed conflict: “Turkey directly threatens Armenia and puts on show aggressive military posturing by way of provocative joint military drills with Azerbaijan in close vicinity of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. Turkey builds its policies in our region on traditions of kinship, on exploiting conflicts, on the justification of the Armenian Genocide and on the impunity for that crime.”

Australia
H.E. Scott Morrison, Prime Minister
25 September 2020

Cyber/outer space: “Australia is helping to shape the norms for other emerging issues, also. Like ensuring states abide by agreed rules in cyber space, maintaining a peaceful outer space, and managing critical minerals resources.”

Nuclear weapons: “Australia is also committed to ongoing counter-proliferation efforts. We played a major role in negotiating the establishment of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization in the 1980s and 1990s, and we see it as a critical pillar of international peace and security today.”

Austria
H.E. Mr. Alexander Schallenberg, Federal Minister for European and International Affairs

26 September 2020

Armed conflict: “However, we continue to face numerous threats , some of which would have been familiar to those meeting in 1945: dozens of armed conflicts , nearly 80 Mio. forcibly displaced persons, as well as terrorism , political repression and extreme poverty.”

Arms: “Libya still suffers under a protracted conflict and the manifest disregard for the UN arms embargo.”

Autonomous weapons:This list would, however, be incomplete without a warning of autonomous weapons systems - machines with the power to decide, who lives and who dies. This is not science fiction, it is fast becoming a reality - a reality that the Secretary-General has rightly called both "politically unacceptable and morally repugnant". We have to act now, before the survival of civilians in a conflict zone is determined by an algorithm and before all constraints laid down in international humanitarian law become redundant and decisions are taken by killer-robots without any human control or ethical concerns. Austria will organize an international conference in Vienna next year to address this urgent issue. COVID-19 permitting, I invite all of you to participate!”

Bio weapons/cyber: There are also new and emerging threats: Cyber warfare and the risk of failing technological governance;  bioterrorism;  new geopolitical tensions due to an increasingly polycentric global system; and climate change as the potential future super-crisis.”

Digital: “Geopolitical trends that were present before the pandemic have gained further momentum:...increasing dissemination of misinformation and "alternative facts". The pandemic has proven again that false information can spread faster than the virus. It travels at the speed of thought. At a time when evidenced based decision-making is crucial, we witness an erosion of trust in experts, science and technology.

JCPOA: “The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with Iran hangs by a thread , which has led to a spiral of toughening positions.”

Nuclear/cyber: “And we all know that the next global disaster is lurking just around the corner, waiting to hit us. Be it climate change, nuclear disasters or cyber crime

Nuclear weapons: “Our call for a new digital humanism needs one further reflection: Today is the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons. My speech would not be complete without a strong appeal to get rid of these weapons once and for all. They pose an existential threat to life on this planet and cause tremendous human suffering.” 

Azerbaijan
H.E. Ilham Heydar oglu Aliyev, President
24 September 2020

Arms trade: “We are seriously concerned by increasing cases of arms supply to Armenia, especially right after the military provocation of Armenia in Tovuz district of Azerbaijan. Active military clashes at the state border stopped on July 16. Next day, starting from July 17 until September, we witnessed delivery of more than one thousand tons of military equipment to Armenia by militarycargo planes. Taking into account that Armenia is one of the poorest countries of the world and can not afford paying for weapons billions of US dollars, we assume that it gets weapons free of charge. Supply of weapons to an aggressor and a country that perpetrated ethnic cleansing significantly undermines the peace negotiations and encourages the occupying state to instigate new military provocations. In this context, we urge all countries to refrain from supplying arms to Armenia.”

Bahrain
H.M. King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa
24 September 2020

Ceasefire: “We hail here the call of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for a ceasefire in all conflict areas in the world to confront the pandemic, a call that has gained widespread global acceptance.”

Armed conflict: “In this context, the Kingdom of Bahrain calls for intensified efforts to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in accordance with the two-state solution. We consider this a cornerstone for achieving a just and comprehensive peace leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on the resolutions of international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative, in order enter a new stage of work in which we extend bridges of goodneighborly relations to build and develop the common interests of the countries of the region.”

Bahamas
H.M. Hubert Alexander Minnis, Prime Minister
26 September 2020

No relevant references.

Bangladesh
H.E. Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister
26 September 2020

No relevant references.

Barbados
H.E. Dr. Jerome X. Walcott, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade
29 September 2020

No relevant references.

Belarus
H.E. Vladimir Makei, Minister for Foreign Affairs
26 September 2020

No translation available.

Belgium
H.E.  Sophie Wilmes, Prime Minister, in charge of Beliris and Federal Cultural Institutions
26 September 2020

JCPOA: “The JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) agreement remains crucial to guarantee the exclusively peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear program. We must actively preserve this agreement as well as the non-proliferation regime.”

“The question of the imminent lifting of the embargo on conventional arms should not not jeopardize the nuclear agreement and its achievements. It's a top priority, for the region and its stability, for international security as well as for the global non-proliferation architecture.”

Belize
H.E. Mr. Wilfred P. Erlington, Minister of Foreign Affairs
29 September 2020

No relevant references.

Benin
H.E. S.E.M. Patrice Talon, President
29 September 2020

No relevant references.

Bhutan
H.E.  Lotay Tshering, Prime Minister
25 September 2020

No relevant references.

Bolivia
H.E. Jeanine Añez Chávez, Constitutional President
23 September 2020

No relevant references.

Bosnia and Herzegovina
H.E. Šefik Džaferović, Chairman of the Presidency
23 September 2020 

Ceasefire: “We offer full support to the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's call for global ceasefire, after the escalation of the coronavirus pandemic. Even though, recently, there has been a decrease of violence in Syria, we are quite aware of the fact that the conflict continues in sporadic forms, and are particularly concerned with an extremely difficult humanitarian situation of the internally displaced persons in Syria. We are concerned because no progress was achieved in ending the conflict in Libya, Yemen and Ukraine, and, therefore, we are calling for a more intense involvement of bodies of international community in order to achieve a permanent end of conflicts.”

Botswana
H.E. Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, President
24 September 2020 

Ceasefire: “We particularly appreciate the leadership provided by the UN Secretary-General during this unprecedented time, particularly his call for a global ceasefire, as well as an affordable COVID-19 vaccine that will be accessed by “every person, everywhere.” 

My delegation applauds the United Nation’s continued efforts to maintain global peace and security in the midst of a pandemic. We welcome the Secretary-General’s Appeal for Global Ceasefire and its intended effort of halting armed conflict to allow the world to focus on the more pressing and bigger battle against the pandemic”

Brazil
H.E. Jair Messias Bolsonaro, President
22 September 2020 

Cyber: "Brazil is thus open for the development of state-of-the-art technology and innovation efforts, such as 4.0 Industry, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology and 5G technology, with all partners who respect our sovereignty and cherish freedom and data protection."

Bulgaria
H.E. Boyko Borissov, Prime Minister
25 September 2020

Cyber: “The "infodemic" – the wave of true and false information, which overwhelmed people, has further heightened their concerns.”

Cyber/autonomous weapons: “The statements of the Alliance for Multilateralism, which Bulgaria joined on 26 September 2019, are in line with the four directions for UN action announced by the Secretary-General - cybersecurity, climate, security, and the fight against lethal autonomous weapons systems.”

Burkina Faso
H.E. Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, President
24 September 2020

No relevant references.

Burundi
H.E. Evariste Ndayishimiye, President
24 September 2020

No relevant references.

Cabo Verde
H.E. José Ulisses Correia e Silva, Prime Minister and Minister of Reform
26 September 2020

Nuclear weapons: “We have an opportunity to build a better and more sustainable world in the post-pandemic era, one that is… defined by the advent of peace and the reduction of conflict… more secure… no longer proliferating nuclear weapons… more focused on human rights… driven by sustainable and human development… and energized by greater cooperation in matters of security, economics, knowledge, science and technology, with benefits for all.”

Cambodia
H.E. Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister
26 September 2020

No relevant references.

Cameroon
H.E. Paul Biya, President
29 September 2020

Disarmament/DDR/ceasefire: “Since its creation, our Organization has been committed to conflict management and the preservation of peace. The proliferation of peacekeeping operations is an eloquent illustration of this. More than 70 peacekeeping missions are provided by UNP to support peace processes by initiating, among other things, disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and repatriation, ceasefire observation or maintenance operations. of public order.”

Canada
H.E. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister
25 September 2020

Cyber: “Because there are few consequences for countries that ignore international rules. For regimes that think might makes right. Few consequences for places where opposition figures are being poisoned while cyber tools and disinformation are being used to destabilize democracies.”

Central African Republic
H.E. Faustin Archange Touadera, President
24 September 2020

Nuclear weapons/WMD: “Faced with the many challenges facing humanity: security, environmental, climate, human mobility, human rights, terrorism, denuclearization, dismantling of weapons of mass destruction and the Covid-19 pandemic, the choice of the theme of this year, namely, ‘The Future We Want, the UN We Need: Reaffirming our Collective Commitment to Multilateralism,’ reaffirms to us that multilateralism has always been and remains an instrument to fight effectively against certain scourges and a means to minimize certain antagonisms at the international level.”

Disarmament, demobilisation, and reintegration (DDR): “The Government, within the framework of the Reform of the Security Sector, has made many advances, which will facilitate the gradual redeployment of the defense and security forces as well as the continuation of the national DDR program which has already been initiated in the coming periods.”

Arms trafficking/armed conflict: Despite the Government's goodwill in respecting the commitments contained in the Political Agreement, massive violations of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights continue to be perpetrated on the civilian populations by certain armed groups signatories of the said Agreement which are also continuing to rearm themselves through illicit means, thus undermining the process of peace and national reconciliation, a pledge of social cohesion.”

Chad
H.E. Marshal Idriss Deby Itno, President
25 September 2020

Ceasefire: “Internationally, we welcome the ceasefire in Libya, declared simultaneously by the President of the Council, the President of the Government of National Accord, and the President of the House of Representatives. Chad renews its appeal to the Security Council to take all its responsibilities to put an end to external interference. We once urge all stakeholders to respect the cease-fire, and to engage resolutely in a process of inclusive negotiations leading to a real national reconciliation.”

 “Regarding Sudan, Chad welcomes the signing on August 31, 2020 in Juba of a Peace Agreement between the Sudanese parties, thanks to mediation efforts, of which Chad is part of, under the leadership of President Salva Kiir Mayardit, of the Republic of South Sudan, whose involvement I salute! Chad invites other armed movements to join the process, in order to achieve a comprehensive and lasting peace that the Sudanese people so badly need.”

China
H.E Xi Jinping, President
22 September 2020

Militarism: “China is the largest developing country in the world, a country that is 7 committed to peaceful, open, cooperative and common development. We will never seek hegemony, expansion, or sphere of influence. We have no intention to fight either a Cold War or a hot war with any country. We will continue to narrow differences and resolve disputes with others through dialogue and negotiation.”

Chile
H.E. Sebastian Piñera, President
22 September 2020

No relevant references.

Colombia
H.E. Iván Duque Márquez, President
22 September 2020

No relevant references.

Comoros
H.E. Azali Assoumani, President
24 September 2020

No relevant references.

Congo
H.E. Denis Sassou Nguesso, President
24 September 2020

Armed conflict: “The Republic of Congo is concerned about the resurgence of terrorism and violent extremism as well as the predominance of armed conflicts in the world.”

Nuclear weapons: “The 75th anniversary of the UN coincides with that of the first nuclear test. Humanity should forever ban the use of nuclear weapons.”

Costa Rica
H.E  Carlos Alvarado Quesada, President
22 September 2020

Weapons trafficking: “Solidarity and multilateralism take on greater meaning today. Altruism and supreme values must guide us, not only because they are correct, but because today both the altruistic and the selfish interests come together in the understanding that there will be no individual or national welfare, if there is no shared and global welfare. This is true for combating covid19, to address migration, to fight against illegal trafficking of people, weapons or drugs, to fight poverty and for development, for human security, for women's rights , and against the threat of the climate crisis. We must ensure that even the most selfish understand it, and we all work as a team.”

Military spending/militarism: “If we have learned anything from this pandemic, it is that we cannot speak of security and consider it human security. However, global military spending continues to grow in the world and reached the absurd sum of 1.9 trillion dollars in 2019, according to the Stockholm International Institute for Peace Research, SIPRI. Military spending growth in 2019 was the largest annual increase in the last decade and the highest level since the end of the Cold War. The International Peace Office estimates that the cost of a war tank could treat 26,000 people against malaria and that, with the cost of an aircraft carrier, an area larger than the State of Florida could be reforested. This is also equivalent to the size of Switzerland, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Belgium combined. If at least a fraction of all those resources were used to combat the pandemic, as well as the climate crisis, our generation could proudly say that it knew how to redefine its priorities when circumstances required it. Priorities that the permanent members of the Security Council, —which are in turn the world's largest arms producers—should help redirect in light of Article 26 of the Charter. The Security Council, in turn, should change its name and adopt the Human Security Council.”

Disarmament/militarism: “Prioritizing today means: less weapons, more resources for development. More resources to fight the pandemic, more resources to counter the climate crisis, more resources for the SDGs. And less militarization and death. That is the true human security of the peoples.”

Disarmament/demilitarisation: “The reform of our collective security architecture cannot be postponed any longer. This means that the main body in charge of maintaining international peace and security has to be more democratic, representative, accountable and transparent. A Council that examines the root causes of conflict and not just its symptoms. A Human Security Council that creates incentives to transfer human and economic resources of the world towards development and peace and not towards the war industry. A Council capable of overcoming its deep internal divisions to work together and with one voice.”

Nuclear weapons: “A selective approach also weakens our collective security system. This approach is what has made the nuclear-weapon States ignore or threaten to ignore the obligations emanating from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, while demanding them for others. I invite all States that have not yet done so, to sign and ratify this historic instrument.”

Nuclear weapons/DPRK: “In this sense, Costa Rica advocates for a Korean peninsula free of nuclear weapons, with peace, stability and security, and for this it demands that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea respect and apply the resolutions of the Security Council on this matter.”

Cyber: “Numerous violations of international law are committed every day through disinformation, cyberattacks, cybercrime and interference in electoral processes. In this regard, Costa Rica welcomes the resolutions of the General Assembly in which all Member States are urged to be guided by the reports of the Group of Government Experts, which confirm the applicability of current international law, including the Charter in its entirety, to this new area. But the international community has the pending task of providing greater guarantees to people and institutions in these matters.”

Côte d’Ivoire
H.E  Alassane Ouattara, President
24 September 2020

Nuclear weapons: “I remain convinced that we must support and revitalize multilateralism, the only one capable of guaranteeing lasting international peace and stability. Those challenged by global warming, poverty, terrorism and the persistence of the nuclear threat and armed conflicts, among others, further legitimize this new multilateral ambition to which my country subscribes.”

Croatia
H.E. Andrej Plenković, President
25 September 2020

Cyber: “We need a secure digital infrastructure as well as an eco-friendly Internet, since the ICT industry uses already over 10% of all electricity – which is more than the energy produced by all world's nuclear power plants together – and this share is growing at an exponential rate. Therefore, to make the digital economy sustainable and avoid that it poses new challenges in the future, we need additional investments in this area, while favouring the use of renewable energies, as well as an adequate legal framework regulating this ever more important field." 

"Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic has also opened the door for the spread of another insidious but less obvious pandemic. The emergence and convergence of different groups and phenomena that thrive on fake news, trolling, deliberate disinformation, media illiteracy and general ignorance is a cause for serious concern. Particularly appalling have been the cyber-attacks against the health institutions fighting the pandemic. Unfortunately, there is no quick fix. There can be no curative vaccine against fake news. In this respect, we welcome the growing responsible approach by major tech companies and media outlets. Yet, much more needs to be done, and both public and private actors need to cooperate in this endeavour in order to allow societies to build resilience against hybrid threats and cyber-attacks.” 

Arms control/WMD: “We must also not forget about the threats and dangers such as terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, but also corruption and trafficking of illegal drugs.” 

Arms control/NPT/disarmament/SALW/conventional weapons: “Another important anniversary we commemorate this year is the field of arms control, and that is the 50th anniversary of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), our valued multilateral instrument for preventing nuclear proliferation and achieving nuclear disarmament. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we had to postpone the 2020 NPT Conference to a later date. Considering that the 2015 Review conference failed to reach a consensus on a substantive final declaration, it is of high importance to have a successful Conference this time, hopefully no later than April next year. It is also essential not to ignore the threat posed by the illegal trade and misuse of small arms and light weapons. Croatia holds the 2020 Plenary Chair of the Wassenaar Arrangement, the first worldwide mechanism on export controls for conventional weapons and sensitive dual-use goods and technologies. We shall continue to advocate the increasing importance of effective multilateral action on tackling illegal arms transfer and build-up.”

Ceasefire: “The pandemic could exacerbate further existing regional conflicts and global security challenges. Therefore, Croatia fully supports the Secretary General’s call for a global cease-fire.”

Cuba
H.E Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermúdez, President
22 September 2020

Militarism / military spending: “Over 1.9 trillion dollars are being squandered today in a senseless arms race promoted by the aggressive and war-mongering policies of imperialism, whose leader is the present government of the US, which accounts for 38 percent of the global military expenditure.”

JCPOA / arms control / disarmament / cyber / armed conflict: “Paradoxically, the country where the UN headquarters is located is also staying away from fundamental international treaties such as the Paris Agreement on climate change; it rejects the nuclear agreement with Iran reached by consensus; it promotes trade wars; it ends its commitment with international disarmament control instruments; it militarizes cyberspace; it expands coercion and unilateral sanctions against those who do not bend to its designs and sponsors the forcible overthrow of sovereign governments through non-conventional war methods.”

Cyprus
H.E. Nicos Anastasiades, President
24 September 2020

Militarism: “Needless to remind that Cyprus and its people still suffer from the 1974 illegal military invasion, the consequent military occupation of 37 percent of our country and the forcible displacement of 40 percent of its population.”

Czech Republic
H.E. Andrej Babiš, President
25 September 2020

Cyber: “But as we are in the global arena, let me revert to more universal issues. The pandemic has accelerated three major global trends that undermine effective multilateralism: 1) global geopolitical confrontation, 2) increasing political and economic fragmentation, 3) a clash between personal freedoms and technological surveillance, including the tendency for a faster introduction of artificial intelligence into the health sector.”

Cyber: “The Czech Republic, like many other countries not merely in Europe, has had its own unfortunate experience with cyber-attacks against our hospitals. These acts simply make the effects of the pandemic worse. We call on all countries to work together through the UN to protect hospitals and other critical civilian infrastructure from future cyber-attacks. There is no better time than now to show that the international community will not tolerate aggressive cyber behaviour and that it is ready to work in a coordinated manner to become more resilient.”

Ceasefire: “The Czech Republic, together with a majority of Member States, has endorsed the Secretary General’s call for a global ceasefire. This is the time for peace. Promotion of international peace, rule of law and peaceful settlement of disputes are our key foreign policy objectives. Effective conflict prevention and mediation are the essential tools.”

Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
H.E. Kim Song, Permanent Representative to the United Nations
29 September 2020

Nuclear weapons: “The nuclear threat on DPRK continues unabated along with all sorts of hostile acts taking place before the very eyes. It is an undeniable reality of today that cutting-edge military hardware including stealth fighters continue to be introduced into the Korean peninsula and nuclear strike means of all kinds are directly aimed at the DPRK. The conclusion we have drawn is that peace never comes of itself by mere wish of one side and it is not granted by someone else either. In the present world, where high-handedness based on strength is rampant, genuine peace can only be safeguarded when one possesses the absolute strength to prevent war itself. As we have obtained the reliable and effective war deterrent for self-defence by tightening our belts, peace and security of the Korean peninsula and the region are now firmly defended.”

Democratic Republic of the Congo
H.E. Félix Antoine Tshilombo Tshisekedi, President
22 September 2020

Armed conflict: “The prevailing security situation in the eastern part of the country remains of concern. Peace there is not yet been found. Some residual elements of armed groups, as well as nationals and foreigners, are still active there and continue to spread death and desolation. They attack not only the elements of our armed forces, but also MONUSCO peacekeepers who assure us of their logistical support, as well as to the civilian population. All this, with the aim of undermining the efforts of the Government for the stability of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the region.”

"These armed groups engage in unconventional and asymmetric. warfare. They act in complete ignorance of the value of human rights and commit massive human rights abuses and violations of human beings, in particular through rape and repeated massacres of civilian populations in isolated corners in the east of the country...It is observed that in general that these groups have the means that allow them to continue their activities. These resources often come from the illicit exploitation of resources, through well-established networks and, without a doubt, with the help of some brokers. We cannot, in fact, neutralize armed groups without eradicating theirsources of supply and support...".

Denmark
H.E. Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister
25 September 2020

No relevant references.

Djibouti
H.E. Ismaël Omar Guelleh, President
23 September 2020

Ceasefire: “The Secretary-General's call for a ceasefire has been widely heard and we support his exhortation to the international community to ‘redouble its efforts so that it becomes a reality by end of the year ‘.”

Dominica
29 September 2020

Statement not yet available.

Dominican Republic
H.E. Luis Rodolfo Abinader Corona, President
23 September 2020

Armed conflict: “The UN knows that it has the solid commitment of the Dominican Republic to defend these values; to advance towards higher levels of human dignity that promote policies to guarantee equality between men and women, as well as protect children affected by armed conflicts, or at risk of being sold as slaves, prostituted or used for pornography. Appalling realities happening on our planet today, that we have a moral mandate to eradicate once and for all.”

Ecuador
H.E. Lenin Moreno Garcés, President
23 September 2020

Ceasefire: “Recently, 172 countries supported the Secretary General’s call for a global ceasefire and to silence all arms. We trust that this call and the Security Council resolution will serve as a first step in achieving definitive and sustainable peace in all corners of the planet.” 

TPNW/Nuclear weapons/disarmament: “Recently, the commemoration of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki reminded us of the devastating consequences of nuclear weapons. This is why we welcome the forthcoming entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. The pandemic should be an additional reason to accelerate disarmament obligations and free up resources necessary for revitalization.” 

Egypt
H.E Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, President
22 September 2020

No translation available.

Equatorial Guinea
Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, President
24 September 2020

Armed conflict/small arms and light weapons: “The sad reality is that most of the conflicts that affect the world are still active, the long-lasting conflicts took the situation in Syria, the clashes in Libya, the war in Yemen, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the situation in Afghanistan, the instability in the Middle East, the conflict in the Central African Republic, the war in Somalia etc. There is still no solution to a clear and just solution to those problems that are aggravated by phenomena such as the illicit trafficking of small and light arms, the plundering of resources.”

Eritrea
H.E. Mr. Isaias Afwerki, President
29 September 2020

No relevant references.

Estonia
H.E Kersti Kaljulaid, President
24 September 2020

Cyber:  “Leaders globally must understand that digital services do not by themselves rid any country from fat bureaucracy, corruption or inefficiency. By digitalising these problems we can only make things worse, unless we simultaneously rise transparency and straighten out our processes. Thus digitalisation can make our states more efficient and bring closer to our people. 

...

In a way the pandemic and its aftermath gives us an opportunity for a great global technological leap. Digital solutions can make our societies more equal, more resilient, more accessible and sustainable. But digital development comes also with its vulnerabilities and risks that is associated with cyber security. As an elected member of the UN Security Council since January this year we have kept our campaign promise to bring it to the formal table of the Security Council. Which we did already in March and continued in May. Because Estonia has the habit of keeping its word.” 

Eswatini
H.E. Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini, Prime Minister
25 September 2020

Nuclear weapons: “We welcome the mandated events that are scheduled to be held on the margins of the General Assembly this year, namely the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women, the high-level meeting to commemorate and promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons and the Summit on Biodiversity. We trust that these events shall be a success.”

Ethiopia
H.E. Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister
25 September 2020

No relevant references.

European Union
H.E Charles Michel, President of the European Council
25 September 2020

WMD: “Fighting impunity also means demanding an independent and credible investigation when the Russian opposition leader Navalny is the victim of an assassination attempt with chemical weapons.”

JCPOA: “The Iran Nuclear Deal remains key for global non-proliferation and regional security. It is therefore essential to preserve the JCPOA and for all parties to fully implement it. The agreement endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 2231 remains in place and for us there is no doubt that the sanctions lifting commitments under the agreement continue to apply. While we strongly support the preservation of the Iran deal, we continue to firmly address other concerns, such as the domestic and the regional situation.”

Fiji
H.E. Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, Prime Minister and Minister for iTaukei Affairs, Sugar Industry, and Foreign Affairs
26 September 2020

No relevant references.

Finland
H.E Sauli Niinistö, President
23 September 2020

Cyber/nuclear weapons/arms control: “New actors and new technologies create new kinds of challenges. Old structures and old instruments alone will not be sufficient to respond to them. But discarding existing frameworks would create a dangerous vacuum. Nuclear weapons are becoming a particularly worrying example. With one agreement after the other lapsing, we soon risk losing even the last elements of nuclear arms control. It would be of fundamental importance for the nuclear weapons states to find a way to build mutual understanding and trust. Also in this regard, we support the idea of a closer dialogue between the permanent members of the Security Council. And it does not stop at arms control. At the end of the day, the entire UN system cannot function unless the P5 countries are able to work together.” 

Ceasefire: “As any global crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, too, can have negative effects on peace and security across the world. It can intensify existing conflicts, stall peace processes and wake up dormant tensions. But it can also offer opportunities for peace. The Secretary-General’s call for a global ceasefire was a strong appeal for conflict parties to lay down their weapons. “

France
H.E Emmanuel Macron, President
22 September 2020

Ceasefire: "We work with all of our partners in the neighboring countries of Libya to obtain a lasting ceasefire, then initiate a process that allows a political resolution of the conflict under the aegis of the United Nations..."

Chemical weapons: “Likewise, we will not tolerate chemical weapons being employed in Europe, Russia and Syria. In the name of collective security, I repeat here to Russia, the need for full light to be shed on the attempted assassination against a political opponent using a nerve agent, Novichok."

DPRK: "On North Korea, we supported the efforts led by the United States of America to allow the initiation of a negotiation. Even if tangible results do not are not yet there, these initiatives were important and what we expect now are gestures of concrete commitments on the part of North Korea. It must comply with the resolutions of the Security Council and engage quickly and in good faith in a process of complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization. It's the only possible way to achieve a political solution, a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula. This is essential for regional stability and security as well as for peace and security."

JCPOA: "The maximum pressure strategy committed for several years has not at this stage made it possible to put an end to destabilizing activities of Iran, nor to ensure that it will not be able to acquire the weapon nuclear. This is why France, which you will remember, is not the country which initiated negotiation, then designed the JCPoA agreement. But France, with its partners, Germany and the UK, will maintain its demand for the full implementation of the 2015 Vienna Accord and will not accept the violations committed by Iran. We will not compromise on a mechanism that the United States, having left the agreement, are not in a position to activate. It would undermine the unity of the Security Council, the integrity of its decisions, and that would run the risk of aggravating still tensions in the region. But we need to build a useful framework for action over time:  that is, the ability to complete the 2015 agreement. First to ensure that in the long run, Iran will never accede to nuclear weapons, but also by ensuring that we are going to respond to Iran's ballistic activity but also to its destabilizations of the region."

WMD: “The first principle or the first its objective is the fight against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and against the terrorism which primarily threatens our collective security.”

Gabon
H.E. Ali Bongo Ondimba, President
24 September 2020

Small arms and light weapons: “The price of instability, combined with the effects of terrorism, hotbeds of tension and multifaceted destabilization, is particularly heavy for many African countries. Indeed, they are forced to devote significant resources to these phenomena, which are fueled, among other things, by the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons and the trafficking of species of wild fauna and flora.”

The Gambia
H.E Adama Barrow, Head of State
24 September 2020

Cyber: “The pandemic has exposed and worsen the disadvantages of the digital divide in the world, especially in the field of education delivery. Millions of people around the world cannot access virtual classrooms due to the persistent inability to access the Internet. Access to cyberspace has become the defining feature at work and in education. Through enhanced partnerships in the implementation of SDG 4, developing countries need support to overcome the digital gap, and create equal opportunities to access information and quality education, including vocational and ICT skills.” 

Armed Conflict/Arms control: “The international community must not relent in its efforts to restore peace and stability in Mali, Somalia, South Sudan, the Central African Republic and other trouble spots. I submit that The United Nations and regional organisations should do more to disrupt the activities of all armed terrorist and criminal networks. In addition, the African Union’s efforts to silence the guns on the continent deserve continued international support for greater peace and stability on the African continent.”

Georgia
H.E Giorgi Gakharia, Prime Minister
25 September 2020

Armed conflict: “With illegal military training exercises and borderization, the installation of barbed wire fences and other artificial barriers, the occupation is taking a heavy toll primarily on the conflict-affected population, which is in a state of humanitarian crisis: they are deprived of access to their own homes and lands, forced to live in a reality in which passages are closed and families are further torn apart on a daily basis, with their freedom of movement, property rights, education rights, and access to basic medical services taken away. Local residents have been kidnapped, tortured, and killed.”

Armed conflict/ceasefire: “The policy chosen by the Government of Georgia seeks to achieve peace through dialogue and resolve the conflict peacefully. This involves ensuring the implementation of the August 3 12, 2008 Ceasefire Agreement on the one hand, and reconciliation, confidence-building, and restoration of relations between the war-torn communities on the other.”

Armed conflict/WMD: “It has been voiced repeatedly here that all UN member states are equal, and the pandemic has made this clear; it showed us that in the face of common adversity, we must unite and use the unique capabilities of each state. Unfortunately, COVID-19 is not the only international challenge. There are many others, such as armed conflicts, poverty, climate change, natural and technogenic disasters, terrorism and international crime, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and many others.” 

Germany
H.E Heiko Maas, Minister of Foreign Affairs
29 September 2020

Ceasefire: “The Secretary-General’s call for a global ceasefire, which was adopted in the Security Council under Germany’s Presidency in July, is falling on deaf ears in many places. This is not only a problem as far as credibility of the Security Council is concerned.  It is, first and foremost, a disaster for millions of people in war and crisis areas who are utterly defenceless in the face of the pandemic.”

Chemical Weapons: “This isn’t the first time that we have been confronted by a violation of an existential principle of international cooperation, namely the banning of chemical weapons. A violation of this – as we have been able to prove together with our partners in the poisoning of Alexei Navalny – is a problem for the entire international community. I call on Russia to do more to investigate this case. A case such as this must have consequences. The EU therefore reserves the right to impose sanctions.”

Arms control/nuclear weapons/disarmament/NPT: “We can continue to violate arms control treaties – thereby destroying trust that has been built up over many decades. Or we can put nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation back on the international agenda – as we have done in recent months, not least with a view to the upcoming Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation Treaty.” 

JCPOA: “Europe’s efforts to promote the nuclear agreement with Iran must also be seen in this context. Yes, we share the concerns about the end of the arms embargo as long as Iran threatens Israel and destabilises the entire region from Lebanon to Syria to Yemen. However, the destruction of the JCPOA doesn’t get us any closer to an arms embargo. On the contrary, at best, the JCPOA’s demise brings Iran closer to getting the atomic bomb. And this is why we, as JCPOA participants, continue to stand by its full applicability and call on Iran to likewise fully comply with the agreement.”

Ghana
H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President
23 September 2020

No relevant references.

Greece
H.E Kyriakos Mitsotakis, President
25 September 2020

No relevant references.

Grenada
H.E. C. Peter David, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Labour
29 September 2020

No relevant references.

Guatemala
H.E. Pedro Brolo Vila, Minister for Foreign Affairs
29 September 2020

Nuclear weapons/TPNW/nuclear disarmament: “Among the threats the world faces now, the use of nuclear weapons is one of the greatest risks to the existence of humanity. Guatemala reiterates its position in favor of a complete, irreversible and transparent nuclear disarmament within established timelines, and condemns any nuclear test or threat of the use of force with this type of weapon that puts the continuation of life on earth at risk. The early entry into force of the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons is of great relevance.”

Guinea
H.E. Alpha Condé, President
24 September 2020

Armed conflict: “Guinea welcomes the launch of the decade of action for the SDGs which calls for increasing our ambitions and accelerating the implementation of suitable and lasting solutions to the challenges of poverty, gender inequality, conflicts, climate change and the financial gap in the implementation of the SDGs.”

Guinea-Bissau
H.E. Úmaro Sissoco Embaló, President
24 September 2020

No relevant references.

Guyana
H.E. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President

23 September 2020

No relevant references.