UNGA Disarmament Index 2018: H-R

This is an index of all references made to issues of disarmament and arms control made during the 73rd General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly from 25 September - 1 October 2018.

A-G | H-R | S-Z

Haiti
H.E. Mr. Jovenel Moïse, President
27 September 2018

DPRK: "Last year, at that time, the sudden tensions of the Korean crisis had reached their climax, dangerously threatening international peace. Today, fortunately, the escalation has given way to a promising dialogue between the United States of America and North Korea. It is to be welcomed and to commend the courageous efforts of the US and North American leaders, while hoping that the historic Singapore Summit of 12 June will pave the way for a comprehensive peace and security agreement. complete nucleation of the Korean peninsula."

Militarism/Yemen: "While it is fitting to congratulate ourselves on the easing of tensions in some hot spots of the world, it is clear that we are far from the era of generalized deterrence. On the contrary, new hotbeds of crisis are emerging and testifying to an alarming resurgence of the logic of war as a way of settling conflicts. The horrors of the civil war in Yemen are a tragic illustration of the logic of the confrontation prevailing in particular in the Arabian Gulf."

Holy Sea
H.E. Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary of Relations with States
1 October 2018

WMD/Landmines/Cluster Munitions/SALW: “The Holy See underlines the deep bonds between the promotion of the culture of peace and the strengthening of disarmament and non-proliferation efforts. The proliferation of weapons in fact aggravates conflicts and generates vast human and material costs hindering human and economic development and the search for lasting peace. As the Secretary-General’s Report emphasizes, we need to reinvigorate disarmament because it is pivotal to preserving human security through the prevention of conflict and the reduction of violence,... [to] saving lives and ensuring a safer world. In this perspective, the Holy See is firmly committed to the full implementation of the disarmament and nonproliferation Treaties and Program of Actions in the nuclear, chemical and biological weapons fields, as well as those relating to cluster munition, antipersonnel mines and small arms and light weapons."

Honduras
H.E. Mr. Juan Orlando Hernández Alvarado, President
26 September 2018

Armed conflict: "In my country, after Hondurans and my government stood up to armed non-state actors, they started to threaten the electoral process, and consequently democracy and the constitutional state."

"I urge that we have a resolution that recognises that the criminal armed gangs are considered non-state entities, that violate human rights and that attack states’ stability."

Iceland
H.E. Mr. Gudlaugur Thór Thórdarson, Minister for Foreign Affairs
28 September 2018

No relevant references.

India
H.E. Mrs. Sushma Swaraj, Minister of External Affairs
29 September 2018

No relevant references.

Indonesia
H.E. Mr. Muhammad Jusuf Kalla, Vice-President
27 September 2018

No relevant references.

Iran
H.E. Mr. Hassan Rouhani, President
25 September 2018

JCPOA: “The government of the United States—at least the current administration—seems determined to render all international institutions ineffectual. This government, having withdrawn from a multilateral agreement adopted by the Security Council, in contravention of the rules and norms of international law, invites the Islamic Republic of Iran to bilateral talks. [...] On what basis and criteria can we enter into an agreement with an administration misbehaving such as this? Any talks should be within the framework and in continuation of the JCPOA and Security Council resolution 2231, and not in a framework of breaching them and reverting to the past. It is ironic that the US government does not even conceal its plan for overthrowing the same government it invites to talks!”

“We are pleased that the international community did not acquiesce to the US government’s unilateral and illegal withdrawal from the JCPOA and adopted a categorical position vis-à-vis that decision. The JCPOA is the outcome of more than a decade of diplomatic efforts and a period of intensive negotiations to resolve an artificial crisis. This document was unanimously approved by Security Council resolution 2231 and codified into an international obligation. According to this resolution, all countries and international and regional organizations were called upon to support the implementation of the JCPOA, and to refrain from any actions that undermine implementation of commitments under the JCPOA.”

“Based on 12 consecutive reports of the International Atomic Energy Agency – the IAEA – Iran has thus far complied with all of its commitments.”

“The United States also pressures other countries to violate the nuclear accord. And more dangerously, the United States is threatening all countries and international organizations with punishment if they comply with Security Council resolution 2231. It is the first time in the history of the United Nations that such ‘a general invitation to violation of law’ is coupled with ‘threatening law-abiders with punishment.’ This is not just peculiar to the JCPOA, but a pattern that even applies to the US approach to the International Criminal Court. [...] We appreciate the efforts of the international community, the European Union, Russia, and China in supporting the implementation of the JCPOA and consider the full realization of the commitments stipulated in it a precondition for the survival of this significant accomplishment of diplomacy.”

“Dialogue is two-way: it should be based on equality, justice, and human integrity and honor, and conducted in accordance with the rules and norms of international law. UN Security Council resolution 2231 is not a ‘piece of paper’. We invite you to return to that Council resolution. We invite you to come back to the negotiating table you left. If you dislike the JCPOA because it is the legacy of your domestic political rivals, then we invite you to come back to the Security Council resolution. We invite you to remain in the international institutions. Do not engage in imposing sanctions. Sanctions and extremism are two sides of the same coin: Extremism involves negating the thinking of others, and sanctions negate the life and prosperity of people.”

NPT/JCPOA: “The approach of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the field of foreign policy has been based on multilateralism and compliance with the recognized principles of international law. Our respect for the Non-Proliferation Treaty and the long and difficult negotiations with the Group of 5+1, which led to the conclusion of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action—the JCPOA—illustrates a clear manifestation of this approach.”

Nuclear weapons: “What Iran says is clear: no war, no sanctions, no threats, no bullying; just acting according to the law and the fulfillment of obligations. We support peace and democracy in the entire Middle East. We consider nuclear knowledge an imperative and nuclear weapons prohibited.”

“The most pressing crisis in the Middle East, however, is the question of Palestine. The passage of time cannot – and must not –justify occupation. The innumerable crimes of Israel against the Palestinians would not have been possible without the material and military assistance, and political and propaganda support of the United States. Israel, equipped with a nuclear arsenal and blatantly threatening others with nuclear annihilation, presents the most daunting threat to regional and global peace and stability.”

Iraq
H.E. Mr. Ibrahim Abdulkarim Al-Jafari, Minister for Foreign Affairs
28 September 2018

WMDs/ Chemical Weapons: "Fight more broadly against proliferation of nuclear weapons and WMDS and ensure that they are eradicated to ensure and safe and secure future for upcoming generations. We support the universalization of all disarmament-related conventions. As far as we are concerned, pursuing the provisions of these conventions would ensure a genuine end to armament and ensure that these weapons are not used again. Iraq has played a heavy price for the use of WMDS, particularly during in the era of the dictatorship, when the population of Al-Halabja when chemical weapons were used against that town."

Ireland
H.E. Mr. Simon Coveney, Deputy Prime Minister
28 September 2018

NPT/TPNW: “Ireland is proud of the historic role we played in the development of the Non-Proliferation Treaty in the last Century. The NPT demonstrates what States can achieve together in the spirit of peace and cooperation. However, we also have a responsibility to remain ambitious in the pursuit of the total elimination of nuclear weapons. Our efforts to promote the adoption of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons reflect this.”

EWIPA: "Ireland is deeply concerned by the persistent use of explosive weapons in populated areas in armed conflicts across the globe. Civilian populations continue to bear the brunt of armed conflicts and we all must redouble our efforts to fulfil the Secretary-General’s call to address this challenge.”

DPRK: “We continue to call on the DPRK to abide by its obligations under relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and its international commitments, and to abandon all nuclear and other Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and ballistic missile programmes in a complete, verifiable, and irreversible manner.”

Israel
H.E. Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister
27 September

Nuclear weapons/JCPOA: “Of the nearly 200 countries that sit in this hall, only Israel openly opposed the nuclear deal with Iran. We oppose it because it threatens our future, even our very survival. We oppose it because the deal paved Iran’s path to a nuclear arsenal. And by lifting the sanctions, it’s fueled Iran’s campaign of carnage and conquest throughout the Middle East. [...] We oppose it, we oppose it because the deal was based on a fundamental lie—that Iran is not seeking to develop nuclear weapons.”

“Israel exposed that lie earlier this year. Last February, Israeli conducted a daring raid on Iran’s secret atomic archive. We obtained over 100,000 documents and videos that had been stashed in vaults in an innocent looking building in the heart of Tehran.”

“I presented a short summary of what we obtained to the international media. I provided hard evidence of Iran’s plans to build nuclear weapons and its plans to deceive the international community. Israel shared this information and even more damning evidence that we found with members of the P5+1, and with the International Atomic Energy Agency.”

“I decided to reveal today something else that we have shared with the IAEA and with a few intelligence agencies. (...) I am disclosing for the first time that Iran has another secret facility in Tehran—a secret atomic warehouse for storing massive amounts of equipment and materiel from Iran’s secret nuclear weapons program. In May, we exposed the site of Iran’s secret atomic archive, right here, in the Shor-abad District of Tehran. Today I’m revealing the site of a second facility— Iran’s secret atomic warehouse. It’s right here, in the Turquz-abad District of Tehran, just there miles away.”

“Let me show you exactly what the secret atomic warehouse looks like. Here it is. You see, like the atomic archive, it’s another innocent looking compound. Now for those of you at home using Google Earth, this no-longer-secret atomic warehouse is on Maher Alley, Maher Street. You have the coordinates, you can try to get there.”

“Countries with satellite capabilities may notice some increased activity on Maher Alley in the days and weeks ahead. The people they’ll see scurrying back and forth are Iranian officials desperately trying to finish the job of cleaning up that site. Because (...) since we raided the atomic archive, they’ve been busy cleaning out the atomic warehouse. Just last month, they removed 15 kilograms of radioactive material. (...) They had 15 kilograms of radioactive material, they had to get it out of the site, so they took it out and they spread it around Tehran in an effort to hide the evidence. The endangered residents of Tehran may want to know that they can get a Geiger counter on Amazon for only $29.99. (...) They took this radioactive material and spread it around Tehran.”

“The Iranian officials cleaning out that site still have a lot of work to do because they’ve had at least, at least 15 ship containers, they’re gigantic, 15 ship containers full of nuclear related equipment and material stored there. Now, since each of those containers can hold 20 tons of material, this means that this site contains as much as 300 tons, 300 tons of nuclear related equipment and material.”

“You have to ask yourself a question. Why did Iran keep a secret atomic archive and a secret atomic warehouse? Because (...) when South Africa and Libya, (...) gave up their nuclear programs, the first thing they did was to destroy both the archives and the material and equipment. (..) The reason Iran didn’t destroy its atomic archive and its atomic warehouse is because it hasn’t abandoned its goal to develop nuclear weapons. In fact, it planned to use both of these sites in a few years when the time would be right to break out to the atom bomb.”

“Mr. Amano, do the right thing. Go inspect this atomic warehouse, immediately, before the Iranians finish clearing it out.”

“Three years ago, a few weeks after the nuclear deal was completed, I asked this question from this very podium: Does anyone seriously believe that flooding Iran’s radical theocracy with weapons and cash will curb its appetite for aggression? But many of the deal’s supporters believed just that. They believed that Iran’s regime would become more moderate, more peaceful. They believed that Iran would use the billions of dollars it received in sanctions relief to improve the lives of its people—to solve the water problem, to solve the trucking problem, to solve the electricity problem, hospitals, schools… That’s what they believed, and perhaps many of you also believed that.”

Military bases: “In Syria, Iran is trying to establish permanent military bases against us and has already launched missiles and drones into our territory. In Gaza, Iran is arming terror groups to launch rocket attacks into our cities and terror attacks against our civilians. In Lebanon, Iran is directing Hezbollah to build secret sites to convert inaccurate projectiles into precision guided missiles, missiles that can target deep inside Israel within an accuracy of ten meters. (...) Hezbollah, (...) is deliberately using the innocent people of Beirut as human shields. They have placed three of these missile conversion sites alongside Beirut’s international airport.”

Italy
H.E. Mr. Giuseppe Conte, President of the Council of Ministers
26 September 2018

No relevant references.

Jamaica
H.E. Mr. Andrew Holness, Prime Minister
27 September 2018

SALW: “Jamaica is especially interested in the efforts to build a secure environment through combating the illicit traffic and trade in small arms and light weapons.”

Japan
H.E. Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister
25 September 2018

DPRK: “Japan’s policy of seeking to settle the unfortunate past and normalize its relations with North Korea once the abductions, nuclear, and missile issues are resolved will not change. We will be unstinting in our assistance to unleash the potential North Korea holds.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, from this very location at this time last year, I strongly urged North Korea to resolve its abductions, nuclear, and missile issues. As someone who appealed for the full implementation of all relevant UN Security Council resolutions, I pay the greatest interest in changes of North Korea.”

“In order to resolve the abductions issue, I am also ready to break the shell of mutual distrust with North Korea, get off to a new start, and meet face to face with Chairman Kim Jong-Un. At present, nothing has been decided regarding a Japan-North Korea summit meeting, but if we are going to hold one, then I am determined it must be a meeting that contributes to the resolution of the abductions issue.”

Jordan
H.H. Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
25 September 2018

No relevant references.

Kazakhstan
H.E. Mr. Kairat Abdrakhmanov, Minister for Foreign Affairs
28 September 2018

Nuclear-Weapons-Free-Zones: “Our shared goal is creating in our region of Central Asia and beyond a model for a zone of peace, security, trust, development and cooperation. Several features of such a zone are already in place, as exemplified by the Council of the Turkic Speaking States, the International Aral Sea Fund and its last Summit, that demonstrated strong political collaboration amongst regional leaders, the Nuclear Weapons Free Zone in Central Asia and other mechanisms.”

“The creation of nuclear weapon free zones remains one of the most effective measures in combating the spread of WMD. With this in mind, President Nursultan Nazarbayev proposed strengthening the cooperation between nuclear weapons free zones and convening inter-zone conferences on a regular basis. Astana proposes hosting the first such meeting.”

WMD: “Today, the ability to show global leadership and responsibility is challenged by the numerous threats – from spread of weapons – conventional and of mass destruction, as well as terrorism, extremism, organized crime, and all forms of trafficking, to food, water, energy and health insecurities.”

Nuclear Weapons: “My country has proven itself to be a moral leader in nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, having renounced the world's fourth largest nuclear arsenal and the world's largest nuclear test site in Semipalatinsk. We call upon all other countries to follow our example as nuclear weapons do not ensure either real power or true protection.”

“The early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty remains a key goal for us. Our country, one of the most impacted by the harmful consequences of nuclear tests, is making great efforts to reach Global Zero. We therefore sponsored General Assembly resolution 64/35 that established the International Day against Nuclear Tests.”

TPNW: “Kazakhstan signed the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons on 2 March 2018, following its engaged participation in the elaboration and adoption of the Treaty. Now we are processing its ratification.”

DPRK: “We are also steadfastly advocating for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and call on all the parties involved to agree on mutually acceptable conditions to keep the negotiation process on.”

JCPOA/Chemical Weapons: “We also support preserving and ensuring the proper implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) for Iran and the thorough investigation of chemical crimes in Syria, and also preventing chemical terrorism.

Kenya
H.E. Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta, President
26 September 2018

No relevant references.

Kiribati
H.E. Mr. Taneti Maamau, President
26 September 2018

Nuclear testing: “The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty has also assured us that the radiation related illnesses suffered by our people during and after the 1960's nuclear testing on Christmas Island and other parts of the world, will not be repeated in the future.”

Armed Conflict: “Example is the hundreds of millions of dollars spent annually on peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance. These could have been better spent on eliminating root causes of conflicts, armed terrorism and the humanitarian crisis by investing UN resources in the establishment of good governance, with good quality free education and health services. In this way, the collective resources of the world are spent to treat the cause and not the mere symptoms.”

Kuwait
H.H. Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Prime Minister
26 September 2018

WMD: “However, the increased frequency of challenges and the exacerbation of the severity of conflicts, and the risks they pose for international peace and security, have exposed the urgent need to bolster the ability of the United Nations, to provide the required response to the challenges our world faces today, such as the spread of the phenomenon of violence, extremism, and terrorism, as well as the dangers of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, in addition to the continuous violations of human rights and the phenomenon of climate change, and other challenges”

Iran: “And in connection with the same regional planes, and guided by the same principles that call for strengthening the rules of good neighbourliness, non-interference in the internal affairs of States, as set forth in the United Nations Charter, we renew our call to the Islamic Republic of Iran to take serious confidence building measures aimed to establish relations based on cooperation, mutual respect, common interests, in a manner that would lead to guiding the efforts and capabilities towards development and construction. This would reflect the future aspiration of all peoples in the region for a life of peace and security.”

Kyrgyzstan
H.E. Mr. Sooronbai Jeenbekov, President
25 September 2018

Arms trafficking: "The international community must work together more actively to combat this scourge and such phenomena as drug trafficking, trafficking in human beings and weapons, money laundering and the financing of terrorism."

Lao People's Democratic Republic
H.E. Mr. Saleumxay Kommasith, Minister for Foreign Affairs
29 September

DPRK: “We welcome the recent historic Summit between the Leaders of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the United States of America in June this year which constitutes an important milestone in the relations between the two countries. We also welcome the 3rd Summit between the leaders of the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea with an objective to improve not only bilateral relations between the two countries, but also to address the issue of denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula.”

Latvia
H.E. Mr. Edgars Rinkevics Minister of Foreign Affairs
29 September 2018

SALW: “Today, 90% of casualties in armed conflicts are civilians. Conventional arms kill around 500 thousand people per year, out of which 70 thousand are killed in conflict zones. These figures clearly prove that the international community must focus not only on weapons of mass destruction but also on conventional arms.”

ATT: “With that in mind Latvia assumed the Presidency of the Arms Trade Treaty for next year and will spare no effort to promote its objectives. I call on all States to become parties to the Arms Trade Treaty, which would also contribute in a direct way to attainment of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda”

Lebanon
H.E. Mr. Michel Aoun, President
26 September 2018

No relevant references.

Lesotho
H.E. Mr. Thomas Motsoahae Thabane, Prime Minister
28 September 2018

SALW/ WMD:“Equally important is to underscore that the gains made in the field of disarmament are being eroded gradually. Small arms and light weapons continue to flood the illegal market. The threat of the use of weapons of mass destruction has re-emerged, and the United Nations is left paralysed due to the size and power configuration of the current Security Council, making the call for the reform of this body even more urgent.”

Libya
H.E. Mr. Mohamed Siala, Minister for Foreign Affairs
28 August 2018

Disarmament: "Disarmament and the maintenance of international peace and security are issues that are very important to us. We have taken part in the various events related to these issues and have always respected international instruments in this domain."

WMD: "Indeed, the production and the stockage of weapons of mass destruction is a threat to international peace and security and for all of humanity and Libya also takes part in international efforts that have been made to destroy weapons of mass destruction and to maintain international peace and security."

"We support national efforts to establish areas free of nuclear weapons, notably in the Middle East, so that this region is free of weapons of mass destruction. All states in the region must show transparency and say if they possess this kind of this weapon or if they intend to do so, and they must join the NPT. We would like to underscore the need to respect the rights of states to use nuclear energy for peaceful means, and states who have destroyed or have renounced WMDS should be encouraged to receive support to train persons in this area."

Chemical Weapons: "After joining the Convention on Chemical Weapons, Libya tackled its chemical stock and cooperated with the secretariat of the Convection and international partners, and this makes it possible for us to destroy that stock."

Liberia
H.E. Mr. George Manneh Weah, President
26 September 2018

Armed conflict: “With the recent withdrawal of the United Nations Peace-keeping Mission in Liberia, we are now in charge of our own security. We thank you for the sacrifices that you have made in securing and maintaining the peace in Liberia after our protracted civil conflict.”

“But a nation which has experienced civil war must never take peace for granted, or forget the long shadow that years of conflict still cast over people's lives. We must realize and appreciate that ours is still a fragile peace.”

SALW: "Liberia, which has been a beneficiary of regional support, knows the relevance of regional solidarity. In this regard we have emphasized the fight against organized crime, especially cross-border trade in illicit substances, and small and light weapons, drugs, human trafficking, piracy and the activities of non-state actors which threaten to undermine peace and security within the ECOWAS region."

Liechtenstein
H.E. Mrs. Aurelia Frick, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Justice and Culture
27 September 2018

Armed conflict/ Syria: “One such institution is the accountability mechanism for Syria. We were proud to lead the way to the creation of the IIIM two years ago. Born out of the frustration over the deadlock in the Security Council, it has quickly become a symbol of what this Assembly can achieve - and a beacon of hope for Syria. At this critical moment in the Syrian conflict, our resolve to ensure accountability for the crimes committed will shape the future of the country.”

Armed conflict/ Myanmar: “A very different situation confronts us with a similar massive accountability challenge: The atrocities committed against the Rohingya population by the authorities in Myanmar are shocking to all of us. There can be no voluntary return of the hundreds of thousands forcibly displaced into Bangladesh unless we ensure a credible accountability process. We now have a direct path to justice, because the International Criminal Court has ruled that it can exercise jurisdiction over the crime of forced deportation. This creates a new and expeditious policy option for the 123 States among us which have joined the Rome Statute: We can come together and refer the situation in Cox's Bazaar to the ICC.”

TPNW: “Under the vivid impressions of the horrors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the General Assembly - in its very first resolution - set the goal of eliminating all nuclear weapons. That is a goal we are far from achieving, and the path has so far been rough. But we have finally chartered the way forward -in adopting the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons last year. I congratulate the 17 countries which have already ratified the treaty. We will do our best to follow suit.”

Lithuania
H.E. Mrs. Dalia Grybauskaitė, President
27 September 2018

WMD: “Organisations created to abolish weapons of mass destruction are toothless against dictators who develop nuclear arms and use chemical weapons on civilians in our cities.”

Luxembourg
H.E. Mr. Xavier Bettel, Prime Minister
26 September 2018

Armed conflict: "Luxembourg is one of the main donors of the Office of the Independent Observer to evaluate the implementation of the agreement between the government and the armed groups in the north of [Mali] and finances the establishment of the International Commission of Inquiry for Mali in charge of investigating violations of human rights and international humanitarian law since 2012."

JCPOA: "This does not mean, however, that the nuclear deal with Iran must be reconsidered and we believe that, even if it is not perfect, that it provides tangible guarantees for nuclear non-proliferation. We regret that the United States cancelled the deal, which has been the subject of a Security Council resolution and to which the international community continues to be bound by."

DPRK: "With respect to non-proliferation, we hope that the started process between the United States and the DPRK, with support from South Korea will have concrete results in terms of the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula."

Madagascar
H.E. Mr. Rivo Rakotovao, President ad interim
27 September 2018

No relevant references.

Malta
Honourable Dr. Joseph Muscat, Prime Minister
27 September 2018

AWS: “Then there are the other big questions that the dawn of this digital age will need to see answered. Can we solve stalemate diplomatic negotiations by applying algorithms that can avoid war? Can we disarm terrorists using the latest technology?”

Macedonia
H.E. Mr. Gjorge Ivanov, President
27 September 2018

Arms control: “Through peacekeeping missions, arms control, non-proliferation treaties and the fight against terrorism and international organized crime we build a safer world.”

Malaysia
H.E. Mr. Mahathir bin Mohamad, Prime Minister
28 September 2018

Military spending/Militarism: “Today’s weapons cost millions. Fighter jets cost about 100 million dollars. And maintaining them cost tens of millions. But the poor countries are persuaded to buy them even if they cannot afford. They are told their neighbours or their enemies have them. It is imperative that they too have them. So, while their people starve and suffer from all kinds of deprivations, a huge percentage of their budget is allocated to the purchase of arms. That their buyers may never have to use them bothers the purveyors not at all.”

Malawi
H.E.Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, President
25 September 2018

No relevant references.

Mali
H.E. Mr. Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, President
26 September 2018

Armed conflict: "Among these major advances, I would like to highlight the absence of belligerence and clashes between the Malian Armed Forces and the armed movements since the signing of the Agreement in May/ June 2015."

"In addition, I note with satisfaction the creation and ongoing operationalization of the Menaka and Taoudeni regions, the installation of the interim authorities in the 5 northern regions, the launching of the operations of the Coordination Mechanism in Kidal, Timbuktu and Gao, and the continuation of the DDR process and security sector reform."

Arms trafficking: "In addition to the devastating effects of climate change on the living conditions of our populations, the Sahel has faced for several years terrorism, transnational or anonymous crime and trafficking of all kinds, including drugs, weapons, illicit goods, migrants, money laundering etc."

Marshall Islands
H.E Mrs. Hilda Heine
25 September 2018

Nuclear weapons/DPRK: “For too many years, multilateral discussions to end nuclear weapons have gone in circles. I strongly welcome progress wherever it is found- and I remain cautiously optimistic of efforts towards a safe and secure Korean peninsula- with a complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearisation.”

Nuclear testing: “Threats of atmospheric testing in die Pacific ocean are of obvious concern to me and my fellow Pacific island leaders - and for every Marshallese citizen, the impacts naadeartesting are not just a historical legacy, but a contemporary reality. These were the only instances where the UN ever explicitly authorized the testing of nuclear weapons, and the consequences are horrific. The 67 nuclear weapons tests conducted between 1946 and 1958, have produced impacts through generations.”

"These took place during our status as a United Nations Strategic Trust Territory, including testings authorized by UN Trusteeship resolutions 1082 and 1493.”

"My government has recently established the national nuclear commission to work carefully with affected local communities, and also regional and international agencies, to better elaborate our complex issues, and to develop a strategy for nuclear justice. It is vital that all possible efforts are accelerated to help us address the human rights and the environment of our affected people.”

Mauritania
H.E. Mr. Ismael Ould Cheikh Ahmed, Minister for Foreign Affairs
27 September 2018

No relevant references.

Mauritius
H.E. Mr. Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Prime Minister
28 September 2018

Militarism: “Increased international tensions, intractable conflicts, expanding pockets of poverty throughout the world, growing inequalities, the deterioration of the oceans, climate change, violent extremism and terrorism, nationalism, cyber threats, escalating militarization, and forced migration are only some of the perils that endanger global peace and security.”

Nuclear Weapons: “In the same vein, we need to reinforce global non-proliferation regimes. The continued existence of nuclear arsenals and the threat of a nuclear disaster represents a major impediment to the maintenance of peace and security.”

Cyber: “We need to also remain vigilant to the cyberthreats which endanger our national security.”

Cyber/ Outer Space: As highlighted in the new Disarmament Agenda by the UN Secretary-General in May 2018, we need to create secure space, land, sea, spatial, and cyber zones alike. We need to do whatever is necessary to make our planet a safe place for all.

Mexico

H.E. Mr. Enrique Peña Nieto, President
25 September 2018

Nuclear weapons: "Mexico has also been characterized by its struggle in favor of the total elimination of the weapons of mass destruction, in particular nuclear disarmament."

"That is why we initiated and accompanied the process that concluded in 2017, with the negotiation of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which Mexico ratified in January this year. We urge all Member States to sign and ratify it without delay."

"Weapons of mass destruction are not the only threat to society."

"At the same time, we reiterate the resolutions of the Security Council regarding denuclearization are complied with full of the Korean Peninsula."

Arms trade: "The illicit traffic of weapons is one of the greatest challenges to internal security that, like many other countries, Mexico has had to face."

"I say it with all clarity: the illicit arms trafficking, by its gravity, constitutes a scourge that we must attend urgently."

"An important step to advance in this struggle was the negotiation and adoption of the Treaty the Arms Trade. The First Conference of States Parties to this Treaty will be held in Mexico in 2014. Now we must work on its implementation."

Micronesia
H.E. Mr. Peter Christian, President
27 September 2018

DPRK: “In our region of the world, we have a stake in the ongoing peace negotiations between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea. We recognize and encourage the continuing efforts to bring peace and stability to the Korean Peninsula. A lasting peace on the peninsula translates to a more secure and stable Pacific Region.”

Armed Conflict: “Elsewhere in the world, we cannot ignore the pain and suffering of so many people caught in pockets of armed conflicts. As world leaders, we have fallen short of our responsibilities. It is deeply troubling to see those who wield tremendous powers, fail to take bold and decisive actions to end these serious atrocities. And we wonder if for some unknown reason such conflicts might not be good for them politically or even economically.”

Monaco
H.E. Mr. Gilles Tonelli, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
28 September 2018

Disarmament: "For 25 years Monaco has ratified, adhered or accepted more than 40 international treaties on human rights, refugees, privileges and immunities, criminal matters, disarmament, the environment and the sea."

Mongolia
H.E. Mr. Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, Prime Minister
28 September 2018

Military spending: “According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute report, the world military expenditure is estimated to have reached $1.7 trillion in 2017. This is not only an increase from the previous year, but also the highest level since the end of the Cold war. The armaments race is not declining and situations in some regions are instable due to aggravating conflicts. Use of technological advancements in armed conflicts is making the circumstances more dangerous than ever. Mongolia has always been standing for its principled position that any conflicts should be resolved peacefully and through dialogue.”

Nuclear wepaons: “Just to cite some of the Mongolia s initiatives proving its contributions to the peace and security at global and regional echelons are the General Assembly resolutions on Disarmament Week observed on 24-30 October every year since 1978 and Declaration on the Right of Peoples to Peace in 1984 and the declaration of its territory as nuclear weapon free in 1992, which is progressively being guaranteed.”

DPRK: "There was an occasion when we brought hundreds of orphans from the DPRK to Mongolia in the post-Korean war time and raised them. During the last decades, we have been stretching our hands within our capacity to a number of countries, which faced natural disasters and terrorist acts, rendering development assistance to some regional countries, and sharing our modest experience of democratic transition.”

“Mongolia closely follows and welcomes the recent positive developments on the Korean Peninsula, including the Inter-Korean and other bilateral Summits that are giving an important impetus towards confidence-building and ensuring peace and security in the Northeast Asia. However, we are not merely observing the process, but are trying to make our own contributions.”

Morocco
H.E. Mr. Saad-Eddine El Othmani
25 September 2018

No relevant references.

Moldova
H.E. Mr. Pavel Filip, Prime Minister
28 September 2018

Militarisation: “Aiming at upgrading the military offensive capacity of unconstitutional power structures, the illegal joint military exercises undermine international efforts aimed at the peaceful resolution of the protracted Transnistrian problem.”

Montenegro
H.E. Mr. Duško Marković, Prime Minister
28 September 2018

WMD: "We strongly support global efforts towards disarmament and non-proliferation of mass destruction weapons.”

Nuclear weapons: "I am certain that by consistent application of the relevant treaties on nuclear disarmament and arms control, we can get to a world without nuclear weapons."

DPRK: "Therefore, we support the activities of the United States of America, the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea intended to ensure the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula."

Mozambique
H.E. Mr. Filipe Jacinto Nyusi
25 September 2018

No relevant references.

Myanmar
H.E. Mr. Kyaw Tint Swe, Union Minister for the Office of the State Counsellor
28 September 2018

No relevant references.

Namibia
H.E. Mr. Hage Geingob, President
26 September 2018

No relevant references.

Nauru
H.E. Mr. Baron Divavesi Waqa, President
26 September 2018

No relevenat references.

The Netherlands
H.E. Mr. Mark Rutte, Prime Minister
26 September 2018

No relevant references.

Nepal
H.E. Mr. K.P. Sharma Oli, Prime Minister
27 September 2018

Arms race: “Challenges ranging from poverty, terrorism, climate change, food insecurity, forced displacement and natural disasters to arms race continue to confront the global community.”

WMDs: “Nepal reaffirms its principled stand for a general and complete disarmament of all weapons of mass destruction.”

DPRK: “We welcome the recent efforts made by the United States and two Koreas towards denuclearization and peace and stability of the Korean peninsula.”

Disarmament agenda: “Nepal welcomes the Secretary General's Agenda for Disarmament with a hope of renewed impetus to disarmament. Nepal commends the beginning of deliberations under the Kathmandu Process for developing innovative confidence building measures in the Asia Pacific region.”

New Zealand
H.E. Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister
27 September 2018

Nuclear testing: “I am a child of the 80's. A period In New Zealand's history where we didn't just observe International events, we challenged them. Whether It was apartheid In South Africa, or nuclear testing in the Pacific.”

Nicaragua
H.E Mr. Denis Ronaldo Moncada Colindres, Minister for Foreign Affairs
1 October 2018

TPNW: "For Nicaragua, to contribute to international peace is to achieve general and complete nuclear disarmament, that is why we have signed and ratified the first Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, we call on other countries to ratify this historic Treaty.”

DPRK: "The Government of the Republic of Nicaragua has supported the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and communication between the authorities on both sides. We welcome the rapprochement between the two Koreas and the realization of the third inter-Korean summit as well as the Joint Declaration of September in Pyongyang that the two Korean leaders agreed on and that is seen as a breakthrough to alleviate the tension of the peninsula and the substantial elimination of the danger of war in the whole peninsula.”

"The Government of the Republic of Nicaragua hopes that nuclear weapons will be dismantled in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner and that the countries involved will cooperate and, in this way, ensure firm and lasting peace on the Korean peninsula.”

JCPOA: "The Government of Nicaragua supports the nuclear negotiations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and E3 / EU + 3, which resulted in the completion of the Joint Action Plan (JCPOA) on July 14, 2015. We emphasize that this agreement demonstrates that dialogue and diplomacy are the most appropriate means of solving these problems, as an essential part of making multilateralism work.”

Niger
H.E. Mr. Kalla Ankourao, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Regional Integration
29 September 2018

No relevant references.

Nigeria
H.E. Mr. Muhammadu Buhari, President
25 September 2018

SALW: “Fighting corruption or resolving international conflicts, crises and wars; defeating terrorism and piracy; curbing arms trafficking and the proliferation of small arms and light weapons which fuel these conflicts, particularly in Africa; stemming irregular migration by addressing its root causes; and the many other global challenges we are faced with today can only be effectively addressed through multilateral cooperation and concerted action.”

Norway
H.E. Mrs. Erna Solberg, Prime Minister
26 September 2018

No relevenat references.

Oman
H.E Mr. Yousef bin Alawi bin Abdullah Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs
29 September 2018

No relevant references.

Palau
H.E. Mr. Tommy Esang Remengesau, Jr., President
26 September 2018

Nuclear weapons: “We remain committed to the need to ensure that nuclear weapons are never used again. There exists an inextricable connection between testing and the elimination of nuclear weapons. The legacy of more than 2,000 nuclear tests has touched people and communities in many regions including the victims of the nuclear testing in the Pacific. Nuclear tests have negatively impacted the environment, human health, food security and economic development. Weapons of mass destruction have no place in this world and we urge achieving complete, verifiable, and irreversible dismantling of such weapons and ballistic missiles of all ranges by North Korea. The check against delivery global community must adhere to the fulfilment and the implementations of the relevant United Nations Security Council resolution and uphold the international rule of law.”

Pakistan
H.E. Mr. Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs
29 September 2018

Nuclear weapons/Militarisation: “Strategic stability in our region has been and continues to be undermined. This is evident in different ways-by introduction of destabilizing weapon systems, pursuit of discriminatory approaches by certain states to supply advanced military hardware and sensitive technologies, and adoption of offensive force postures and doctrines, that imagine conflict beneath a nuclear threshold. Under the circumstances, Pakistan has no option but to maintain a minimum credible deterrence. We have been advocating for many years now, a Strategic Restraint Regime for South Asia. Pakistan is ready to engage with India for meaningful confidence building, risk reduction and avoidance of arms race.”

AWS/Outer Space: “Technology and innovation are key to reshaping our states and societies. We must strike a prudent balance between guarding against misuse of emerging technologies and facilitating their access to developing countries. It is essential to develop universally agreed legal frameworks in the area of cyber security, lethal autonomous weapons system, Artificial Intelligence and weaponization of outer space.”

Palestine
H.E. Mr. Mahmoud Abbas, President
27 September 2018

No relevant references.

Panama
H.E. Mr. Juan Carlos Varela Rodríguez, President
26 September 2018

No relevant references.

Papua New Guinea
H.E. Mr. Rimbink Pato, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade
29 September 2018

DPRK: “We welcome the easing of tensions in the Korean Peninsula and commend efforts made by all parties involved and further encourage peaceful dialogue. We support the moves to keep sanctions in place... as a real incentive to get rid of nuclear weapons... and to bring prosperity to the peoples of the DPRK."

TPNW: “We applaud and support in that respect, the efforts of the President of the General Assembly to draw global attention to the dangers of the Weapons of Mass Destruction. For our part, we are working towards signing the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.”

Paraguay
H.E. Mr. Mario Abdo Benitez, President
25 September 2018

ATT/TPNW: "We consider that the approval of the Arms Trade Treaty and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons are major steps towards disarmament and proliferation."

Peru
H.E. Mr. Martin Vizcarra Cornejo, President
25 September 2018

Arms proliferation: "For a developing country like Peru, the United Nations, we represent a platform of common action to achieve sustainable peace, promote the rights of human beings and face global challenges such as change climate, terror, the proliferation of armaments, systematic corruption, or illicit drug trafficking."

The Philippines
H.E. Mr. Alan Peter Cayetano, Secretary for Foreign Affairs
29 September 2018

No relevant references.

Poland
H.E. Mr. Andrzej Duda, President
26 September 2018

DPRK: “The modern world is full of threats. We are witnessing a very dynamic development of the international situation. There are reasons to be hopeful, such as a potential change in the situation on the Korean Peninsula and the ongoing de-escalation of tensions there. But there are also problems that persist and remain unresolved."

“Poland is involved in the process of stabilization and building of lasting security on the Korean Peninsula, not only now, in its capacity as non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, but also as a member of the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission in Korea. I am convinced that the NNSC experience could potentially be applied while establishing foundations for peace and stability on the Peninsula.”

WMD: “Wherever leaders might infringe fundamental human rights, use tortures, persecute their political opponents or use weapons of mass destruction, the international community, including the Security Council, should respond swiftly and decisively.”

"Poland actively supports all actions and initiatives aimed at preventing the use and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, as well as bringing the perpetrators using such weapons to justice.”

Portugal
H.E. Mr. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President
26 September 2018

DPRK: “The important developments on the Korean Peninsula opening up positive prospects for complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation and demonstrating the commitment and courage of the parties involved and the contribution of the regional partners of the United Nations and of diplomacy for world peace and security.”

Qatar
H.H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani Amir
25 September 2018

Cyber: “Qatar and other countries have suffered from digital privacy and digital espionage, and that has prompted us to strongly emphasize the issue and to be willing to work with United Nations organizations to regulate it legally.”

"A series of events recently experienced by several countries reminded us that new needs have emerged that were previously unknown, such as the freedom of access, and the need to protect the private sphere of citizens from the risk of hacking. It also alerted us to the cyber security of nations. These are cross-border issues because of the nature of the technology itself. Accordingly, it is necessary to regulate dealing with these issues and control of their risks internationally.”

“Qatar and other countries have suffered from digital privacy and digital espionage, and that has prompted us to strongly emphasize the issue and to be willing to work with United Nations organizations to regulate it legally.”

Republic of Korea
H.E. Mr. Moon Jae-in, President
26 September 2018

DPRK: “For the first time in history, the leader of North Korea crossed the Military Demarcation Line to visit Panmunjeom. A historic summit between the United States and North Korea was also held on the Sentosa Island in Singapore. Chairman Kim Jong Un and I removed the shadow of war and resolved to usher in an era of peace and prosperity. At the U.S-North Korea summit, the two sides agreed to work towards achieving complete denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula, ending hostile relations and establishing a permanent peace regime. President Trump and Chairman Kim moved and gave hope to those who desire peace all around the world.North Korea dismantled its nuclear test site in Punggye-ri under the observation of the international community. The United States and the Republic of Korea suspended large-scale joint military exercises and built trust.”

“Last week in Pyongyang, I met Chairman Kim for the third time and reached an agreement once again to turn the Korean Peninsula into a land of peace free from nuclear weapons and threats. Chairman Kim expressed his hope of completing denuclearization as soon as possible to focus on economic development.”

“Moreover, Chairman Kim expressed his commitment to permanently dismantle the missile engine test site and launch platform in Dongchang-ri under observation o f the international community as a first step, in order to expedite progress in denuclearization. Furthermore, he expressed his firm willingness to continue to take additional denuclearization measures including the permanent dismantlement o f nuclear facilities in Yongbyon as the United States takes corresponding measures in the spirit of the Sentosa Agreement. The Korean Peninsula has remained under the armistice over the past 65 years. Ending the Korean War is an urgentt ask.It is a process that we must go through in order to move towards a peace regime. I look forward to seeing bold measures for denuclearization implemented among the related countries, leading to the declaration to end the War.”

“The United Nations welcomed and actively supported the adoption of the Panmxmjeom Declaration. By doing so, it provided tremendous strength to the meetings that have followed, including the second inter-Korean summit, the U.S.-North Korea Summit andthe recent inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang.”

“We must assure Chairman Kim that he has made the right decision in committing to denuclearization.”

“The process o f working towards denuclearization and establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula is a process that also leads to building peace and cooperation in Northeast Asia.”

Romania
H. E. Mr. Klaus Werner Iohannis, President
26 September 2018

WMD: “We have to explain that we face serious threats to security ,that terrorism needs a globally coordinated response, that proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery remain existential threats to global security.”

Russia
H.E. Mr. Sergey Lavrov, Minister for Foreign Affairs
28 September 2018

JCPOA: “We observe the offensive of belligerent revisionism against the modem system of international law. The attacks have been launched against the basic principles of the Middle East settlement, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on the Iranian nuclear program, the commitments within the World Trade Organization framework, the multilateral climate agreement and many more.”

Chemical Weapons: “We remember well so many times when spurious pretexts were used to justify interventions and unleash wars - as was the case in Yugoslavia 1999, Iraq 2003, and Libya 2011. The same methods are being applied today to Syria, against whose territory the missile strikes were launched under a totally trumped-up pretext on April 14, 2018, - few hours before the international inspectors were expected to arrive at the site of the staged incident. We warn that new provocations by terrorists and their patrons with the use of chemical weapons are unacceptable.”

DPRK: “We welcome positive developments around the Korean peninsula that follow the logic of the Russian-Chinese roadmap. It is important to encourage this process on the basis of further steps of the parties towards each other and by promoting practical implementation of important arrangements between Pyongyang and Seoul through the UN SC. We will continue to work towards the soonest launch of the multilateral process aimed at establishing a robust mechanism for peace and security in Northeast Asia.”

Nuclear weapons/JCPOA/WMD: “The denuclearization of the Korean peninsula is part of the tasks facing the international community in the key area of international security - the non-proliferation of WMDs. Regrettably, serious impediments continue to accumulate on this track. The US unilateral withdrawal from the JCPOA in violation of UN SC Resolution 2231 - this is despite the fact that Iran is fully complying with its obligations - has come on top of the lack of progress in the ratification of CTBT and the establishment of a WMD Free Zone in the Middle East. We will do everything possible to preserve the deal that was approved by the UNSC.”

Chemical weapons: “Negative trends are accumulating in the OPCW activities where the West is trying to transform the Technical Secretariat into an instrument for punishing undesirable governments with a risk to compromise the independent professional status of this institution, CWC universality, and exclusive prerogatives of the Security Council. These and other problems in the sphere of non-proliferation were discussed in detail at the UN SC meeting on September 26 that was quite timely convened by the US presidency.”

Cyber: “Over the last couple of years the debate on cyberspace abuses has exacerbated. I would like to draw the attention to the fact that it has been already twenty years since Russia initiated the discussion of the issues of international information security at the UN. Against the background of the recent developments, it is becoming even more relevant to elaborate under the UN auspices a set of global norms of responsible behavior of states in the information space, including the principles of non-use of force, non-interference in internal affairs, and respect for state sovereignty. We intend to introduce a draft of the respective resolution in the UN GA First Committee. We also believe that it is important to start the elaboration of the Convention on Cybercrime and envisage relevant discussions in the Third Committee.”

Rwanda
H.E. Mr. Paul Kagame, President
25 September 2018

No relevant references.