UNGA Disarmament Index 2021: A-G

This is an index of all references made to issues of disarmament and arms control made during the 76th General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly from 21–27 September 2021.

A-G | H-R | S-Z

UN Secretary-General
António Guterres
21 September 2021

Nuclear weapons: “We need progress on nuclear disarmament and in our shared efforts to counter terrorism.”

Cyber peace and security: “Fifth, restoring trust and inspiring hope means bridging the digital divide. Half of humanity has no access to the internet. We must connect everyone by 2030. This is the vision of my Roadmap for Digital Co-operation — to embrace the promise of digital technology while protecting people from its perils.

“One of the greatest perils we face is the growing reach of digital platforms and the use and abuse of data. A vast library of information is being assembled about each of us. Yet we don’t even have the keys to that library. We don’t know how this information has been collected, by whom or for what purposes. But we do know our data is being used commercially — to boost corporate profits. Our behavior patterns are being commodified and sold like futures contracts. Our data is also being used to influence our perceptions and opinions. Governments and others can exploit it to control or manipulate people’s behaviour, violating human rights of individuals or groups, and undermining democracy. This is not science fiction. This is today’s reality. And it requires a serious discussion.

“So, too, do other dangers in the digital frontier. I am certain, for example, that any future major confrontation — and heaven forbid it should ever happen — will start with a massive cyberattack. Where are the legal frameworks to address this?

“… To restore trust and inspire hope, we need to place human rights at the centre of our efforts to ensure a safe, equitable and open digital future for all.”

Autonomous weapons: “Autonomous weapons can today choose targets and kill people without human interference. They should be banned. But there is no consensus on how to regulate those technologies.”

Albania
Edi Rama, Prime Minister
24 September 2021

Armed conflict, non-proliferation, disarmament: “As a confirmed active contributor to international security, we will sit in the Security Council with a clear agenda of priorities. They reflect what modern Albania stands for and range from the promotion of peace and security, peaceful conflict resolution and mediation; the respect for the rule of law and the human rights for all ; increased participation of women and youth in conflict prevention and resolution; universal adherence and full implementation of all non-proliferation and disarmament treaties and conventions; concrete and continued active committed to the fight against international terrorism, violent extremism.”

Algeria
Ramtane Lamamra, Minister of Foreign Affairs
27 September 2021

No relevant references.

Andorra
Xavier Espot Zamora, Chief of Government
25 September 2021

No relevant references.

Angola
João Lourenço, President
23 September 2021

Militarism: “We are particularly concerned with the changes in institutional order that are occurring frequently through the use of military force in African countries, as these unconstitutional acts have not spurred an appropriate and sufficient reaction from the international community in order to discourage such acts, which are reprehensible in every aspect, as we have seen in Mali and, more recently, in Guinee.”

Antigua and Barbuda
Gaston A. Browne, Prime Minister
25 September 2021

Armed conflict and climate change: “The report says that Experts are concerned that [climate change] could lead to a rise of extremist groups, paramilitary intervention, organized violence, and conflict between people and states. That should be a scenario that worries us all, for, as we have seen in recent times, no nation is immune from violent strife.”

Argentina
Dr. Alberto Fernández, President
21 September 2021

Militarism: “[The UK] also insists on maintaining an unjustified and disproportionate military presence in the [Malvinas/ Falkland] Islands, which does nothing more than bring tension to a region characterized by being a zone of peace and international cooperation."

Armenia
Nikol Pahinyan, Prime Minister
24 September 2021

Armed conflict: “As you know, in the fall of 2020, Nagorno-Karabakh was subjected to aggression. The war that lasted forty-four days took the lives of several thousands of people. Tens of thousands of residents of Nagorno-Karabakh were displaced. The aggression was accompanied by numerous gross violations of international law by the Azerbaijani armed forces, including deliberate targeting of civilians and vital infrastructure, extrajudicial killings of prisoners of war and civilian hostages, torture and many other documented crimes. As a result of these actions, in the parts of Nagorno-Karabakh, which came under the control of Azerbaijan, the Armenian people were subjected to complete ethnic cleansing. Unfortunately, the international community here again could not prevent the mass atrocities. Today, no Armenian lives or practically could live in the territories under the control of Azerbaijan.”

Ceasefire: “Thanks to the mediation efforts of the Russian Federation, it was possible to stop the bloodshed. On November 9, a trilateral ceasefire statement was signed. Peacekeeping forces of the Russian Federation were deployed in Nagorno-Karabakh, which today ensure stability and security thereon [sic].”

“Unfortunately, the incidents designed to delegitimize the peace agenda and deepen and institutionalize the atmosphere of hostility occur on a daily basis. Violations of the ceasefire, aggressive and insulting statements against Armenia and the Armenian people continue to escalate the atmosphere.”

Armed conflict: “An act against the peace agenda is the fact that, contrary to Article 8 of the November 9 statement, Azerbaijan not only still holds several dozen citizens of the Republic of Armenia in captivity, but also has sentenced many of them to 6 to 20 years imprisonment on trumped-up charges. In addition, there are persons whose captivity has not yet been confirmed by Azerbaijan, although there is clear evidence that they were captured. This becomes even more unacceptable against the background that in the fall of 2020, Azerbaijani users posted videos of the capture of specific Armenian soldiers, and later the decapitated or shot bodies of those soldiers were discovered. We have irrefutable evidence about the torture of our captives. An outrageous example of the deepening of the atmosphere of hostility is the opening of the so-called trophy park in Baku, where Azerbaijani schoolchildren are taken on excursions to watch the mannequins of captured, killed or bleeding Armenian soldiers.”

“Armenia is ready for a constructive dialogue, which should lead to the establishment of sustainable and lasting peace in the region. In this regard, we propose to complete the process of return of prisoners of war, hostages and other captives without delay. It is also necessary to resume the peace process for the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.”

Australia
Scott Morrison, Prime Minister
24 September 2021

Militarism, cyber peace and security: “The global strategic environment has rapidly changed, indeed deteriorated in many respects, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region where we live here in Australia. The changes we face are many ...
... whether it’s tensions over territorial claims ...
... rapid military modernisation ...
... foreign interference ...
... cyber threats ...
... disinformation ...
... and indeed, economic coercion.”

Militarism: “And with our longstanding friends and allies — the United States and the United Kingdom. Strengthened of course further last week with the announcement of our new Enhanced Trilateral Security partnership — AUKUS. Designed to further the cause of peace, stability and security in the Indo-Pacific region for the benefit of all who live within that region.”

Nuclear weapons: “Rules that have underpinned regional peace and prosperity, such as through the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, which we affirm as Australians and which we will always honour.”

Austria
Alexander Schallenberg, Federal Minister for European and International Affairs
23 September 2021

Armed conflict: “A ring of crises and conflicts spans the globe

In Yemen and Syria, where many children have known nothing but conflict and deprivation.
In Ethiopia and Nagorno-Karabakh, where long-standing fault lines have erupted.
Or in Belarus, in Myanmar or in Nicaragua, where some have used the pandemic as a carte blanche to ignore human rights and fundamental freedoms.”

Militarism: “The days of a moral gunboat policy may be over.”

Artificial intelligence, cyber peace and security: “New and emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence or quantum computing are racing ahead, leaving many of us behind. We have to make sure that our human centric approach applies online as well as offline. New technologies are no new frontier where human rights do not exist!”

Autonomous weapon systems: “We need to define clear red lines that we as humankind are not willing to cross. This includes stepping back from creating killing machines - lethal autonomous weapons systems - systems where an algorithm decides in a split second who lives and who dies. Last week, Austria organised a conference to ensure meaningful human control over these weapons. Together with partner countries and civil society, we hope to establish a process leading to a ban of killer robots.”

Disarmament, arms control: “Austria will continue to be a driving force for disarmament and arms control.”

Nuclear weapons: “We cannot increase our security by increasing our potential to destroy. And, most of all, by hanging on to the myth of nuclear deterrence. We need to eliminate these horrendous weapons of mass destruction. Their prohibition is a first step. Austria looks forward to hosting the First Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty Prohibiting Nuclear Weapons in Vienna next March.”

Azerbaijan
Ilham Aliyev, President
23 September 2021

Armed conflict: “Today, a year later, I proudly say that Armenia was defeated on the battlefield and Azerbaijan put an end to the occupation.”

Landmines: “However, the main challenge is the vast presence of landmines planted by Armenia in the liberated territories. Since the signing of the capitulation act by Armenia on 10 November 2020, around 30 Azerbaijani citizens, including 2 journalists were killed and around 130 citizens were wounded. Azerbaijan is among the most heavily mined countries in the world.”

Landmines: “Armenia refuses to release accurate maps of minefields. The accuracy level of the maps for three regions which Armenia had to provide is only 25 percent. The international community must force Armenia to provide us with accurate mine maps of all liberated territories.”

Militarism: “The international community should also play its positive role in this regard and urge Armenia to realize that peace has no alternative. Any acts directly or indirectly supporting revanchism and militarization in Armenia must be ceased.”

Bahamas
Philip Edward Davis, Prime Minister
25 September 2021

No relevant references.

Bahrain
Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs
27 September 2021

Armed conflict: “The Middle East region continues to be in a state of instability and insecurity, with the people of a number of nations suffering difficult conditions due to the wars, crises, and conflicts it is witnessing. These have resulted in the loss of lives, the displacement of millions of refugees and displaced persons, and the destruction of cities, villages, and infrastructure, turning the lives of these people into a painful tragedy of daily suffering, driving away opportunities for peace, security, and stability.

“The Kingdom of Bahrain calls on the international community to focus its efforts together on achieving peace, security, peace, and prosperity in the Middle East by adhering to the principles of the United Nations Charter and its purposes, which include non-interference in the internal affairs of countries, commitment to good neighbourliness, mutual respect, and the peaceful settlement of disputes, as well as strengthening international cooperation.”

Armed conflict, ceasefire: “My country also supports the initiative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for a ceasefire in Yemen, in order to reach a political solution to the Yemeni crisis in accordance with the Gulf initiative and its executive mechanism, the outcomes of the National Dialogue Conference, and relevant Security Council resolutions, namely Resolution No. 2216, to end the suffering of the brotherly Yemeni people.”

Use of explosive weapons in populated areas: “My country condemns the Houthi group’s continued targeting of civilians and civilian facilities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by systematically and deliberately launching ballistic missiles and explosive-laden drones, in clear violation of international humanitarian law.”

Weapons of mass destruction: “The Kingdom of Bahrain calls for the establishment of a zone free of weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East region.”

Nuclear weapons, Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA): The Kingdom reaffirms its support for international efforts aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring the ability to develop a nuclear weapon, stressing the need for Iran to fully cooperate with the IAEA to ensure the maintenance of regional and international security and stability.”

Bangladesh
Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister
24 September 2021

Disarmament: “As per our constitutional obligation, we have always been a steadfast supporter of complete disarmament.”

Nuclear weapons/: “We firmly believe that the ultimate guarantee of international peace and security lies in the total elimination of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. It was from that conviction we ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of nuclear weapons (TPNW), which entered into force earlier this year.”

Barbados
Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister
24 September 2021

Cyber peace and security: “How much more fake news will we allow to be spread without states defending the public digital spaces? We have come together with alacrity to defend the right of states to tax across the digital space but we are not prepared to come together quickly to defend the right of our citizens not to be duped by fake news in that same space.”

Belarus
Vladimir Makei, Minister of Foreign Affairs
27 September 2021

Cyber peace and security: “The negative trend in international security is only growing, including hybrid wars, malicious and criminal use of modern information technologies which fuel extremism and terrorism as well as fake news. Today with the help of electronic gadgets, you can undermine the domestic peace and harmony of any state and remove its leadership from power.”

Armed conflict, militarism: “Today the world needs solidarity more than ever as well as mutual assistance and mobilisation of collective efforts to overcome all of these disagreements in order to not be fools, and not to bring the world into the chaos of another war which would be the last in human history.”

Belgium
Alexander De Croo, Prime Minister
24 September 2021

No relevant references.

Belize
John Briceño, Prime Minister
24 September 2021

No relevant references.

Benin
Patrice Talon, President
24 September 2021

No relevant references.

Bhutan
Lotay Tshering, Prime Minister
25 September 2021

No relevant references.

Bolivia
Luis Alberto Arce Catacora, President
23 September 2021

Armed conflict, militarism: “The UN was conceived from the principle of juridical equality of States, which would include political equality, to avoid the planet enduring once more armed conflagrations between States which endanger the world peace we all want. These ends have not been completely accomplished, as the ambitions to control access to natural resources and dominate peoples still result in direct armed invasions, criminal blockades, and indirect interventions through military, political, economics, and media.”

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Željko Komšić, President
22 September 2021

No relevant references.

Botswana
Mokgweetsi E.K. Masisi, President
23 September 2021

No relevant references.

Brazil
Jair Bolsonaro, President
21 September 2021

Militarism: “Brazil has a President who believes in God, respects its military, values family and is loyal to its people.”

Brunei Darussalam
Dato Seri Setia Haji Erywan Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Haji Mohd Yusof, Minister Of Foreign Affairs
27 September 2021

No relevant references.

Bulgaria
Rumen Radev, President
21 September 2021

Cyber peace and security: “The most urgent tasks ahead of us are: … to combat terrorism and trans border crime, as well as enhancing cybersecurity.”

Cyber peace and security: “Our efforts must be directed against the increasingly frequent and severe malicious cyber-attacks exploiting vulnerabilities of our democratic societies.”

Armed conflict: “Let me now turn to the Middle East. We condemn the missile attacks on Israel and the unproportioned use of force in retaliation while we fully recognize Israel’s right to self-defense.”

Burkina Faso
Roch Marc Christian Kabore, President
23 September 2021

Militarism: “Every effort will be made to ensure security in all threatened areas of the country. I would like to reassure the international community that military operations, like those already carried out, will be conducted with respect for human rights, and in accordance with Burkina Faso's international commitments in this area.”

Arms proliferation: “Indeed, stability, security and peace in the Sahel are not only a matter for the G5 Sahel countries (Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania and Chad), especially since the situation is the result, it should be recalled, of the collapse of the collapse of Libya in 2011, which led to an explosion of arms in the circulation of in the Sahel region.”

Burundi
Evariste Ndayishimiye, President
23 September 2021

Militarism: “At the strategic level, it being understood that terrorism has no justification, I remain convinced that beyond necessary military action, the effective fight against terrorism presupposes a against radicalization which is rooted in ignorance and poverty, youth unemployment and illiteracy. The UN should take action to fight poverty and take severe sanctions against these groups and all those who support them.”

Militarism: “It is in this context that since 2007, my country Burundi made available to the United Nations and the African Union of military and police contingents, to help restore and maintain security and peace in some countries that need it as in Somalia and the Central African Republic (CAR).”

Cabo Verde
Jorge Carlos de Almeida Fonseca, President
22 September 2021

No relevant references.

Cambodia
Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister
25 September 2021

Militarism, armed conflict: “History has told us time and again that interference and worse, military options to impose different systems of governance are not the solutions. Far from it, they have only led to many more deaths, human suffering and misery, social and economic strife. Cambodia is the real-life example and has experienced the worst tragedy; and sadly, we are now witnessing the repetition of the same policies. If the recent events in Afghanistan, and many more before it, are lessons to be learnt from, there is great merit to respect the wishes of each nation and their people’s rights to self-determination.”

Cameroon
Paul Biya, President
27 September 2021

Armed conflict, cyber peace and security, outer space,: “Humanity is currently plagued by the following scourges: climate change, multiple conflicts the world over, growing terrorism, cybercrime, sea and ocean pollution, non peaceful uses of space (including outer space), social media misuse, forest ecosystems degradation, biodiversity damage, maritime pirace, and migrant tragedy.”

Armed conflict: “Let me recall that my country is still waging a war against Boko Haram terrorism in its northern part, and enhancing cooperation with other Lake Chad Basin countries.”

Armed conflict; disarmament, demobilisation, and reintegration: “We are keeping up efforts in our North-West and South-West regions to end the sociopolitical tensions fuelled by armed groups. In this regard, we have set up a comprehensive mechanism comprising:

a disarmament, demobilisation, and reintegration (DDR) program
a humanitarian assistance plan
a reconstruction plan for these two regions
a national commission on the promotion of bilingualism and multiculturalism
a special status conferring on the two regions in question: a regional assembly, a House of Chiefs, a regional executive board, and Public Independent Conciliators”

Armed conflict, militarism: “Our Defense and Security Forces have been deployed on the ground to protect the population and their property with professionalism and respect for human rights.”

Canada
Marc Garneau, PC, MP, Minister of Foreign Affairs
27 September 2021

Cyber peace and security: “The spread of systematic misinformation and propaganda on social media and through the internet has made us realize that the digital revolution comes with risks and dangers we cannot ignore.”

Armed conflict: “Conflict, no matter its geography or cause, is not simply an issue of national sovereignty. Insecurity somewhere invariably leads to insecurity elsewhere and we all pay the price.”

Central African Republic
Faustin Archange Touadera, President
21 September 2021

Arms embargo: "From this tribune, and through my voice, the Central African Republic renews its call for the total lifting of the embargo that unjustly weighs on our National Army, depriving it of its regalian mission of protecting the civilian population and the integrity of the territory.”

Chad
Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, President
23 September 2021

Armed conflict: “Chad, which shares more than 1,000 km of common borders with Libya and is linked to this brotherly and neighbouring country by history, geography and culture, and even by blood ties, is suffering the full consequences of the Libyan crisis, in terms of recurrent armed attacks launched from the south of the country.”

Disarmament, demobilisation, and reintegration: “Chad supports a process of disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) of its nationals in the pay of Libyan factions, renouncing violence and mercenarism to reclaim their country. We look to the leadership and crucial role of the United Nations in leading this process and mobilising the resources necessary to fund it.”

Chile
Sebastián Piñera, President
21 September 2021

No relevant references.

China
Xi Jinping, President
21 September 2021

Militarism: “Recent developments in the global situation show once again that military intervention from the outside and so-.called democratic transformation entail nothing but harm. We need to advocate peace,-development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom, which are the common values of humanity, and reject the practice of forming small circles or zero-sum games.”

Colombia
Iván Duque Márquez, President
21 September 2021

Cyber peace and security: “Technology, with the internet of things, artificial intelligence, cyber security, cloud computing and its applications, reveal to us that virtual advances are opportunities for human development.”

Comoros
Azali Assoumani, President
23 September 2021

No relevant references.

Congo
Jean-Claude Gakosso, Minister of Foreign Affairs
27 September 2021

Armed conflict, ceasefire, arms embargo: “Among the challenges facing the international community today is the Libyan crisis. It is true that in recent months significant progress has been made on this issue. … However, in order to meet the challenge of the general elections scheduled to be held in the coming months, which are expected to be a decisive turning point in the history of this country, all stakeholders must look in the same direction and persevere in implementing the decisions taken in Berlin. These decisions, it should be recalled, essentially concern
- the consolidation of the cease-fire
- the respect of the arms embargo
- the unification of military and financial institutions
- the gradual, consensual and balanced withdrawal of foreign without prejudice to the neighbouring countries.”

Costa Rica
Carlos Alvarado Quesada, President
21 September 2021

Military spending: “The pandemic, climate crisis, unemployment, and limited investment margins are putting a substantial strain on developing countries' social and political stability, and through global interconnection, on the stability of the entire planet. While this happens, global military spending continued to rise in 2020. How will we explain to the next generation that while there was a raging pandemic in which vaccines were not available to all people, and an unprecedented climate crisis, the world invested more funding in weapons? How is this irrationality possible? The future is raising its voice at us: Less military weaponry, more investment in peace!”

Nuclear weapons: “Interdependence makes us advocate for peace and reiterate our desire for a world without nuclear weapons. Therefore, we call on countries to join the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), which has already reached 55 ratifications (86 signatories).”

Nuclear weapons, Korean Peninsula: “Similarly, we advocate for a nuclear- weapon-free Korean Peninsula and build peace, stability, and security together.”

Côte d’Ivoire
Kandia Kamissoko Camara, Minister of State and Foreign Affairs
27 September 2021

Cyber peace and security: “We cannot, however, build this resilient and stable world without resolutely addressing the serious resolutely address the serious transnational threats to peace and security posed by terrorism, violent extremism, organized crime, and and cybercrime.”

Armed conflict: “In addition to these threats, we are witnessing the persistence of internal and regional conflicts in several parts of our planet. The international community must continue to be attentive to the situation in the Middle East, Afghanistan and the Western Sahara.”

Croatia
Zoran Milanović, President
21 September 2021

Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA): “Reviving the Iran nuclear deal is a key instrument of regional security and stability that can still serve as a useful platform for broader regional dialogue. We hope that further diplomatic efforts will contribute to resolving issues of common interest.”

Armed conflict: “Croatia also upholds the ‘Responsibility to Protect’, consensually adopted in the 2005 World Summit Outcome. We welcomed the General Assembly’s resolution on the “Responsibility to Protect (R2P) and the prevention of genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity”, adopted in this Assembly with overwhelming support. Together with Costa Rica, Denmark and the Global Centre for ‘Responsibility to Protect’, Croatia organized yesterday’s special event on protecting women and girls, directly affected and often targeted in conflict and post-conflict settings.”

Casualty recording: “Promoting the rights of women and children, confronting hate speech, calling for an abolition of the death penalty, protecting minorities and actively promoting ‘casualty recording’ and the mandate on truth, justice and reparations are among our human rights priorities at the UN.”

Armed conflict: “Croatia is still searching for 1,858 of its own citizens that are still missing or unaccounted for from our 1991-1995 Homeland War. It is a lasting painful burden for the affected families, not to mention the toll on our society’s desire to move on. That the fate of the missing is unknown some thirty years later is especially excruciating. We urge other neighbouring states to cooperate in good faith and to respect their declared commitments and international agreements. I confess that I cannot understand the lack of information sharing and access to archival leads on the possible locations of individual and mass graves, so many years after the conflict.”

Cyber peace and security: “Cyber security is perhaps one of our fastest growing concerns. Trends appear to indicate an increasing diversification of malicious efforts, perhaps state-sponsored ones being the most worrisome. Particularly upsetting incidents involve cyber-attacks targeting our critical health infrastructures, already exhausted in the struggle with the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Nuclear weapons: “Nuclear weapons and the corresponding technology still loom large in the security calculus of leading global powers. Nightmare scenarios can greatly be avoided by sincere commitments to the nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT), a foundation of global nuclear order. We hope to see progress in the NPT’s review conference.”

Small arms and light weapons, arms trade: “But while nuclear weapons cast large shadows, let us not lose sight of lingering threats posed by illicit small arms and light weapons trafficking. We know this first hand from the armed conflicts and organized crime activity in the Western Balkans. We will continue advocating for effective multilateral action on tackling illegal arms transfers and build-ups.”

Cuba
Miguel Mario Díaz-Canel Bermúdez
22 September 2021

Iran: “We condemn the unilateral coercive measures imposed against the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

DPRK: “We strongly condemn the unilateral and unjust sanctions against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.”

Cyprus
Nicos Anastasiades, President
24 September 2021

No relevant references.

Czech Republic
Jakub Kulhánek, Minister of Foreign Affairs
23 September 2021

Cyber peace and security: “The increasing importance of cyberspace to our everyday lives and our economic resilience cannot be overstated these days. Preserving a globally accessible, free, and secure cyberspace is essential. However, the pandemic has also exposed deep digital divides.”

“We are appalled by the increase of cyber-attacks against critical infrastructure delivering essential services to our citizens, including hospitals, water treatment facilities, power plants, and even our democratic institutions. Such acts can cause grave suffering to civilians, including the loss of lives.”

Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA): “Iran’s continued escalation of nuclear activities far beyond its commitments coupled with the suspension of the implementation of transparency measures under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action raises serious concerns. All these actions impede the execution of the IAEA’s verification and monitoring mandate.”

Armed conflict, rockets: “Hamas and other terrorist groups in Gaza bear the primary responsibility for the outbreak of violence and the tragic developments in May 2021. Their large-scale rocket attacks targeted Israeli civilians. Let me reiterate that Israel has every right to defend its citizens against terror.”

Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Kim Song, Permanent Representative
27 September 2021

Nuclear weapons, Korean Peninsula, militarism: “Until now, no less number of UN member states are not well aware of the fact that the issue of the Korean peninsula has its origin in the U.S. hostile policy on the DPRK. Worse still, they have a misconception that the U.S. has become hostile towards the DPRK due to the nuclear issue. When it comes to the nuclear issue, it is not the DPRK's possession of nukes that the U.S. became hostile towards us. On the contrary, we have raversed an inevitable course of history as the U.S., the biggest nuclear power in the world, has been posing nuclear threats, antagonizing the DPRK for more than 70 years. The U.S. hostile policy towards the DPRK is not at all abstract. It is in itself military threats and hostile acts we are facing from the U.S. every day.”

Militarism: “The U.S. hostile policy against the DPRK finds its clearest expression in its military threats against us. Not a single foreign troop, not a single foreign military base exists in the territory of the DPRK. But in south Korea, almost 30,000 U.S. troops are stationing at numerous military bases, maintaining a war posture to take military action against the DPRK at any moment.

“The DPRK has no record of having conducted a military exercise even a single time around the U.S., but the U.S. has annually staged all sorts of war drills on and around the Korean peninsula and in the Korean waters for the last several decades, by mobilizing army, naval and air forces across the world including the U.S. troops in south Korea, and it has threatened us through military demonstrations of intimidating nature while deploying numerous armaments to south Korea from time to time.

“In August 2021, the U.S. and south Korea defiantly conducted the ''combined command exercise" despite our repeated warnings. This exercise is an outright war drill of offensive nature that simply changed its name of the joint military exercises staged by the U.S. for the last several decades. Inter-Korean relations have never come out of the shadow of the U .S.

interference and obstruction as the U.S. has stationed its troops in south Korea and bound it with the chains of military alliance, and the inter-Korean agreements have never been implemented faithfully owing to the wrong behavior of the south Korean authorities prioritizing cooperation with an "alliance" over the harmony of the nation.”

Militarism, Korean Peninsula: “The possible outbreak of a new war on the Korean peninsula is contained not because of the U.S.’s mercy on the DPRK. It is because our state is growing reliable deterrent that can control the hostile forces in their attempts for military invasion.”

Militarism, weapons, nuclear weapons, Korean Peninsula: “We are just building up our national defense in order to defend ourselves and reliably safeguard the security and peace of the country. For this reason, we do not imprudently use such expression that we are building up military power which is good enough to "deter" somebody's "provocation". However, the military threats against the DPRK by the U.S. and its servile forces are evolving constantly with the passage of time.”

Military spending, nuclear weapons, Korean Peninsula: “Annually, the U.S. spends astronomical amount of money amounting to more than US$ 700 billion on the development of ultra -supersonic weapons, long-range precision guided armaments, ICBM of a new generation, nuclear strategic bombers, all of which are bound to be used first against the DPRK in the future Korean war.

Korean Peninsula, weapons, militarism: “Recently, the south Korean authorities is hell -bent on developing ultra-modern weapons under the tacit approval and patronage of the U.S., and numerous war equipment have been shipped into south Korea. These are all too dangerous moves that break the balance of military power on the Korean peninsula. Given that the U.S. and the U.S.-south Korea military alliance increase military threats against the DPRK, nobody can deny the righteous right to self-defense for the DPRK to develop, test, manufacture and possess the weapon systems equivalent to the ones which are possessed or being developed by them.”

Militarism, Korean Peninsula, weapons: “If the U.S. wants to see the Korean war, the most prolonged and long-lasting war in the world, come to an end, and if it is really desirous of peace and reconciliation on the Korean peninsula, it should take the first step towards giving up its hostile policy against the DPRK by stopping permanently the joint military exercises and the deployment of all kinds of strategic weapons which are levelled at the DPRK in and around the Korean peninsula.”

Democratic Republic of the Congo
Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, President
21 September 2021

Armed conflict: “However, the scourge of insecurity caused by cohorts of terrorists, armed groups, mercenaries and criminals of all kinds is undermining the institutional stability of our young democracies and annihilating the efforts of many African leaders to develop their countries..”

Militarism, arms trade, ammunition: “Faced with the persistence of this cancer that is undermining the country in the North-East and the difficulties encountered by the troops of the United Nations Mission for Stability in the Congo, MONUSCO, in the theatre of operations, I have decided to proclaim, in accordance with Article 85 of the Constitution, a state of siege in order to put an end to the insecurity in one of the strategic regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo….

“As a result of the state of siege, significant progress has been made, including …
- the recovery of several weapons and ammunition by the FARDC
- the dismantling of several networks involved in the illegal trafficking of arms, ammunition, minerals and the supply of various products to armed groups….”

Denmark
Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister
24 September 2021

No relevant references.

Djibouti
Ismail Omar Guelleh, President
22 September 2021

No relevant references.

Dominica
Dr. Kenneth Darroux, Minister for Foreign Affairs
27 September 2021

Armed conflict: “The destruction brought about by wars within and between countries continues to displace millions of people from their homes creating unprecedented refugee crises.”

Dominican Republic
Luis Abinader, President
22 September 2021

No relevant references.

Ecuador
Guillermo Lasso Mendoza, President
21 September 2021

No relevant references.

Egypt
Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, Presidency
21 September 2021

Militarism: “We need a comprehensive approach that goes beyond security and military confrontation of terrorists and terrorist groups, but that would also include social and economic development and ideological factors as well.”

Ceasefire: [on a solution to the Palestinian question] “Egypt stresses the need to consolidate the ceasefire agreement reached on the twentieth of May 2021.”

El Salvador
Nayib Armando Bukele, President
23 September 2021

No relevant references.

Equatorial Guinea
Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, President
23 September 2021

No relevant references.

Eritrea
Osman Saleh Mohammed, Minister for Foreign Affairs
27 September 2021

Armed conflict: “As Your Excellency will recall, the Joint Declaration of Peace and Friendship that Eritrea and Ethiopia signed in July 2018 had ushered in a new epoch of hope and optimism. The significance of this historic achievement was vividly visible in the massive euphoria that it generated among the peoples of Eritrea and Ethiopia. But the TPLF group could not accept and fathom the present realities. It thus embarked on multiple acts of subversion both to scuttle the Eritrea-Ethiopia peace process and to regain power in Ethiopia through forceful means.

“It must be recalled here that while in power in Ethiopia, the TPLF continued to occupy, for almost two decades, sovereign Eritrean territories in flagrant violation of international law and the Arbitral Award of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission. Throughout this time, the TPLF continued to wage intermittent assaults against Eritrea in order to provoke a major war. And while the EritreaEthiopia Peace Agreement stipulated Ethiopia’s unequivocal adherence to, and implementation of the EEBC Border Verdict, the TPLF continued to obstruct goodfaith enforcement of this solemn agreement.

“In Ethiopia too, the TPLF resorted to various illicit subterfuges to roll back the positive process underway through popular will. And as a culmination and dangerous escalation of its subversive measures, it unleashed a massive War of Insurrection against Ethiopian’s Northern Command with the express aims of neutralizing this biggest contingent, confiscating its weaponry, to thereby forcefully seize power in Ethiopia. TPLF’s aims included subsequent military acts of aggression against Eritrea.

“The grave danger that this reckless and illicit acts by this rogue group to Ethiopia, Eritrea and the Horn of Africa region as a whole is too evident to merit further elaboration. But what we find inexcusable is the position of certain countries, notably the US and its European allies, to defend the TPLF’s illicit and dangerous acts of insurrection and mayhem and marshal all the tools in their disposal to rehabilitate it at any cost. I will not waste your time here to recount the false narratives they have floated to create moral equivalence between the principal culprit and those compelled to take deterrent and reactive action warranted by international law and established State practice.

“This act in itself underlines the structural inadequacy of the global governance system that I intimated earlier in my speech. Eritrea has suffered enormously by similar previous acts. These should not recur again. The injustices meted on Eritrea by powers who feel they can trample the sovereignty of nations and peoples at their whim must indeed come to an end.”

Estonia
Kersti Kaljulaid, President
22 September 2021

Armed conflict: “Conflicts still ravage many countries and new ones have occurred. Wars continue to be fought from Ukraine to Syria. Authoritarian regimes like Belarus, for example, have come up with new hybrid tools to attack democratic societies with innocent people. Those who suffer the most continue to be the most vulnerable in our societies – women, children and adolescents.”

Cyber peace and security: “Estonia has been since the early days among the creators of the normative framework for responsible state behaviour in cyberspace. At its heart is international law, including the UN Charter in its entirety, international humanitarian law, human rights law. As the host nation of the independent Tallinn Manual, which is starting its third run, we emphasise this wholeheartedly.”

“As an elected member of the Security Council, we were pleased to host the very first official discussion on cybersecurity in the Council earlier this year, which allowed us to raise awareness on threats to international peace and security stemming from the malicious use of cyberspace and create momentum for the implementation of our existing framework. Discussions on cybersecurity and cybercrime must ensure that we make a concentrated effort to implement the rules of the road we already have.We cannot go down this road without bringing companies and civil society along.”

Armed conflict: “Estonia as an elected member of the Security Council has put special emphasis on the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in peace processes and on fighting sexual and gender based violence. We have tried to give a voice to women human rights defenders by inviting them to brief the Security Council. We were also able to draw attention to the ever-deteriorating situation of children in armed conflicts, which has been even more amplified by COVID-19. Nevertheless, we know, it is by no means enough. Tangible action is needed more than ever.”

Eswatini
Cleopas Sipho Dlamini, Prime Minister
25 September 2021

No relevant references.

Ethiopia
Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister
25 September 2021

Armed conflict: “At the hands of these lords of instability, we went through unimaginably inhumane attacks against citizens, instigation of violence, and destruction of property, that culminated in an attack against the Ethiopian army. On the night of November four last year, in a scheme orchestrated by a criminal group, the Ethiopian National Defense Force was attacked from within. The unsuspecting men and women in uniform were slain. The Government of Ethiopia, took the necessary measures to avert the grave danger imposed on us.”

Ceasefire: “The Government of Ethiopia meeting-out its obligation to fulfil humanitarian needs, the declaration of humanitarian ceasefire, the commissioning of investigations, and accountability measures have not mitigated the propaganda campaigns. At this stage, we are nearly convinced humanitarian assistance is a pretext for advancing political considerations.”

Armed conflict: “Dialogue has always been our preferred course of action. Accordingly, Ethiopia is open to candid initiatives for peace. In this connection, we will work with the African Union and the High Representative for the Horn of Africa towards an Ethiopia led national dialogue. We only hope, the African Union will be given the space to apply its own wisdom.”

“The political and security landscape in Africa is on a path of adversity. Forcible overthrow of governments, joint military exercises, aggression, renewed appetite for intervention in sovereign countries, subversion and mercenaryism, 12 normalized and renewed scramble for natural resources, secret military pacts, geo-political competitions and others are becoming pervasive.”

“Accordingly, Ethiopia stands ready to avail bilateral mechanisms and diplomatic solutions to resolve the border dispute with Sudan. It is incumbent upon our two governments to work for peace for the sake of our people that have the strongest bond of fraternity.”

European Union
Charles Michel, President
24 September 2021

Ceasefire, armed conflict: “At this very moment, women are being brutalised and raped because they are women. This weapon of war is used in the Horn of Africa, in Ethiopia, for example. We call for a ceasefire and an immediate end to ethnic violence.”

Militarism: “The new situation in Afghanistan is a failure for the international community. But one thing is certain: the end of military operations does not mean the end of the European commitment to the Afghan people.”

Armed conflict: “Finally, the recent upsurge in violence in the Middle East was a further reminder of the absolute necessity to resume peaceful dialogue towards a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine.”

Fiji
Josaia V. Bainimarama CF (Mil), Prime Minister of Fiji and Minister for iTaukei Affairs, Sugar Industry, Foreign Affairs and Forestry
25 September 2021

Nuclear weapons: “This grave moment is not without parallel. In the wake of the death and destruction of World War Two, world leaders saw unilateral action as kindling for another world war, one fought with nuclear weapons of planet-destroying potential. They answered that challenge with the genius of this multilateral system.”

Missiles, drones, nuclear weapons: “If we can spend trillions on missiles, drones, and nuclear submarines, we can fund climate action.”

Finland
Sauli Niinistö, President
21 September 2021

Arms control, arms race: “In an era of intensifying great-power competition and rapid technological progress, we are also faced with a serious risk of a new arms race. If the unravelling of the international arms control system is allowed to continue, it reduces predictability and increases the likelihood of unintended escalation.”

Arms control: “The most important task is to uphold and strengthen the existing arms control architecture. But at the same time, we also need to think ahead with an open mind. We have to develop new solutions to respond to emerging challenges and technologies, by strengthening confidence-building, verification and transparency.”

Nuclear weapons: “In nuclear arms control, Finland welcomes the extension of New START. Yet it is also clear that engagement between all the nuclear powers would be beneficial for global security.”

France
Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs
27 September 2021

Arms control: “That is why France is calling for a P5 Summit to set out a joint action programme. To enable the Security Council to fully exercise its mandate. And to start dialogue on the key issues of arms control and our collective security.”

Militarism: In the Sahel, we are adapting our military structure to retain our long-term action capabilities, to meet the expectations of our regional partners and to remain fully available to our international partners, those from the Coalition for the Sahel and those serving within MINUSMA.”

Ceasefire: “In Libya, there is now a credible path to restore unity and sovereignty in the country, provided that all parties fulfil their obligations, the foreign mercenaries withdraw, the ceasefire remains in place and elections are held as planned on 24 December.”

Nuclear weapons, Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA): “With regard to the Iranian nuclear programme, we must be absolutely unequivocal. Iran cannot be allowed to think time is on its side, because the more dangerous its nuclear programme becomes, the greater the risk of a major crisis. The positions taken by the United States yesterday cannot justify Iran’s continued violation of its JCPOA commitments. France will take all necessary action to encourage dialogue. But the only possible path remains an agreement to establish that Iran is once again fulfilling its obligations. It is therefore essential that negotiations resume very quickly.”

Armed conflict, targeting of civilians: “Violations of international humanitarian law also constitute a serious threat to international peace and security. Particularly when humanitarian and medical personnel are targeted, even as they are providing emergency relief to populations. We must therefore equip ourselves with the means to better prevent these crimes and punish those who are guilty of committing them – in Syria, Yemen, Niger, the Central African Republic, Ethiopia and everywhere else.”

Cyber, cyber peace and security: “France and its European partners even intend to adopt actual legislation on digital markets. We encourage our international partners to follow us down this path, and we invite them to work with us to establish a new digital public order in the wake of the Paris Call and the Christchurch Call to Action, which, since 2019, has enabled us to take decisive action to remove terrorist content from the Internet.”

Gabon
Ali Bongo Ondimba
23 September 2021

Small arms and light weapons: “The price of instability, as a result of terrorism or armed groups, is particularly high for many African countries, which are forced to devote substantial resources to these phenomena, which are fuelled, among other things, by the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons and wildlife trafficking.”

The Gambia
Dr. Isatou Touray, President
24 September 2021

Armed conflict: “Today, Africa in general is grappling with the negative effects of conflicts and insecurity. The challenge of addressing the root causes of conflict and climate change require greater global solidarity and UN leadership. Apart from heavy costs in human and material terms, conflicts impede production, damage infrastructure, prevent the reliable delivery of social services, and disrupt the growth of societies. Due to conflicts in the continent, poverty continues to be perpetuated with a negative impact on our collective strive for sustainable peace and security.”

Armed conflict, small arms and light weapons: “In Africa today, there is undisputed recognition of strong interlinkages between peace and development, with studies confirming that armed conflicts remain a major obstacle to development in the continent. Against this background, my delegation calls on the international community to come together and act coherently to address the root causes of conflicts and recovery in Africa by adopting new approaches and narratives that suit the demands of our time. The international community should intensify its efforts to accelerate progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the goals and targets of Agenda 2063, including silencing the guns in Africa.”

Armed conflict: “On Palestine, we must always remember that peace and security in Palestine and Israel mean peace and security for the Middle East region and the world at large. It is therefore imperative for the international community to encourage genuine dialogue with a view to ending the deadlock. We must intensify efforts to bring both sides of the conflict to the negotiating table. Use of force and violence will only add to the suffering of the people living in the area. We continue to be deeply traumatized by the negative consequences of this conflict and cannot continue to ignore the humanitarian catastrophe that goes with it.”

Georgia
Irakli Garibashvili, Prime Minister
24 September 2021

Landmines: “This summer, Georgia, alongside our United States partners, laid the groundwork for the release of 15 Armenian detainees by Azerbaijan. At the same time, Armenia provided maps of mined territories.”

Germany
Frank-Walter Steinmeier, President
24 September 2021

Militarism: “German and European foreign policy must not restrict itself to being right and condemning others. What we need to do is extend our toolbox – diplomatic, military, civilian, humanitarian.”

Military spending: “The citizens in all our nations expect their governments to protect them from threat and attack - and rightly so. This is why, in these unstable times, my country too is investing more in its defense capability.”

Militarism: “But one thing is clear as well. Future generations will not judge us on our military strength today, but on whether we were able to resolve problems and conflicts. Military strength without the will to forge understanding, without the courage to engage in diplomacy, does not make the world a more peaceful place. This is why we need strength at the negotiating table just as we need strength in defense.”

Armed conflict, cyber peace and security: “ Regional instability, weakening state structures, refugee and migrant flows, religious extremism and terrorism, and new forms of conflict, hybrid, digital, environmental, and resource based conflicts. Such developments threaten us and we all have to deal with them. Small and large alike.”

Nuclear weapons, Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA): “We are ready to renew the nuclear agreement, and we call upon Iran to return to serious negotiations as quickly as possible.”

Militarism: “After all, the firepower of the most powerful army comes to an end. The long arm of the strongest state comes to an end. But the appeal of freedom and democracy in the hearts and minds of people lives on! That is my firm belief!”

Ghana
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President
22 September 2021

No relevant references.

Greece
Kyriakos Mitsitakis, Prime Minister
24 September 2021

Militarism: “It is regrettable that Turkey continues to ignore a series of UN Resolutions, amongst them 541 and 550, and insists on the militarization of the island. It continues its illegal violation of Cyprus’ maritime zones and airspace and violates UN resolutions on the fenced area of Varosha.”

Armed conflict: “In our immediate neighborhood, Libya continues to suffer from the devastating effects of a decade long civil war. The Libyan people deserve a peaceful future, where their destiny is in their own hands, free from the presence of foreign troops, mercenaries, and foreign fighters. Libyans want the right to freely elect their own government, without foreign intervention. We stand by them. And we support their demand for the withdrawal of all foreign forces and for the holding of free elections on December 24th, 2021. And we appreciate the work done by the United Nations and Special Envoy Jan Kubis.”

Militarism, outer space, cyber peace and security: “If anything, a European Defense Union will strengthen NATO. It will oblige European countries to address issues of interoperability and meagre defense budgets. It will accelerate our cooperation on cyber and space.”

Grenada
Oliver Joseph, Minister For Foreign Affairs
27 September 2021

No relevant references.

Guatemala
Alejandro Giammattei Falla, President
22 September 2021

Nuclear weapons: “Guatemala, as a country with a pacifist vocation, reiterates before this assembly the necessity for complete, irreversible, and transparent disarmament and condemns any nuclear test or threat of the use of force with this type of weapon, which put at true risk and endanger the continuity of life on our planet.”

Guinea
Aly Diane, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Guinea at the UN
27 September 2021

No relevant references.

Guinea-Bissau
Umaro Sissoco Embalo, President
22 September 2021

No relevant references.

Guyana
Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President
23 September 2021

No relevant references.