UNGA Disarmament Index 2022: A-G

This is an index of all references made to issues of disarmament and arms control made during the 77th General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly from 20–26 September 2022.

A-G | H-R | S-Z

UN Secretary-General
Mr. António Guterres
20 September 2022

Cyber peace and security, surveillance: “Our data is being bought and sold to influence our behaviour – while spyware and surveillance are out of control – all, with no regard for privacy. Artificial intelligence is compromising the integrity of information systems, the media, and indeed democracy itself. Quantum computing could destroy cybersecurity and increase the risk of malfunctions to complex systems. We don’t have the beginnings of a global architecture to deal with any of this.”

Nuclear weapons, nuclear energy, Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action: “Meanwhile nuclear saber-rattling and threats to the safety of nuclear plants are adding to global instability. The review conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty failed to reach consensus and a nuclear deal with Iran remains elusive.”

Cyber peace and security, autonomous weapon systems, disarmament, non-proliferation: “And we must also prioritize prevention and peacebuilding. That means strengthening strategic foresight, anticipating flashpoints that could erupt into violence, and tackling emerging threats posed by cyber warfare and lethal autonomous weapons. It means expanding the role of regional groups, strengthening peacekeeping, intensifying disarmament and non-proliferation, preventing and countering terrorism, and ensuring accountability.”

President of the General Assembly
Mr. Csaba Kőrösi
20 September 2022

Nuclear weapons: “Who would have imagined that war would return to Europe? That the nuclear threat would be back in political discourse to settle a dispute with a neighbor?”

Nuclear energy: “UN nuclear inspectors are at one of Europe’s key nuclear sites, preventing a possible catastrophe.”

Albania
Mr. Edi Rama, Prime Minister
24 September 2022

Nuclear weapons, cyber peace and security: “At a time when a multitude of crises have put the world in turmoil including by unacceptable nuclear threats, I would like to call the attention of the Assembly on another crucial issue closely linked and with huge impact on peace and security: cybersecurity. Technology is nowadays part of every aspect of our life. In Albania 95% of services to the citizens and business are offered online. These user-friendly systems save time, energy, and drastically improve efficiency, quality and are the best tool to eliminate endemic corruption. But, last July, Albania was the target of an unprovoked large-scale cyberattack. The entire government digital infrastructure was under a sustained and coordinated assault, with the clear aim to destroy it, paralyze public services and steal data and electronic communications from government systems, create chaos and foment tension in the country. A lengthy and thorough in-depth investigation, conducted in cooperation with the best existing world expertise on cyber terrorism has now confirmed, beyond any doubt, that the cyberattack that wanted to bring a sovereign country to its knees, was a State-sponsored aggression, orchestrated and carried out by the Islamic Republic of Iran. This is why, in face of a such blatant breach of norms of responsible State behavior in cyberspace in peacetime, which include refraining from damaging critical infrastructure that provides services to the public, the Government of Albania was left with no other choice but sever the diplomatic relations with Iran. We hope this forced extreme measure will be an example and a deterrent for anyone who supports or sponsors such abhorring actions against sovereign states. We urge the United Nations, including the Security Council, to focus more seriously and concretely to address cyber security by investing in prevention and help Member States build resilience.”

Algeria
Mr. Ramtane Lamamra, Minister for Foreign Affairs
26 September 2022

No relevant references.

Andorra
Mr. Xavier Espot Zamora, Head of Government
23 September 2022

No relevant references.

Angola
Maria de Jesus Ferreira, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Angola to the United Nations
26 September 2022

Arms embargo, militarism: “The Republic of Angola continues to uphold the inalienable rights of all States to strengthen their own defence capabilities against external threats, equipping their Armed Forces with men, weapons and equipment that meet national needs. In this regard, we reiterate here our call for the lifting of the arms embargo imposed on the Central African Republic.”

Antigua and Barbuda
Mr. Gaston Alphonso Browne, Prime Minister
23 September 2022

Militarism: “Mr. President, our world is now gripped in a fearful atmosphere of economic and financial instability, and the worry of expanded warfare.”

Militarism: “The world is dominated now, not by a conflict in the developing world, but very much in the developed world, and in an expression of the underlying suspicions that have continued to exist between the nations of the East and the West. The effects of the conflict, exposed by the war on Ukraine, have reached every nation. Therefore, we have a legitimate interest in it, and a right to call on all the parties - Russia, on the one hand and NATO and European Union countries on the other - to employ their diplomatic resources and skills to end this globally debilitating war.”

Argentina
Mr. Alberto Fernández, President
20 September 2022

Militarism: “To meet such challenges, we must reclaim the rule of peace. We have always advocated the peaceful settlement of disputes. It is imperative that all hostilities cease. For this reason, we need to work together to impose dialogue and restore peace in the dispute that began with the military advance of the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine”.

Cyber peace and security: “The much-declared social equality demands that we all have access to the advantages offered by the present. In the digital era in which we live, we consider it a priority to universalise access to Information and Communication Technologies and to promote actions that reduce the inequality gaps that can be seen today. The UN is the right place for the international community to find the necessary agreements that guarantee the maintenance of a free, open, stable, secure and, above all, peaceful cyberspace, where hatred and violence are not sown from anonymity.”

Armenia
Mr. Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister
22 September 2022

Militarism, explosive weapons, drones: “On September 13, Azerbaijan launched an unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Armenia. Using heavy artillery, Multiple Rocket Launchers and combat UAVs, the Azerbaijani armed forces shelled 36 residential areas and communities, including towns of Goris, Jermuk, Vardenis, Kapan, Geghamasar deep within the sovereign territory of Armenia. This was not a border clash. It was a direct, undeniable attack against the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Armenia, which was condemned and addressed during the latest UN Security Council meetings and beyond.

“The Azerbaijani attack deliberately targeted civilian population and vital civilian infrastructures: Jermuk is one of the main health tourism and resort places of Armenia and now as a result of Azerbaijani aggression all the hotels, resort and health centers of Jermuk are closed. All the residents of this town are displaced. Overall number of those temporarily displaced from Gegharkunik, Vayots Dzor, and Syunik regions of Armenia is more than 7600 persons, mostly women and elderly people, among them 1437 children and 99 persons with Disabilities.

“Around 192 houses, 3 hotels, 2 schools, 1 medical facility, 1 medical facility, partially or completely destroyed. 7 electrical infrastructures, 5 water infrastructures, 3 gas pipelines, 1 bridge were damaged. 2 ambulances, 4 private cars were shelled. The Kechut water reservoir was targeted and shelled. Journalists and ambulance vehicles were targeted and shelled as well. As a result of the aggression, the number of victims and missing persons at the moment exceeded 207, among them 3 civilians were killed and 2 civilians are missing. 293 servicemen and 8 civilians were wounded, at least 20 servicemen were captured.”

Armenia - right of reply
26 September 2022

Landmines: “The Minister of Azerbaijan accused Armenia of ‘massive contamination by landmines and continued refusal to provide accurate and complete information on mined areas’. … As Armenia explained at the International Court of Justice while addressing a similar accusation last year, for decades, Armenia strived to complete a comprehensive demining process. However, Azerbaijan persistently blocked all such humanitarian efforts. Armenia had a long record of working with the Organization for Security and Co- operation in Europe (OSCE) on demining-related activities, including through the OSCE office in Yerevan. Yet, it was Azerbaijan who forced the OSCE in 2016 to terminate those demining-related efforts. Moreover, Azerbaijan through procedural manipulations refused to extend the mandate of the OSCE office in Yerevan, so that the said office ⎯ which was the last OSCE field presence in the South Caucasus ⎯had to close in 2017. It must be also noted that in the context of resolving all outstanding humanitarian issues, Armenia has provided the maps of mined areas in its possession, despite the fact that it is under no legal obligation to do so. By contrast, this humanitarian gesture has not been fully reciprocated as Azerbaijan continues to deny the return of all the Armenian POWs and other detained persons currently held in captivity in Azerbaijan in violation of the Geneva Conventions as well as the Trilateral Statement of 9 November 2020 on the establishment of ceasefire and cessation of hostilities.”

Australia
Ms. Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs
23 September 2022

Militarism: “We don’t want to see any one country dominating – or any country being dominated. We cannot accept a situation where large countries determine the fate of smaller countries. That is why Russia’s illegal, immoral invasion of Ukraine cannot be normalised and it cannot be minimised. Russia’s attack on Ukraine is an attack on all smaller countries.”

Nuclear weapons: “Mr Putin’s weak and desperate nuclear threats underline the danger that nuclear weapons pose to us all, and the urgent need for progress on nuclear disarmament. Australia has always pursued a world without nuclear weapons, and we will redouble our efforts towards this goal - and to strengthening the non-proliferation regime.”

Austria
Mr. Alexander Schallenberg, Federal Minister for European and International Affairs
22 September 2022

Nuclear weapons, explosive weapons, militarism: “Russia is trying to redraw borders using tanks and rockets, something the world hasn’t seen since Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait. It is using explicit nuclear blackmail and fake ‘referenda’ in a clear violation of international law.”

Explosive weapons, militarism: “Are we really incapable of learning from history? Because we are again facing a country attempting to saustettle its neo-imperialistic score using ‘bombs and bayonets’ and by targeting civilians and committing atrocities, that may amount to war crimes under international humanitarian law. And these ‘bombs and bayonets’ are not only targeting Ukrainians. They are also targeting the world's most vulnerable countries, pushing them into a triple crisis of shortages of food, energy and financing.”

Azerbaijan
Mr. Jeyhun Aziz oglu Bayramov, Minister for Foreign Affairs
24 September 2022

Landmines: “One of the major impediments to the ongoing recovery and reconstruction efforts and safe return of displaced persons is a massive contamination of liberated territories by landmines and other explosive devices, and continued refusal by Armenia to provide accurate and complete information on mined areas. Over the years of occupation of and during withdrawal of its forces from Azerbaijani territories Armenia heavily and indiscriminately contaminated those areas with mines and other explosive hazards. Since the signing of Trilateral Statement more than 240 Azerbaijani civilians and military were killed or seriously injured by mine explosions. Obtaining the maps of minefields along with the targeted and sustainable international technical and financial assistance to further strengthen and increase national mine action capacities and efforts in Azerbaijan are critically important to save lives and strengthen peace. The UN sustainable support and adequate and predictable mine action funding are indispensable.”

Militarism, landmines: “Armenia has not fully withdrawn its armed forces from Azerbaijani territories as stipulated by November 10 Trilateral statement, and continues a variety of military activities within the territories of Azerbaijan, including planting landmines. Recently, massive number of anti-personnel mines produced in Armenia in 2021, have been found in the Lachin district of Azerbaijan.”

Explosive weapons, ceasefire: “Armenia clearly attempted a further escalation to manipulate the attention of international community. Thus, Armenia disregarded the ceasefire agreed on September 13 and continued shelling the territory of Azerbaijan, including with high-caliber weapons and artillery. As a result, Azerbaijan suffered further losses and casualties, included 80 servicemen killed, 281 servicemen and 2 civilians wounded.”

Bahamas
Mr. Philip Edward Davis, Prime Minister
24 September 2022

Small arms and light weapons: “And of course, day in, and day out, we must also defend our thousands of miles of ocean borders from trafficking in people, drugs, and guns.”

Small arms and light weapons: “We are also struggling from the proliferation of guns. We do not manufacture guns in our country, and yet they illegally find their way to The Bahamas, and within days, can be connected to some criminal activity. In an archipelagic nation, made up of some 700 islands and cays, and ranged across 100,000. square miles of water, defending our borders is an expensive challenge. We believe more manageable and effective efforts can be made at the source, to ensure that a right to bear arms does not so quickly and easily translate into a right to traffic arms.”

Bahrain
Mr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Alzayani, Minister for Foreign Affairs
22 September 2022

Weapons of mass destruction: “The Kingdom of Bahrain affirms its interest in establishing friendly and balanced relations with all countries in the Middle East region, including the Islamic Republic of Iran, in compliance with the United Nations Charter and international law, the principles of good neighbourliness, and non-interference in the affairs of other countries, with respect to international law and the sovereignty of states and their religious and cultural values, and refraining from the use or threat of force, calling upon Iran to fully cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency, and to work to make the Middle East region, including the Arabian Gulf, a zone free of weapons of mass destruction.”

Bangladesh
Ms. Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister
23 September 2022

Disarmament, nuclear weapons: “We are fully committed to complete disarmament, including the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. We ratified the landmark Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) in 2019.”

Cyber peace and security: “I also call upon Member States to work together for conclusion of an internationally binding instrument to tackle cyber-crimes and cyber- violence.”

Arms race: “My urge to the conscience of the world - stop the arms race, stop the war and sanctions. Ensure food, education, healthcare and security of the children. Establish peace.”

Arms race: “My earnest appeal to you, ‘stop war, stop arms race’. May the values of humanity be upheld.”

Barbados
Ms. Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister
22 September 2022

No relevant references.

Belarus
Mr. Vladimir Makei, Minister for Foreign Affairs
24 September 2022

Militarism: “In an effort to embed the status the West staked on the expansion of one of its key Cold War-era institutions – the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance. NATO’s eastward expansion occurred despite the arrangements achieved with the West, including by the Soviet leaders. Furthermore, the West overlooked the legitimate security interests of both Russia and Belarus…. With its drive to enlarge NATO, the West has essentially trampled upon the indivisibility of security, the vital principle, which states that one party must not seek to achieve its own security at the expense of other parties. The peacemakers in 1815 and 1945 well grasped that logic, whereas the world leaders in 1919 and 1991 refused to embrace it. NATO's involvement in the illegal wars in Yugoslavia, Iraq, Libya and Syria, in addition to the Alliance's attempts to encroach on some historical Eastern Slavic and adjacent lands predetermined for the Versailles 2.0. the fate of the first Versailles. Therefore, it is the collective West that should fully bear the responsibility for the ongoing bloodshed in Ukraine.”

Militarism, ceasefire: “We remain deeply convinced that both a ceasefire agreement and a comprehensive strategic peace settlement around Ukraine in a broad context of regional and global security can be achieved only through negotiation. There is no alternative to talks! Otherwise, we will all get a new third Versailles.”

Belgium
Mr. Alexander de Croo, Prime Minister
23 September 2022

Militarism, explosive weapons: “Never again war in Europe. That was the mission. Never again were schools to be bombed on the European continent. Never again were hospitals to be hit. Never again were cities to be cut off from food and medicine. Today, we are witnessing all of these in Ukraine.”

Militarism: “It was the late Mikhael Gorbachev who said: ‘The victor is not the one who wins battles in a war, but the one who makes peace.’ To win this peace, we must place the principles of the UN Charter at the forefront again. The principles of territorial integrity and national sovereignty. Indeed, if today, the world is less stable and less secure, it is because of the sheer scandal that one of the founding members of this United Nations has trampled on these principles and unleashed a war that reminds us of Europe’s darkest hours.”

Nuclear weapons: “The statements of the past few days and the threat to launch a nuclear war against an independent country have demonstrated Russia’s ruthlessness once again. It is reminiscent of medieval barbarism, much more than of Russian greatness.”

Nuclear energy: “And we keep investing in nuclear energy. Safer than today. With less waste than today.”

Militarism, explosive weapons: “The Russian bombs and missiles directed towards the people of Ukraine are also aimed at causing conflicts in other countries.”

Cyper peace and security: “But also in Europe, where Putin is financing his puppets to carry out his agenda of division, mistrust and unrest. Organizing disinformation campaigns, cyberattacks and illegal interference in free elections.”

Militarism: “A founding Member of the United Nations, a permanent member of the UN Security Council is waging a hybrid war on the international community. We cannot standby. We cannot look away. We must protect the people of Ukraine. We must do everything we can to help Ukraine win this war. And we will.”

Belize
Mr. John Briceño, Prime Minister
23 September 2022

No relevant references.

Benin
Mr. Marc Hermanne Gninadoou Araba, Permanent Representative to the UN
26 September 2022

Militarism, ceasefire: “We therefore urge the parties to the conflict to establish an immediate ceasefire and to start political negotiations without delay in order to save the world from the consequences of a global conflict.”

Bhutan
Mr. Lyonpo Tandi Dorji, Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Bhutan
26 September 2022

No relevant references.

Bolivia
Mr. Luis Alberto Arce Catacora, President
20 September 2022

Militarism: “And convinced that "Another world is possible", we, from the Plurinational State of Bolivia, propose: 1. TO DECLARE THE WORLD AS A ZONE OF PEACE. In this sense, we express our concern for the considerable number of armed conflicts that plague humanity, many of them promoted by the transnational corporations of war, but also by the desire to impose a world political and economic order, functional to the interests of capitalism.”

Weapons of mass destruction, nuclear weapons, military spending: “2. TO REPLACE THE MANUFACTURE OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION WITH A FAIR COMPENSATION TO THE POOR OF THE WORLD. Precisely, the lack of dialogue and preventive diplomacy measures dragged us into an era of great global tensions, growing uncertainties, and instability in global security. We live in times in which the concentration of a large number of weapons of mass destruction in a small group of countries, which, by refusing to eliminate them and prioritizing refusing to eliminate them, prioritizing their geopolitical interests, endanger the peace and security of our planet. Nine countries today have 12,705 nuclear warheads, 9,440 of them are in military stockpiles, ready to be used. In the face of this dramatic worldwide reality, it is necessary to replace the military expenditures for the manufacture of weapons of mass destruction with a fair economic compensation that the capitalist countries owe, morally and historically, to the countries of the periphery and the poor of the world.”

Militarism, weapons: “Peace will not be achieved by buying and selling weapons, but by working together to build and, if necessary, rebuild the economic and productive capacities of all countries.”

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Mr. Šefik Džaferović, Chairman of the Presidency
21 September 2022

Militarism: “At a time when towns and villages in Ukraine are facing the terrifying reality of war, the least we can do is not to be silent about it. We must not be silent, especially in this building, the home of the United Nations, established with the aim of preventing and stopping what is currently happening in Ukraine. We must not be silent in Bosnia and Herzegovina either. We owe that to our vivid memories of the horrors of war and aggression.”

Botswana
Mr. Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, President
22 September 2022

Militarism: “We therefore continue to call on all parties to recommit to finding peaceful and lasting solutions to the conflict through diplomacy and dialogue. The UN broker talks that resulted in the Russian Federation and Ukraine signing an agreement on the Black Sea grain issue are a testament that when given a chance diplomacy and dialogue can yield results. If nothing else, the end of the second world war and the founding of the United Nations in 1945 has demonstrated that only if we approach conflict based on solidarity and working together can we find peace.”

Brazil
Mr. Jair Messias Bolsonaro, President
20 September 2022

No relevant references.

Brunei Darussalam
Mr. Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof, Minister for Foreign Affairs II
24 September 2022

No relevant references.

Bulgaria
Mr. Nikolay Milkov Milkov, Caretaker Minister for Foreign Affairs
24 September 2022

No relevant references.

Burkina Faso
Mr. Paul Henri Sandaogo Damiba, President
23 September 2022

No relevant references.

Burundi
Mr. Evariste Ndayishimiye, President
22 September 2022

No relevant references.

Cabo Verde
Mr. José Maria Pereira Neves, President
21 September 2022

No relevant references.

Cambodia
Mr. Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister
23 September 2022

Arms race, militarism: “Our theme of the 77th UNGA Session: “A watershed moment: transformative solutions to interlocking challenges”, is indeed relevant to the current context. Global uncertainties have been exacerbated by the escalation of armed conflicts, arms race, the rise of mini security alliances, the technology and trade wars, the imposition of economic sanctions, and the mounting threats to multilateralism.”

Militarism, nuclear weapons: “In fact, the war in Ukraine has complicated not just international relations in Europe but caused serious economic disruptions and exacerbated our food and energy security. The escalation of the hostilities involving more and more actors, directly or indirectly, and with no end in sight, coupled with the threat of a nuclear war have serious impacts on the world at large.”

Nuclear weapons and DPRK: “The situation in the Korean Peninsula remains alarming due to preparation for a seventh nuclear test. This year, North Korea has launched dozens of ballistic missiles in response to military drills.”

Cameroon
Mr. Lejeune Mbella Mbella, Minister for Foreign Affairs
26 September 2022

Disarmament, demilitarisation, and reintegration (DDR): “The Disarmament, Demilitarisation and Reintegration Centres created in these regions and in the Far North region, welcome and train in various trades a large number of my young compatriots who have laid down their arms and renounced violence.”

Canada
Ms. Mélanie Joly, Minister for Foreign Affairs
26 September 2022

Nuclear weapons, militarism: “While the world gathered here in New York to pursue solutions for the greatest challenges of our time, president Putin informed that he will conscript more young people into his war of choice. He threatened our collective security with reckless and dangerous nuclear rhetoric. For Putin, this is a war to death; for Ukraine, it is a war for life.”

Surveillance: “Certain countries are restricting civil liberties violating human rights, and are conducting widespread surveillance of their population. This trend of authoritarianism is extremely worrying. This phenomenon is particularly seen in the Xinjiang region of China. Here the publication of the UN report on human rights it’s an essential step.”

Central African Republic
Mr. Faustin Archange Touadera, President
20 September 2022

Arms trade: “I also note with satisfaction the Council's stance against transnational trafficking networks that continue to supply armed groups with arms of all calibres. While welcoming the significant progress that has made it possible to substantially lift the arms embargo imposed on our Defence and Security Forces, I would like to convey the gratitude of the Central African people to all the friendly and brotherly countries that firmly support our request for the total lifting of the embargo. However, I deplore the manoeuvres aimed at legitimising the armed groups and insidiously maintaining the embargo. Who benefits from this crime?”

Chad
Ms. Awatif Altidjani Ahmed Koiboro, Minister for Foreign Affairs
23 September 2022

Disarmament, demilitarisation, and reintegration (DDR): “In this regard, Chad reiterates, once again, to the attention of the Security Council and to the Secretary-General its request for the implementation of the Disarmament, Demilitarisation and Reintegration (DDR) process as a lasting solution to resolve the issue of its nationals in the hands of the various Libyan military factions.”

Chile
Mr. Gabriel Boric Font, President
20 September 2022

No relevant references.

China
Mr. Wang Yi, State Councilor and Minister for Foreign Affairs
24 September 2022

Disarmament, non-proliferation, arms control: “China has been engaging in building global peace. We have actively promoted international peace and participated in international arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation processes.”

Nuclear weapons: “China is the only one, among the five nuclear weapon states, that is committed to no first use of nuclear weapons.”

Small arms and light weapons: “The abuse of guns is becoming an increasingly serious problem across the world. China has decided to launch its domestic procedure to ratify the UN firearms protocol, which will contribute to strengthening global cooperation on gun control and closing the security deficit.”

Colombia
Mr. Gustavo Petro Urrego, President
20 September 2022

Military spending: “If you don't have the capacity to finance the forest revitalisation fund, if money for weapons outweighs money for life, then reduce the foreign debt to free up our own budgetary space for the task of saving humanity and life on the planet.”

Militarism: “I propose to you, and I call on Latin America to do so, to engage in dialogue to end the war. Do not pressure us to align ourselves in the fields of war. It is time for PEACE. Let the Slavic peoples talk to each other, let the peoples of the world talk to each other. War is only a trap that brings the end of time closer in the great orgy of irrationality.”

Comoros
Mr. Azali Assoumani, President
22 September 2022

No relevant references.

Congo
Mr. Jean-Claude Gakosso, Minister for Foreign Affairs
26 September 2022

Nuclear weapons, militarism: “Because of the enormous risk of nuclear disaster that these events pose to the whole world, not only the protagonists in this conflict, but also the foreign powers that can influence the course of events in the direction of peace, should all cool down, stop fanning the flames and turn their backs on the kind of ‘vanity of the powerful’ that has so far closed the door to dialogue. Under the aegis of the United Nations, all should commit themselves, without delay, to peace negotiations. Fair, sincere and equitable negotiations. Since the Vienna Congress, we know that wars always end around a table. The world urgently needs these negotiations to prevent the current conflicts, already so devastating, from escalating further and tipping humanity into what could be an irreversible cataclysm, i.e. a generalised nuclear war beyond the control of the great powers themselves. This war, about which Einstein, the great theorist of the atom, said with gravity that it would be, if it were to take place, "the last battle that men would have fought on earth."

Costa Rica
Mr. Arnoldo André-Tinoco, Minister for Foreign Affairs
21 September 2022

Military spending: “Secondly, human security is key to global security. For my country, it is inconceivable that while millions of people are waiting for vaccines, medicines or food to save their lives, the richest countries continue to prioritize their resources in armaments at the expense of people's well-being, climate health and equitable recovery. In 2021, global military spending continued to increase for the seventh consecutive year to reach the highest figure we have ever seen in history. Costa Rica today reiterates its call for a gradual and sustained reduction in military spending, for the more weapons we produce, the more will escape even our best efforts at management and control. It is about prioritizing the lives and well-being of people and the planet over the profits to be made from weapons and war. It is about investing in and actively building alternative approaches to security, approaches that facilitate cooperation and care rather than competition and violence.”

Nuclear weapons: “We are convinced that it is also possible to achieve peace and security without resorting to nuclear weapons. Because only the total elimination of nuclear weapons is the only guarantee against their use or threat of use, Costa Rica urges more States to sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, as well as to adhere to the Vienna Declaration and Action Plan.”

Militarism, explosive weapons, nuclear energy, nuclear weapons: “We also urge the Russian Federation to cease attacking Ukraine, its civilian population and critical infrastructure, to demilitarize the Zaporiyia plant and not to resort to nuclear coercion, which we condemn in the strongest terms. Costa Rica calls on both parties to ensure respect, at all times and in all circumstances, for international human rights law and international humanitarian law.”

Côte d’Ivoire
M. Alassane Outtara, President
21 September 2022

Nuclear weapons and militarism: “The war in Ukraine has just reminded us that peace is a quest permanent that it is imperative to pursue relentlessly. This confrontation, with the risk of recourse to nuclear weapons, continues to undermine world peace and plunge humanity into multifaceted crises. It reveals to us once again, the limits of the option military in conflict resolution.”

Croatia
Mr. Andrej Plenković, Prime Minister
23 September 2022

Nuclear weapons: “The latest announcements about partial mobilisation in Russia, preparations for the organization for sham referenda in occupied parts of Ukraine and nuclear threats are another dangerous escalation in an already unprecedented crisis.”

Arms embargo: “Three decades ago, Croatia itself was a war-ravaged country in jeopardy, also facing armed aggression, almost a third of its territory was occupied. Additionally, we had to fight for international recognition and were under an arms embargo.”

Cuba
Mr. Bruno Eduardo Rodríguez Parrilla, Minister for Foreign Affairs
21 September 2022

Military spending, nuclear weapons: “Paradoxically, military expenditure at a global level is growing at a dizzying pace and for the first time now exceeds $2 trillion. Nothing justifies the fact that humankind continues to remain threatened by the existence of around 13,000 nuclear weapons. We champion the universalisation of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. How much more could we maybe do if these resources were devoted to promoting health and development? How many deaths as a result of COVID and other diseases might have been avoided? How many boys and girls would be spared hunger and preventable illnesses?”

Militarism: “We champion a serious diplomatic and constructive and realistic solution to the current war in Ukraine. This solution must be found through peaceful means with full respect for international law.”

Cyprus
Mr. Nicos Anastasiades, President
23 September 2022

Military spending: “Like all of you, I would have liked to have applauded the results of the implementation either of the provisions of the UN Charter or of the decisions and resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council, which would have assured that: … the trillions of dollars spent on destructive weapons would instead have been spent on actions and programmes aiming to bridge the gap between rich and poor states.”

Czech Republic
Mr. Jan Lipavský, Minister for Foreign Affairs
21 September 2022

Nuclear weapons: “Russia tries to dismantle the security architecture of the European continent, launching a colonial war of conquest. Ironically, President Putin declares partial mobilization and threatens the world with use of nuclear weapons today, on the UN International Day of Peace. What more proof do we need? This is our new terrifying reality.”

Explosive weapons: “We are horrified by the atrocities committed by the Russian invader. We condemn the existence of “filtration” camps run by Russia and the horrors in Mariupol, Bucha, Irpin, Izyum and many other places in Ukraine as well as the apocalyptic shelling of civilian infrastructure.”

Explosive weapons: “Czechia reiterates Israel’s right to protect its citizens against any terrorist activities, including rocket attacks, which deliberately target Israeli civilians.”

Cyber peace and security: “The digital space carries many opportunities but there are risks entailed, too: cyber- attacks and cybercrime, misuse of technology and, in particular, disinformation … Czechia promotes the concept of “digital humanism” which keeps human interests and needs at the center of emerging technologies. Instances of internet shutdowns are growing. We must maintain a free, open, safe, secure, and stable cyberspace where human rights apply online as they do offline. The number of cyber-attacks, including state-sponsored ones, continues to rise, as does their severity. New potential of terrorist threat has appeared with the escalation of Russia’s aggressive policies.”

Ammunition: “I would like to use this opportunity to remind Russia that Czechia still awaits its official response concerning the explosion in the ammunition depot in my country in 2014. This completely appalling act was planned and executed by agents of the Russian military intelligence GRU and claimed the lives of two innocent Czech citizens, in addition to material damage. Such conduct is a clear violation of international law.”

Nuclear weapons, non-proliferation: “Non-proliferation of nuclear weapons is also negatively impacted by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Russia does not hesitate to use dangerous nuclear rhetoric, which became a new standard of terrorizing peaceful populations.”

Nuclear energy: “Czechia resolutely decries Russia’s occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. Any armed attack on nuclear facilities devoted to peaceful purposes constitutes a violation of the UN Charter and the Statute of the IAEA.”

Nuclear weapons, non-proliferation: “We regret that despite lengthy negotiations, it was not possible to achieve consensus on a final outcome document of the 10th NPT Review Conference because Russia opposed.”

Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action: “And, we call on Iran to act urgently to fulfil its legal obligations under its NPT Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and clarify all outstanding issues. We commend the IAEA and its Director General for their professional work in verifying Iran's safeguards obligations.”

Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Mr. Song Kim, Permanent Representative to the UN
26 September 2022

Militarism, nuclear weapons: “The security environment of the Korean peninsula is now caught in a vicious cycle of tension and confrontation due to the increasing hostility of the US and its following forces against the DPRK. Recently, it is heading into a much more dangerous phase. One of the trump excuses of the US and its servile forces to justify their hostile policy and military threats against the DPRK is none other than the possession of our self-defensive nuclear weapons.”

“In addition to our country, there exist a number of countries in the world which possess nuclear weapons. But only the DPRK has been subjected to the most brigandish and brutal ‘sanctions resolutions’. This is because the UN connived at and allowed the high-handedness and arbitrariness of the U.S. antagonizing the independent DPRK with an absurd reason that it differs in its ideas and systems and opposes its unjust policy. The US is now planning even at this moment to conduct joint military exercises which draw serious concern in the surrounding of the Korean peninsula. Obviously, this is an extremely dangerous act of igniting the fuse to drive the situation on the Korean peninsula to the brink of war.”

“The DPRK has found another correct answer to defending its sovereignty and fundamental interests from the persistent hostile policy and military threat of the U.S. and its following forces and to ensuring peace and security on the Korean peninsula and in the region. At the recent seventh session of the 14th Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA) of DPRK, law on the policy of the nation’s nuclear forces has been adopted with unanimous approval in reflection of the general will of all Korean people.”

Democratic Republic of the Congo
Mr. Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, President
20 September 2022

Militarism: “Despite my goodwill and the outstretched hand of the Congolese People for peace, some of our neighbours have found no better way to thank us than to aggress and support armed terrorist groups that are ravaging the East of the DRC. This is currently the case of Rwanda, which, in defiance of international law, the UN Charter and the Constitutive Act of the African Union, has once again not only attacked the DRC last March with direct incursions by its armed forces, the RDF, but also occupied localities in the province of North Kivu through an armed terrorist group, the Movement of 23 March, known as M23, to which it provides massive support in terms of both war material and troops. And, as if to defy the international community, the M23, with the support of the Rwandan army, even shot down a MONUSCO helicopter and killed eight peacekeepers, thus committing a war crime. I denounce, in this emblematic place of international life, with the utmost energy this umpteenth aggression of which my country is victim on behalf of its neighbour, Rwanda, under the cover of a terrorist group called M23.”

Denmark
Mr. Jeppe Kofod, Minister for Foreign Affairs
22 September 2022

Nuclear weapons, militarism: “Let me be clear: Russia’s invasion of a neighbouring state. President Putin’s blatant imperial ambitions. His horrifying allusions to using nuclear weapons. These are unprecedented threats against not only Europe, but international peace and security. We are extremely concerned.”

Nuclear weapons: “We appeal for your understanding. A war in our back yard. Raged by a permanent member of the Security Council and a nuclear power.”

Djibouti
Mr. Mohamed Siad Doualeh, Permanent Representative to the UN
26 September 2022

Nuclear weapons, explosive weapons, militarism: “The conflict has caused countless casualties and the destruction of infrastructure including hospitals and schools. The intensification of the war effort, the risk of stalemate and the threat of the use of nuclear weapons dim the prospects for a peaceful settlement of the dispute. We echo the call by the President of Senegal and current President of the African Union, His Excellency Mr. Macky Sall, for de-escalation and negotiations. A just and lasting peace must be the priority for all of us!”

Dominica
Mr. Charles Angelo Savarin, President
21 September 2022

Militarism: “The developments since 2014 which have led to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2021 are well known. Nevertheless, we in Dominica are of the view that this invasion and the ensuing war could have been avoided. We hold firmly to the principle that international disputes should preferably be settled through negotiation and arbitration and not through war.”

Nuclear weapons: “On May 25, 2022, the Commonwealth of Dominica signed the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty, and subsequently ratified the said Treaty in June 2022. Dominica, and as far as we are aware, no Caribbean country has ever created, tested or launched a nuclear weapon. We embraced this signing as our international obligation towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons, as outlined in the UN Charter, for the maintenance of international peace and security. Dominica therefore calls on all States who have nuclear weapons, to abide by international law, for the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and the use of diplomacy as a tool towards conflict resolution.”

Dominican Republic
Mr. Roberto Álvarez Gil, Minister for Foreign Affairs
21 September 2022

Nuclear weapons: “Today, humanity requires results that favour peace and avoid new conflicts, especially those that imply a danger to the very existence of the planet. For this reason, the Dominican Republic supports the total elimination of nuclear weapons and as proof of this, tomorrow we will be depositing the instrument of ratification of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.”

Small arms and light weapons, ammunition, arms trade: “In order to implement this necessary process, Security Council Resolution 2645 (2022) places us at the doorstep of taking the most relevant decisions to prevent the situation in Haiti from completely overflowing the normal channels. The operative paragraphs of this Resolution take on real force and I would therefore like to highlight the following: First. - The need to prohibit without delay the illicit transfer and trafficking of small arms, light weapons and ammunition to anyone who participates in or supports gang violence, criminal activities or human rights abuses in Haiti.”

Ecuador
Mr. Guillermo Lasso Mendoza, Constitutional President
21 September 2022

Arms trade: “Today Ecuador is in the midst of a frontal war, an unprecedented war, against the traffic of drugs… This monster does not have only one face but various faces, such as trafficking of persons, laundering of assets, illegal trafficking of weapons, and even illegal mining.”

Egypt
Mr. Sameh Hassan Shoukry Selim, Minister for Foreign Affairs
24 September 2022

No relevant references.

El Salvador
Mr. Nayib Armando Bukele, President
20 September 2022

No relevant references.

Equatorial Guinea
Mr. Simeón Oyono Esono Angue, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
23 September 2022

Cyber peace and security: “The coexistence of traditional conflicts and emerging challenges such as transnational crime, cyber-security, biosecurity, climate change, piracy, among others, are increasingly prominent and make the situation prevailing in the world today to be solved through the pursuit of peacemaking by all necessary means, through negotiations and inclusive dialogues.”

Eritrea
Mr. Osman Saleh Mohammed, Minister for Foreign Affairs
26 September 2022

No relevant references.

Estonia
Mr. Alar Karis
21 September 2022

Cyber peace and security: “Estonia has been vocal in addressing the issues of cybersecurity in the UN. We will continue these efforts to elevate cybersecurity as an essential component of the UN`s international peace and security agenda. Russia has demonstrated how state-provided malicious cyber tools are used alongside conventional weapons. Russia’s cyberattack against the satellite communications of Ukraine on 23 February, served to prepare and facilitate Russia´s on-the-ground invasion.”

Nuclear energy: “We follow with deep concern the situation in one of the world´s largest Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. Russia has occupied the plant and turned it into a combat zone. The risk of a nuclear disaster is very real. This Power Plant should be demilitarized without delay, and full control of the plant returned to Ukraine. Moreover, it is essential to grant IAEA experts a persistent and unfettered access to the facilities of the power plant.”

Nuclear weapons: “I regret, that last month, Russia also shamelessly blocked the consensus concerning the outcome document of the Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation.”

Eswatini
King Mswati III
21 September 2022

No relevant references.

Ethiopia
Mr. Demeke Mekonnen Hassen, Deputy Prime Minister
24 September 2022

No relevant references.

European Union
Mr. Charles Michel, President of the European Council
23 September 2022

Nuclear weapons, nuclear energy, militarism: “Imperialism and revanchism. These are the bases for this war of colonisation which has Ukraine as its target, and which is deliberately flouting international law and the UN Charter, to the point of brandishing the threat of nuclear weapons and even using right now the largest nuclear plant in Europe as a military base. This must stop, it is not acceptable. We unreservedly support the efforts of IAEA director Rafael Grossi to restore security at the Zaporizhzhia plant.”

Fiji
Mr. Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, Prime Minister
23 September 2022

Militarism: “In a year of challenge, I am here to condemn not one but three great global conflicts. The first is Russia’s war of aggression on Ukraine –– a scourge that reflects a brutal mentality of conquest and empire. No matter their size, no matter their might, Fiji is unafraid to condemn any warring nation.”

Nuclear weapons: “We in the Pacific, who have lived the horror of nuclear fallout, wholly denounce Mr. Putin’s threatened use of nuclear weapons.”

Finland
Mr. Sauli Niinistö, President
20 September 2022

Arms control: “In the current security environment the international arms control architecture is increasingly challenged. On the one hand, political tensions erode the functioning of the existing architecture. On the other hand, new technologies create new risks. But we can’t let arms control fail. On the contrary: it needs to be strengthened.

For decades arms control has provided stability and predictability into great power relationships and international relations. To quote Dag Hammarskjöld: ‘disarmament is never the result only of the political situation; it is also partly instrumental in creating the political situation’.”

Nuclear weapons, arms control, disarmament: “The two biggest nuclear weapon states have a unique responsibility to advance nuclear arms control and disarmament. The others need to follow suit. It is in the interest of all of us that progress in nuclear arms control and disarmament continues beyond the New START Treaty. We call on the Unites States and the Russian Federation to continue their dialogue on strategic stability with a view of achieving further cuts in their nuclear arsenals.”

France
Mr. Emmanuel Macron, President
20 September 2022

Militarism: “The longer it goes on, the worse and more threatening this war is for Europe and the world. It leads us to greater conflict, ongoing conflict, where the security and sovereignty of everyone no longer depends on the strength of alliances, but rather that of armed groups and militias. Those who consider themselves as strong seek to subject those who they consider as weak. What we have seen since the 24th of February is a return to the age of imperialism and colonies. France rejects this. France obstinately will look for peace. Our position is clear. We want to serve this, that is why I am engaging in dialogue with Russia, and have done so since the start of the war, and over these past months, and I will continue to have this up, because only together we will find peace”.

Nuclear energy: “Here we undertake to support the efforts of the IAEA, to prevent the impact of war on the safety and security of nuclear plants, as will do tomorrow beside the Ukraininans whose sovereignty and safety is absolutely crucial. We have ensured that the IAEA mission went to Ukraine establishing its independent report to prevent the risk of an accident whose consequences would be devastating.”

Militarism: “Russia must now see that it cannot impose its will militarily, even if there are pretend referenda in territories that have been bombed and that are now occupied. It is up to the members of the Security Council to say this loud and clear and to the members of this Assembly to support us on our path to peace. I, from this podium, call upon members of United Nations to act so that Russia rejects the path of war and assess the cost for itself and for all of us, and brings an end to this act of aggression. We are not talking about choosing a camp here between the east and the west, or between the north and the south either. What we are talking about is everybody's responsibility, everybody who is committed to the respect of the Charter and our most common precious good: peace.”

Militarism, nuclear energy: “Contemporary imperialism is not western, is not European, it takes the form of territorial invasion linked with hybrid modern war that uses energy prices, food insecurity, nuclear safety, access to information and population movements as weapons for division and destruction. That is how the war undermines all of our sovereignty.”

Nuclear weapons: “Terrorism, that affects the Sahel and the Middle East, nuclear proliferation in Iran and North Korea as well. We have not managed to curb this. These are the things we need to address urgently.”

Gabon
Mr. Ali Bongo Ondimba, President
21 September 2022

Arms control: “Threats to international peace and security continue to increase exponentially. Faced with the proliferation of armed groups, restricting their access to arms will be at the heart of my country's priorities during our presidency of the United Nations Security Council in October.”

Militarism: “Many countries face critical humanitarian crises, exacerbated by armed conflict. This is the case in Ukraine, where the war has led to a worsening of the situation of countries and regions already experiencing food shortages. This is why my country has clearly expressed its opposition not only to this bloody war, but to any form of war.”

Gambia (Republic of The)
Mr. Adama Barrow, President
22 September 2022

Small arms and light weapons: “African Governments are committed to silencing the guns on the continent as a strategic objective. For this reason, we ask the United Nations and the international community to shoulder their fair share of the burden of the African Union peace endeavours.”

Militarism: “We remain deeply disturbed by the horrors and humanitarian catastrophe arising from the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war…. We implore Russia and Ukraine to heed the global plea for political dialogue and end the war. Africa is simply asking for global peace and friendly relations. Our survival and progress depend on global peace and stability.”

Georgia
Mr. Irakli Garibashvili, Prime Minister
22 September 2022

Militarism, ceasefire: “While we have made significant advances, we must acknowledge the ongoing acts of aggression against members of this body – the very same types of acts that led to the establishment of the United Nations after World War II. In 2008, my country was attacked by Russia resulting in the ongoing occupation of 20 percent of our territory. At the time, the international community recognized this aggression. But, as we have learned, the world’s democracies must act as one to ensure that freedom and peace prevail…. We seek all opportunities for collaboration with our international partners to advance the cause of peace. In that regard, the Geneva International Discussions are particularly crucial to bring the Russian Federation to the table to address the implementation of the EU-mediated 2008 Ceasefire Agreement. Georgia appreciates the international community's support for its sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

Germany
Mr. Olaf Scholz, Chancellor
20 September 2022

Militarism: “If we do not defend further development and strengthen our global order together, then … we face a world in which rules are made by those who can dictate them to us, by their military, economic or political power. The alternative to a rules based-world is not anarchy, but the dominion of the strong over the weak.”

Nuclear weapons: “The international order does not happen by itself, if we do nothing then this Charter is but a piece of paper. This Charter calls all of us to uphold its purposes and principles and we mustn't stand by when a major nuclear power armed to the teeth, a founding member of the United Nations and a permanent member of the Security Council, no less seeks to shift borders to the use of violence. There was no justification whatsoever for Russia’s war of occupation against Ukraine.”

Ghana
Mr. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President
21 September 2022

Military spending: “All of us in the Region are being forced to spend huge amounts of money on security. This is money we should be spending on educating and giving skills to our young people; on building much needed roads, bridges, hospitals and other such infrastructure, which we are spending to fight terrorists or to keep them out from destabilising our countries. This is a global problem, deserving the attention of the world community for a global solution.”

Greece
Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister
23 September 2022

Militarism: “Today the memories of the Dark Continent have resurfaced after the unprovoked invasion of Russia into Ukraine. What we considered unthinkable has happened. For many years we believed that international cooperation and a shared commitment to the rule of law had prevailed over guns and armies. We believed that given the tragic and devastating experiences of the twentieth century, no one would venture to suppress another people’s right to exist or alter borders by force. We were wrong. Nevertheless, as Europeans we have every reason to be proud of our response. We have stood by Ukraine, equipping it with means to defend itself against the aggressor. We have imposed punitive sanctions that are beginning to take a toll on the Russian economy. And the tide is beginning to turn. This clear and strong position against an unjustified war is the reflection of a new geopolitical vision of the European Union. We don’t want a world in which power is for the strong state and not for the weak, and where disputes are settled by generals rather than diplomats. Russia’s invasion must not succeed. Not only for the sake of Ukraine. But also because it is imperative to send a clear message to other authoritarian leaders that open acts of aggression which violate international law shall not be tolerated by the global community of democratic states. This message had been sent loud and clear by many heads of state and government who have taken the floor at this year’s General Assembly.”

Grenada
Mr. Dickon Mitchell, Prime Minister
24 September 2022

Militarism: “Russia’s war with Ukraine has already threatened international peace and stability and induced hardships upon nations unconnected with the conflict. Grenada associates itself with the call of many nations for Russia to relent its war efforts in Ukraine and for the parties to negotiate a peaceful settlement to the conflict.”

Guatemala
Mr. Alejandro Giammattei Falla, President
20 September 2022

Militarism: “No more fratricidal wars. No more unjustified, unnecessary wars. No more death. It is now or never. What more do we want? Let us support peace. Let us support dialogue. Let us support resolving common problems as brothers. It is now or never. Let us support peace. The future generations and the preservation of the human race. They will thank us. Let us focus on the authentic struggles: hunger, nutricion, climate change, and so many others that are affecting the human race. And instead of taking up arms, let’s try to make the world a better place to live in peace, progress, development, peaceful coexistence between human beings and nature.”

Guinea
Bernard Gomou, Prime Minister of Guinea
24 September 2022

No relevant references.

Guinea-Bissau
Mr. Úmaro Sissoco Embaló, President
22 September 2022

No relevant references.

Guyana
Mr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President
21 September 2022

Militarism: “Guyana does not condone or support the threat of, or use of force in relations between states or in the resolution of disputes. Consistent with the Charter of the United Nations, Guyana subscribes to the use of peaceful means to settle disputes.”