UNGA Disarmament Index 2020
The 75th General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly took place from 22-29 September 2020. Reaching Critical Will tracked references to disarmament and arms control for this country-based index and issued a report of the session
UN Secretary-General
Antonio Guterres
22 September 2020
Cyber: "We are moving in a very dangerous direction. Our world cannot afford a future where the two largest economies split the globe in a Great Fracture — each with its own trade and financial rules and internet and artificial intelligence capacities."
Ceasefire: “As the pandemic took hold, I called for a global ceasefire.Today, I appeal for a new push by the international community to make this a reality by the end of this year. We have exactly 100 days. There is only one winner of conflict during a pandemic: the virus itself. My original appeal was endorsed by 180 Member States along with religious leaders, regional partners, civil society networks and others. A number of armed movements also responded—from Cameroon to Colombia to the Philippines and beyond—even if several of the ceasefires they announced were not sustained. Enormous obstacles stand in the way: deep mistrust, spoilers and the weight of fighting that has festered for years.
But we have reasons to be hopeful.
- A new peace agreement in The Republic of the Sudan between the Government and armed movements marks the start of a new era, particularly for people living in Darfur, South Kordofan and the Blue Nile.
- In Afghanistan, the launch of the Afghanistan Peace Negotiations is a milestone after years of effort. How to reach a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire will be on the agenda. An inclusive peace process with women, young people and victims of conflict meaningfully represented offers the best hope for a sustainable solution. In several situations, we have seen new ceasefires holding better than in the past —or intheirabsence,a standstill in the fighting.
- In Syria, the ceasefire in Idlib is largely intact. After more than nine years of conflict and colossal suffering, I renew my appeal for an end to hostilities across the country as we work toward convening the next round of the Constitutional Committee.
- In the Middle East --with a period of calm in Gaza and annexation of parts of the occupied West Bank put aside at least for the time being --I urge Israeli and Palestinian leaders to re-engage in meaningful negotiations that will realize a two state-solution in line with relevant UN resolutions, international law and bilateral agreements.
- In Libya, fighting has subsided but the massive buildup of mercenaries and weapons—in flagrant violation of Security Council resolutions —shows that the risk of renewed confrontation remains high. We must all work together for an effective ceasefire agreement and the resumption of intra-Libyan political talks.
- In Ukraine, the most recent ceasefire regime remains in place, but progress on the outstanding security and political issues under the Trilateral Contact Group and the Normandy Four format to implement the Minsk agreements will be critical.
- In the Central African Republic, last year’s peace deal helped deliver a significant reduction in violence. Under the auspices of our UN peacekeeping mission–and with the backing of the international community --the national dialogue is underway to support upcoming elections and continued implementation of the peace agreement. •And in South Sudan, we have seen a troubling spike in inter-communal violence but the ceasefire has mostly held,with our UN peacekeeping mission providing support for monitoring as well as implementation of the peace agreement.
Even where conflict is raging, we will not give up the search for peace.
- In Yemen, we are fully engaged in bringing the parties together to reach an agreement on the Joint Declaration comprised of a nationwide ceasefire, economic and humanitarian confidence-building measures, and the resumption of the political process.
….
I appeal for a stepped-up international effort —led by the Security Council —to achieve a global ceasefire by the end of this year. We have 100 days. The clock is ticking.The world needs a global ceasefire to stop all “hot” conflicts. At the same time, we must do everything to avoid a new Cold War.”
Armed conflict: “And we must not forget the dramatic humanitarian cost of war. In many places, the pandemic coupled with conflict and disruption is dealing crippling blows to food security. Millions of people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, northeast Nigeria, South Sudan as well as Yemen face the risk of famine.”
President of the General Assembly (opening)
H.E. Volkan Bozkir, President of the 75th Session of the General Assembly
22 September 2020
No relevant references.
Afghanistan
H.E. Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, President
23 September 2020
Ceasefire: “The role of the UN and our international partners and allies will continue to be extremely important as our negotiating team sits across from the Taliban in Doha. At those talks, the Afghan people have a clear and urgent priority: a ceasefire. An urgent end to the violence will, more than anything else, give us a chance to progress.”
Albania
H.E. Ilir Meta, President
24 September 2020
Ceasefire: “Albania’s OSCE Chairmanship 2020 is a tangible demonstration of our steadfast commitment to promote international peace and security through dialogue and multilateral co-operation, at a time of raising tensions and polarisation. In its capacity as Chair of the OSCE, Albania has strongly supported the call of the United Nations Secretary-General for a global ceasefire.”
Algeria
H.E. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, President
23 September 2020
No translation available.
Andorra
H.E. Xavier Espot Zamora, Head of Government
26 September 2020
Ceasefire: “On 23 March, the Secretary General called for a ceasefire to put an end to all hostilities throughout the world, and he asked us to join forces against this pandemic and to facilitate the work of humanitarians. “The fury of the virus illustrates the folly of war... Silence the guns... Let us take inspiration from the coalitions and dialogue slowly taking shape among rival parties to enable joint approaches to COVID-19”, Mr. António Guterres urged. This was an appeal to our good sense which we hope will be permanent, and Andorra aligns itself fully with his call.”
Angola
H.E. João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President
22 September 2020
Armed conflict: “Thus, we think within this spirit we should focus our endeavours in the search for fair and long lasting solutions to the problems of the Middle East, that have to do with Security Council pertinent resolutions on the matter, as well as those that are afflicting the African continent, where conflicts and instability still prevail, such as the case of Libya, Sahel Region and others conflicts of minor scale in other regions of the continent”.
Antigua and Barbuda
H.E. Gaston Alphonso Browne, Prime Minister and Minister for Finance and Corporate Governance
25 September 2020
No relevant references.
Argentina
H.E. Alberto Fernández, President
22 September 2020
No relevant references.
Armenia
H.E. Nikol Pashinyan, President
25 September 2020
Ceasefire: “I want to once again stress Armenia's unequivocal support to the Secretary-General’s appeal for a global ceasefire and UN Security Council Resolution 2532 on COVID-19, demanding general and immediate cessation of hostilities in all situations.”
Armed conflict/militarism/Armed drones/conventional weapons: “While global efforts were directed at coping with Covid-19, we have been witnessing deplorable attempts to destabilize peace and security in our region. This July Azerbaijan ventured yet 2 another act of aggression. The armed forces of Azerbaijan initiated a military offensive in the borderline Tavush region of Armenia.
As Armenia had called for an immediate de-escalation and agreed to end hostilities of hours after their outbreak, Azerbaijan continued targeting civilian population and infrastructure, and attacking Armenia’s borderline areas by employing artillery, heavy weaponry, UAV’s, and large infantry units. Moreover, the Azerbaijani authorities had also escalated their war threats, which crossed all the imaginable boundaries of a civilized world. Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Defense even threatened to launch a missile strike at the Nuclear Power Plant in Armenia, which is tantamount to a threat of “nuclear terrorism”. The July battles shattered the myth of Azerbaijan’s military superiority and validated the obvious that there is no military solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. It is long overdue for the Azerbaijani leadership to acknowledge this fact and renounce the use of force and threat of force in the context of the conflict resolution.
Ceasefire: “The ceasefire must be strengthened by concrete actions on the ground. Renouncing bellicose rhetoric and hate speech, expanding OSCE monitors on the line of contact and the borders, establishing an investigative mechanism into ceasefire violations and setting up direct communication lines between commanders on the ground are essential in this regard.”
Militarism/Armed conflict: “Turkey directly threatens Armenia and puts on show aggressive military posturing by way of provocative joint military drills with Azerbaijan in close vicinity of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. Turkey builds its policies in our region on traditions of kinship, on exploiting conflicts, on the justification of the Armenian Genocide and on the impunity for that crime.”
Australia
H.E. Scott Morrison, Prime Minister
25 September 2020
Cyber/outer space: “Australia is helping to shape the norms for other emerging issues, also. Like ensuring states abide by agreed rules in cyber space, maintaining a peaceful outer space, and managing critical minerals resources.”
Nuclear weapons: “Australia is also committed to ongoing counter-proliferation efforts. We played a major role in negotiating the establishment of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization in the 1980s and 1990s, and we see it as a critical pillar of international peace and security today.”
Austria
H.E. Mr. Alexander Schallenberg, Federal Minister for European and International Affairs
26 September 2020
Armed conflict: “However, we continue to face numerous threats , some of which would have been familiar to those meeting in 1945: dozens of armed conflicts , nearly 80 Mio. forcibly displaced persons, as well as terrorism , political repression and extreme poverty.”
Arms: “Libya still suffers under a protracted conflict and the manifest disregard for the UN arms embargo.”
Autonomous weapons: “This list would, however, be incomplete without a warning of autonomous weapons systems - machines with the power to decide, who lives and who dies. This is not science fiction, it is fast becoming a reality - a reality that the Secretary-General has rightly called both "politically unacceptable and morally repugnant". We have to act now, before the survival of civilians in a conflict zone is determined by an algorithm and before all constraints laid down in international humanitarian law become redundant and decisions are taken by killer-robots without any human control or ethical concerns. Austria will organize an international conference in Vienna next year to address this urgent issue. COVID-19 permitting, I invite all of you to participate!”
Bio weapons/cyber: “There are also new and emerging threats: Cyber warfare and the risk of failing technological governance; bioterrorism; new geopolitical tensions due to an increasingly polycentric global system; and climate change as the potential future super-crisis.”
Digital: “Geopolitical trends that were present before the pandemic have gained further momentum:...increasing dissemination of misinformation and "alternative facts". The pandemic has proven again that false information can spread faster than the virus. It travels at the speed of thought. At a time when evidenced based decision-making is crucial, we witness an erosion of trust in experts, science and technology.
JCPOA: “The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with Iran hangs by a thread , which has led to a spiral of toughening positions.”
Nuclear/cyber: “And we all know that the next global disaster is lurking just around the corner, waiting to hit us. Be it climate change, nuclear disasters or cyber crime
Nuclear weapons: “Our call for a new digital humanism needs one further reflection: Today is the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons. My speech would not be complete without a strong appeal to get rid of these weapons once and for all. They pose an existential threat to life on this planet and cause tremendous human suffering.”
Azerbaijan
H.E. Ilham Heydar oglu Aliyev, President
24 September 2020
Arms trade: “We are seriously concerned by increasing cases of arms supply to Armenia, especially right after the military provocation of Armenia in Tovuz district of Azerbaijan. Active military clashes at the state border stopped on July 16. Next day, starting from July 17 until September, we witnessed delivery of more than one thousand tons of military equipment to Armenia by militarycargo planes. Taking into account that Armenia is one of the poorest countries of the world and can not afford paying for weapons billions of US dollars, we assume that it gets weapons free of charge. Supply of weapons to an aggressor and a country that perpetrated ethnic cleansing significantly undermines the peace negotiations and encourages the occupying state to instigate new military provocations. In this context, we urge all countries to refrain from supplying arms to Armenia.”
Bahrain
H.M. King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa
24 September 2020
Ceasefire: “We hail here the call of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for a ceasefire in all conflict areas in the world to confront the pandemic, a call that has gained widespread global acceptance.”
Armed conflict: “In this context, the Kingdom of Bahrain calls for intensified efforts to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in accordance with the two-state solution. We consider this a cornerstone for achieving a just and comprehensive peace leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on the resolutions of international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative, in order enter a new stage of work in which we extend bridges of goodneighborly relations to build and develop the common interests of the countries of the region.”
Bahamas
H.M. Hubert Alexander Minnis, Prime Minister
26 September 2020
No relevant references.
Bangladesh
H.E. Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister
26 September 2020
No relevant references.
Barbados
H.E. Dr. Jerome X. Walcott, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade
29 September 2020
No relevant references.
Belarus
H.E. Vladimir Makei, Minister for Foreign Affairs
26 September 2020
No translation available.
Belgium
H.E. Sophie Wilmes, Prime Minister, in charge of Beliris and Federal Cultural Institutions
26 September 2020
JCPOA: “The JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) agreement remains crucial to guarantee the exclusively peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear program. We must actively preserve this agreement as well as the non-proliferation regime.”
“The question of the imminent lifting of the embargo on conventional arms should not not jeopardize the nuclear agreement and its achievements. It's a top priority, for the region and its stability, for international security as well as for the global non-proliferation architecture.”
Belize
H.E. Mr. Wilfred P. Erlington, Minister of Foreign Affairs
29 September 2020
No relevant references.
Benin
H.E. S.E.M. Patrice Talon, President
29 September 2020
No relevant references.
Bhutan
H.E. Lotay Tshering, Prime Minister
25 September 2020
No relevant references.
Bolivia
H.E. Jeanine Añez Chávez, Constitutional President
23 September 2020
No relevant references.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
H.E. Šefik Džaferović, Chairman of the Presidency
23 September 2020
Ceasefire: “We offer full support to the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's call for global ceasefire, after the escalation of the coronavirus pandemic. Even though, recently, there has been a decrease of violence in Syria, we are quite aware of the fact that the conflict continues in sporadic forms, and are particularly concerned with an extremely difficult humanitarian situation of the internally displaced persons in Syria. We are concerned because no progress was achieved in ending the conflict in Libya, Yemen and Ukraine, and, therefore, we are calling for a more intense involvement of bodies of international community in order to achieve a permanent end of conflicts.”
Botswana
H.E. Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, President
24 September 2020
Ceasefire: “We particularly appreciate the leadership provided by the UN Secretary-General during this unprecedented time, particularly his call for a global ceasefire, as well as an affordable COVID-19 vaccine that will be accessed by “every person, everywhere.”
…
My delegation applauds the United Nation’s continued efforts to maintain global peace and security in the midst of a pandemic. We welcome the Secretary-General’s Appeal for Global Ceasefire and its intended effort of halting armed conflict to allow the world to focus on the more pressing and bigger battle against the pandemic”
Brazil
H.E. Jair Messias Bolsonaro, President
22 September 2020
Cyber: "Brazil is thus open for the development of state-of-the-art technology and innovation efforts, such as 4.0 Industry, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology and 5G technology, with all partners who respect our sovereignty and cherish freedom and data protection."
Bulgaria
H.E. Boyko Borissov, Prime Minister
25 September 2020
Cyber: “The "infodemic" – the wave of true and false information, which overwhelmed people, has further heightened their concerns.”
Cyber/autonomous weapons: “The statements of the Alliance for Multilateralism, which Bulgaria joined on 26 September 2019, are in line with the four directions for UN action announced by the Secretary-General - cybersecurity, climate, security, and the fight against lethal autonomous weapons systems.”
Burkina Faso
H.E. Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, President
24 September 2020
No relevant references.
Burundi
H.E. Evariste Ndayishimiye, President
24 September 2020
No relevant references.
Cabo Verde
H.E. José Ulisses Correia e Silva, Prime Minister and Minister of Reform
26 September 2020
Nuclear weapons: “We have an opportunity to build a better and more sustainable world in the post-pandemic era, one that is… defined by the advent of peace and the reduction of conflict… more secure… no longer proliferating nuclear weapons… more focused on human rights… driven by sustainable and human development… and energized by greater cooperation in matters of security, economics, knowledge, science and technology, with benefits for all.”
Cambodia
H.E. Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister
26 September 2020
No relevant references.
Cameroon
H.E. Paul Biya, President
29 September 2020
Disarmament/DDR/ceasefire: “Since its creation, our Organization has been committed to conflict management and the preservation of peace. The proliferation of peacekeeping operations is an eloquent illustration of this. More than 70 peacekeeping missions are provided by UNP to support peace processes by initiating, among other things, disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and repatriation, ceasefire observation or maintenance operations. of public order.”
Canada
H.E. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister
25 September 2020
Cyber: “Because there are few consequences for countries that ignore international rules. For regimes that think might makes right. Few consequences for places where opposition figures are being poisoned while cyber tools and disinformation are being used to destabilize democracies.”
Central African Republic
H.E. Faustin Archange Touadera, President
24 September 2020
Nuclear weapons/WMD: “Faced with the many challenges facing humanity: security, environmental, climate, human mobility, human rights, terrorism, denuclearization, dismantling of weapons of mass destruction and the Covid-19 pandemic, the choice of the theme of this year, namely, ‘The Future We Want, the UN We Need: Reaffirming our Collective Commitment to Multilateralism,’ reaffirms to us that multilateralism has always been and remains an instrument to fight effectively against certain scourges and a means to minimize certain antagonisms at the international level.”
Disarmament, demobilisation, and reintegration (DDR): “The Government, within the framework of the Reform of the Security Sector, has made many advances, which will facilitate the gradual redeployment of the defense and security forces as well as the continuation of the national DDR program which has already been initiated in the coming periods.”
Arms trafficking/armed conflict: “Despite the Government's goodwill in respecting the commitments contained in the Political Agreement, massive violations of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights continue to be perpetrated on the civilian populations by certain armed groups signatories of the said Agreement which are also continuing to rearm themselves through illicit means, thus undermining the process of peace and national reconciliation, a pledge of social cohesion.”
Chad
H.E. Marshal Idriss Deby Itno, President
25 September 2020
Ceasefire: “Internationally, we welcome the ceasefire in Libya, declared simultaneously by the President of the Council, the President of the Government of National Accord, and the President of the House of Representatives. Chad renews its appeal to the Security Council to take all its responsibilities to put an end to external interference. We once urge all stakeholders to respect the cease-fire, and to engage resolutely in a process of inclusive negotiations leading to a real national reconciliation.”
“Regarding Sudan, Chad welcomes the signing on August 31, 2020 in Juba of a Peace Agreement between the Sudanese parties, thanks to mediation efforts, of which Chad is part of, under the leadership of President Salva Kiir Mayardit, of the Republic of South Sudan, whose involvement I salute! Chad invites other armed movements to join the process, in order to achieve a comprehensive and lasting peace that the Sudanese people so badly need.”
China
H.E Xi Jinping, President
22 September 2020
Militarism: “China is the largest developing country in the world, a country that is 7 committed to peaceful, open, cooperative and common development. We will never seek hegemony, expansion, or sphere of influence. We have no intention to fight either a Cold War or a hot war with any country. We will continue to narrow differences and resolve disputes with others through dialogue and negotiation.”
Chile
H.E. Sebastian Piñera, President
22 September 2020
No relevant references.
Colombia
H.E. Iván Duque Márquez, President
22 September 2020
No relevant references.
Comoros
H.E. Azali Assoumani, President
24 September 2020
No relevant references.
Congo
H.E. Denis Sassou Nguesso, President
24 September 2020
Armed conflict: “The Republic of Congo is concerned about the resurgence of terrorism and violent extremism as well as the predominance of armed conflicts in the world.”
Nuclear weapons: “The 75th anniversary of the UN coincides with that of the first nuclear test. Humanity should forever ban the use of nuclear weapons.”
Costa Rica
H.E Carlos Alvarado Quesada, President
22 September 2020
Weapons trafficking: “Solidarity and multilateralism take on greater meaning today. Altruism and supreme values must guide us, not only because they are correct, but because today both the altruistic and the selfish interests come together in the understanding that there will be no individual or national welfare, if there is no shared and global welfare. This is true for combating covid19, to address migration, to fight against illegal trafficking of people, weapons or drugs, to fight poverty and for development, for human security, for women's rights , and against the threat of the climate crisis. We must ensure that even the most selfish understand it, and we all work as a team.”
Military spending/militarism: “If we have learned anything from this pandemic, it is that we cannot speak of security and consider it human security. However, global military spending continues to grow in the world and reached the absurd sum of 1.9 trillion dollars in 2019, according to the Stockholm International Institute for Peace Research, SIPRI. Military spending growth in 2019 was the largest annual increase in the last decade and the highest level since the end of the Cold War. The International Peace Office estimates that the cost of a war tank could treat 26,000 people against malaria and that, with the cost of an aircraft carrier, an area larger than the State of Florida could be reforested. This is also equivalent to the size of Switzerland, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Belgium combined. If at least a fraction of all those resources were used to combat the pandemic, as well as the climate crisis, our generation could proudly say that it knew how to redefine its priorities when circumstances required it. Priorities that the permanent members of the Security Council, —which are in turn the world's largest arms producers—should help redirect in light of Article 26 of the Charter. The Security Council, in turn, should change its name and adopt the Human Security Council.”
Disarmament/militarism: “Prioritizing today means: less weapons, more resources for development. More resources to fight the pandemic, more resources to counter the climate crisis, more resources for the SDGs. And less militarization and death. That is the true human security of the peoples.”
Disarmament/demilitarisation: “The reform of our collective security architecture cannot be postponed any longer. This means that the main body in charge of maintaining international peace and security has to be more democratic, representative, accountable and transparent. A Council that examines the root causes of conflict and not just its symptoms. A Human Security Council that creates incentives to transfer human and economic resources of the world towards development and peace and not towards the war industry. A Council capable of overcoming its deep internal divisions to work together and with one voice.”
Nuclear weapons: “A selective approach also weakens our collective security system. This approach is what has made the nuclear-weapon States ignore or threaten to ignore the obligations emanating from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, while demanding them for others. I invite all States that have not yet done so, to sign and ratify this historic instrument.”
Nuclear weapons/DPRK: “In this sense, Costa Rica advocates for a Korean peninsula free of nuclear weapons, with peace, stability and security, and for this it demands that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea respect and apply the resolutions of the Security Council on this matter.”
Cyber: “Numerous violations of international law are committed every day through disinformation, cyberattacks, cybercrime and interference in electoral processes. In this regard, Costa Rica welcomes the resolutions of the General Assembly in which all Member States are urged to be guided by the reports of the Group of Government Experts, which confirm the applicability of current international law, including the Charter in its entirety, to this new area. But the international community has the pending task of providing greater guarantees to people and institutions in these matters.”
Côte d’Ivoire
H.E Alassane Ouattara, President
24 September 2020
Nuclear weapons: “I remain convinced that we must support and revitalize multilateralism, the only one capable of guaranteeing lasting international peace and stability. Those challenged by global warming, poverty, terrorism and the persistence of the nuclear threat and armed conflicts, among others, further legitimize this new multilateral ambition to which my country subscribes.”
Croatia
H.E. Andrej Plenković, President
25 September 2020
Cyber: “We need a secure digital infrastructure as well as an eco-friendly Internet, since the ICT industry uses already over 10% of all electricity – which is more than the energy produced by all world's nuclear power plants together – and this share is growing at an exponential rate. Therefore, to make the digital economy sustainable and avoid that it poses new challenges in the future, we need additional investments in this area, while favouring the use of renewable energies, as well as an adequate legal framework regulating this ever more important field."
"Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic has also opened the door for the spread of another insidious but less obvious pandemic. The emergence and convergence of different groups and phenomena that thrive on fake news, trolling, deliberate disinformation, media illiteracy and general ignorance is a cause for serious concern. Particularly appalling have been the cyber-attacks against the health institutions fighting the pandemic. Unfortunately, there is no quick fix. There can be no curative vaccine against fake news. In this respect, we welcome the growing responsible approach by major tech companies and media outlets. Yet, much more needs to be done, and both public and private actors need to cooperate in this endeavour in order to allow societies to build resilience against hybrid threats and cyber-attacks.”
Arms control/WMD: “We must also not forget about the threats and dangers such as terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, but also corruption and trafficking of illegal drugs.”
Arms control/NPT/disarmament/SALW/conventional weapons: “Another important anniversary we commemorate this year is the field of arms control, and that is the 50th anniversary of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), our valued multilateral instrument for preventing nuclear proliferation and achieving nuclear disarmament. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we had to postpone the 2020 NPT Conference to a later date. Considering that the 2015 Review conference failed to reach a consensus on a substantive final declaration, it is of high importance to have a successful Conference this time, hopefully no later than April next year. It is also essential not to ignore the threat posed by the illegal trade and misuse of small arms and light weapons. Croatia holds the 2020 Plenary Chair of the Wassenaar Arrangement, the first worldwide mechanism on export controls for conventional weapons and sensitive dual-use goods and technologies. We shall continue to advocate the increasing importance of effective multilateral action on tackling illegal arms transfer and build-up.”
Ceasefire: “The pandemic could exacerbate further existing regional conflicts and global security challenges. Therefore, Croatia fully supports the Secretary General’s call for a global cease-fire.”
Cuba
H.E Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermúdez, President
22 September 2020
Militarism / military spending: “Over 1.9 trillion dollars are being squandered today in a senseless arms race promoted by the aggressive and war-mongering policies of imperialism, whose leader is the present government of the US, which accounts for 38 percent of the global military expenditure.”
JCPOA / arms control / disarmament / cyber / armed conflict: “Paradoxically, the country where the UN headquarters is located is also staying away from fundamental international treaties such as the Paris Agreement on climate change; it rejects the nuclear agreement with Iran reached by consensus; it promotes trade wars; it ends its commitment with international disarmament control instruments; it militarizes cyberspace; it expands coercion and unilateral sanctions against those who do not bend to its designs and sponsors the forcible overthrow of sovereign governments through non-conventional war methods.”
Cyprus
H.E. Nicos Anastasiades, President
24 September 2020
Militarism: “Needless to remind that Cyprus and its people still suffer from the 1974 illegal military invasion, the consequent military occupation of 37 percent of our country and the forcible displacement of 40 percent of its population.”
Czech Republic
H.E. Andrej Babiš, President
25 September 2020
Cyber: “But as we are in the global arena, let me revert to more universal issues. The pandemic has accelerated three major global trends that undermine effective multilateralism: 1) global geopolitical confrontation, 2) increasing political and economic fragmentation, 3) a clash between personal freedoms and technological surveillance, including the tendency for a faster introduction of artificial intelligence into the health sector.”
Cyber: “The Czech Republic, like many other countries not merely in Europe, has had its own unfortunate experience with cyber-attacks against our hospitals. These acts simply make the effects of the pandemic worse. We call on all countries to work together through the UN to protect hospitals and other critical civilian infrastructure from future cyber-attacks. There is no better time than now to show that the international community will not tolerate aggressive cyber behaviour and that it is ready to work in a coordinated manner to become more resilient.”
Ceasefire: “The Czech Republic, together with a majority of Member States, has endorsed the Secretary General’s call for a global ceasefire. This is the time for peace. Promotion of international peace, rule of law and peaceful settlement of disputes are our key foreign policy objectives. Effective conflict prevention and mediation are the essential tools.”
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
H.E. Kim Song, Permanent Representative to the United Nations
29 September 2020
Nuclear weapons: “The nuclear threat on DPRK continues unabated along with all sorts of hostile acts taking place before the very eyes. It is an undeniable reality of today that cutting-edge military hardware including stealth fighters continue to be introduced into the Korean peninsula and nuclear strike means of all kinds are directly aimed at the DPRK. The conclusion we have drawn is that peace never comes of itself by mere wish of one side and it is not granted by someone else either. In the present world, where high-handedness based on strength is rampant, genuine peace can only be safeguarded when one possesses the absolute strength to prevent war itself. As we have obtained the reliable and effective war deterrent for self-defence by tightening our belts, peace and security of the Korean peninsula and the region are now firmly defended.”
Democratic Republic of the Congo
H.E. Félix Antoine Tshilombo Tshisekedi, President
22 September 2020
Armed conflict: “The prevailing security situation in the eastern part of the country remains of concern. Peace there is not yet been found. Some residual elements of armed groups, as well as nationals and foreigners, are still active there and continue to spread death and desolation. They attack not only the elements of our armed forces, but also MONUSCO peacekeepers who assure us of their logistical support, as well as to the civilian population. All this, with the aim of undermining the efforts of the Government for the stability of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the region.”
"These armed groups engage in unconventional and asymmetric. warfare. They act in complete ignorance of the value of human rights and commit massive human rights abuses and violations of human beings, in particular through rape and repeated massacres of civilian populations in isolated corners in the east of the country...It is observed that in general that these groups have the means that allow them to continue their activities. These resources often come from the illicit exploitation of resources, through well-established networks and, without a doubt, with the help of some brokers. We cannot, in fact, neutralize armed groups without eradicating theirsources of supply and support...".
Denmark
H.E. Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister
25 September 2020
No relevant references.
Djibouti
H.E. Ismaël Omar Guelleh, President
23 September 2020
Ceasefire: “The Secretary-General's call for a ceasefire has been widely heard and we support his exhortation to the international community to ‘redouble its efforts so that it becomes a reality by end of the year ‘.”
Dominican Republic
H.E. Luis Rodolfo Abinader Corona, President
23 September 2020
Armed conflict: “The UN knows that it has the solid commitment of the Dominican Republic to defend these values; to advance towards higher levels of human dignity that promote policies to guarantee equality between men and women, as well as protect children affected by armed conflicts, or at risk of being sold as slaves, prostituted or used for pornography. Appalling realities happening on our planet today, that we have a moral mandate to eradicate once and for all.”
Ecuador
H.E. Lenin Moreno Garcés, President
23 September 2020
Ceasefire: “Recently, 172 countries supported the Secretary General’s call for a global ceasefire and to silence all arms. We trust that this call and the Security Council resolution will serve as a first step in achieving definitive and sustainable peace in all corners of the planet.”
TPNW/Nuclear weapons/disarmament: “Recently, the commemoration of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki reminded us of the devastating consequences of nuclear weapons. This is why we welcome the forthcoming entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. The pandemic should be an additional reason to accelerate disarmament obligations and free up resources necessary for revitalization.”
Egypt
H.E Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, President
22 September 2020
No translation available.
Equatorial Guinea
Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, President
24 September 2020
Armed conflict/small arms and light weapons: “The sad reality is that most of the conflicts that affect the world are still active, the long-lasting conflicts took the situation in Syria, the clashes in Libya, the war in Yemen, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the situation in Afghanistan, the instability in the Middle East, the conflict in the Central African Republic, the war in Somalia etc. There is still no solution to a clear and just solution to those problems that are aggravated by phenomena such as the illicit trafficking of small and light arms, the plundering of resources.”
Eritrea
H.E. Mr. Isaias Afwerki, President
29 September 2020
No relevant references.
Estonia
H.E Kersti Kaljulaid, President
24 September 2020
Cyber: “Leaders globally must understand that digital services do not by themselves rid any country from fat bureaucracy, corruption or inefficiency. By digitalising these problems we can only make things worse, unless we simultaneously rise transparency and straighten out our processes. Thus digitalisation can make our states more efficient and bring closer to our people.
...
In a way the pandemic and its aftermath gives us an opportunity for a great global technological leap. Digital solutions can make our societies more equal, more resilient, more accessible and sustainable. But digital development comes also with its vulnerabilities and risks that is associated with cyber security. As an elected member of the UN Security Council since January this year we have kept our campaign promise to bring it to the formal table of the Security Council. Which we did already in March and continued in May. Because Estonia has the habit of keeping its word.”
Eswatini
H.E. Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini, Prime Minister
25 September 2020
Nuclear weapons: “We welcome the mandated events that are scheduled to be held on the margins of the General Assembly this year, namely the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women, the high-level meeting to commemorate and promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons and the Summit on Biodiversity. We trust that these events shall be a success.”
Ethiopia
H.E. Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister
25 September 2020
No relevant references.
European Union
H.E Charles Michel, President of the European Council
25 September 2020
WMD: “Fighting impunity also means demanding an independent and credible investigation when the Russian opposition leader Navalny is the victim of an assassination attempt with chemical weapons.”
JCPOA: “The Iran Nuclear Deal remains key for global non-proliferation and regional security. It is therefore essential to preserve the JCPOA and for all parties to fully implement it. The agreement endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 2231 remains in place and for us there is no doubt that the sanctions lifting commitments under the agreement continue to apply. While we strongly support the preservation of the Iran deal, we continue to firmly address other concerns, such as the domestic and the regional situation.”
Fiji
H.E. Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, Prime Minister and Minister for iTaukei Affairs, Sugar Industry, and Foreign Affairs
26 September 2020
No relevant references.
Finland
H.E Sauli Niinistö, President
23 September 2020
Cyber/nuclear weapons/arms control: “New actors and new technologies create new kinds of challenges. Old structures and old instruments alone will not be sufficient to respond to them. But discarding existing frameworks would create a dangerous vacuum. Nuclear weapons are becoming a particularly worrying example. With one agreement after the other lapsing, we soon risk losing even the last elements of nuclear arms control. It would be of fundamental importance for the nuclear weapons states to find a way to build mutual understanding and trust. Also in this regard, we support the idea of a closer dialogue between the permanent members of the Security Council. And it does not stop at arms control. At the end of the day, the entire UN system cannot function unless the P5 countries are able to work together.”
Ceasefire: “As any global crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, too, can have negative effects on peace and security across the world. It can intensify existing conflicts, stall peace processes and wake up dormant tensions. But it can also offer opportunities for peace. The Secretary-General’s call for a global ceasefire was a strong appeal for conflict parties to lay down their weapons. “
France
H.E Emmanuel Macron, President
22 September 2020
Ceasefire: "We work with all of our partners in the neighboring countries of Libya to obtain a lasting ceasefire, then initiate a process that allows a political resolution of the conflict under the aegis of the United Nations..."
Chemical weapons: “Likewise, we will not tolerate chemical weapons being employed in Europe, Russia and Syria. In the name of collective security, I repeat here to Russia, the need for full light to be shed on the attempted assassination against a political opponent using a nerve agent, Novichok."
DPRK: "On North Korea, we supported the efforts led by the United States of America to allow the initiation of a negotiation. Even if tangible results do not are not yet there, these initiatives were important and what we expect now are gestures of concrete commitments on the part of North Korea. It must comply with the resolutions of the Security Council and engage quickly and in good faith in a process of complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization. It's the only possible way to achieve a political solution, a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula. This is essential for regional stability and security as well as for peace and security."
JCPOA: "The maximum pressure strategy committed for several years has not at this stage made it possible to put an end to destabilizing activities of Iran, nor to ensure that it will not be able to acquire the weapon nuclear. This is why France, which you will remember, is not the country which initiated negotiation, then designed the JCPoA agreement. But France, with its partners, Germany and the UK, will maintain its demand for the full implementation of the 2015 Vienna Accord and will not accept the violations committed by Iran. We will not compromise on a mechanism that the United States, having left the agreement, are not in a position to activate. It would undermine the unity of the Security Council, the integrity of its decisions, and that would run the risk of aggravating still tensions in the region. But we need to build a useful framework for action over time: that is, the ability to complete the 2015 agreement. First to ensure that in the long run, Iran will never accede to nuclear weapons, but also by ensuring that we are going to respond to Iran's ballistic activity but also to its destabilizations of the region."
WMD: “The first principle or the first its objective is the fight against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and against the terrorism which primarily threatens our collective security.”
Gabon
H.E. Ali Bongo Ondimba, President
24 September 2020
Small arms and light weapons: “The price of instability, combined with the effects of terrorism, hotbeds of tension and multifaceted destabilization, is particularly heavy for many African countries. Indeed, they are forced to devote significant resources to these phenomena, which are fueled, among other things, by the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons and the trafficking of species of wild fauna and flora.”
The Gambia
H.E Adama Barrow, Head of State
24 September 2020
Cyber: “The pandemic has exposed and worsen the disadvantages of the digital divide in the world, especially in the field of education delivery. Millions of people around the world cannot access virtual classrooms due to the persistent inability to access the Internet. Access to cyberspace has become the defining feature at work and in education. Through enhanced partnerships in the implementation of SDG 4, developing countries need support to overcome the digital gap, and create equal opportunities to access information and quality education, including vocational and ICT skills.”
Armed Conflict/Arms control: “The international community must not relent in its efforts to restore peace and stability in Mali, Somalia, South Sudan, the Central African Republic and other trouble spots. I submit that The United Nations and regional organisations should do more to disrupt the activities of all armed terrorist and criminal networks. In addition, the African Union’s efforts to silence the guns on the continent deserve continued international support for greater peace and stability on the African continent.”
Georgia
H.E Giorgi Gakharia, Prime Minister
25 September 2020
Armed conflict: “With illegal military training exercises and borderization, the installation of barbed wire fences and other artificial barriers, the occupation is taking a heavy toll primarily on the conflict-affected population, which is in a state of humanitarian crisis: they are deprived of access to their own homes and lands, forced to live in a reality in which passages are closed and families are further torn apart on a daily basis, with their freedom of movement, property rights, education rights, and access to basic medical services taken away. Local residents have been kidnapped, tortured, and killed.”
Armed conflict/ceasefire: “The policy chosen by the Government of Georgia seeks to achieve peace through dialogue and resolve the conflict peacefully. This involves ensuring the implementation of the August 3 12, 2008 Ceasefire Agreement on the one hand, and reconciliation, confidence-building, and restoration of relations between the war-torn communities on the other.”
Armed conflict/WMD: “It has been voiced repeatedly here that all UN member states are equal, and the pandemic has made this clear; it showed us that in the face of common adversity, we must unite and use the unique capabilities of each state. Unfortunately, COVID-19 is not the only international challenge. There are many others, such as armed conflicts, poverty, climate change, natural and technogenic disasters, terrorism and international crime, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and many others.”
Germany
H.E Heiko Maas, Minister of Foreign Affairs
29 September 2020
Ceasefire: “The Secretary-General’s call for a global ceasefire, which was adopted in the Security Council under Germany’s Presidency in July, is falling on deaf ears in many places. This is not only a problem as far as credibility of the Security Council is concerned. It is, first and foremost, a disaster for millions of people in war and crisis areas who are utterly defenceless in the face of the pandemic.”
Chemical Weapons: “This isn’t the first time that we have been confronted by a violation of an existential principle of international cooperation, namely the banning of chemical weapons. A violation of this – as we have been able to prove together with our partners in the poisoning of Alexei Navalny – is a problem for the entire international community. I call on Russia to do more to investigate this case. A case such as this must have consequences. The EU therefore reserves the right to impose sanctions.”
Arms control/nuclear weapons/disarmament/NPT: “We can continue to violate arms control treaties – thereby destroying trust that has been built up over many decades. Or we can put nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation back on the international agenda – as we have done in recent months, not least with a view to the upcoming Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation Treaty.”
JCPOA: “Europe’s efforts to promote the nuclear agreement with Iran must also be seen in this context. Yes, we share the concerns about the end of the arms embargo as long as Iran threatens Israel and destabilises the entire region from Lebanon to Syria to Yemen. However, the destruction of the JCPOA doesn’t get us any closer to an arms embargo. On the contrary, at best, the JCPOA’s demise brings Iran closer to getting the atomic bomb. And this is why we, as JCPOA participants, continue to stand by its full applicability and call on Iran to likewise fully comply with the agreement.”
Ghana
H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President
23 September 2020
No relevant references.
Greece
H.E Kyriakos Mitsotakis, President
25 September 2020
No relevant references.
Grenada
H.E. C. Peter David, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Labour
29 September 2020
No relevant references.
Guatemala
H.E. Pedro Brolo Vila, Minister for Foreign Affairs
29 September 2020
Nuclear weapons/TPNW/nuclear disarmament: “Among the threats the world faces now, the use of nuclear weapons is one of the greatest risks to the existence of humanity. Guatemala reiterates its position in favor of a complete, irreversible and transparent nuclear disarmament within established timelines, and condemns any nuclear test or threat of the use of force with this type of weapon that puts the continuation of life on earth at risk. The early entry into force of the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons is of great relevance.”
Guinea
H.E. Alpha Condé, President
24 September 2020
Armed conflict: “Guinea welcomes the launch of the decade of action for the SDGs which calls for increasing our ambitions and accelerating the implementation of suitable and lasting solutions to the challenges of poverty, gender inequality, conflicts, climate change and the financial gap in the implementation of the SDGs.”
Guinea-Bissau
H.E. Úmaro Sissoco Embaló, President
24 September 2020
No relevant references.
Guyana
H.E. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President
23 September 2020
No relevant references.
Haiti
H.E. Jovenel Moïse, President
24 September 2020
No relevant references
Holy See
H.H. Pope Francis
25 September 2020
Cyber: “The current crisis has also demonstrated that solidarity must not be an empty word or promise. It has also shown us the importance of avoiding every temptation to exceed our natural limits. “We have the freedom needed to limit and direct technology; we can put it at the service of another type of progress, one which is healthier, more human, more social, more integral”.This also needs to be taken into careful consideration in discussions on the complex issue of artificial intelligence (AI).”
Conventional weapons/WMD: “Conventional weapons are becoming less and less “conventional” and more and more “weapons of mass destruction”, wreaking havoc on cities, schools, hospitals, religious sites, infrastructures and basic services needed by the population.”
Arms race/nuclear weapons/militarism/LAWS/disarmament/NPT: “We must ask ourselves if the principal threats to peace and security – poverty, epidemics, terrorism and so many others – can be effectively be countered when the arms race, including nuclear weapons, continues to squander precious resources that could better be used to benefit the integral development of peoples and protect the natural environment.
We need to break with the present climate of distrust. At present, we are witnessing an erosion of multilateralism, which is all the more serious in light of the development of new forms of military technology, 16 such as lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS) which irreversibly alter the nature of warfare, detaching it further from human agency.
We need to dismantle the perverse logic that links personal and national security to the possession of weaponry. This logic serves only to increase the profits of the arms industry, while fostering a climate of distrust and fear between persons and peoples. Nuclear deterrence, in particular, creates an ethos of fear based on the threat of mutual annihilation; in this way, it ends up poisoning relationships between peoples and obstructing dialogue. That is why it is so important to support the principal international legal instruments on nuclear disarmament, nonproliferation and prohibition. The Holy See trusts that the forthcoming Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) will result in concrete action in accordance with our joint intention “to achieve at the earliest possible date the cessation of the nuclear arms race and to undertake effective measures in the direction of nuclear disarmament”.
Ceasefire: “...the recent adoption of a global cease-fire during the present crisis is a very noble step, one that demands good will on the part of all for its continued implementation.”
Honduras
H.E. Juan Orlando Hernández Alvarado, President
23 September 2020
No relevant references
Hungary
H.E. János Áder, President
23 September 2020
No relevant references
Iceland
H.E. Mr. Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Development
29 September 2020
Ceasefire: “Let me thank the Secretary-General for his leadership in calling for a global ceasefire; a call which all nations should support, not least those that hold power to influence the situation on the ground”
Disarmament: “Too many seek to apply the principles and values of the UN Charter selectively, tilting the balance between rights and responsibilities – in international trade, rule of law, human rights, disarmament and in preventing conflicts and atrocities.”
India
H.E. Narendra Modi, Prime Minister
26 September 2020
Arms trafficking: “India will not hesitate in raising its voice against the enemies of humanity, human race and human values – these include terrorism, smuggling of illegal weapons, drugs and money-laundering.”
Indonesia
H.E. Joko Widodo, President
22 September 2020
No relevant references
Italy
H.E. Giuseppe Conte, Prime Minister
25 September 2020
Ceasefire: “In many parts of the world, the pandemic has descended upon situations of conflict and severe crises, with potentially devastating consequences. This is why we have immediately supported the Appeal, launched by Secretary-General Guterres in March for a “Global Ceasefire”. “
Armed conflict/militarism: “We must give back primacy to politics, politics with a capital P, diplomacy, dialogue and – allow me to underscore, compelled by my legal background – international law over military options. We should do so not only to fulfill our natural aspirations toward peace, but because history – the most recent even more so than earlier chapters – shows that the recourse to arms is not sustainable nor lasting.”
Iran
H.E. Hassan Rouhani, President
22 September 2020
JCPOA: “And in 2015, we achieved the JCPOA as one of the biggest accomplishments of the history of diplomacy and remained faithful to it in spite of persistent violations by the United States.”
Militarism/WMD: “They [U.S.] claimed they came to our region to fight Saddam Hussein—the very monster they had themselves created, nurtured, and financed in his imposed war against Iran, equipping him with chemical weapons and the most sophisticated war machine.”
Nuclear Weapons: “They [U.S.] accuse us—without any foundation—of trying to build nuclear weapons, and they impose sanctions on others under the pretext of nuclear proliferation. This is while they have the infamy of being the sole user of atomic bombs in the history of humanity; and while the only possessor of nuclear weapons in West Asia is running their non-proliferation theatre.”
Military spending/Arms control: “They [U.S.] have sold hundreds of billions of dollars of weapons to their clients turning our region into a powder keg. Yet, they try in vain to deprive Iran of its minimum defense requirements, and disregard international law and global consensus in order to extend arms restrictions against Iran in contravention of the letter of UNSCR 2231.”
Iraq
H.E. Barham Salih, President
23 September 2020
No translation available
Ireland
H.E. Micheál Martin, Taoiseach, Ireland
26 September 2020
Chemical weapons: “We have seen the veto repeatedly abused over recent years, to prevent the Council from taking necessary actions, including on access to vital humanitarian relief and in response to the use of chemical weapons in Syria.”
Cyber: “The UN’s work on human rights, international development, disarmament, trade and economic cooperation, terrorism and crime, the use of technology and safety of cyberspace, remains critical.”
DPRK: “The Democratic People's Republic of Korea must abandon all nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programmes in a complete, verifiable, and irreversible manner.”
JCPOA: “The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on Iran’s nuclear programme must be implemented in full - it is the most effective mechanism for preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Iran must also end destabilizing activities in the region, to create a context for an alternative future of economic cooperation and development.”
Nuclear disarmament/TPNW: “We played an important role in negotiating the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, and are proud to have become the 41st country to ratify it, this year. Nuclear proliferation must remain at the heart of the Council’s work.”
Small arms: “Crucially, we must address the factors underlying conflict, including insecurity, hunger, poor governance, climate change, violations of human rights, and the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.”
Jamaica
H.E. Andrew Holness, Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, Economic Growth and Job Creation
26 September 2020
Cyber/digital: “The pandemic has forced schools and workplaces to close and people to practice social distancing. The internet has become our public square to meet and access critical information. However, approximately half of the world’s population is still not connected to the internet. With school, work, healthcare, commerce and religious worship going online, persons without access to a reliable internet connection may be marginalised and disconnected entirely. Now more than ever before it is imperative that the “digital divide” not only be closed, but that countries are enabled to provide universal access to connectivity as well as the tools to allow their societies and economies to capture the power of digital technologies.”
Japan
H.E. Suga Yoshihide, Prime Minister
25 September 2020
DPRK: “Japan seeks to normalize its relationship with North Korea, in accordance with the Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration, through comprehensively resolving the outstanding issues of concern such as the abductions, nuclear and missile issues, as well as settlement of the unfortunate past. As the new Prime Minister of Japan, I am ready to meet with Chairman Kim Jong-un without any conditions. Establishing a constructive relationship between Japan and North Korea will not only serve the interests of both sides but will also greatly contribute to regional peace and stability. I will miss no opportunity to take actions with all my dedication.”
Nuclear disarmament/NPT: “This year marks the 75th anniversary since the first use of nuclear weapons. Hiroshima and Nagasaki must never be repeated. With this resolve, Japan will spare no effort in realizing a world free of nuclear weapons while firmly upholding the Three Non-Nuclear Principles. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the entry into force of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), which serves as the cornerstone of the international regime for nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. I wish to emphasize once again the importance of maintaining and strengthening the Treaty. We, as the international community, need to stand united to work on arms control and disarmament of conventional weapons, or “Disarmament that Saves Lives.””
Jordan
H.M. King Abdullah II
22 September 2020
No relevant references
Kazakhstan
H.E. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President
23 September 2020
WMD/BWC: “Last but not least, in light of the global pandemic, launching of a biological weapons control system is becoming more acute than ever. Kazakhstan proposes to establish a special multilateral body – the International Agency for Biological Safety – based on the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention and accountable to the UN Security Council.”
Nuclear weapons/disarmament/CTBT/NWFZ: There are two more crises that are looming right behind the pandemic. One of them is the nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament crisis. Kazakhstan has been the role model of a responsible state by willingly abandoning its nuclear arsenal and shutting down world’s biggest nuclear test site. However, continuous erosion of the non-proliferation regime leaves us in a dangerous position. Kazakhstan, therefore, expects all Member States to join its appeal to nuclear powers to take necessary and urgent measures to save the humankind from a nuclear disaster. In this respect we appreciate an active role played by relevant UN institutions including the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization. We believe that legally-binding negative security assurances should be given to every non-nuclear-weapon state. That is why we urge all P5 countries to ratify the respective Protocols to the Nuclear-Weapon-Free-Zone Treaties, including Semipalatinsk Treaty."
Kenya
H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta, President
23 September 2020
Ceasefire: “The Secretary-General’s recent appeal for a global ceasefire also includes a humanitarian call for the roll-back of international sanctions and to reinforce the efforts of vulnerable, fragile and conflict-affected countries, to deal with the impact of COVID-19. I state today that Kenya stands behind this initiative.”
Kiribati
H.E. Taneti Maamau, President
25 September 2020
No relevant references
Kuwait
H.H. Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Prime Minister
25 September 2020
No relevant references.
Kyrgyzstan
H.E. Sooronbai Zheenbekov, President
23 September 2020
No translation available.
Lao People’s Democratic Republic
H.E. Thongloun Sisoulith, Prime Minister
26 September 2020
Disarmament: “International laws and treaties have been gradually enhanced and served as a tool to prevent and resolve various issues in areas such as disarmament, racial discrimination, religion and cultural differences, promotion and protection of human rights, and gender equality, to name a few.”
Latvia
H.E. Egils Levits, President
22 September 2020
Cyber: “Recover better” also means that in going digital, we must take even greater care with data collection and use, especially in regard to privacy. When governments, international companies and other entities digitally collect more information about a person than he or she is aware, this creates a considerable threat to personal freedom. It also makes a person much more vulnerable to manipulation. 3 To be more concrete and direct – digital tracing and profiling, which are very difficult to evade, endanger a person’s fundamental freedom. This is a serious challenge for society. By resolving the legal framework and investing in technologies that factor in respect for privacy, I believe we can create human-centred technologies with much bigger potential. We all need to address this challenge together, at the national, regional and global level, with full respect for fundamental human rights and freedoms. I want Latvia to be a global role model for a human-centred multilingual digital economy, to support developing economies in going digital, and at the same time to elaborate digital standards for the respect of privacy and to promote them internationally. V Infodemic Mr President, Latvia is concerned that among other negative consequences, COVID-19 has created a breeding ground for misinformation, disinformation, fake news and hate speech. It is critical that states counter misinformation and provide access to free, reliable and science-based information through free media. This is a universal human right that we must respect and help each other to exercise. Latvia has credible expertise and can contribute to this end. In June at the United Nations, Latvia together with a cross-regional group of 130 countries called for action to fight misinformation and disinformation, or the so-called “infodemic”, in the context of COVID-19. The statement complements the “Verified” campaign announced by the UN SecretaryGeneral, as well as the UNESCO response to this negative trend. Free, objective and pluralistic media plays an indispensable role in informing the public during the ongoing pandemic. Technology companies and social media platforms need to be more accountable for addressing online disinformation. Social media is not merely a platform where people and diverse information meets. The technology, the algorithms, the business models that drive the advertising market and attention economy all play a large part in the distribution of disinformation. Our priority must be to protect both privacy and freedom of expression in the digital domain. The exponential increase of misinformation, disinformation, fake news and hate speech in recent years is dangerous not only in the context of the pandemic. It is a general threat to world peace, it is a general threat to efforts to solve global issues such as climate change and environmental pollution. In short – it is a general problem of humankind to find rational solutions to the challenges of our time. These threats should be taken seriously both on the national and international level.”
Lebanon
H.E. Michel Aoun, President
23 September 2020
No relevant references.
Lesotho
H.E. Moeketsi Majoro, Prime Minister
26 September 2020
Armed conflict: “The determination of Africa to address, through the AU, the problem of conflicts on the continent should not be misconstrued as absolving the United Nations from its responsibility for peace and security where Africa is concerned.”
Arms trade/nuclear proliferation/WMD: “As we stop to ponder and reflect on the past, a new pattern of ethnic intra-state conflagrations are emerging and new dimensions have become increasingly important in international security. These include; proliferation of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, terrorism, illicit arms trade and trafficking, drug trafficking, strains on the conflict resolution and peacebuilding efforts, threats of social and economic injustice and the plight of migrants, refugees and internally displaced persons.”
Ceasefire: “The energy towards a global ceasefire during the pandemic is worthy of special mention.”
“On this note we commend the Secretary General for calling for a global ceasefire in all corners of the world.”
Liberia
H.E. Dr. George Manneh Weah, President
23 September 2020
No relevant references.
Libya
H.E. Faiez Mustafa Serraj, President
24 September 2020
No translation available.
Liechtenstein
H.E. Dr. Katrin Eggenberger, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Justice, and Culture
26 September 2020
Militarism/cyber: “In particular we will continue promoting the respect for the rules that govern the use of force between States – the Charter provisions are clear in this respect, but they are increasingly diluted in practice, in particular through the manner in which the rules concerning self-defense are interpreted. This is particularly dangerous in an era of increased militarization and of cyberwarfare. We are working with our partners to help develop a clear understanding how international law applies to the cybersphere.”
Lithuania
H.E. Gitanas Nausėda, President
22 September 2020
Armed conflict: “More than a decade has passed since Russia invaded Georgia. One fifth of Georgian territory remains occupied by 4 Russian forces in an evident violation of the international law. The situation in the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia is worsening due to renewed ‘borderization’ activities, restricted movement and illegal detentions of local people. Furthermore, for the sixth-year Russian forces are occupying Ukrainian Crimea and continuing military actions in Eastern Ukraine. Lithuania welcomes Ukraine's efforts to negotiate an end to the war and calls on Russia to move closer to a sustainable political resolution. Any future agreement should fully respect Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity – no other solution is possible. My country continues to support Georgian and Ukrainian independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within the internationally recognized borders. No occupation, be it Crimea and Sevastopol, or Abkhazia and South Ossetia, will be forgotten or forgiven! Restoring justice is the only way forward. At the same time, we are witnessing a deteriorating security situation in the Middle East and Africa. It comes with lower respect for human rights and democratic standards, loss of life, social unrest and largescale migration flows. Despite all the efforts of the United Nations Secretary-General, including his global ceasefire call, no major war or conflict has seen a credible halt in fighting. Libya suffers upticks in violence; Yemen, as well as parts of Syria, rebel-held areas and camps for the displaced, face the worst humanitarian disaster; in Sahel, people encounter the many dangers of terrorism. It is our common responsibility to stop this worrying trend!”
Chemical weapons: “These are the troubled times. The ongoing conflicts continue to devastate many regions around the world. Millions of people are still suffering, some of them – in Lithuania’s immediate neighborhood. As the recent case of Alexey Navalny’s poisoning shows, in some countries the pressure directed against opposition voices quickly turns into a deadly physical action.”
Nuclear: “Nuclear accidents respect no borders. Even the best technology can fail, if an unsuitable location is chosen or the basic construction and operational requirements are not followed. Any irresponsible cost cutting might have disastrous effects. Therefore, Lithuania urges the international community to seek the implementation of the highest nuclear and environmental standards for all nuclear objects around the world. The global security depends on our efforts to ensure nuclear safety.”
Luxembourg
H.E. Xavier Bettel, Prime Minister, Minister of State, Minister for Communications and Media and Minister for Religious Affairs
25 September 2020
Armed conflict: “I do not wish to make a list of active or potential conflicts in all regions of the world. It would be much too long. It is clear that the hotbeds of tension are multiplying and that the emergence of new players on the international scene does not always go well, far from it, in the sense of appeasement.”
Ceasefire: “The Security Council took a little long to vote on the call for an immediate, global, ceasefire launched in early spring by the UNSG. Thanks to the persistence of some of its members, it finally did but, it must be said, the obstacles encountered in this process are unfortunately emblematic of the Council's difficulty in mobilizing and deciding, even in the most urgent situations.”
JCPOA: “While Iran’s action in the region is cause for concern, the abandonment of the Nuclear Agreement with Iran is not likely to improve the situation. This Agreement remains in force and cannot be both denounced and to claim it.”
Madagascar
H.E. Christian Ntsay, Prime Minister and Head of Government
26 September 2020
No relevant references.
Malta
H.E. Robert Abela, Prime Minister
25 September 2020
Ceasefire: “Aside from hunger, COVID-19 also posed another serious obstacle to the wellbeing of the already vulnerable civilian populations of war-stricken countries. As the Prime Minister of a country that advocates peace and has a neutrality clause in its Constitution, I cannot but reiterate the message for all parties involved in such conflicts to desist from ongoing hostilities.”
“Against this background, Malta welcomes the announcements made by the Libyan President of the Presidential Council, His Excellency Fayez al-Serraj and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, H.E. Aguila Saleh, for a ceasefire in Libya. This is an instrumental and constructive step to overcome the current stalemate and terminate all foreign interference in the country. Now is the time to translate the outcomes of the 5+5 Joint Military Committee into a permanent ceasefire to enable the resumption of talks with a view to achieve a successful political transition under the auspices of the United Nations.”
Malaysia
H.E. Muhyiddin Mohd Yassin, Prime Minister
26 September 2020
No relevant references.
Malawi
H.E. Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, President
24 September 2020
No relevant references.
Maldives
H.E. Abdulla Shahid, Minister of Foreign Affairs
29 September 2020
Cyber: “We have to work together to address the root causes of terrorism and violent extremism, especially in light of advances in social media and digital technology”.
Marshall Islands
H.E. David Kabua, Head of State
23 September 2020
Nuclear weapons: “As a former strategic UN Trusteeship, the Marshall Islands knows all too well the consequences of inaction by the international system. Between 1946 and 1958, 67 large-scale nuclear weapons were tested in the Marshall Islands including many authorized by two UN resolutions. This remains a lasting legacy which is also a contemporary challenge passed down through generations as a significant human rights challenge. No other people should ever have to bear the burdens which we know from nuclear exposure. We remain a beacon for stronger international effort to reduce and eliminate nuclear risk. Real results, not symbolic lip service, is needed to unpack and address the often complex situations which often accompany nuclear risk. In particular, we remain alarmed over recent events in North Korea, and call for full implementation of UN Security Council resolutions.”
Mauritania
H.E. Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, Minister of Foreign Affairs
29 September 2020
No translation available.
Mauritius
H.E. Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Prime Minister, Minister for Home Affairs, External Communications and National Development Unit, and Minister for Finance and Economic Development
26 September 2020
No relevant references.
Mexico
H.E. Andrés Manuel López Obrador, President
22 September 2020
No relevant references.
Micronesia
H.E. David Panuelo, President
25September 2020
Cyber: “The Federated States of Micronesia recognizes Secretary-General Guterres’ road map for digital cooperation and the gaps made clear by the COVID-19 Pandemic. A digital inter-dependent World has the potential to advance our social and economic aspirations or leave many of us behind. Through assistance provided from partners such as the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the United Nations, and the United States of America, Micronesia is hoping to build an inclusive digital economy, develop human and institutional capacity, protect human rights, promote digital trust, and foster global digital cooperation. I am hopeful that global digital cooperation can help us combat evils such as human trafficking, illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing, and promote positive efforts such as online education and tele-health programming. There is much work that needs to be done in this area, and the challenges are immense. While we are working hard to democratize knowledge through making internet and cellphone access more accessible and more affordable, there remain significant technical and capacity gaps. Micronesia wishes to strengthen existing partnerships, and develop new ones, in its effort to build a digital future.”
Moldova
H.E. Mr. Igor Dodon, President
23 September 2020
Armed conflict/ceasefire/arms race: “Conflicts and crises of varying intensity continue to be a threat to peace, security, and development around the world. The Republic of Moldova supports the UN Secretary General’s call for a global ceasefire. In the context of a global crisis, armed conflicts aggravate the situation and intensify the destructive effect of the armament race.”
Arms race/nuclear weapons/conventional weapons/disarmament/arms control: “At the same time, the Republic of Moldova expresses a deep concern regarding the scale of the armament race through the excessive accumulation of conventional weapons and nuclear weapon modernization programs. We regret the persistent uncertainty of the situation related to the existing disarmament and control agreements of strategic armaments.”
Military spending/ arms trade: “On the background of emergence and escalation of increasing armed conflicts, we note globally enlarged military spendings and the weapons trading. In this respect, the international climate, marked by the use and threat of use of force, accentuates the insecurity of the international environment.”
Monaco
H.H. Prince Albert II
24 September 2020
No relevant references.
Mongolia
H.E. Battulga Khaltmaa, President
23 September 2020
No relevant references.
Montenegro
H.E. Srđan Darmanović, Minister of Foreign Affairs
29 September 2020
Ceasefire: “We strongly support the Secretary General's call for a global ceasefire during the current pandemic, in order to give diplomacy a chance and create conditions for delivering humanitarian aid and support to the most vulnerable population.”
WMD/arms control/disarmament: “We face serious challenges to international security and stability, caused by a number of factors, such as the expiration of some of the most important agreements on limiting and controlling conventional and weapons of mass destruction, the return of Cold War tensions—now further complicated by the lack of constructive dialogue between key actors. Montenegro fully supports the implementation of relevant international instruments in the field of disarmament and arms control, as well as the Secretary General's Agenda for Disarmament. We emphasize the importance of universalization of the most important documents in this area, in order to preserve international peace, security and stability, and to create preconditions and conditions for a world without weapons of mass destruction.”
Mozambique
H.E. Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, President
23 September 2020
No relevant references.
Myanmar
H.E. U Kyaw Tint Swe, Union Minister, Ministry of the Office of the State Counsellor and Chairman of the Delegation
29 September 2020
Ceasefire: “We welcome the SecretaryGeneral’s global ceasefire appeal which will contribute to peace and stability in conflict areas and encourage solidarity to overcome our common enemy, COVID-19. In response to this appeal, Tatmadaw, Myanmar’s Armed Forces declared a ceasefire from 10 May to 31 August 2020. It also announced that the ceasefire will be applied in all areas except where terrorist groups have taken position. This ceasefire has been extended to 30 September 2020. The Government has also invited all ethnic armed organizations to work together for the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 in those areas which are not yet under total Government control. This kind of cooperation contributes to confidence-building between state institutions and the ethnic armed organizations. Despite the temporary disruption of commercial flights to Rakhine State, the Government continues to ensure health and humanitarian assistance to all affected communities without discrimination.”
Namibia
H.E. Hage Geingob, President
22 September 2020
Nuclear weapons: “An effective, rules-based multilateral system is our insurance policy against existential threats such as wars, nuclear proliferation, pandemics and climate change.”
Nauru
H.E. Lionel Rouwen Aingimea, President
24 September 2020
No relevant references.
Nepal
H.E. K.P. Sharma Oli, President
25 September 2020
Arms race: “Challenges such as arms race, climate change, and disasters impede the prospects of peace and sustainable development.”
Armed conflict: “Protracted conflicts inflict painful miseries to the innocent civilians. Nepal calls for peaceful resolution of all such conflicts, led and owned by the people of the respective countries.”
Military Spending/arms race/outer space/cyber/nuclear weapons/NPT/WMD/disarmament: In 2019, the world military expenditure amounted to US dollar 1.9 trillion. Even a fraction of those resources could bring respite to the millions of people suffering from poverty, hunger, and deprivation. The arms race, weaponization of outer space, and cyber warfare inflict a huge cost on humanity. We all know what is more important at present- nuclear weapons or accessible vaccine against COVID-19! The world needs more masks, not muskets; more protective equipment, not destructive weapons; and more social spending to save lives, not military spending to destroy lives. Even when disarmament related processes including the NPT Review Conference are postponed due to the pandemic, the concerned parties must continue to fulfill their treaty obligations to make the world safer. We reiterate our call for a general and complete disarmament of all weapons of mass destruction. Regional approaches to disarmament complement the global initiatives. As the host country to the UN Regional Center for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific, we underline the need to strengthen such regional approaches including the ‘Kathmandu Process’.”
Cyber: “Progress in technology has been a major drive for development and change. Addressing digital divide and capacity constraints of LDCs is crucial for realizing a fair share of benefits of e-commerce and technology dividend. They must have an easy and affordable access to technology.”
Netherlands
H.E. Mark Rutte, Prime Minister
25 September 2020
No relevant references.
New Zealand
H.E. Craig J. Hawke, Permanent Representative to the United Nations
29 September 2020
Ceasefire: “We should rally behind the Secretary-General’s call for a global ceasefire so we can all focus on prevention and recovery.”
Nuclear weapons: “At recent events to mark the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, we recalled the catastrophic consequences of nuclear weapons. The testing of nuclear weapons has also had a disastrous impact in the Pacific region. We know that no state or organisation can prepare for the unimaginable suffering in the wake of a nuclear holocaust.If we cannot prepare, we must prevent. That is why New Zealand has signed up to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. We urge all others to join this landmark Treaty, and we welcome its imminent entry-into-force. The Treaty’s global prohibition on nuclear weapons is a necessary step on the way towards their total elimination. As we will also emphasise in New Zealand’s statement delivered later this week on the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, it is time for global negotiations involving all nuclear weapons possessors to take place in order to achieve ‘nuclear zero’.”
Niger
H.E. Mahamadou Issoufou, President
24 September 2020
Ceasefire: “Niger appreciates [the UN Secretary-General’s] personal commitment to a global ceasefire because of Covid-19 and his initiatives for the climate and stability in the Sahel and in South Africa.”
Nigeria
H.E. Muhammadu Buhari, President
22 September 2020
Arms trade/SALW: “Nigeria remains deeply concerned over the illicit trade, transfer, and circulation of small arms and light weapons, particularly on the continent of Africa. Page 8 of 15 27. We urge the international community to renew efforts to stem this traffic and promote the Arms Trade Treaty in order to codify accountability in the on-going battle against trans-border crimes, including terrorism and acts of piracy.”
“In the area of human rights, Nigeria has passed a number of human rights-related bills into law. The bills include:..the Comprehensive Treatment and Care for Victims of Gun-Shot Act…”.
Nuclear disarmament/TPNW: “Nigeria is commited to universal nuclear non-proliferation. In this connection, we recall the adoption of the landmark Treaty on The Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which opened for signature on 20 September 2017. Nigeria participated actively in the processes leading to its adoption and was an early signatory and ratifier. 32. With less than ten ratifications needed for the TPNW’s entry into force, we urge other member states who have not done so to quickly ratify the Treaty for the actualization of its important objective.”
North Macedonia
H.E. Stevo Pendarovski, President
23 September 2020
Ceasefire/Nuclear weapons/arms control/arms race: “The Republic of North Macedonia joins the Secretary General’s call for a global truce and full respect for international humanitarian law in these extraordinary circumstances. My country, within its capabilities, is an active participant in UN peacekeeping missions, but also within regional organizations such as the OSCE, the European Union and the missions of the North Atlantic Alliance. In this context, we support the efforts for a new nuclear arms control treaty and believe that the efforts of our strategic partners to include new nuclear forces therein is an important contribution to greater efficiency in preventing a new race for armament."
Norway
H.E. Erna Solberg, Prime Minister
26 September 2020
No relevant references.
Pakistan
H.E. Imran Khan, Prime Minister
25 September 2020
Arms race/militarism: “International agreements are being flouted and set aside. Renewed great-power rivalries are leading to a new arms race. Conflicts are proliferating and intensifying. Military occupation and illegal annexations are suppressing the right of human beings to self-determination.”
Militarism/nuclear: “In order to divert attention from its illegal actions and atrocities in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, India is playing a dangerous game of upping the military ante against Pakistan in a nuclearized strategic environment.”
Nuclear weapons: “According to respected Professor Noam Chomsky, mankind [sic] is at even a greater risk than it was before the 1st and 2nd World Wars in the last century because of the increased threat of nuclear war, Climate Change, and sadly the rise of authoritarian regimes. We must come together to prevent such a catastrophe.”
Ceasefire: “Despite constant Indian provocations and ceasefire violations along the Line of Control and the Working Boundary targeting innocent civilians, Pakistan has exercised maximum restraint. We have consistently sensitized the world community about a 'false flag' operation and another ill conceived misadventure by India.”
Militarism: “I have consistently maintained over the past two decades that there is no military solution to the-decades-old-conflict in Afghanistan. The only way forward was and is a political settlement which involves the full spectrum of Afghanistan's political actors.”
Oman
H.E. Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Foreign Minister
23 September 2020
No relevant references.
Palau
H.E. Tommy Esang Remengesau, Jr., President
23 September 2020
Nuclear weapons: "We were among the first countries to ratify the Paris Agreement and the Nuclear Ban Treaty, after actively contributing to their negotiation."
Papua New Guinea
H.E. James Marape, Prime Minister
25 September 2020
No relevant references.
Paraguay
H.E. Mario Abdo Benítez, President
23 September 2020
Nuclear weapons: “Today's world presents us with problems that cannot be tackled in isolation. For this reason, the deepening of multilateralism is an effective tool to respond to the needs we share, such as the search for peace, the protection of human rights, the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, the protection of the environment, the fight against climate change and international trade based on principles and rules, thus highlighting the value of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as a roadmap that should guide us towards a more equitable world for future generations.”
Peru
H.E. Martín Vizcarra Cornejo, President
22 September 2020
Ceasefire: “As a founding member of the United Nations, Peru has an unalterable commitment to the maintenance of international peace and security. This has guided our recent and constructive membership in the Security Council in 2018-2019. Consequently, we support the Secretary General for an “Action for the maintenance of peace,” as well as the call for a global ceasefire.”
WMD/CWC/Nuclear Weapons/TPNW: “Equally firm is our commitment to the general and complete disarmament of weapons of mass destruction. We are part of the Chemical Weapons convention and a member of the main international regimes on conventional arms control and nuclear non-proliferation. We are in the process of ratifying the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, we are convinced that the prohibition of nuclear weapons and tests remains a moral imperative for the planet and humankind.”
Philippines
H.E. Rodrigo Roa Duterte, President
22 September 2020
Nuclear weapons: “Given the size and military might of the contenders, we can only imagine and be aghast at the terrible toll on human life and property that shall be inflicted if the “word war” deteriorates into a real war of nuclear weapons and missiles.”
Nuclear weapons/WMD/NPT/TPNW: “But no aspiration nor ambition can justify the use of weapons that destroy indiscriminately and completely. There is no excuse for deaths that a nuclear war could cause nor the reckless use of chemical and biological weapons that can cause mass destruction. These weapons of death put us all at mortal risk, especially if they fall in the hands of terrorists without a shred of humanity in their souls. We call on all Member States to fully implement the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and the Chemical and the Biological Weapons Conventions. I have asked the Philippine Senate to ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Importantly, we were among those to sign it first.”
Poland
H.E. Andrzej Duda, President
23 September 2020
Armed conflict: “The fact that we have managed 6 to avoid another global armed conflict in the last 75 years should doubtlessly be deemed as one of the success stories of the international community. Simultaneously however, one can hardly say that those were the years of global security and global peace.”
“It is indispensable to ensure cooperation among states in a situation when the fundamental norms of international law are violated, for instance in case of the aggression of the Russian Federation on Georgia or Ukraine.”
Chemical weapons: “Another concerning phenomenon refers to the violation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons, which was repeatedly the case in recent years. Poland did not and does not accept the fact that chemical weapons are still in use. On top of that, and that is even more concerning: the infringement of the Convention in 2018 coincided with the violation of the fundamental principle of international law: sovereignty and territorial integrity. It is upon our shoulders: those of the UN, the Security Council and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons that the responsibility rests to communicate to the world our strong opposition in this matter.”
Portugal
H.E. António Costa, Prime Minister
25 September 2020
Ceasefire: “Despite the pandemic, many wars and conflicts persist. This is why we support the recent appeal of the Secretary General to a global ceasefire.”
Cyber/ICTs: “Second, new areas are emerging that require multilateral solutions in the definition of regulatory regimes and cooperation. The so-called Fourth Industrial Revolution is both a challenge and an opportunity. Whether it's artificial intelligence and robotization, implementation of intelligent networks and management of 5G infrastructure and data or the restructuring of whole sectors of the economy, the impact of new technologies - in the economy, in the world of work, in relations between States - will demand new rules of conduct at the international level. The United Nations must play a central role in their definition, by providing compromise solutions in order to defend the general interest.”
JCPOA: “We believe...that the nuclear agreement with Iran must be preserved and fully respected by all parties…”.
Qatar
H.H. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, Amir
22 September 2020
Ceasefire: “Regarding the Libyan issue, we reiterate welcoming the ceasefire agreement and activating the political process in accordance with the Skhirat Agreement and all its outcomes, to achieve a comprehensive political settlement that will maintain Libyan sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence, and stem the bloodshed of its people and preserve its wealth. It is beneficial for all to understand the impossibility of imposing a military regime by force in Libya.”
Republic of Korea
H.E. Moon Jae-In, President
22 September 2020
DPRK: The Republic of Korea has been steadfast in seeking inter-Korean reconciliation and is making relentless efforts to achieve denuclearization and establish permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula.
…
At the UN General Assembly last year, I presented the three principles to resolve issues related to the Korean War – zero tolerance for war, a mutual security guarantee and co prosperity, and set out my vision to transform the Demilitarized Zone into an international peace zone. However, peace on the Korean Peninsula is still in the making and changes that used to brimming with hopes have stalled. Yet, the Republic of Korea will continue the dialogue. What all of us need to do is to take one more step forward. My belief remains unchanged that we can achieve denuclearization and bring lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula with international community’s continued support and cooperation.
Cyber: “Today, the world is expanding the concept of security from traditional security of preserving 5 territorial integrity to comprehensive security. The world has been joining forces to respond to non-traditional security threats from disasters and catastrophes to terrorism and cyber security, and to fight international crimes.”
Romania
H.E. Bogdan Aurescu, Minister of Foreign Affairs
29 September 2020
Cyber: “Digital Technology is central to almost every aspect of the response to the pandemic and a prerequisite for the achievement of the SDGs. The development and use of Digital technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, based on ethical principles, must be human-centred. The promotion and protection of human rights, democracy, good governance, accountability and the rule of law must be provided offline and online. Thus we need a universal political commitment to digital security. The UN should galvanize the digital cooperation at global level and contribute to mobilizing all actors to ensure open, secure and affordable access to digital infrastructure for all.
The digital sector in Romania amounts to 6% of the GDP and is an important driver of growth and innovation. We see digitalization as an opportunity for everyone and a key component of our economic development. Romania’s digital transformation aims to make our country less bureaucratic, more resilient, and more attractive for foreign investment. It also has the potential to turn Romania into a regional innovation hub. The COVID-19 crisis has proven that disinformation and hostile actions in the information environment are threatening both international and human security, and they have to be effectively addressed. This crisis demonstrated the crucial need for access to reliable, accurate and science-based information. Thus, it has confirmed the role of free, independent, accountable and pluralistic media in strengthening transparency, accountability and trust.”
Arms control/non-proliferation/disarmament/nuclear weapons: “Romania remains firmly committed to maintaining a rules-based international order, to consolidating the global architecture of arms control, non-proliferation and disarmament, while taking into account the security context. As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the entry into force of the NPT (Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of nuclear weapons) in 2020, Romania encourages all parties to take a forward-looking approach, doing everything possible to achieve compromise in order to strengthen the integrity of the NPT in all its pillars.
Russia
H.E. Vladimir Putin, President
22 September 2020
Cyber: “...like any other innovations, digital technologies tend to spread uncontrollably and, like conventional weapons, can fall into the hands of all sorts of radicals and extremists, not only in zones of regional conflicts, but also in quite prosperous countries, giving rise to huge risks. In this regard, issues of cybersecurity, the use of advanced digital technologies also deserve the most serious discussion at the UN platform. It is important to hear and perceive the fears of people - to what extent their rights will be protected in the new era: rights to privacy, property, security. We must learn to use new technologies for the benefit of humanity, find the right balance between incentives for the development of artificial intelligence and justified restrictive measures, and jointly come to an agreement on regulation that would exclude potential threats, and not only from the point of view of military and technological security, but also traditions, law, morality of human communication.”
Arms Control/WMD/nuclear weapons/New START: “Despite all the disputes and disagreements, sometimes misunderstandings and even mistrust of some colleagues, we will persistently propose constructive, uniting initiatives, primarily in the field of arms control, strengthening the treaty regimes operating here. This also applies to the prohibition of chemical, biological and toxin weapons. The priority issue that can and must be resolved promptly is, of course, the extension of the Treaty of Russia and the United States on Strategic Offensive Arms, which expires in February 2021, very soon. We are conducting such negotiations with our American partners. In addition, we look forward to mutual restraint in the deployment of new missile systems. Let me add that since last year - I want to emphasize this - since last year Russia has already declared a moratorium on the deployment of intermediate and shorter-range ground-based missiles in Europe and other regions of the world, as long as the United States of America refrains from such measures. Unfortunately, we have not yet heard a reaction to our proposal either from our American partners or from their allies.”
Rwanda
H.E. Paul Kagame, President
22 September 2020
No relevant references
Saint Kitts and Nevis
H.E. Timothy Harris, Prime Minister, Minister for Sustainable Development, National Security, People Empowerment and Constituency Empowerment
26 September 2020
No relevant references.
Saint Lucia
H.E. Allen Michael Chastanet, Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Economic Growth, Job Creation, External Affairs and the Public Service
26 September 2020
No relevant references.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
H.E. Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister, Minister for Finance, the Public Service, National Security, Legal Affairs and Grenadines Affairs
26 September 2020
Militarism: “The complex challenges of the 21st Century will not be solved by military means or by a quest for hegemony. While those who sell weapons have been traditionally positioned to broker peace, we cannot expect to use outdated tools to address effectively contemporary exingencies.”
Samoa
H.E. Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade
26 September 2020
Nuclear weapons/WMD: “We want a future with peaceful societies, free from conflict and nuclear weapons.”
“The UN has made notable achievements in its peace and security agenda, but much work still needs to be done. COVID19 is contributing to increased volatility and instability in some situations. Growing inequality, poverty, armed conflicts, terrorism and insecurity still exist. People fleeing their homes in search of refuge and safety are becoming the new normal. And the threat of use of nuclear weapons is still present. We condemn international terrorism unreservedly. Through our membership to disarmament and non-proliferation conventions, we continue to urge for a world without weapons of mass destruction, including the total elimination of nuclear weapons.”
San Marino
H.E. Mr. Luca Beccari, Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Economic Cooperation and Telecommunications
29 September 2020
Ceasefire: “The Republic of San Marino supported the UN Secretary-General's call for a global cease-fire, issued on 23 March, which urges warring parties in all corners of the world to pull back from hostilities.”
Armed Conflict: “Being part of the Group of Friends of Children and Armed Conflict, San Marino welcomed the positive results in our common cause of ending and preventing grave violations against children in armed conflict. In this regard, I would like to thank Virginia Gamba and her staff, who, with great dedication, have finalized a terrific number of action plans and commitments also in the last year. But despite the successful results, we have to recognize that great concerns remain. The number of verified violations against children is still very worrying and education, which should be one of our priorities, is still under attack. We are particularly worried about the impact of the COVID-19 on vulnerable groups such as children in armed conflicts.”
São Tomé and Príncipe
H.E. Evaristo do Espírito Santo Carvalho, President
24 September 2020
Armed conflict: “We must not lose sight of the unceasing struggle against poverty. In our view, this is the greatest scourge on humanity, and that it is the main cause of famine, soil degradation, unbridled exploitation of natural resources, armed conflicts, population displacements, South-North migratory flows and its continuing toll in human lives.”
Saudi Arabia
King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, President of the Council of Ministers
23 September 2020
WMD/ICBM/Armed Drones: “The Iranian regime also continues, through its surrogates, to target the Kingdom, launching, to date, over 300 ballistic missiles and more than 400 armed drones (UAVs) in a stark violation to UNSC resolutions 2216 and 2231. Our experience with the Iranian regime has taught us that partial solutions and appeasement did not stop its threats to international peace and security. A comprehensive solution and a firm international position are required to ensure fundamental solutions to the Iranian regime's attempt to obtain weapons of mass destruction, and its ballistic missile program, and its interference in the internal affairs of other countries, and its sponsorship of terrorism.A comprehensive solution and a firm international position are required to ensure fundamental solutions to the Iranian regime's attempt to obtain weapons of mass destruction, and its ballistic missile program, and its interference in the internal affairs of other countries, and its sponsorship of terrorism.”
Ceasefire: “Furthermore, the Houthi militias impede the flow of humanitarian aid to the Yemeni people. They also obstructed the efforts to reach a political solution in Yemen and rejected efforts to deescalate the situation, the latest of which was the ceasefire announcement made by the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen last April in response to the UN's request, and in order to allow the efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in Yemen to proceed. Instead, they continue to target civilians in Yemen and in the Kingdom.
Disarmament/Armed conflict: “We also stand by the fraternal people of Lebanon who are experiencing a humanitarian catastrophe as a result of the explosion at the Port of Beirut, which occurred as a result of the hegemony of Hezbollah, a terrorist organization affiliated with Iran, over the decision making process in Lebanon by force of arms. This led to disabling the constitutional state institutions in Lebanon. In order for the fraternal people of Lebanon to achieve their aspirations of security, stability, and prosperity, this terrorist organization must be disarmed.”
Senegal
H.E. Amadou Ba, Minister of Foreign Affairs
26 September 2020
Armed conflict: "Together, we will be able to face the multiple challenges which have for names terrorism and violent extremism, armed conflicts, financing of development, illicit financial flows, migration, poverty and exclusion, public health and climate change."
Serbia
H.E. Aleksandar Vučić, President
23 September 2020
No relevant references.
Seychelles
H.E. Danny Faure, President
22 September 2020
No relevant references.
SSierra Leone
H.E. Dr. Julius Maada Bio, President
24 September 2020
Ceasefire: “I commend Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for his astute leadership and profound commitment to the work of the Organization. In particular, I acknowledge,with appreciation, his call for a global ceasefire during the current pandemic, the setting up of the COVID-19 response fund, advancing the urgent need to address Climate Change,and implementing the Sustainable Development Goals.”
Cyber: “As a global family, it is only through our collective commitment to Multilateralism that we can effectively tackle the COVID-19 pandemicand meaningfully address the prevailing universal challenges of poverty, hunger, diseases, natural disasters, climate change, terrorism, human rights violations, cybersecurity, and transnational organized crime.”
Armed conflict/conflict prevention: “We are ... committed to promoting international cooperation to address present and emerging challenges that confront our world, including our collective engagement in the prevention of conflict as well as advancing durable peaceful settlement of conflicts and disputes. We must continue to build on gains made in our preventive diplomacy efforts, continue to heighten collaboration,and utilise experiences that have helped the United Nations to achieve relative international peace and security over the last 75 years.”
Singapore
H.E. Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister of Foreign Affairs
26 September 2020
Cyber/ICTs: Third, as we rebuild, we must continue the important work of increasing resilience to meet the challenges posed by the digital revolution, by cybersecurity threats, by climate change, and transboundary pollution.
“At the international level, governments, businesses, and individuals need to be able to transact and transfer data securely across borders. It is thus critical to collectively develop a trusted, open, and inclusive cyberspace underpinned by 5 international law and norms of responsible State behaviour. This is why Singapore strongly supports the UN Secretary-General’s Roadmap for Digital Cooperation. We will also continue to work with the UN Group of Governmental Experts on Advancing Responsible State Behaviour in Cyberspace in the Context of International Security and the Open-Ended Working Group on Developments in the Field of ICTs in the Context of International Security, the OEWG, for short.”
“We expect the World Intellectual Property Organisation’s role to grow as the world moves progressively online, into cyberspace, and new value is created.”
Slovakia
H.E. Zuzana Čaputová, President
23 September 2020
No relevant references.
Slovenia
H.E. Borut Pahor, President
24 September 2020
Cyber: “In a rapidly changing global environment, we increasingly depend on new technologies and digital infrastructure. New technologies and artificial intelligence have already become the backbone of our daily lives that keep businesses and essential public services running. We need to frame them in service of humankind. Slovenia makes an effort in this direction with the very first UNESCO global center for artificial intelligence established in Ljubljana last November. One of the main challenges is cybersecurity. According to our view, cyberspace should be secure, global, open, free and inclusive.”
Arms control/disarmament: “The fragmentation and weakening of international security regimes is worrying. This should only strengthen our commitment for effective, treaty-based international arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation. All pressing proliferation issues should be solved by diplomatic and peaceful means.”
Landmines: “Slovenia is especially active in landmines clearance efforts, affecting the lives of civilians, in particular children. I am glad to report that ITF Enhancing Human Security, a Slovenian non-profit organization, managed to maintain its operational capacity and presence in the field in the midst of the pandemic.”
Solomon Islands
H.E. Manasseh Sogavare, Prime Minister, Solomon Islands
26 September 2020
No relevant references.
Somalia
H.E. Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmajo, President
24 September 2020
No relevant references.
South Africa
H.E. Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, President
22 September 2020
Small arms: “As African countries we continue with our effort to 'silence the guns' once and for all through conflict resolution and peace-building.”
Spain
H.E. Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón, President
25 September 2020
Cyber: “The virus does not care about technology. But when societies have been forced to react against the pandemic, when they have reduced personal contacts, even when they have resorted to confinement, when they have sought to keep on with their work, with their education, with their leisure activities, with their social lives ... It is then that digitalization has proven to be the most effective alternative for maintaining social activity.”
“These four factors, together with this most pressing health emergency, are the challenges we are facing:
- The challenge of the climate emergency;
- The challenge of technological progress and the fourth industrial revolution linked to digitalization.
- The challenge of overcoming excruciating inequalities and poverty;
- The challenge of full equality between women and men and the eradication of any form of discrimination based on gender, race or origin.”
“The second challenge is linked to the fourth industrial revolution and to digitalization. The past two centuries have seen the global income multiply by more than 20, in contrast with the stagnation of the world's economy in previous centuries. Since then, a series of industrial revolutions has led to a shift in work activity from agriculture to industry and then to services; and to an increase in productivity and consumption, which in turn have increased well-being and life expectancy, albeit in a painfully unequal manner.
“The fourth industrial revolution we are witnessing is of unprecedented scope and speed, and may change every sphere of life for better or for worse. It may provide more leisure or generate more unemployment; it may foster human knowledge or lead to the control and manipulation of people; it may promote the progress of all humankind or intensify inequalities. The following figure illustrates this contrast: 40% of the European Union's GDP is soon expected to stem from digital activities. Meanwhile, in Africa barely four out of every ten people have internet access.
“Digitalization also offers huge potential for emission reduction and for curbing the climate emergency. Artificial intelligence applied to big data and the internet of things facilitate more efficient logistics and transportation, emissions reduction, less aggressive mining and agriculture, the use of renewable energy, and a more circular economy.
Armed conflict/militarism: “Thirdly, we must reinforce the multilateral system so as to maintain international peace and security. Wars shackle entire generations in poverty and distress. There is no security without development, nor development without security. And we cannot look the other way, we cannot simply ignore the multiple conflicts that continue to blight the lives of millions of people, and hope for partial solutions. The fate of such people is also our own.
Sri Lanka
His Excellency Gotabaya Rajapaksa, President
22 September 2020
No relevant references.
Sudan
His Abdalla Adam Hamdok, Prime Minister
26 September 2020
No translation available.
Suriname
H.E. Chandrikapersad Santokhi, President
23 September 2020
Cyber/nuclear weapons: “Despite considerable progress made in global discussions on a variety of matters – from climate change, sustainable development, migration, refugees, terrorism, cyber-warfare to nuclear proliferation- we have experienced that multilateralism has occasionally come under attack.”
Sweden
H.E. Stefan Löfven, Prime Minister
26 September 2020
Ceasefire: “The protracted conflict in Yemen has resulted in the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. I urge donors to step up their support of the humanitarian response. We support UN peace efforts and urge the parties to immediately agree on a ceasefire, inclusive political talks and continued implementation of the Stockholm and Riyadh agreements.”
“The pandemic is a threat to international peace and security. Sweden and the EU strongly support the implementation of the Secretary-General’s call for a global ceasefire. The UN Security Council has an enormous responsibility. To succeed in its mandated task of upholding international peace and security, it must be reformed to effectively address current and future challenges.”
Nuclear weapons/NPT: “This year also marks the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It serves as a tragic reminder of the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of the use of nuclear weapons. The nuclear threat is as present as ever. Milestone treaties have been abandoned or are at risk, and new nuclear capabilities are being developed. We call on the United States and Russia to agree on an extension of the “New START Treaty”, and on China to join discussions on follow-on arrangements. As part of our multilateral disarmament diplomacy, Sweden – together with 15 non-nuclear-weapon states – continues to pursue the Stockholm Initiative on Nuclear Disarmament, which aims to contribute to a successful NPT Review Conference.”
JCPOA: “Together with the EU, we strongly support the full implementation of the “Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action”.”
DPRK: “We call on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to adhere to its international obligations and take steps towards denuclearisation. 6 (6) We remain committed to a peaceful resolution of the situation on the Korean Peninsula.”
H.E. Simonetta Sommaruga, President
23 September 2020
Armed conflict/Arms Trade Treaty: “We must put even more effort into preventing conflicts. Here too, human rights must remain at the centre of our action. “International Geneva” also contributes to conflict prevention, for example by hosting the Human Rights Council and the Arms Trade Treaty Secretariat.”
Syrian Arab Republic
H.E. Walid Al-Moualem, Deputy Prime Minister Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates
26 September 2020
JCPOA: “Syria renews its support for the Islamic Republic of Iran against the US policy aimed at undermining the nuclear agreement and destabilizing the region. Such policy reflects the US administration’s disregard for international law and their obligations under international agreements.”
Tajikistan
H.E. Emomali Rahmon, President
22 September 2020
Militarism: “As we stated time and again, the Afghan case has no military solution and Tajikistan indeed welcomes the peace-building negotiation processes and support any approach aimed at addressing political crisis in this country.”
Tanzania
H.E. Prof. Kennedy Gastorn, Permanent Representative to the United Nations
29 September 2020
No relevant references.
Thailand
H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister
25 September 2020
Disarmament: “On our part, apart from a strong commitment to disarmament, over 27,000 Thai military, police and civilian personnel have proudly served in more than 20 UN peace missions around the world since 1958.”
Timor-Leste
H.E. Francisco Guterres Lú-Olo, President
24 September 2020
No relevant references.
Togo
H.E. Kokou Kpayedo, Permanent Representative to the United Nations
29 September 2020
Armed conflict: “However, these successes here and there should not obscure the reality that our Organization still faces many challenges, for we have still not succeeded in warding off the specter of war and armed conflict of all kinds.”
Tonga
H.E. Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa, Prime Minister and Minister for Public Enterprises
25 September 2020
No relevant references.
Trinidad and Tobago
H.E. Keith Rowley, Prime Minister
26 September 2020
Arms trafficking/ATT: “The global pandemic has unfortunately exacerbated the threats posed by the illicit trafficking in small arms and light weapons, piracy, trafficking in persons and cybercrimes. Given our ardent desire to free our society from the effects of the prevalence of unregulated small arms and light weapons, Trinidad and Tobago remains fully committed to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) which we view as indispensable in addressing the menace of the illicit arms trade.”
Tunisia
H.E. Othman Jerandi, Minister of Foreign Affairs
29 September 2020
No translation available.
Turkey
H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President
22 September 2020
JCPOA: “I would like to reiterate our call for all Parties to abide by their obligations under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which significantly contributes to regional and global security.”
Arms Control: “Disarmament is of vital importance for ensuring global peace and security. In contrast, the architecture of arms control has suffered significant damage in recent years.”
WMD: “The international community must move forward on the basis of equality and justice in this regard, eliminating all weapons of mass destruction.”
Turkmenistan
H.E. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, President
22 September 2020
Militarism: “Current General Assembly session takes place amid complex and painful events related to the escalation of military and political rivalry and unfortunately we are witnessing them today. Assessment of these events and their cause and effect relationship may differ. But what is certain is that, they negatively affect overall international situation, erode global security foundations and impede economic, trade and humanitarian relations.”
Tuvalu
H.E. Kausea Natano, Prime Minister
25 September 2020
No relevant references.
Uganda
H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President
29 September 2020
Ceasefire: “Uganda applauds the Secretary-General for his timely Appeal for a Global Ceasefire during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is no doubt that the pandemic has globally impacted on all aspects of our lives - social, economic and political and in almost all countries across the globe. And with continued armed conflicts and wars, the pandemic makes an already worse situation more dire.”
Ukraine
H.E. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President
23 September 2020
Nuclear weapons: “Consider also this. Coronavirus spares no one. It does not care whether the country has nuclear weapons or what is the level of its GDP, whether the state is part of G7 or G20, whether Christianity, Islam, Judaism or other religions are professed in this country. All of it matters nothing for COVID.”
United Arab Emirates
H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
29 September 2020
Cyber: “Today, some conflicts are becoming dangerously regionalized. There is also the growing influence of extremist groups. Threats of cyberwar are rising and the use of sophisticated weapons to attack strategic areas is increasing.”
JCPOA: “We look forward to seeing Iran respect the principles of good-neighborliness and abide by Security Council resolutions by stopping the development of its ballistic missile programs and ceasing the arming of terrorist groups. In this context, my country is particularly concerned that the restrictions imposed on Iran under the nuclear agreement are soon due to expire. Since the nuclear agreement did not achieve its desired outcome, we hope that this experience will be useful in achieving a more comprehensive agreement that addresses the concerns of states in the region and that makes them key partners in drafting the terms of the agreement.”
United Kingdom
H.E. Boris Johnson, Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury and Minister for the Civil Service
26 September 2020
No relevant references.
United States of America
H.E. Donald Trump, President
22 September 2020
Military Spending: “Our military has increased substantially in size. We spent $2.5 trillion over the last 4 years on our military. We have the most powerful military anywhere in the world, and it’s not even close.”
INF: “We withdrew from the terrible Iran Nuclear Deal and imposed crippling sanctions on the world's leading state sponsor of terror.”
Militarism: “America is fulfilling our destiny as peacemaker. But it is peace through strength. We are stronger now than ever before, our weapons are at an advanced level like we’ve never had before, like frankly we’ve never even thought of having before, and I only pray to God that we never have to use them.”
Uruguay
H.E. Luis Lacalle Pou, President
22 September 2020
Cyber: “My country wants to reinforce here in this Assembly, its support for the Secretary-General's road map on digital cooperation. Uruguay understands that for these initiatives to prosper and effectively contribute to the fulfillment of the SDGs, digital technologies are required to overcome the digital and connectivity gap, also, both in countries and also within each country. It is also essential to promote respect for human rights in the networks. The protection of privacy and personal data, as well as access to information and freedom of expression both public and private. Finally, it is necessary to work on digital security, with a broad participation of state actors, the private sector and civil society.”
Ceasefire: “Referring to the Secretary General's initiatives, I would like to pause for a moment on his call for a ceasefire, a global ceasefire endorsed by my country. A peaceful environment is essential to face the pandemic, that is why we must at this time redouble our commitment to dialogue, the resolution of disputes by peaceful means, the rule of law in order to alleviate suffering and bring hope to all the most vulnerable populations.”
Ceasefire/EWIPA: “In this context, it is worth remembering Uruguay's demands in the defense of hospitals and schools that are subject to attacks in conflict zones, and the need to support Security Council resolutions on this matter.”
EWIPA/protection of civilians: “Uruguay reiterates its national commitment to the human rights agenda and will continue to actively fight for the defense of human rights, including the protection and rights of the child, the situation of civilians in conflict situations and the rights of women, and for the respect of the same by the actors of the international community. In this context, we will continue to ensure the effective application of defense mechanisms by the United Nations.”
Nuclear weapons/disarmament/arms control: “In this forum in which peace was sealed 75 years ago, I wish to express my concern about the dangers posed by non-compliance with disarmament agreements or the withdrawal of some parts, which may lead to the resumption of arms races that take us back to a time when the world lived in the shadow of a possible nuclear conflict. Peace is not conceived in the world unless there are serious commitments on the part of the international community in matters of disarmament and non-proliferation.”
Small arms and light weapons: “The region and my country are concerned about the proliferation and illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons that represent a threat to the stability of the regions and to global security, feed crime and insecurity, and affect the peaceful coexistence within societies. Our government is committed to fighting insecurity and crime, and we will work hard to do so.”
Demilitarisation/conflict prevention: “We want a peaceful future, a world in which the States bet on dialogue and negotiation, in which we find solutions to current conflicts that contemplate the rights of all parties. For this we need to redouble our commitment to preventive diplomacy and mediation as conflict prevention; For this we need a United Nations that acts more in coordination, both in discourse and in practice; an organization that actively engages with other international organizations, including financial ones, to be able to implement a variety of mechanisms that allow countries to overcome the external and internal obstacles to its development, considering its multidimensionality.”
Uzbekistan
H.E. Mr. Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President
23 September 2020
No relevant references.
26 September 2020
Arms race: “COVID-19 has also shone a new light on existing global challenges and conflicts, including the escalating threat of arms race and terrorism; continuous human rights abuses; climate change; the displacement of people; the scourge of non-communicable disease, and the disruptions of the technological revolution that is redefining the future of work.”
Venezuela
H.E. Nicolás Maduro Moros, President
23 September 2020
Ceasefire: “We wish to endorse the words of the United Nations Secretary-General of António Guterres, on the ceasefire and cessation of conflicts in the world, reiterating unrestricted respect and full adherence to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, in particular, respect to sovereignty, territorial integrity and noninterference in the internal affairs of States, dialogue among nations, peaceful resolution of disputes and the prohibition of the threats or use of force as such.”
Militarism: “Venezuela, as you know, is under constant attack. Our beloved Homeland is the victim of a multiform attack by the U.S. Empire, in the media field, in the political field, in the economic field; we have even been threatened with direct military aggressions.”
“The attacks – as you know – are not limited only to the unilateral coercive measures. On May 3rd, Venezuela faced an attempted maritime incursion by a group of mercenaries and terrorists, financed by the government of the United States and trained on Colombian territory, with the total and absolute support of the U.S. and Colombian governments. This group of terrorists was confronted in real time by the civic-military police union, and the perpetrators of this attack, of this armed incursion against Venezuela, were neutralized and captured, and are under the orders of the judicial institutions for due process. Likewise, we recently captured an American spy with war weapons and documents related to our oil and electric industry. It is a daily siege that we have been facing, dismantling, denouncing, unveiling one by one.”
Viet Nam
H.E. Nguyen Phu Trong, Party General Secretary and President
24 September 2020
No relevant references.
Yemen
H.E. Abdrabuh Mansour Hadi Mansour, President
24 September 2020
No translation available.
Zambia
H.E. Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, President
24 September 2020
No relevant references.
Zimbabwe
H.E. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, President
24 September 2020
Small arms and light weapons: “Peace, security and stability are a prerequisite for sustainable development. This can only be achieved in an inclusive process characterized by equally shared commitment and responsibilities. We count on the international community to strengthen its support for AU-led peace efforts. We also look forward to greater collaboration between the AU and the UN in maintaining sustainable international peace and security in accordance with Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations, more particularly in ensuring the effective implementation of the AU’s campaign on ‘Silencing the Guns’.”
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