A/78/PV.106 General Assembly

Before proceeding to the item on our agenda, I would like to inform members that, since the issuance of document A/78/707/Add.4, the Comoros has made the payments necessary to reduce its arrears below the amount specified in Article 19 of the Charter, as reflected in document A/78/707/ Add.5. May I therefore take it that the General Assembly takes note of the information contained in that document?

The General Assembly will continue its consideration of agenda item 99, entitled “General and complete disarmament”, to hear the remaining speakers for the high-level meeting to commemorate and promote the International Day against Nuclear Tests.

Australia is pleased to align itself with the statement delivered by the representative of Japan on behalf of the Friends of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) (see A/78/PV.105). As a Pacific nation, Australia knows the devastating consequences of nuclear weapons testing. For that reason, we are determined to pursue full ratification and implementation of the CTBT to ensure that the terrible history of nuclear testing is never repeated because we know that risks abound. We are deeply concerned by indications that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea may resume nuclear activity, and we urge them to refrain from doing so. We regret the Russian Federation’s decision to revoke its ratification of the CTBT and urge Russia to reverse that decision. We call upon all States to declare or maintain their existing moratoriums on nuclear explosions. The CTBT is our collective commitment to a permanent end to the dangers and destructive legacy of explosive nuclear testing. Importantly, the CTBT is already among the most widely accepted and effective normative instruments to contain and reduce nuclear threats. But we cannot take that for granted, and securing full ratification and implementation of the Treaty remains critical. In the Pacific, we are achieving near universalization of the CTBT, and we particularly welcome Papua New Guinea’s ratification in March this year. Already, the value of the CTBT’s verification regime cannot be understated. It delivers tangible, practical benefits to all by providing a worldwide monitoring system. The system can, and has, detected nuclear explosive tests anywhere, at any time, and provides regional stability by offering a reliable means to ensure compliance with the Treaty’s obligations. The civic and scientific value of that system is also critical in monitoring environmental changes and in providing timely information for the early warning of natural disasters. Australia supports that important work by hosting the third-largest number of stations globally. Australia continues to champion the CTBT and will co-lead the annual First Committee CTBT resolution. We are honoured to work once again with New Zealand and Mexico to continue to build momentum towards the Treaty’s universal adoption. We encourage all Member States to support this year’s resolution. We also look forward to this year’s Ministerial Meeting of the Friends of the CTBT, to take place during the high-level week, as another important occasion for Member States to reinforce their commitment to the Treaty, increase awareness of the continued and urgent importance of its entry into force and highlight the benefits of the Treaty and its verification regime. Pending its entry into force, we encourage all remaining States, especially those listed in annex 2, to sign and ratify the Treaty at the earliest possible opportunity. The entry into force of the CTBT, as a universal and verifiable ban on any nuclear explosions, should be achieved without delay. The universalization of the Treaty is for the benefit of all. Finally, Australia commends the determined and persistent efforts of the Executive Secretary of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, Mr. Robert Floyd. Those efforts have been instrumental in upholding the global norm against nuclear weapons testing.

Ukraine aligns itself with the statement delivered by the observer of the European Union (see A/78/PV.105) and would like to make additional remarks in its national capacity. On 2 December 2009, the General Assembly adopted resolution 64/35, by which it declared 29 August the International Day against Nuclear Tests. It is worth recalling that that exact date was chosen to commemorate the closure of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site in Kazakhstan on 29 August 1991. We also take this opportunity to recall that, from 1945 to this date, more than 2,000 nuclear tests were carried out around the world. This high-level meeting provides an opportunity to raise awareness about the devastating effects of the use of nuclear weapons and testing on the environment and human life. Ukraine believes that the Comprehensive Nuclear- Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) is one of the key legal elements of the global security architecture in the field of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, and that it serves as an essential instrument to establish a global standard against nuclear testing. As a responsible country, Ukraine ratified the CTBT in 2001 and has been working towards the Treaty’s strengthening and entry into force for many years. The CTBT’s global verification regime is unique and crucial for monitoring compliance with the provisions of the Treaty. In that regard, we are grateful for the support and assistance that Ukraine receives from the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) to ensure the stable operation of the National Data Centre of Ukraine and the PS45 primary seismic station. We believe that there is an urgent need for the immediate entry into force of the CTBT. That has become even more evident in the context of the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which threatens the security not only of Europe but also of the entire world. Ukraine calls on all countries that have not yet ratified the Treaty to do so as soon as possible. We also call for the intensification of efforts to strengthen the CTBTO monitoring regime and its comprehensive development. Based on that understanding, Ukraine condemns the Russian Federation’s withdrawal of ratification of the CTBT. That decision is part of a chain of events that have been taking place in Russia in recent years. The Russian Federation has already provoked a dangerous imbalance in the global architecture of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation with its nuclear blackmail, its decision to suspend participation in the New START Treaty and the deployment of Russian tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of Belarus. Against that background, Ukraine reconfirms its support for the dedicated efforts by the Executive Secretary of the CTBT Preparatory Commission, Mr. Floyd, towards the universalization and entry into force of the Treaty. Since the CTBT was opened for signature, the nuclear test ban has been established as a common standard, and the only country that conducted a nuclear test in the twenty-first century was the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Ukraine strongly condemns the series of ballistic and intercontinental ballistic missile launches conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, in blatant violation of the relevant Security Council resolutions. In that regard, we call on Pyongyang to refrain from conducting any ballistic missile tests, fully implement and respect all Security Council resolutions related to its weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programmes, and immediately return to compliance with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the comprehensive safeguards agreement of the International Atomic Energy Agency, including by signing and ratifying the additional protocol thereto, as well as the CTBT. We are convinced that any nuclear test or other reckless action must be met with a swift, united and robust international response. In conclusion, we reaffirm our commitment to continuing our consistent advocacy for abandoning nuclear threats, adhering to existing bans on testing nuclear weapons explosions. We will spare no effort to promote the further development of the International Monitoring System to detect a nuclear test explosion anytime and anywhere.

Cabo Verde aligns itself with the statement made yesterday on behalf of the Group of African States (see A/78/PV.105). We will now make these brief remarks in our national capacity. It has been 15 years since December 2009, when the General Assembly unanimously declared 29 August as the International Day against Nuclear Tests (resolution 64/35), as then proposed by Kazakhstan, because the day marks the closure of the former Soviet nuclear test site, Semipalatinsk, in present-day Kazakhstan in 1991 and the date of the first nuclear test carried out there in 1949. However, to date, we have not managed to achieve the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test- Ban Treaty (CTBT). The 23 bombs detonated on Bikini Atoll between 1946 and 1958 destroyed the ecosystem, and vegetation managed to recover only in the 1970s. The CTBT prohibits all nuclear tests carried out by anyone and anywhere. It created and sustains a global norm against nuclear testing, and we recognize that, although it has not yet come into force, with its opening for signature in 1996, fewer than a dozen nuclear tests have been carried out to date. Nuclear radioactive fallout is a serious threat to people, animals and life in general that also extends over time. Furthermore, it can contaminate water and plants, subsequently leading people and animals to ingest radioactive particles and suffer the health effects of that contamination, especially through the development of cancer, miscarriages and deformities in fetuses. Resolution 64/35, establishing the International Day against Nuclear Tests, aims to prevent further harmful effects on the lives and health of people and the environment caused by nuclear tests. For the Secretary-General, António Guterres, the date “represents a global recognition of the catastrophic and lingering damage done in the name of the nuclear arms race”. The world finds itself in more troubled times than ever before and is facing intense conflicts and threats posed by the use of nuclear weapons. We must stop and take time to reflect. We must call for the urgent ratification of the CTBT so that it can come into force and be implemented, thereby fulfilling the purposes for which it was created. Considering that the world is going through a turbulent time from the point of view of international peace and security, we reiterate our appeal to the nine States defined as holders of nuclear technology in annex 2 to the CTBT to ratify the aforementioned Treaty in favour of humankind. A complete ban on nuclear testing is an essential step to prevent the qualitative and quantitative improvement of nuclear weapons and to achieve nuclear disarmament. We join the frequent request by the Secretary-General, who advocates an end to testing and progress in disarmament in support of international peace and security.

At the outset, allow me to align my delegation with the statement delivered earlier by the representative of the Congo on behalf of the Group of African States (see A/78/PV.105). Let me extend my delegation’s appreciation to the President for convening this commemoration of the International Day against Nuclear Tests and to the Executive Secretary of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), Mr. Robert Floyd, and his team for their tireless efforts. The Secretary-General’s New Agenda for Peace, launched earlier this year, captures and reiterates our common global ambition for the total elimination of nuclear weapons. Nigeria remains steadfast in its commitment to achieving the shared goal of the complete and irreversible denuclearization of the world. My delegation wishes to renew its deep concern over the non-entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) for more than two decades. We therefore commend the countries that have ratified the Treaty and call on those that are yet to sign or ratify the CTBT to do so without conditions in order to enable its speedy entry into force. That will be one additional step towards a nuclear-weapon-free world and one additional guarantee against a humanitarian crisis from nuclear detonation. Nigeria has always been at the forefront of the campaign against nuclear weapons. We are therefore ready to promote and support all efforts aimed at sustaining the momentum and the willingness to ensure the CTBT’s entry into force. The ultimate goal for the call to ban nuclear tests is to ensure the protection of people’s lives and the environment. Therefore, the continued existence of nuclear weapons remains an existential threat to humankind, and the need to abolish those dangerous weapons from our planet must remain our highest priority. Nigeria is concerned about nuclear- weapon States’ resistance to accomplishing the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals, in accordance with their legal obligations and undertakings under article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). In that regard, we wish to stress that the universalization of the NPT is dependent on strict compliance with its three pillars, namely, disarmament, non-proliferation and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Nigeria reiterates its view that the catastrophic humanitarian consequences that could result from either the deliberate use or unintentional explosion of a nuclear weapon should alone convince all States to halt their continued possession of it. The exorbitant cost of maintaining those dangerous weapons also cannot be justified when compared to the resources allocated by States to ventures that enhance socioeconomic development. The countries of Africa have long acknowledged the existential threat posed by nuclear weapons to humankind, based on which they adopted the Pelindaba Treaty, declaring Africa a nuclear- weapon-free zone. Among other things, the Treaty prohibits stationing or testing nuclear explosive devices in the entire space that constitutes the African continent. My delegation therefore calls on all Member States to emulate Africa in making their respective regions nuclear-weapon-free zones. Although Nigeria’s priority is to ensure that the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty is not restricted to banning nuclear weapon tests, we nevertheless note the progress made so far with the verification regime and would like to express strong support for the Treaty. We also appreciate the activities and work of the Preparatory Commission, including in strengthening the verification capabilities of the CTBTO. We call on all States, particularly those that have not yet acceded to the CTBT, to do so, as its implementation is critical to global security. In conclusion, while we acknowledge the importance of using nuclear energy for the benefit of both human beings and the environment, we urge the Executive Secretary of the Preparatory Commission and the Friends of the CTBT to renew their efforts to obtain the signatures and ratifications necessary for the CTBT’s entry into force.

Kiribati appreciates the opportunity to participate in this high-level meeting to commemorate and promote the International Day against Nuclear Tests. We are thankful to our close friend, Kazakhstan, for establishing this international day. This day serves as a poignant reminder of the devastating impacts that nuclear testing has had on our environment, our health and our very existence. Between 1957 and 1962, there were 33 nuclear weapons tested in the Malden and Kiritimati — Christmas — islands, now part of the Republic of Kiribati, with devastating long-term health and environmental impacts. Due to the tragic impact of nuclear testing in Kiribati, I have been raising awareness of the legacy of nuclear weapons and promoting the voices of young people from Kiribati in expressing themselves on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation affairs. At the 2023 session of the General Assembly, Kiribati and Kazakhstan introduced a historic resolution, entitled “Addressing the legacy of nuclear weapons: providing victim assistance and environmental remediation to Member States affected by the use or testing of nuclear weapons” (resolution 78/240). A total of 162 States voted in favour of that resolution. The resolution recognizes the consequences of the use and testing of nuclear weapons, and that the implementation of victim assistance and environmental remediation supplements work to fulfil the Sustainable Development Goals. The resolution encourages all States to cooperate in providing victim assistance and environmental remediation, including through technical and financial assistance by those in a position to do so. It also urges States that have used or tested nuclear weapons to share technical and scientific information on the consequences with affected States and acknowledges the special responsibility of those States to address the resulting harm. The resolution also requests the Secretary-General to produce a report based on the views of Member States. In addition to the resolution, Kiribati, Kazakhstan and the Marshall Islands presented a historic working paper on the legacy of nuclear weapons at the 2024 Preparatory Committee for the 2026 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. We called for nuclear justice to address the humanitarian and environmental impacts of nuclear weapons. Moreover, at the 2024 Preparatory Committee, together with Egypt, Fiji, Kazakhstan, the Marshall Islands, the Philippines, Samoa and Vanuatu, we delivered a joint statement, prepared in consultation with affected communities from Kazakhstan, Kiribati and the Marshall Islands. We called for nuclear justice and explained, for example, that, for some, that type of justice is about the need to heal themselves and their communities and to remediate their land near the impacted sites. For others, nuclear justice is centred on the need for the nuclear-weapon States that tested nuclear weapons to accept and acknowledge their responsibilities and to apologize for the harm that they caused. As part of the apology, affected States parties and communities must receive international support, such as technical, scientific and financial assistance from nuclear-weapon States and other States parties in a position to provide such support. Kiribati is also a proud supporter of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which complements all disarmament and non-proliferation treaties. Together with Kazakhstan, we are a co-Chair of the informal working group on victim assistance, environmental remediation, international cooperation and assistance. As a co-Chair, we are actively pushing for the creation of an international trust fund to help victims. Kiribati also works closely with young people to raise awareness about the devastating impact of nuclear weapons. Recently, in Kazakhstan, I participated in an international youth forum, where I received recommendations from young people from affected communities on the implementation of an international trust fund. We must work with young people. Kiribati is now fully convinced that it will not be easy to persuade our bigger brothers and sisters in nuclear-weapon States to stop exploring the production, use and perfecting of weapons of mass destruction, such as nuclear weapons, and to start to trust and care for each other’s livelihoods and well-being. A new mindset needs to be cultivated, and that is where the cultivation of human peace and happiness in homes, schools and communities with regard to young people must be the new focus so that soon those well-groomed young people will one day liberate their societies and nations from the cold-war mentality and lead the world on a path of lasting peace, progress, prosperity and happiness for all. Kiribati believes that that is quite achievable if we all agree to stand united and play our parts individually and collectively to create a world free from nuclear weapons. Let us all rise together in solidarity and do just that so that we can all live together happily in a world free of wars, free of nuclear weapons and full of happiness for all.

Allow me to begin by thanking the President for convening this meeting. I would also like to join other delegates in commending Kazakhstan for the initiative to promote the International Day against Nuclear Tests. Indeed, the observance of this day is the commemoration of the victims of nuclear tests — those who suffered, are suffering and will continue to suffer due to the enduring effects of radioactive fallout, most of whom were not the citizens of countries that conducted nuclear tests. Celebrating this day also signifies the international community’s commitment to protecting the environment from the destructive effects of nuclear tests, many of which took place beyond the borders of the countries that conducted them. Similarly, recognizing this day as an international event reflects the long-standing commitment of the international community to ending nuclear weapon tests, which is essential for achieving a world free of nuclear weapons. In commemoration of the International Day against Nuclear Tests, it is nuclear-weapon States that should be mainly addressed, as they possess the capability to conduct such tests, with approximately 2,000 tests carried out since 1945, including 1,054 by the United States alone. At a time when all nuclear-armed States are planning to modernize, upgrade or extend the life of their nuclear weapons and facilities, as well as develop new easy-to-use nuclear weapons, ending nuclear weapon testing is of the utmost importance. To that end, nuclear-weapon States have the primary responsibility. They need to adopt practical measures to stop all kinds of nuclear weapon tests. At the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), they committed to signing and ratifying the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) without delay as one of the 13 practical steps in implementing article VI of the NPT. Nuclear-weapon States hold the primary responsibility for the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and should take the lead in that effort. The ratification of the CTBT by nuclear-weapon States would be a significant step towards rebuilding the confidence of non-nuclear- weapon States and the international community. The current situation testifies to the fact that, no matter the importance of the voluntary moratoriums on nuclear tests, they cannot substitute for the comprehensive, universal and verifiable legally binding prohibition of all types of nuclear explosions, including in alternative ways. The commemoration of this day is also an opportunity for the international community to make the Israeli regime promptly accede to the NPT without any preconditions and to place all of its nuclear facilities under the full scope of the International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards regime. The current situation is alarming, as the Israeli regime is threatening other countries of the region with nuclear annihilation, and its nuclear arsenal poses a significant threat to both regional and global peace and security. By observing this day, we should also renew our commitment to the noble goal of the total elimination of nuclear weapons — the only absolute guarantee against the threat or use of those inhumane weapons. As a signatory to the CTBT, the Islamic Republic of Iran considers that Treaty to be a step towards nuclear disarmament and, in that context, believes that the Treaty cannot be a substitute for the total elimination of nuclear weapons. Consequently, nuclear disarmament must remain a top priority for the international community, and all forms of nuclear testing must be unequivocally prohibited. Such tests contradict both the letter and spirit of the CTBT and, more importantly, violate the legal obligations of nuclear-weapon States under article VI of the NPT.

As the world commemorates the International Day against Nuclear Tests, Ghana is grateful for the opportunity to underscore, in its national capacity, the imperative need for a universal ban on nuclear testing and the removal of that pathway of doom for countries that yet still, against the grain of global public opinion, seek or maintain nuclear weapons. As we gather for common reflection on this solemn occasion, we must not forget the grave legacy of the catastrophic impact that nuclear tests have had on human lives, the environment and global security. For those reasons, as Ghana fully aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the Group of African States (see A/78/PV.105), we have also chosen to speak not only from the depths of historical memory but also from the enduring pain that continues to afflict communities, particularly in Africa, as a result of the nuclear tests conducted in the 1960s in the Sahara Desert, where more than 17 detonations of nuclear weapons were carried out under the guise of nuclear testing. The scars of the nuclear fallout, which spread as far as Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso and the Sudan, remain, even if the pain has numbed. No compensation would be adequate enough, and environmental remediation at this time would not address the profound and lasting impact of such tests on the region. Nuclear testing cannot be a demonstration of strength and progress in the present era, and those that entertain that spectre need to be plainly and forcefully told. Were we to fail in stopping those that seek the path of nuclear testing, the mistakes of the past would not only be reinforced, but we would also have to live with the haunting reality of the risks posed by an uncontrolled nuclear-weapon world. For Ghana, therefore, there cannot be any legitimate basis for the resumption of nuclear tests. The dangerous notions being advanced for testing, under the guise of ensuring enhanced security and technical and numerical superiority, would only risk unravelling decades of progress in global non-proliferation efforts and accelerate nuclear weapons development. We must therefore maintain a clear-eyed goal for the total elimination of nuclear weapons, which remains the only absolute guarantee against their use or threat of use. The very existence of nuclear weapons constitutes an existential threat to global peace and security, as well as to the future survival of humankind. In that context, we must all work to sustain the integrity of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime and remind ourselves of the rationale for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), which was developed at a time when the major Powers recognized the grave consequences of nuclear weapons testing and the dangers that those weapons pose. The entry into force of the CTBT is long overdue, and its universalization and full implementation are essential to sustaining the current moratorium on nuclear explosions. We must not fall prey to the saying “Man is quick to forget what is inconvenient to remember”. In response to the dangerous discourse on resuming explosive nuclear weapons testing and the threats to revoke ratification of the Treaty, we must emphasize that the moratorium alone is insufficient. The remaining annex 2 States must take the necessary steps to bring the Treaty into force within our lifetime, safeguarding both our security and that of future generations. It is in the interest of all nuclear-armed States to refrain from actions that could provoke others to follow suit, as such actions would only heighten global tensions and undermine our collective security. Furthermore, Ghana underscores the critical importance of other international legal frameworks that reinforce our commitment to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, such as the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), which remains the cornerstone of our non-proliferation efforts, but which faces daunting challenges regarding the pillars of disarmament and non-proliferation. As an African country, Ghana reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the Treaty of Pelindaba and to the preservation of the continent of Africa as a nuclear-weapon-free zone. Given the crucial role of nuclear-weapon-free zones worldwide in advancing disarmament and non-proliferation objectives, we believe that fulfilling the commitments made at the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the NPT, including the call for establishing a nuclear- weapon-free zone in the Middle East, is vital. In conclusion, Ghana emphasizes that the painful legacy of nuclear testing serves as a stark reminder that no amount of precautions can minimize the fallout from the use of nuclear weapons. Even a site chosen for its total absence of all signs of life, as was claimed in the case of Reggane, in Algeria, turned out to be tragically misjudged. The inhabitants of nearby towns continue to suffer from the enduring effects of the tests, raising profound questions about the judgment and morality of such decisions. The path to a nuclear-free world is fraught with challenges, but it is a path that we must tread with determination. We must remain vigilant, united in our efforts to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons, halt the regression towards a world dominated by nuclear threats and ensure that the lessons of the past guide our future actions. The stakes are too high for complacency.

I now give the floor to the Permanent Observer of the Observer State of the Holy See. Archbishop Caccia (Holy See): Since the dawn of the nuclear era, marked by the first test on 16 July 1945, more than 2,000 tests have been conducted, with significant impacts on land, in the oceans, underground and in the air. Displacement, contamination of food and water, the disruption of people’s spiritual connection to our common home, the Earth, and intergenerational health issues are among the immense disasters caused by those tests. Indigenous peoples, women, children and the unborn are disproportionately affected by the adverse effects of such testing. The dire consequences of nuclear warfare, including the grave risks of nuclear fallout and catastrophic accidents, have become even more apparent with the advent of more destructive nuclear weapons. In the light of the increasing threat posed by the use of nuclear weapons and the concomitant rise in military expenditure, the fifteenth anniversary of the International Day against Nuclear Tests provides an opportunity to emphasize the necessity for a reinforced global commitment to the cessation of that dangerous practice. Pope Francis asserts that the ultimate goal of the total elimination of nuclear weapons becomes both a challenge and a moral and humanitarian imperative. Indeed, States have a moral obligation to rebuild the lives of those affected by nuclear testing, while also protecting the environment for future generations. Only through a collaborative effort can a world free from nuclear weapons be forged. That requires international cooperation and commitment to disarmament treaties, as well as the provision of resources and support to affected communities. In order to achieve that ambitious goal, it is essential that the Comprehensive Nuclear- Test-Ban Treaty be enforced, and that the International Monitoring System and all associated verification mechanisms be fully implemented. Furthermore, strengthening the ban on nuclear-explosive testing, as outlined in the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, is of paramount importance. Allow me to conclude by quoting Pope Francis: “Nuclear deterrence and the threat of mutually assured destruction cannot be the basis for an ethics of fraternity and peaceful coexistence among peoples and States. The youth of today and tomorrow deserve far more. They deserve a peaceful world order based on the unity of the human family, grounded on respect, cooperation, solidarity and compassion. Now is the time to counter the logic of fear with the ethic of responsibility, and so foster a climate of trust and sincere dialogue”.

The exercise of the right of reply has been requested. May I remind Members that statements in the exercise of the right of reply are limited to 10 minutes for the first intervention and to five minutes for the second intervention, and should be made by delegations from their seats.

We regret the fact that some of the delegations that took the floor today decided to use the platform of the General Assembly to promote anti-Russian rhetoric instead of having a constructive discussion. We categorically reject attempts to use our country’s decision regarding the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) to spread unfounded accusations. They sound particularly untenable — and even ridiculous — coming from the United States of America, the only State that has used nuclear weapons, and used them against civilians, a State that is the regrettable leader in the number of nuclear tests conducted, and one that has refused to ratify the CTBT for more than a quarter of a century, thereby preventing its entry into force. Our country has repeatedly explained the reasons that prompted us to withdraw the instrument of ratification of the Treaty, as noted in the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation on these issues dated 3 September 2023. When we ratified the CTBT in 2000, we expected that all States with significant nuclear capabilities would do the same, and, as a result, the Treaty would enter into force. However, that did not happen. It was Washington that took the most destructive position with regard to the Treaty, covering up the refusal to ratify it with far- fetched pretexts. In the context of the hostile course of the United States of America towards our country, it has proved impossible to maintain the previous balance between Moscow and Washington on the approach to the CTBT. Russia remains a signatory State, with all the rights and obligations that that entails. We have been observing a moratorium on nuclear testing for more than 30 years. Our country has recently completed the establishment of the Russian segment of the International Monitoring System, which now has the highest number of certified facilities of its kind. We remain a full-fledged participant in the CTBT process.

Despite the initial hopes that this meeting would remain professional and focused on the important questions and challenges that we face, we are unfortunately compelled to react following ludicrous statements made this morning. We will be brief. As we all know very well, the Middle East has always been an area of non-compliance with regards to arms control. That region includes some of the most vicious regimes and Governments, which have absolutely no respect for the obligations and commitments that they made and still make. During this meeting, members were also given a perfect example of how the Middle East is an area of absurdity. The regimes that top the world ranking regarding non-compliance ironically are the ones that shamelessly point its finger at others. In the Middle East, absurdity has no borders. How can the Iranian regime, which for decades used lies and deception to hide its true intentions, ignore its international obligations and commitments and spread arms and terror throughout the whole region, have the dignity to point its finger at Israel? Well, at the United Nations, anything is possible. Israel hopes that such important meetings as today’s can be kept professional and avoid distortions and distractions by such rogue regimes. Let us all remain committed to the real threats and challenges that we face.

I am obliged to take the floor in exercising the right of reply of my delegation in response to the unsubstantiated allegations raised by the representative of the Israeli regime about Iran’s nuclear programme. While categorically rejecting those allegations, my delegation once again emphasizes that Iran’s nuclear programme is fully peaceful and in line with its inalienable right to develop research, production and the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, granted under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. I would also like to highlight that the representative of the Israeli regime resorted to a disinformation campaign to distort the reality and to distract the attention and resources of international community from addressing genuine and pressing concerns, namely, the Israeli regime’s nuclear weapons programme and the ongoing atrocities and systematic genocide perpetrated by the Israeli apartheid regime against the Palestinian people in Gaza. The scar of Gaza will not be erased from the memory of the free people of the world. The shame of supporting and remaining silent in the face of the mass killing and genocide of Palestinians by the criminal Zionist regime will be evident on the foreheads of the false champions of human rights.

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 99?