S/PV.7319 Security Council

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. At this meeting, the Security Council will hear a briefing by Ambassador Oh Joon, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea, in his capacity as Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004). I now give the floor to Ambassador Oh Joon.

In my capacity as Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), I am pleased to report to the Council on progress made in the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) since the last meeting on 28 May 2014. I would like to begin by noting that this month, as an exception to the established practice of joint briefings by the three Committees established pursuant to resolutions 1373 (2001), 1540 (2004) and 1267 (1999), it has been decided that the 1540 Committee would brief the Council separately. This is due to the specific circumstance in which the other two Committees have already briefed the Council at the open debate on counter-terrorism on 19 November (see S/PV.7316). Today’s separate briefing will not constitute a precedent for the future. Looking back on the work of the 1540 Committee this year, I would like to once again express my appreciation for the support given by the Security Council in the open debate on resolution 1540 (2004) on 7 May (see S/PV.7169). The strong support for resolution 1540 (2004) and this Committee, expressed in presidential statement S/PRST/2014/7 and the individual statements of more than 60 Member States, provided an important impetus for our work. The presidential statement also set out some of the key areas that the Committee should focus its efforts on in the years ahead. This provides a valuable guideline for our preparations for the comprehensive review to be conducted by the end of 2016. Guided by the presidential statement and the Committee’s thirteenth programme of work, we continued to give high priority to encouraging reporting from those States that have not yet submitted their first reports. With the support of our Group of Experts, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs and its regional offices, three special meetings were held in Pretoria, Libreville and Lomé, respectively, to engage the non-reporting States. Through these meetings and other events, we have engaged directly with 18 of the 21 non-reporting States. Since the last joint briefing in May (see S/PV.7184), 1540 Committee members and experts have continued to participate in various outreach events, bringing the total so far this year to 59. Seven more events are scheduled for the remainder of this year. The value of direct interaction with States, in particular visits to Member States by their invitation, was demonstrated once again. For example, as a direct result of the visit to Malawi, that State submitted its first report to the Committee, reducing the total number of non-reporting States to 20. The visits to China last month and to the United Kingdom earlier this month also provided good opportunities to promote the Committee’s understanding of these States’ implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) and to identify effective practices. Other direct interactions with States since our last report have included national round tables with 1540 stakeholders in Cambodia, Colombia, Grenada, Peru and Trinidad and Tobago. They have helped in the identification of assistance requirements for capacity- building and in the development of voluntary national implementation action plans. We have had some valuable regional and subregional events in partnership with relevant international organizations. For example, our experts recently participated in three regional events on nuclear, chemical and biological security with INTERPOL in Thailand, Ethiopia and Tajikistan. Last month, I participated in the Regional Workshop on Promoting Full Implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004) held in Seoul, organized by the Government of the Republic of Korea in cooperation with the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA). That meeting engaged representatives from more than 30 countries in Asia and other regions, as well as 10 relevant international and regional organizations. The event provided a timely opportunity to discuss ways to strengthen the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) in the Asian region, as well as to exchange views on the future strategies ahead of the comprehensive review to be conducted by the end of 2016. As part of the efforts to reach out to the private sector, I participated last week in an international conference in support of implementing resolution 1540 (2004), hosted in Wiesbaden by the Government of Germany with the cooperation of the European Union and UNODA. This was the third event in what is called the “Wiesbaden process”, led by Germany, aimed at enhancing dialogue with industry in support of resolution 1540 (2004). The conference provided an excellent platform for the sharing of effective practice among diverse sectors of industry, including nuclear, chemical and biological security, as well as transport and export control. Facilitating matchmaking between assistance requests and offers remains a priority for the Committee. Improving the effectiveness of its matchmaking role will be one of the key areas that the Committee will focus on in preparing for the 2016 comprehensive review. As of today, a total of 83 Member States and 13 international organizations have notified their points of contact. The Committee will continue its efforts to encourage more nominations of points of contact and to energize their role. In addition, we also plan to develop a broader e-mail contact list including not only the points of contact, but also civil society, including representatives of industry, academia and the media. We plan to regularly update these contacts on the Committee’s activities through quarterly newsletters. Looking ahead, the 1540 Committee must begin its work on the comprehensive review of implementation, as called for in resolution 1977 (2011). We will shortly start developing a plan for the conduct of the review, which will be included in the Committee’s fourteenth programme of work to be submitted to the Security Council by 31 January 2015. Much of the work I have outlined would not have been possible without financial support through contributions to the United Nations Trust Fund, such as those of Andorra, the European Union, Kazakhstan, Norway, the Republic of Korea and the United States. These contributions are vital to the effort to enhance the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). I would like to conclude by reiterating the Committee’s commitment to seeking the full implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). As this will be my last briefing to the Security Council as Chair of the 1540 Committee, I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Council members, the Group of Experts and members of the Secretariat for all their wonderful support during the two years of my country’s chairmanship of the Committee.

I thank Ambassador Oh for his briefing. I now give the floor to those Council members who wish to make statements.

I thank Ambassador Oh for his briefing. The United States is grateful for the extraordinary success of his chairmanship of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004). Under his leadership, the Committee has made significant strides towards the full and universal implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). The fact that 173 countries have submitted national reports since the resolution came into effect in 2004 is a strong testament to the global effort to prevent non-State actors from acquiring and using weapons of mass destruction. Under the chairmanship of the Republic of Korea, the Committee has accomplished most of its ambitious programme to mark the tenth anniversary of the adoption of resolution 1540 (2004). As Ambassador Oh has briefed the Council, it has significantly increased country visits and regional outreach events, boosted the collection of new and additional reports from States, and supported the development of new tools to monitor and promote the implementation of the resolution. In addition, the Republic of Korea has demonstrated its commitment to the importance of assistance efforts by its generous contribution to the United Nations Trust Fund for resolution 1540 (2004) activities, and last May held a successful open debate of the Security Council on the resolution (see S/PV.7169), at which we adopted presidential statement S/PRST/2014/7, aimed at fostering the full implementation of the resolution by 2021. We have appreciated the Committee’s efforts on implementation, especially its production of a draft compendium of effective national practices on the implementation of the resolution. For countries seeking to create legislation in line with resolution 1540 (2004), the compendium will be an invaluable resource for best practices, all aimed at our shared goal of preventing non-State actors from acquiring and using weapons of mass destruction. But this resource is a living and evolving document, and we urge Member States and others to continue to add to its development. We also appreciate that the Committee included in the compendium information from the 29 September United States submission on effective United States national practices for the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), which describes over 100 concrete examples of how we implement the resolution. Related to that, the United States considers monitoring the status of implementation to be among the most important tasks of the Committee, as it creates a solid foundation on which the rest of the work of the Committee can build. Despite the good progress, we also note that the Committee failed to meet its goal, set out in the thirteenth programme of work, to complete updates to all national implementation matrices by 31 August, after having failed to meet a similar goal for 31 May in the twelfth programme of work. We fully recognize that the Committee and the Group of Experts pursue ambitious agendas and that, at times, it has not been at full force, but we ask that the Committee prioritize this aspect of its work so that it can acquire and work from a more comprehensive understanding of the status of implementation. Doing so is important because the results will help establish an important baseline for the comprehensive review in 2016, which will be carried out by the Committee and the experts. Following presidential statement S/PRST/2014/7 in May, we believe that the Committee must develop a plan in the coming months for the conduct of the review. The Committee can start to develop its plan as we discuss the next programme of work in January. We hope that the Committee will find ways to incorporate ideas from a full range of stakeholders, including Member States as well as international, regional and subregional organizations, civil society and industry. Again, allow me to congratulate Ambassador Oh Joon and the Republic of Korea for their truly impressive leadership. Their efforts helped move us forward on goals we share with respect to strengthening our non-proliferation work. We also thank the Committee as a whole and the Group of Experts for their important work. We look forward to working with the new Chair starting on 1 January.

First of all, I would also like to thank Ambassador Oh Joon and the entire Mission of the Republic of Korea for all the work done over the past two years at the head of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004). During its chairmanship of the Committee, South Korea has resolutely advanced the agenda set out by resolution 1540 (2004). Today, the overwhelming majority of Member States have taken steps to translate the provisions of the resolution into their domestic law, and the Committee and its Group of Experts continue their outreach efforts to identify the rare countries that have not yet submitted reports to the Committee on the implementation of the resolution with regard to their national legislation. Also today, most regional and international organizations have adopted strategies to implement resolution 1540 (2004). We are proud that, since 2004, the European Union has been among the first to provide support in that regard. Finally, the high-level meeting of the Security Council held on 7 May (see S/PV.7169), which was presided over by Korean Minister for Foreign Affairs Yun Byung-se, helped give new impetus to resolution 1540 (2004). The presidential statement adopted on that occasion (S/PRST/2014/7) serves as a road map today, especially in view of the comprehensive review of the implementation of the resolution slated for 2016. The proliferation of nuclear, radiological, biological and chemical weapons and their delivery systems, as well as the risk that they could fall into the hands of terrorists, continues to represent very real dangers. Resolution 1540 (2004) plays a vital role in the prevention of those risks, but much remains to be done. We remain concerned about the Iranian, North Korean and Syrian proliferation crises. With regard to Iran, new ideas were put forward during the just-concluded negotiations in Vienna. They must be carefully considered. Achieving a comprehensive agreement will, in any event, still take time. France, along with all its partners, has agreed that the interim agreement reached in Geneva in November 2013 be extended for a limited time. That extension opens up the possibility of a final solution, while continuing to meet our immediate concerns on the Iranian nuclear programme. Our commitment remains the same: to achieve, if possible, an agreement that is useful for the purposes of security and peace. With regard to North Korea, it is difficult to avoid mentioning the recent threats made to conduct a new nuclear test; whereas we are here talking about a resolution that aims to combat proliferation. I would therefore recall that, in the event of new provocations, Pyongyang would be opening itself up to additional Security Council resolutions. These proliferation crises continue to fuel proliferation flows to areas already marked by regional crises. We must continue to strengthen international coordination and operational cooperation in the fight against such flows, including against illegal exports of conventional weapons, which for North Korea represent a source of funding for its nuclear and missile programmes. Faced with the danger that terrorists may take possession of weapons of mass destruction, all States have the responsibility to strengthen export controls, mechanisms for preventing the financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and securing sensitive materials on their territory. To respond to this risk, among others, which resolution 1540 (2004) seeks to prevent, France proposed at the Nuclear Securtiy Summit held in The Hague this year an initiative aimed at strengthening security over highly radioactive sources. Fortunately infrequent but nonetheless disturbing thefts show the need to better think about safety in order to avoid the disastrous consequences of their possible use by malicious individuals or groups. In that regard, we welcome the adoption in the First Committee of a draft resolution on the prevention of the acquisition by terrorists of radioactive sources, which France introduced this year jointly with Germany. The draft resolution encourages Member States to strengthen control over these dangerous sources to ensure safety and security, particularly with regard to their management at the end of the life-cycle. It will also, hopefully, lead to a heightened dialogue on radiological safety with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

I wish to thank Ambassador Oh Joon for his briefing. China appreciates the great deal of work done by Ambassador Oh Joon and his team over the past two years at the helm of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004). Currently, the international fight against proliferation faces a new and complex situation amid the rising trend of non-State entities engaing in proliferation activities. Prevention efforts are entailing higher costs and greater difficulties. In the face of the new challenges, the international community should strengthen the regulation and control of proliferation at its source, tackle both the symptoms and the root causes, work to eliminate the motivation behind proliferation and address security and development issues in a balanced manner. As the first resolution of the Security Council on the subject of non-proliferation, resolution 1540 (2004) is of great importance in terms of denying non-State entities access to nuclear, biological, chemical or other weapons of mass destruction. It is essential that all countries, while capitalizing on the opportunities afforded by the tenth anniversary of the adoption of resolution 1540 (2004), continue to dedicate themselves to its univeral, full and balanced implemetation. The Committee has recently done productive work in boosting international cooperation, expanding outreach and promoting assistance. China supports the Committee, in accordance with its mandate, in continuing its main work of collecting implementation reports, compiling effective implementation practices and promoting international assistance and cooperation. China takes seriously the important roles played by the 1540 Committee and its Group of Experts. We have participated with a constructive attitude in the work of the Committee. Not long ago, as Chair of the Committee, Ambassador Oh Joon headed a delegation to China. Comprehensive exchanges of views were conducted on the implementation of the resolution and the work of the Committee, with satisfying results. As a reflection of China’s firm commitment to combat proliferation, the visit helped to deepen the cooperation between China and the Committee and its Group of Experts. China stands ready to work with the various parties to promote international efforts against proliferation.

At the outset, I should like to express my gratitude to the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), His Excellency Ambassador Oh Joon, for his comprehensive briefing. We also express our appreciation for the great efforts made by Ambassador Oh Joon during his country’s chairmanship of the Committee, which has experienced a great deal of activity recently — including the open debate held in May (see S/PV.7169), which resulted in the adoption of a presidential statement (S/PRST/2014/7), as well as the Committee’s participation in 59 outreach activities and visits to Member States, most recently to the United Kingdom. The Committee also engaged with 18 States out of the total 20 that have not yet submitted national reports, in an effort to achieve reporting universality, as that continues to be a challenge for the Committee and its work in future. The growth in the strength and capabilities of terrorist organizations and their sources of financing, as well as their control over vast areas in certain States, makes the possibility of their use of non-conventional weapons, including nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, a real danger. That should serve once again to draw our attention to the major responsibility that every State has to comply fully with resolution 1540 (2004). Jordan has taken concrete steps in compliance with resolution 1540 (2004) and subsequent relevant resolutions, adopting a number of relevant deterrent and preventative laws at the national level, as well as implementing effective control measures to monitor exports and prevent the spread of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and their means of delivery. Jordan has also acceded to a number of international and regional conventions in that area. I would also like to underscore that Jordan submitted its third national implementation report last month, covering the concrete progress made from 2006 to 2014. In that context, we also look forward to cooperating with international partners to prepare for the 2016 Nuclear Security Summit. We express our appreciation of the work of the 1540 Committee and the Expert Group in facilitating assistance, and we look forward to an expansion of such activities through the Committee’s fourteenth programme of work, which is scheduled to begin soon. We urge the Expert Group, in particular, to pay greater attention to facilitating assistance, closing technical gaps and building the capacity of States. We also express our appreciation for the assistance of States and international organizations that provide technical and other forms of assistance. We urge donors to continue providing such support, which benefits donors and recipients alike in such a way that we could even call it mutual assistance, taking into consideration the prevailing security environment in our States. Here, we underscore the importance of the Committee listing the Australia Group as a provider of assistance without delay with a view to helping to promote the capacities of States requiring such support. As Council members will be aware, the Committee is preparing for the comprehensive review of the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) in 2016. Considering the importance of that review, we propose that the Committee give serious consideration to the possibility of creating a fifth working group devoted to preparations for the comprehensive review.

Chile thanks the Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), Ambassador Oh Joon, for his briefing to the Council today. We appreciate the leadership shown by the Republic of Korea in chairing the 1540 Committee over the past two years. We also commend the work carried out by the Expert Group. The purpose for which resolution 1540 (2004) was adopted 10 years ago remains fully valid today. The possibility of non-State actors acquiring weapons of mass destruction poses a serious challenge to international peace and security. It was in that context that Chile handed over to the National Nuclear Security Administration of the United States in 2010, which provided significant support, 18 kilos of highly-enriched uranium that had been situated in our country since the end of the 1950s. That was the last such material on our national territory. Today, our fears focus less on the proliferation of nuclear weapons and more on the possibility of chemical or biological weapons falling into the hands of terrorist groups. That has become clear as a result of conflict in the Middle East. We are concerned by reports of the use of chemical weapons by non-State actors on Syrian and Iraqi territory and the seizure of chemical weapons storage facilities in those countries by terrorist groups. Any organization or individual using chemical weapons must be held accountable for such actions. All Member States must continue to adopt measure to safeguard collective security. In particular, we emphasize the need to fully implement resolution 1373 (2001) in order to prevent and curtail the financing of terrorist groups. Chile reiterates the need to strengthen cooperation in the framework of the commitments pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004). For our part, we have harmonized our domestic legislation and endeavoured to strengthen national capacities in order to meet the standards of resolution 1540 (2004). Those efforts were a joint undertaking of our foreign and defence policies. We have already submitted five reports in that regard. Today, we are paying close attention to others’ experience, such as through the peer reviews, which may assist us in clarifying our ideas regarding a national implementation plan, about which we have already reported to the Committee. We have repeatedly stressed the importance of improving export controls, highlighting the work being done by customs and border control officers. Officials of those agencies will need further professional development through workshops on experiences and practices, focusing on the needs of each State. In that context, we have participated in more than 17 joint activities with the Export Control and Related Border Security Program of the United States with a view to improving export controls. We encourage all members of civil society to participate. Chile remains firmly committed to the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) and, more broadly, to the global non-proliferation and disarmament architecture, as shown by our participation in the most recent Nuclear Security Summit. It is imperative that we continue working together to make progress in the tasks set 10 years ago. In that regard, every State must identify its weak points and implementation gaps. We attach particular importance to the comprehensive review of the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) that is to take place in 2016. My country intends to work actively over the coming year in the preparation for that review.

Like the previous speakers, I would like to thank the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea, Ambassador Oh Joon, for his presentation and for the dedication shown by him and his team in chairing the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) over the past two years. While this time it was not possible to hear presentations by the Chairs of all the Sanctions Committees during a single Council meeting, Ambassador Oh Joon’s presentation is a useful complement to the presentations made last week by the Chairs of the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities, and the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter-terrorism (see S/PV.7316). Cooperation, coordination and synergy between the 1540, 1267/1989 and 1373 Committees should continue to be promoted in order to strengthen the fight against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and of their means of delivery continues to threaten international peace and security. The risk of terrorists or other non-State actors acquiring, developing, trading or using such weapons remains high. It is, therefore, a duty for all Member States to join forces to minimize that risk. In that respect, the submission of national reports on the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) and their regular updating are important confidence-building measures in the fight against all types of weapons of mass destruction. Resolution 1540 (2004) plays a key role in preventing proliferation, but it will be effective only if all Member States are determined to implement its provisions. Country visits and the participation by members of the 1540 Committee and its Expert Group in such events as the regional workshop held last month in the Republic of Korea are essential for raising awareness among Member States and promoting the universal implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). Luxembourg welcomes the fact that, at present, there remain only 20 Member States that have not yet submitted national reports. Advocacy efforts must continue to further reduce that number. The 1540 Committee also continues to play an important role as a centre for exchange connecting those seeking and those providing assistance. The growing number of exchanges testifies to that. We encourage the 1540 Committee and its Group of Experts to persevere in their efforts to match requests for and offers of assistance, and to increase the number of assistance providers, since demand currently exceeds supply. We believe that the topic deserves to be among the key priorities of the 1540 Committee in the context of the coming first comprehensive review of the status of implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), which must be conducted before December 2016. The open debate organized by the Republic of Korea on 7 May under its Council presidency (see S/PV.7169) gave new impetus to the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). In that context, civil society, industry and private sector have a key role to play. Several initiatives have demonstrated the benefit of involving such stakeholders with the efforts of Governments. As examples, I will cite the recent conference organized by Germany, with the support of the European Union, in the framework of the Wiesbaden process, in which industries participated, or the legislative guide for the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) at the national level that was published by an independent non-governmental organization, VERTIC, with the support of Canada and the United Kingdom. Any new initiative in that area would be welcome. In conclusion, I reaffirm the active support of Luxembourg for the comprehensive implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). Nationally, we are pursuing our efforts to reform our export control system in order to strengthen national mechanisms to combat the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and related technologies. As of October 2015, Luxembourg, with the Netherlands, will assume the annual co-chairmanship of the Missile Technology Control Regime, demonstrating our strong commitment to combating the proliferation of delivery systems for weapons of mass destruction.

Let me begin by thanking Ambassador Oh Joon for his briefing on the work of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004). I also wish to congratulate him on the dedicated and excellent work that he and his predecessor, Ambassador Kim Sook, whom we fondly recall, have done these past two years, together with their team. Their excellent work has been a faithful reflection of a national and personal commitment to serving the Committee, and of those who comply with resolution 1540 (2004), whom we truly respect. Argentina embraces two pillars of resolution 1540 (2004) as a State policy. The first is respect for the sovereign right of States to the development and peaceful use of advanced technologies; the second is disarmament and the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. In that regard, I reaffirm once again the sovereign right to develop and use sensitive, dual-use technologies and industries, including the nuclear, chemical, biological, pharmaceutical, outer space, nanotechnology and other sectors. In Argentina, such development and use of technologies is undertaken through State and private interaction. That is the case INVAP, which develop and exports nuclear facilities and equipment and control systems related to nuclear technology. In addition, on 16 October my country launched the first geostationary satellite produced by a country of our region, which has already been placed in geostationary position 81° West. At the same time, Argentina is actively participating in the international community’s initiatives to achieve a world free of weapons of mass destruction of all kinds. It upholds the principle of absolute prohibition of the development, possession, acquisition, transfer or use of such weapons by State and non-State actors alike. In that vein, Argentina is a party to the legal instruments that are the pillars of disarmament and non-proliferation as a reflection of its commitment to disarmament and non-proliferation. It is also a member of the five control systems for sensitive exports. I note that the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism has already been approved by the Argentine Congress, and we are in process of ratifying it. Similarly, as previously mentioned, Argentina has been involved in the Nuclear Security Summit process since the outset, and has actively participated in the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism since 2010. As noted by the Chair of the Committee, presidential statement S/PRST/2014/7, adopted on 7 May, highlights the main areas in which the Committee should focus its work in the coming years, in particular with regard to the comprehensive review of the status of implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) to be undertaken by the end of 2016, and the goal of achieving its full implementation by 2021. The statement also recognizes that many Member States still need assistance in implementing the resolution, which requires skilled human resources, infrastructure, equipment, and the creation of a culture of security. Argentina recognizes the effective contribution of international cooperation, given that the only way to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction to non-State actors is through a shared effort and an equal level of implementation by all States. In that regard, I recall that Argentina is developing cooperation activities with countries in our region and other interested countries in terms of training in the identification of sensitive merchandise, with a focus on South-South partnership, and is one of the suppliers registered with the 1540 Committee. On the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the resolution, we believe it necessary to reaffirm that the significant progress that the international community has made in physical protection, export control and the suppression of the illicit traffic in dual-use technologies will have limited international success so long as stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction continue to exist. We reiterate our watchword that we must prevent weapons of mass destruction from falling into the wrong hands. Truly, however, we do not know what the right hands for such weapons would be. Argentina therefore believes that no country should produce weapons of mass destruction, and that those that posess them should eliminate them. To be clear, Argentina is convinced that the only way to ensure that weapons of mass destruction do not fall into the wrong hands or are used in any way is by eliminating them altogether. Once again, I wish to express my delegation’s thanks to Ambassador Oh Joon and his marvellous team.

I wish to thank Ambassador Oh Joon, Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), for his briefing today. Nigeria knows that not all countries have the capacity to meet their obligations under resolution 1540 (2004). International cooperation will therefore be vital to filling the capacity gaps. It is for that reason that we welcome the importance the Committee attaches to matching requests for assistance with offers. We believe that greater effectiveness in making this match will significantly enhance the capacity of Member States to comply with their obligations under resolution 1540 (2004). We share the view that the Committee must begin work on the comprehensive review of implementation in line with resolution 1977 (2011). We look forward to seeing the Committee’s plan for the conduct of the review when its fourteenth programme of work is submitted to the Council in January 2015. Our deep appreciation goes to all contributors to the United Nations Trust Fund that supports the work of the Committee. We note the importance of those contributions to the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). We should also be reminded of the vital link between resolution 1540 (2004) and the total elimination of all weapons of mass destruction. The continued existence of these weapons, particularly nuclear weapons, should lead to discussion on their non-proliferation. In that context, my delegation wishes to encourage all States that possess those weapons — and we reiterate, particularly nuclear weapons — should commit themselves to disarming and to the total elimination of such weapons. The Council should not have two standards — one for those possessing nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, and another for others. It is very important for us to have a uniform approach to the elimination of weapons and to stopping their proliferation. As this is the last briefing of Ambassador Oh to the Council in his capacity as Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), the Nigerian delegation would like to commend him for his adroit leadership and for his contribution to moving the non-proliferation agenda forward.

I thank Ambassador Oh Joon of the Republic of Korea, Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) on the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, for his briefing and congratulate him for his leadership at the head of the Committee for the past two years. I also thank the expert group of the 1540 Committee for its remarkable work. Chad welcomes the 1540 Committee’s achievements, in particular the holding of three special meetings in Africa for countries that have not yet submitted their first report, and the organization of 59 awareness- raising activities around the world. Further, Chad wishes to thank the 1540 Committee and the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs for having facilitated the participation of two of those experts at the regional conference on the full implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), organized in Seoul in October. Chad reiterates its commitment to working towards the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) and calls for heightened dialogue between the 1540 Committee and the 20 States Members that have not yet submitted their reports. In that regard, we ask the Committee to focus more on those States, 16 of which are in Africa, through awareness-raising activities and visits to the countries concerned. Chad fully supports the activities of the 1540 Committee and eagerly awaits the general review of the full implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) requested by the Security Council in resolution 1977 (2011). In conclusion, I would like to reiterate our congratulations to Ambassador Oh Joon and his entire team for the excellent work accomplished under the Korean chairmanship.

I would like to start by thanking Ambassador Oh Joon of the Republic of Korea, Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), for his presentation of the progress report on the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). Rwanda commends the Committee and its Group of Experts for their continued efforts in ensuring that non-State actors do not develop, acquire, manufacture or use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons. We appreciate the efforts made by the Committee, particularly in improving outreach programmes and its own visibility. Recalling the Committee’s objective of achieving universal reporting, and as underscored by the presidential statement of 7 May 2014 (S/PRST/2014/7), we note with satisfaction the priority given by the Committee to encouraging States that have not yet submitted their first reports to do so. In that regard, we welcome the holding of the three special meetings in Pretoria, Libreville and Lomé, as well as the visits to Member States by their invitation, and we hope that the remaining 20 non-reporting States will soon submit their national implementation reports. Rwanda is among the Member States that have fulfilled their reporting obligations, and we did so in 2011 thanks to the outreach of the Committee and the Group of Experts at that time. We will continue to ensure the implementation of the report within our borders and in our region, and we encourage all Member States to cooperate in identifying effective practices, experiences and lessons learned that would contribute to the development of a long-term vision and strategy for the effective implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). We are concerned about capacity gaps in the technical, financial and legal frameworks within our States in dealing with issues related to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Rwanda therefore welcomes the commitment of the 1540 Committee to ensuring the effectiveness of the matchmaking role between assistance requests and offers. We also support the Committee’s commitment to increasing the number of focal points of contact between Member States and international organizations, which currently stands at 79. We are of the view that both the matchmaking between assistance requests and the increase of points of contact will greatly contribute to the universal implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). In that regard, I welcome the organization by the African Union Commission, in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa, of a training workshop for national points of contact, held last week on 18 and 19 November in Addis Ababa. The objective of the training workshop was to impart practical information, skills and guidance on the obligations of Member States under resolution 1540 (2004), as well as the role and responsibilities of national points of contact. During the workshop, Member States also shared best practices on how to draft voluntary national action plans, develop and implement legislative and other control measures, and prepare national reports on implementation. Before I conclude, I would recall the strong link that exists between terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. We therefore stress the need for continued cooperation between the 1540 Committee, the Counter-Terrorism Committee, the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities, as well as the Counter- Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, in order to put in place an integrated and comprehensive strategy against those two scourges that constitute the most dangerous threat to international peace and security. In that regard, we reiterate our call to all Member States for universal denuclearization. Finally, since this is probably the last briefing by Ambassador Oh Joon in his capacity as Chair of the 1540 Committee, Rwanda commends his strong leadership, as well as that of his predecessor, Ambassador Kim Sook, over the past two years on the issue of the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. That was demonstrated by the Committee’s extensive outreach activities under the chairmanship of the Republic of Korea, as well as the successful high- level open debate held in May this year (see S/PV.7169) and presided over by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yun Byung-se, to mark the tenth anniversary of the adoption of resolution 1540 (2004) and give new impetus to its implementation. I am convinced that with the legacy of the Republic of Korea, including the presidential statement of 7 May (S/PRST/2014/7), the Committee is in a better position to conduct a well-informed strategy aimed at achieving full implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), which will be incorporated into the Committee’s comprehensive review, to be submitted to the Security Council before December 2016.

The risk of weapons of mass destruction getting into the hands of non-State actors remains a constantly evolving threat that must be countered by concerted international action, with greater robustness, determination and vigilance and with every State doing its part. Nowadays, terrorist groups and illicit networks turn to indiscriminate violence of unthinkable magnitude, and to achieve their heinous aims they seek to acquire nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. In its presidential statement S/PRST/2014/7, the Security Council reaffirmed its continuing support for resolution 1540 (2004) and the Committee established pursuant to it. It set out clear guidelines for the Committee’s future activities, including on developing a strategy aimed at achieving the resolution’s full implementation and enhanced assistance to Member States. It also called for enhanced cooperation among relevant Council committees and for coordination of its non-proliferation work with other international, regional and subregional organizations. Furthermore, it encouraged the Committee to draw on relevant expertise, including from civil society, industry and the private sector. All those elements, geared to improved implementation of the resolution, should be key areas in the Committee’s focus in preparing for the 2016 comprehensive review. Lithuania has been a constant and dedicated supporter of resolution 1540 (2004) since its adoption. We submitted our initial report on its implementation in 2004 and have continued to provide comprehensive regular updates, most recently in November 2013. In September, in consultation with the Group of Experts, we finalized a 1540 matrix aimed at further enhancing national implementation. A number of workshops were held in Lithuania with an emphasis on the main elements of prevention and detection of and response to illicit trafficking of chemical, biological and nuclear materials. As was again reaffirmed by the 2014 Nuclear Security Summit in The Hague, strengthening nuclear security and preventing terrorists, criminals and other unauthorized actors from acquiring nuclear materials will remain one of our most important challenges in years to come. We look forward to a successful Summit in Chicago in 2016. As part of its obligations assumed at the Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul, Lithuania, through its Nuclear Security Centre of Excellence, is working to increase the capacities of national and regional experts to counter nuclear smuggling and improve the nuclear security culture. Nearly 700 experts have been trained so far, including officials from Georgia, Ukraine, Armenia and Moldova. Lithuania is committed to expanding its international cooperation in this field. Lithuania recognizes the need for universal and comprehensive reporting under the resolution, with the aim of identifying shortcomings and challenges that States may face while implementing it. Malawi’s recent submission of its first report and request for assistance shows the importance of direct contacts and cooperation with States. The Committee and its Group of Experts should further ensure continued direct interaction with all States in implementing the goals set out in resolution 1540 (2004). The Group of Experts of the 1540 Committee should continue specific country visits and participate actively in non-proliferation-related events. While further strengthening its role as a clearing house in facilitating matchmaking between assistance requests and assistance available, the 1540 Committee should also seek to expand the base of assistance providers, especially in the field of export controls, which should be open to all assistance providers expressing a wish to contribute to the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). Lithuania also encourages the Committee to engage more actively with industry, civil society, academia and the private sector. In that regard, it is important that the Committee compile effective practices and make them available to all interested actors. The Committee would also benefit from future synergies with other Council bodies dealing with issues related to the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. Lithuania would therefore encourage closer interaction among relevant Committees and their groups of experts, such as the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006) on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1737 (2006) on the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Counter- Terrorism Committee and the Committee established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities. Finally, I would like to finish by expressing our great appreciation for the efforts of the Republic of Korea as Chair of the 1540 Committee, and to Ambassador Oh Joon personally for his tireless work and commitment to achieving universal and full implementation of resolution 1540 (2004).

I will start where the representative of Lithuania ended, by thanking Ambassador Oh Joon and the Republic of Korea for their strong leadership of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) over the past two years. Their engagement and drive has been essential to the work of this important Committee. The year 2014 marks the tenth anniversary of resolution 1540 (2004). It is an important milestone. The instability currently seen around the world only strengthens the need for robust controls on all chemical, biological and nuclear materials. We have to prevent any proliferation to non-State actors. With even better national reporting, an increased focus on effective implementation and the promotion of best practices in tackling proliferation risks, the 1540 Committee can go on to make an even greater contribution. States continue to demonstrate their firm commitment to implementing resolution 1540 (2004). The submission in 2014 of the first-ever national reports from Malawi, Lesotho, Liberia and South Sudan has reduced the number of non-reporting States to 20. Further submissions of new updates to national reports and voluntary national implementation action plans are also welcome. Resolution 1540 (2004) retains one of the highest rates of reporting compliance, but we have not yet achieved universality of reporting. The final yards can sometimes be the hardest, but also the most important. I urge those States that have yet to submit such reports to do so without delay. Under the Republic of Korea’s able leadership the Committee has rightly focused on effective implementation practices. The information the Group of Experts intend to provide on country matrices will be an invaluable resource to the Committee in fulfilling its vital function of matching offers and requests for assistance. The United Kingdom continues to play its part in supporting and promoting best practices. We hosted the delegation of Committee members and experts earlier this month on its first visit to the United Kingdom. We look forward to the report of the Group of Experts on the visit and encourage more States to engage the 1540 Committee in its outreach functions. As part of the wider visit to the United Kingdom, my Government additionally teamed up with Chatham House and King’s College, London, to host a conference on the challenges and opportunities presented by the tenth anniversary of resolution 1540 (2004). This attracted participation from 70 non-proliferation practitioners from Government, academia and civil society, and was opened by Virginia Gamba, Director and Deputy High Representative of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs. The continuing relevance of resolution 1540 (2004) to evolving proliferation risks, such as so-called intangible transfers of technology and information that could be used to build and deliver weapons of mass destruction, emerged as a key theme from that event’s discussions. As we approach the comprehensive review of the resolution in 2016, I encourage the Committee to continue to be bold in its ambitions in response to the proliferation threats we must face together.

We are grateful to Mr. Oh Joon, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea, for his briefing on the work of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004). In view of the fact that this is his final briefing as Chairman of the Committee, we would like to thank the Ambassador and the entire Korean delegation on their leadership of this subsidiary body of the Council for the past two years. We cannot fail to mention the useful work of the Group of Experts in providing substantive support to the Committee. A recent milestone was the convening on 7 May of the Council’s high-level open debate on the theme of non-proliferation (see S/PV.7169). We held a thorough discussion on a wide range of topics related to preventing weapons of mass destruction and their systems of delivery from falling into the hands of non-State actors. Our agreed presidential statement S/PRST/2014/7 will serve as a guideline for the 1540 Committee’s work in the period leading to the comprehensive review in 2016. All of us, as responsible members of the international community, have common long-term interests in non-proliferation. One of the major challenges is to achieve the full implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) by all countries. We note that in resolution 1540 (2004), all three categories of weapons of mass destruction — nuclear, chemical and biological — are integrally linked, confirming the equal danger of any of them falling into the hands of terrorists. For the past 10 years, a good deal has been done to implement that legally binding international document. The vast majority of United Nations Member States have submitted their first implementation reports. However, much remains to be done. The delivery of technical assistance to States remains a priority of the Committee’s work. It is of vital importance that the 1540 Committee be able to effectively implement its functions as central coordinator of global implementation efforts to implement the resolution and to identify goals and priorities. Russia, for its part, will continue to participate actively in that work. In that context, we call for attention to be directed to countries that have not yet submitted their first national reports. We look forward to constructive and productive cooperation with all partners in the interests of the fuller implementation of the provisions of resolution 1540 (2004) so as to prevent weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery from falling into the hands of non-State actors, especially terrorists. In our view, the objectives of the resolution have never been more relevant.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as representative of Australia. At the outset, I wish to thank Ambassador Oh Joon for his report. Let me convey Australia’s deep appreciation for the Republic of Korea’s energetic leadership and his own of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) during its Council term, and for the Republic of Korea’s contribution to global non-proliferation more broadly. Last month, Australia attended the regional workshop in Seoul to which Ambassador Oh referred. The workshop was valuable for exchanging lessons learned in implementing resolution 1540 (2004) and in identifying what we need to do regionally and globally to keep up with the evolving proliferation threat. We encourage the Committee in the future to continue the active advocacy and outreach that the Republic of Korea has undertaken. Sadly, as we mark the tenth anniversary year of resolution 1540 (2004), the threat of non-State actors acquiring weapons of mass destruction is as real as ever. Expanded international trade and financial linkages, greater scope for intangible technology transfer and technological advances themselves have increased the challenge of proliferation to both non-State actors and States. It is therefore all the more urgent that all States fulfil their obligations to implement resolution 1540 (2004), seeking assistance when they need it and strengthening regional and international cooperation to starve proliferators of items, expertise and finance. The comprehensive review of the forward strategy, as requested by the Council in May, will be vital to accelerating implementation, to ensuring that the international community is meeting the evolving threat, and to enhancing the role of the Committee. The Committee must always strive to enhance its accessibility, productivity and effectiveness. A living points-of-contact network is a welcome initiative. I should like to identify three areas where we can improve the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). First, it is vital that we continue to improve the linkages between the 1540 Committee and other relevant Security Council Committees, United Nations instruments and multilateral non-proliferation and export control regimes. The considerable expertise that rests in those agencies and arrangements can help with resolution 1540 (2004) implementation, for example by providing control lists that can form the basis of national export controls. Earlier this year, in our capacity as Chair of the Australia Group, members wished us to advise the Committee that the Australia Group is ready to provide assistance upon request to support the implementation of export controls for chemical and biological transfers. As the representative of Jordan has pointed out today, such assistance is needed. Secondly, increasing outreach to industry and the private sector is crucial to effective export controls. Australia’s experience in implementing an industry code of practice for chemical precursors has reinforced for us that when industry and the private sector understand the threats surrounding proliferation, they can be valuable partners rather than adversaries in countering proliferation. The Wiesbaden process also reinforces that fact. Thirdly, we need to assist developing countries in implementing their 1540 obligations and to ensure that such assistance is practical and coordinated. Australia has been working with countries in our own region, as well as in the Caribbean and in Africa through Kenya, to build capacity and to leverage the links between security and development. Detecting and combatting illicit trafficking in weapons of mass destruction can also aid in the prevention of small arms, drugs and wildlife trafficking. For that reason, the Council and its Committees should look to provide more coordinated outreach, advice and support across non-proliferation, counter-terrorism and sanctions obligations. The Caribbean Community’s regional focal point has demonstrated how this coordinated approach can be effectively delivered in the field and how that can ease the burden on smaller States. In conclusion, Australia will continue to support the work of the 1540 Committee. We must close the gaps in implementation, and we must stay ahead of technological advances and the techniques of proliferators. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda.