S/PV.8230 Security Council

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. At this meeting, the Council will hear a briefing by Ambassador Sacha Sergio Llorentty Solíz of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, in his capacity as Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004). I now give the floor to Ambassador Llorentty Solíz.

I am pleased to have this opportunity to brief the Security Council on the work of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) in its task of overseeing the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). As we all recognize the importance of resolution 1540 (2004) as a key element in the global effort to prevent the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and their means of delivery to non-State actors, including terrorists. I must stress that we have a truly challenging task in overseeing the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). Resolution 1540 (2004) is a platform for cooperation to prevent non-State actors from gaining access to weapons of mass destruction. We need to be clear that without cooperation it would be impossible to address the issue at the global level. In that context, I would like to inform the Security Council about the main activities of the 1540 Committee since my previous briefing to the Council (see S/PV.7985) and to give an overview of upcoming events and some prospects for this year. In 2018, the Committee continues to build on the momentum imparted to its work by the outcome of the 2016 comprehensive review and the subsequent resolution 2325 (2016), of 15 December 2016. Under that resolution the Security Council directed the 1540 Committee to intensify its efforts to promote the full implementation of all obligations under resolution 1540 (2004) by all States. To that end, detailed proposals were incorporated into the programme of work for 2018, which will shortly be submitted. The Committee, inter alia, plans to hold discussions on enforcing appropriate effective laws for the prohibition of activities under paragraph 2 of resolution 1540 (2004); to take note of the continually evolving nature of the risks of proliferation; and to hold a closed expert-level meeting of the Committee to consider other issues highlighted in resolution 2325 (2016). In addition, a report on the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) from all Member States remains one of the highest priorities for the Committee. In that regard, I am pleased to inform the Security Council that we received two first reports in 2017, from Equatorial Guinea and Zimbabwe. More recently, in early 2018, we also received a first report from Timor-Leste. That brings the number of States that have submitted national reports to 180. However, we still have before us the challenge of 13 non-reporting States. To achieve universal reporting as soon as possible may include issuing notes verbales to Member States that reiterate the requirements on reporting on national implementation and meeting country representatives on the margins of the General Assembly. States are also encouraged to inform the Committee of their points of contact for the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). In 2017, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Costa Rica and Mauritania did that, bringing the number of States that have now done so to 101. To strengthen the capabilities of the points of contact and of their network as a whole, in 2017 the Committee organized one regional training course for the Asia-Pacific region. The seminar was hosted for the second time by China. Two more training courses for national points of contact are planned in 2018: one for the African region in Addis Ababa in June, in cooperation with the African Union, and the other for the region of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in Russia in September. Voluntary national action plans for the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) were another priority of the Committee, which continued to work with the support of regional and subregional organizations to help Member States to develop and to implement such voluntary action plans. The Committee received five new national action plans during 2017, while Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan already submitted their reviewed and second voluntary national action plans. As of today, 31 national action plans have been received. The Group of Experts of the Committee participated in round tables intended to develop new national action plans in El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Mongolia, Suriname, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The work on national action plans with other countries will be continued at their request during the current year. The Committee also continued to promote the sharing of experience, including through peer reviews, in order to evaluate and to reinforce effective practices in the effective implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). The peer review meetings conducted in 2017 by Colombia and Chile and by Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, respectively, constitute very good examples of that effective mechanism. The Committee will continue to support States that wish to conduct peer reviews and will actively encourage such meetings, where appropriate. To enhance its capacity to better monitor the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), the Committee considered and approved a revised matrix format last year. The changes made streamlined the existing matrix by better reflecting the obligations set out in resolution 1540 (2004). In accordance with resolution 2325 (2016), the revised matrix also takes into account the specificities of States with respect to their ability to manufacture and to export related materials. During 2018, the Group of Experts will convert the existing matrices to the new format. With the objective of better supporting States in developing more detailed and effective assistance requests and, in response to their requests, better providing them with effective assistance that meets their needs, the Committee revised its assistance template in March 2017. That will, in effect, strengthen the Committee’s efforts as matchmaker. The new assistance template is published on the Committee’s website. The Committee received new assistance requests from Belize, Kenya and Tajikistan. The requests were sent to potential assistance providers, and summaries were published on the Committee homepage, as usual. In 2017, the Committee also considered how to improve the facilitation of technical assistance to States and decided to task its Group of Experts, at a State’s invitation and subject to available resources, to actively facilitate assistance. The Committee thereby seeks to close the gap in assistance for those States and regions that are committed to implementing their obligations but have not been recipients of assistance offers so far. In 2017, the Committee continued to exchange information with the relevant international, regional and subregional organizations, involved them in its outreach activities, for example, the training courses for national 1540 points of contact, and encouraged them to highlight obligations pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) in their model legislation and/or guidelines or training of States, as appropriate. In 2017, there was a total of 53 outreach events by and with international, regional or subregional organizations in which the Chair, Committee members and experts participated. The Committee also continued to develop its website as a tool to raise public awareness and to serve as a source of information and a resource on resolution 1540 (2004) for use by Member States, Committee members, civil society and industry. The new design of the website, finalized in 2016, provides enhanced usability and appeal. On 24 December 2017, after consultations with the Committee, the Secretary-General appointed six new experts to the Group of Experts, as during the year the term of some previous experts had ended. Three new experts have already joined the Group, while the remaing new colleagues will join by the end of April. In that regard, a process will be initiated to select a new Coordinator for the Group of Experts in the near future. The outgoing members of the Security Council, Japan and Egypt, respectively, serve as the Coordinators of the Committee’s Working Group I, on monitoring and national implementation, and Working Group III, on cooperation with international organizations, including the Security Council committee established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015), concerning the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities, and the Counter- Terrorism Committee (CTC), established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001). I would like to thank both delegations for their vital contributions to the work of the Committee. On behalf of the Committee, I would like to welcome Mr. Enri Prieto of the delegation of Peru, as Coordinator of Working Group I, and Mr. Antonin Benjamin Bieke of the delegation of Côte d’Ivoire, as Coordinator of Working Group III, both of whom started working as Coordinators on 4 April. I sincerely thank those States that have made substantial contributions to the United Nations Trust Fund for Global and Regional Disarmament Activities, directly in support of the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). Without those contributions the Committee would be severely hampered in fulfilling its mandate in overseeing the implementation of the resolution and in facilitating capacity-building where it is needed most. In 2017 funds were used from grants provided in previous years by Canada, Germany, Japan, Kazakhstan, the Republic of Korea and the United States, and from new donations made by Japan and the European Union in 2017. Before I conclude, I would like to make a few additional points with regard to the Committee’s planned outreach activities in the near future. My own country, Bolivia, plans to host a regional conference for Latin American and Caribbean countries on the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) in May. The Government of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, together with the 1540 Committee, will convene a conference for the States of Latin America and the Caribbean on the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) and its follow-up resolutions in La Paz from 9 to 10 May. The conference is geared towards actively supporting the implementation of the resolution in the Latin American and Caribbean region. It will provide a platform for States to present existing laws and regulations that serve to facilitate the implementation of the resolution. It will also provide an opportunity to exchange views and effective practices on the handling of related materials, with a view to strengthening the region’s record on the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). The Committee is considering holding another regional assistance conference at an appropriate time in 2018. The Committee will continue to build on the good collaboration already established with key international organizations in order to facilitate the delivery of assistance and support for related activities. With regard to cooperation with international and regional organizations and United Nations entities, the tasks set out in resolution 2325 (2016) are specific. The Committee’s Group of Experts has already held a meeting with the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate to plan country visits to be conducted later this year and with the Counter- Terrorism Implementation Task Force to discuss how best to collaborate to support the activities of the 1540 Committee, in particular with regard to scientific and technological trends and the risk of misuse by non-State actors. With regard to the key international organizations that support its work, the 1540 Committee will take advantage of visits to New York by the heads of those organizations to meet with the Committee in order to encourage their support for the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). In continuation of the German initiative known Wiesbaden process, which is synonymous with active dialogue between States and industry on the effective implementation of export controls, two more regional events designed to engage the private sector are planned for 2018. One is a regional meeting to be held on 16 and 17 April in New Delhi, and the other will take place in September in the Republic of Korea. Such activities are supported by a grant provided by Germany to the Trust Fund. If members of the Committee would like to receive additional information on the events, in particular with regard to possible participation, I urge them not to hesitate to contact the Group of Experts. I would like to conclude by reiterating my commitment to the full implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). The threat of the use of weapons of mass destruction by non-State actors is a clear and evolving reality. With the strong support of the States Members of the United Nations and other international partners, the 1540 Committee will continue its efforts to prevent that risk. With the support of its Group of Experts and the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, the Committee stands ready to cooperate with and, as requested, provide assistance to States in their efforts to implement resolution 1540 (2004) so as to contribute to achieving our common objective of preventing the catastrophic use of weapons of mass destruction by non-State actors. I would like to thank all delegations that participated not only in our work but also in developing our programme of work, which has just been distributed. Without the continuous assistance of all delegations, it would be impossible to achieve our goals.

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

I sincerely thank our Bolivian colleague for his briefing on the work of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004). We welcome the new Coordinators. At the outset, I would like to state that we were very pleased to have been paired with Equatorial Guinea in terms of capacity-building. Resolution 1540 (2004) was the first subject on which I worked when I came to the Security Council, 10 years ago — my first time here. I am therefore very pleased to have this opportunity to talk about it today and to be able to say that for the United Kingdom the 1540 Committee is a vital component of the international order. We need to empower it to fulfil its mandate, and we need to support it to the hilt. As many of us have already said this week, we risk seeing a situation that the Security Council should dread — chemical and biological weapons becoming a routine part of fighting. Regrettably, we have been confronted in very recent times by multiple incidents of the use of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) by non-State actors. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons-United Nations Joint Investigative Mechanism found that Da’esh used mustard gas on at least two occasions in Syria. There are multiple instances of mustard gas use by Da’esh in Iraq. A planned chemical terrorism attack was thwarted in Australia in July last year. Those incidents clearly exemplify why the 1540 Committee and its work to prevent the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons by non-State actors is so important. Those events are awful enough. Yet, in acts of unbelievable irresponsibility, those risks have been exacerbated by the use of weapons of mass destruction by State actors. The chemical-weapons attacks in Douma and the attempted murders in Salisbury are the most recent examples, but there is also the assassination of Kim Jong-nam in Malaysia and the horror of Khan Shaykhun a little more than a year ago. I take this opportunity to state that, with regard the invitation from the Council for us to update members on the incident in Salisbury, we have requested a meeting next week to deliver a briefing on the findings of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. The use of WMD by States is a worrisome pattern that clearly undermines our collective efforts to deter and eradicate the use of such weapons by State and non-State actors alike. We very strongly support the work to increase the capacity of States and are encouraged by the fact that there are now only 13 non-reporting States. Any non-reporting is troubling, but it is good that the number is decreasing. As I said, we were delighted to be paired with Equatorial Guinea and provide support. Nonetheless, it is clear that we stand on the cusp of a nightmare where weapons of mass destruction are used with impunity, where our citizens live in real fear of an indiscriminate attack at any time and without warning. It is not enough just to condemn that, we need to find a way to take meaningful action and ensure that there are meaningful consequences for perpetrators. We have all benefited from the international order that has kept us safe since the end of the Second World War. It behooves us all to make every effort to uphold that international architecture. It is clear that not all countries share that view, and we have talked about that several times this week. With respect to the 1540 Committee, there is one Council member that has sought, at every opportunity, to slow progress and dilute the substance of every proposal, whether that be the programme of work, deadlines, calls to action or efforts to take progress forward. All of those have, sadly, been consistently watered down, and the Group of Experts has even been prevented from travelling. If we are serious about dealing with the threats that the Committee was set up to counter, then this state of affairs cannot continue. Since last February the 1540 Committee has met formally only once, and barely any progress has been made with respect to the actions agreed in the 2017 programme of work. That means also that the commitments made in the relatively modest resolution 2325 (2016) have not been fulfilled. The new programme of work has only just been agreed, two months later than legally mandated. In those two months, the Committee was left without clear objectives or activities to pursue. I cannot think of any legitimate reason that any country would want to affect the work of the 1540 Committee in such an adverse way. I appeal to everybody around the table to redouble efforts so that we have an ambitious programme of work for the Committee. We must stand up for the universal norms and standards we have spent decades building to create an effective and powerful non-proliferation regime, whether that deals with State actors or non-State actors.

First, let me express our gratitude and appreciation to the Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), my esteemed colleague from Bolivia, for his briefing on the work of the Committee and for his efforts to achieve the full implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). We furthermore welcome the new members and Coordinators of the Group of Experts and wish them well in their new positions. I would like to touch upon three points: first, the threat of weapons of mass destruction; secondly, the importance of resolution 1540 (2004); and thirdly, our work going forward. On my first point, regarding the threat of weapons of mass destruction, the use and the threat of use of such weapons to international peace and security is and remains real. When such attacks occur, death comes in a gruesome way, and survivors have to deal with the aftermath of such attacks for the rest of their lives. The challenges and opportunities presented by scientific and technological developments also have an impact on the current situation. We feel very strongly that this aspect should not be forgotten in the Committee’s work. Let me also reiterate that we fully support the ambition of the Chair to bring the number of national reports to 100 per cent, as he just mentioned. That brings me to my second point, the importance of the mechanism to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction among non-State actors. Resolution 1540 (2004) is key to addressing that threat. With its focus on the use of weapons of mass destruction by non-State actors, the resolution fills a clear gap in the international non-proliferation regime. Resolution 1540 (2004) also complements the other important work being undertaken in the area of nuclear security, such as by the International Atomic Energy Agency, as well as the impetus in this field that was achieved through the Nuclear Security Summit cycle. Therefore, the full implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) should be a priority to us all. We underline the importance of capacity-building in States that need assistance when it comes to export controls, an issue also mentioned earlier by the Chair. That issue is not only relevant for the 1540 Committee, but for many of the subsidiary organs. Turning to my third point, the urgent need for concrete measures to strengthen the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), in the light of the importance of that implementation, we are pleased that agreement was finally reached this morning on a programme of work. Let me congratulate my colleague from Bolivia for that achievement. However, this is not a time to be complacent. Now we need concrete action. The Committee must continue its work effectively and efficiently in line with the measures set out in resolution 2325 (2016), especially those in paragraphs 8 and 9. Outreach towards the wider membership remains a key priority for us. In particular, we welcome the conference just mentioned by the Chair focused on Latin American and Caribbean countries, as three of the autonomous countries in our Kingdom are found there: Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten. Let me conclude by reiterating our support for the important work of the 1540 Committee. It is necessary to build on the momentum created by the 2016 comprehensive review. It is only by working better together to implement the resolution, both in the Council and among the wider membership, that we can prevent weapons of mass destruction from falling into the hands of terrorists.

I thank the Peruvian presidency for holding this meeting. I also thank Ambassador Llorentty Solíz and his team for their briefing, as well as for the work done at the healm of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004). The adoption today of its programme of work, which has been under discussion for some time, and the content of which needed to be commensurate with our expectations, is an important and positive development. It allows us to propose and define future activities by capitalizing on the achievements of previous years. With the adoption of resolution 1540 (2004) and all subsequent resolutions, the Security Council established the threat of the proliferation and use of weapons of mass destruction, in particular by non-State actors, as one of its priorities, thereby asserting its role as guarantor of the non-proliferation regime. However, that regime is now clearly threatened. It is being tested across the board by the persistent risk of a nuclear North Korea, the continuation of destabilizing ballistic activities in the Middle East and by the re-emergence of chemical weapons in Syria — where they are used by the Al-Assad regime and by Da’esh, and in Salisbury and elsewhere. Ultimately, proliferation is no longer the monopoly of a single type of actor; the risk of non-State actors getting hold of sensitive materials is a dangerous reality. That is why the 1540 Committee is more relevant than ever. In that context, to contain and halt proliferation, we must, more than ever, increase our mobilization. That is why the raison d’être of the 1540 Committee and the related resolutions are more relevant than ever. The 1540 Committee is the architect of the action taken by all States that contribute concretely to joint efforts against proliferation. I would like to pay tribute to the Group of Experts, whose analysis and efforts to raise awareness are indispensable to the work of the 1540 Committee. The review they conducted in 2016 confirmed that. The progress in the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) and subsequent resolutions are tangible at the national and regional levels. However, despite the undeniable progress of recent years, much remains to be done. Each of us must strive to calibrate our efforts to implement resolution 1540 (2004). We must all prevent and suppress the financing of proliferation. We must secure the most sensitive goods and materials in our territories, and strengthen export controls, especially against the risk of the instrumentalization of emerging technologies, which we must address. France has modernized its national counter-proliferation legal system, which now criminalizes proliferation activities and supress the funding of such activities. My country is also particularly involved in preventing the risk of the acquisition by terrorists of sensitive nuclear and radioactive material, including radioactive sources, the securing of which we would like to see strengthened. We support the steps taken by the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism and those of the Group of Seven Global Partnership against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction, which we will head in 2019. Let me highlight the importance of cooperation, assistance and interaction in all of our efforts. Because we are more effective together, we must not deploy our efforts to combat proliferation in an isolated way. On cooperation and assistance, I can assure Council members of the commitment of my delegation, which is playing the role of coordinating the Working Group on Assistance with a view to improving the effectiveness of the assistance mechanism according to the mentioned guidelines. France attaches great importance to strengthening the regional dimension of assistance and to ensuring better alignment between the needs and the proposed assistance. The holding of regional events, like those organized by the African Union in 2016, is a recipe for success, and we must draw from that experience. We also welcome actions taken by other stakeholders that were mentioned. I take note specifically of the European Union, which, through its dynamic and ongoing awareness efforts, is helping promote cooperation. Finally, if we are to be effective, we must also take stock of our challenges by enhancing synergies with others that share the same challenges outside of the United Nations, like the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, the World Customs Organization or export control regimes and the various bodies that comprise them. I am specifically thinking of committees dealing with terrorism. These interactions are to be encouraged. Let me state the obvious: at a time when challenges to our security are greater than ever, there is no alternative to the non-proliferation regime. France has never deviated from that position and will continue to defend it by supporting and fully contributing to the activities of the 1540 Committee.

I would like to thank Ambassador Llorentty Solíz for his briefing on the work of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) — a landmark resolution in its day, which has become one of the pillars of the international non-proliferation architecture. Given the ongoing and evolving threats posed by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, today’s briefing reminds us of the critical importance of fully implementing resolution 1540 (2004) for the sake of international peace and security. The shocking use of chemical weapons in Iraq, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, as well as the egregious and systematic use of chemical weapons in Syria, show that the threat posed by weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) is all too real today. Furthermore, the continued proliferation of WMDs by irresponsible actors increases the likelihood that those heinous weapons or the capacity and knowledge to develop them will fall into the hands of non-State actors who carry out terrorist attacks. Given those persistent threats, the United States will continue to prioritize efforts to strengthen our counter-proliferation measures in line with our national security strategy and the Nuclear Posture Review. Our efforts are aimed at ensuring our security and the security of the international community in order to prevent WMD proliferation by non-State actors. The full and universal implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) is integral to achieving that goal. The United States will continue to provide strong support to a broad array of international organizations contributing to non-proliferation and provide extensive bilateral assistance to States seeking to implement their obligations under the resolution. The United States has already provided more than $4.5 million in grants to the 1540 Trust Fund, which helps encourage States to address gaps in the implementation of their 1540 obligations. We also continue to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in our partner countries for cooperative threat reduction and other non-proliferation and export-control-related assistance programmes around the world to reduce the threat of WMDs. We commend that Chair’s plan to hold a regional conference in Latin America next month. Improving implementation and exchanging best practices to strengthen national obligations across Latin America is very important. As a testament to our commitment to the region, we have helped fund a grant for the regional coordinator project of the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism of the Organization of American States (OAS), which is now helping OAS members to develop 1540 national implementation action plans and will promote the implementation of the resolution. Turning to the many tasks that lie ahead for the Committee, it is clear that the Committee must redouble its efforts to implement its programme of work to enhance the global implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). While we regret that it took nearly three months to adopt the programme of work, we are pleased that we can finally begin moving forward again. Now is the time for the Committee to address real and evolving challenges. In particular, the United States believes the Committee should prioritize four areas in the coming weeks. First, the Committee must meet more regularly and develop a clear strategy for achieving the many elements of its programme of work. Last year, after holding one formal Committee meeting, the Chair promised to convene more meetings and get the Committee back to work. We look forward to seeing him follow through on that promise. Secondly, since the Committee has selected new experts, it should now turn to initiating a formal process for appointing a coordinator. That will also help keep the Committee on track for continued progress. We look forward to working with the incoming experts, who are critical to helping the Committee carry out its very important mandate. Thirdly, the Committee must also seek to develop best approaches to enforce appropriate and effective laws to implement resolution 1540 (2004), including by developing national control lists. Finally, in 2016, the Council adopted resolution 2325 (2016) and said it would focus on the challenge of controlling access to transfers of technology and the evolving nature of the risks of proliferation due to rapid advances in science, technology and international commerce. We hope the Committee can take advantage of a wide array of civil society and industry resources to examine ways to combat those threats. In conclusion, the United States recalls that resolution 1540 (2004), a Chapter VII resolution, is binding on all Member States. The implementation of its provisions is not optional for any Member State. In particular, in today’s context, we see no greater risk of chemical weapons falling into the hands of terrorists than a chemical-weapons programme that is unverified and unaccounted for. For our part, the United States will continue to fully support the work of the 1540 Committee to stop the spread of weapons of mass destruction.

The delegation of Equatorial Guinea is highly gratified by the holding of this meeting today. As such, it conveys its congratulations to the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), Mr. Sacha Sergio Llorentty Solíz, Permanent Representative of the Plurinational Republic of Bolivia. We would like to thank him for his leadership, dedication and efforts as Chair of that important Committee. We also thank the entire Committee and the outgoing Group of Experts for the work they have accomplished. We once again pledge the readiness of the delegation of Equatorial Guinea to work and participate actively in the Committee’s tasks. We have taken good note of the report of the Chair of the 1540 Committee on the activities carried out over the course of 2017. We welcome the Committee’s progress in the submission of national implementation action plans by new States, among them Equatorial Guinea, which submitted its first action plan in 2017 to the Committee — a significant step towards achieving this goal. We note that the Republic of Equatorial Guinea is continuing its work towards the full and correct implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). I encourage the Chair of the Committee to continue divulging the implementation measures for resolution 1540 (2004). There are only 13 States left, which means we are very close to reaching universality on national action plans. In that regard, we stress the importance of joining forces with the 1540 Committee to that end. That is why we believe it is urgent to advance this discussion. The Republic of Equatorial Guinea is deeply concerned about the growing threat of terrorism and the risk of non-State actors acquiring, developing or employing nuclear, chemical or biological weapons — or trafficking them. That would bring about unforeseeable and devastating consequences for humankind. The threat to global security is real and very serious. Developed nations that have magnificent infrastructure and security forces capable of countering the terrorist threat and preventing non-State actors from using weapons of mass destruction must bear in mind that, if they do not help developing States gain access to the same type of tracking, surveillance and security infrastructure, especially at border crossings, those deficiencies could be exploited by terrorists and other non-State agents to obtain the raw materials that make it possible for them to manufacture and proliferate weapons mass destruction. Therefore, not only is it imperative for all States to spare no effort in prioritizing the adoption of measures at the national level pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), but it is also important for States, such as the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, to secure other means to enable the correct and successful implementation of the measures referred to in the resolution. Equatorial Guinea acknowledges the significant progress that has been made by the international community in the elimination of chemical weapons. In that regard, we want to stress the need for the destruction of all categories of weapons of mass destruction, so that humankind can live without the fear of the threat posed by those weapons. On Tuesday, 10 April, the Security Council once again showed itself unable to be effective in the conflict that the Syrian people are experiencing by not being able to give Syrian children a place to play without fear of the next bomb, not being able to give Syrian women an opportunity to go out for a walk and not being able to give the elderly and the sick an opportunity to find medicine or go to the hospital (see S/PV.8228). Is it so difficult for the Council, which is entrusted with ensuring global peace and security, to find a solution for all those people who are waiting on this decision-making organ of the United Nations? Is it so difficult to reach an agreement on an independent investigative mechanism to identify those responsible for using of chemical weapons in Syria? Syrians have suffered seven years of war, while the Second World War lasted only five years. The Republic of Equatorial Guinea encourages all parties involved in the conflict and those that have a greater or lesser influence on the country to think a bit about those Syrian children who are suffering so much as if they were our own children and grandchildren, to think of those Syrian women as if they were our wives or sisters and to think of those elderly men and women as if they were our mothers and fathers. We must urgently work on a new consensual draft resolution to establish a new mechanism for monitoring and attributing responsibilities for the use of chemical weapons.

I thank Ambassador Sacha Llorentty Solíz for his briefing. I would also like to express my delegation’s support for his further efforts in steering the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004). Poland attaches great importance to its commitments on the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. With full conviction, we support the implementation of legally binding instruments, such as the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Biological Weapons Convention. Resolution 1540 (2004) constitutes an important complementary tool in this area, since it addresses weapons of mass destruction-related threats caused by non-State actors, which are increasing. Resolution 2325 (2016) calls upon States to take into account the evolving nature of the risk of proliferation and rapid advances in science and technology in their implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). Rapid technological advances in the dual-use domain continue to outpace national and international regulations. Non-State actors have become more creative in weaponizing new technologies. The use of weapons of mass destruction by terrorists is a dreadful reality. Let me just mention that the Joint Investigative Mechanism attributed the use of chemical weapons also, but not only, to Da’esh. All these developments prove that resolution 1540 (2004) is not only still relevant, but the importance of its full implementation is perhaps greater than ever before. We also believe it is possible to build synergies between the 1540 (2004) Committee and other relevant international, regional and subregional organizations, as well as functional groupings, such as the Global Partnership against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction, the European Union Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence Initiative, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Proliferation Security Initiative. They all have tools to assist nations in better implementing their non-proliferation commitments. We are pleased that the programme of work of the Committee, adopted earlier today, recognizes the need for a structured and more regular discussion based on monthly expert meetings of the Committee. We hope that such regular meetings will contribute to the revitalization of the Committee’s work, as well as to further implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). We also hope that the process of selecting a new coordinator of the Group of Experts will be finalized soon, according to the established precedent.

I thank Ambassador Sacha Llorentty Solíz, Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), for his very informative briefing. In the face of the rapidly increasing threat of weapons of mass destruction, the implementation of resolutions 1540 (2004) and 2325 (2016) is vital. Especially considering the present threats besetting us, the work of the 1540 (2004) Committee is more relevant than ever. Kazakhstan, with its principled position against the threats of weapons of mass destruction, has always supported, and will continue to support the activities of the 1540 Committee. First, Kazakhstan will continue its tradition of allocating voluntary contributions to the Trust Fund for Global and Regional Disarmament Activities in order to assist the Committee in ensuring States’ implementation of their obligations under resolution 1540 (2004). Secondly, we congratulate the Committee on the new composition of the Group of Experts. We wish the representatives of Peru and Côte d’Ivoire success in their new appointments as Coordinators of Working Groups I and III. We should always keep in mind that the risk of weapons of mass destruction falling into the hands of non-State actors, together with the rapid growth of new technologies, can evolve and increase. The Committee is being proactive and doing a lot to respond to such threats in a timely manner. In the report, in accordance with the requests made at our previous meeting, we see that a great deal of work has been done on outreach activities, which has increased the number of countries providing national reports and has increased the monitoring and technical assistance provided to States to strengthen their ability to confront the modern threat of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Thirdly, we must not lose sight of nuclear security. My President, Nursultan Nazarbayev, during the opening ceremony of the International Atomic Energy Agency Low-Enriched Uranium Bank in Kazakhstan last August, noted the importance of the resumption of the Nuclear Security Summits, which were conducted by the United States from 2010 to 2016. We are in favour of resuming such regular high-level meetings to discuss topical issues related to the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Taking into account the evolving nature of the risks of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, including the use by non-State actors of rapid advances in science and technology, we reiterate our initiative to establish a United Nations register on scientific developments leading to the creation and advancement of weapons of mass destruction, which would track such dangerous discoveries. As the Council is aware, Kazakhstan has developed and promotes, with the support of the United Nations community, the code of conduct for the achievement of a world free of terrorism. Its implementation will contribute not only to the goals and work of the Counter-Terrorism Committee, but also to the activities of the 1540 Committee, reflecting the importance and necessity of protecting critical facilities from the threat of terrorism. We express our support for the programme of work of the 1540 Committee for a new period and hope for its effective implementation. In its work, the Committee should help ensure that Member States’ national policies and practices are consistent with the goal of completely eliminating the threat of weapons of mass destruction. Finally, I would like to reaffirm Kazakhstan’s firm commitment to consolidating the world community’s efforts to rid the world of WMDs. This aim must be achieved through the consistent strengthening and expansion of the non-proliferation regime, primarily within the framework of resolution 1540 (2004). I wish to express the gratitude of my delegation for the Committee’s excellent work and solid action plan and to note in particular the able leadership of its Chair, our colleague Sacha Llorenty Solíz. Our delegation wishes once again to assure the Committee of our full support for its work and readiness to actively engage in its undertakings.

The delegation of Côte d’Ivoire would like to thank Ambassador Sacha Sergio Llorentty Solíz, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Bolivia and Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), for his briefing on the activities of the Committee charged with following up on the implementation of resolutions on weapons of mass destruction. The subject at hand today is particularly important and poignant given the recent allegations of the use of chemical weapons in Syria. By adopting unanimously, on 28 April 2004, resolution 1540 (2004), the Council addressed the challenge of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, thus making the resolution an important part of the global security architecture. However, 14 years later, our world continues to live under the persistent threat of weapons of mass destruction, which represent a clear and present challenge to the non-proliferation regime. This very real and constantly evolving threat is of concern to the entire international community. Of course, we welcome the significant progress made in implementing resolution 1540 (2004) and subsequent resolutions, but we must admit that a great deal remains to be done given the threat of the acquisition of weapons of mass destruction by non-State actors, particularly terrorist organizations. Côte d’Ivoire remains extremely concerned by the risk of seeing such non-State actors develop, acquire, manufacture, possess, transport, transfer or use nuclear, chemical and biological weapons or their means of delivery. That is why we strongly support efforts to prevent the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and their means of delivery, and to put in place appropriate oversight mechanisms in order to prevent their trafficking. My delegation reaffirms the importance of international cooperation and coordination to the effective implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), with a view to putting an end to this genuine threat to international peace and security. Moreover, it is important to ensure the effective application of and strict respect for international legal norms relating to the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. In this regard, strengthening cooperation in the areas of border controls, the monitoring of financial flows and Internet networks, and legal assistance is more necessary than ever before. The delegation of Côte d’Ivoire would also like to draw the attention of the Council and the international community to the issue of the security of the numerous stockpiles of fissile material that are not covered by any international regulation and that could be used to manufacture weapons of mass destruction. The existence of such stockpiles increases the likelihood of such substances falling into the hands of terrorist groups. Here Côte d’Ivoire calls on Member States, with the help of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, to meet their international obligations under the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction. In this regard, the strengthening of national capacities, assistance and awareness-raising are important aspects of the implementation of the various international legal instruments. My delegation is of the view that the implementation of the various resolutions is a long-term goal that requires that all stakeholders involved, particularly Member States, international and regional organizations, the private sector and civil society, be vigilant and actively cooperate. States must work together in order to establish good practices that can prevent chemical agents from falling into the wrong hands. The Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) plays a key role in the implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions on non-proliferation — something that must constantly be stressed. My delegation welcomes the work done in that respect, which has enabled several Member States to submit their initial reports. Côte d’Ivoire welcomes the improved cooperation between the 1540 Committee and United Nations and non-United Nations bodies aimed at addressing non-proliferation challenges. In that light, we call on the Committee, based on its mandate, to step up dialogue with the relevant international, regional and subregional organizations so as to share experiences and lessons learned and to identify areas of synergy that could be leveraged in order to implement resolution 1540 (2004) to the benefit of their respective member States. Côte d’Ivoire also welcomes the second in-depth review of the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), conducted in 2016 and which gave rise to important recommendations. We hope that the next review, planned for 2021, will make possible significant progress in the area of the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. In that regard, Côte d’Ivoire welcomes the adoption of the 2018 programme of work by the members of the Committee, which had been a priority. For its part, Côte d’Ivoire, in its capacity as a Vice-Chair of the 1540 Committee, remains firmly committed to the strengthening of the multilateral disarmament and non-proliferation regimes and is prepared to make a constructive contribution to achieving the goals of the Committee, to which it once again reiterates its support.

China would like to thank Ambassador Llorentty Solíz, in his capacity as Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), for his briefing. Last year, the 1540 Committee conducted a comprehensive review both of how States had implemented the resolution over the previous five years and of every aspect of its own work. Resolution 2325 (2016), which was adopted unanimously, established a sound foundation for the Committee’s future work. Recently, the 1540 Committee has done a great deal to encourage Member States to report on the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), conducting outreach and regional training and stepping up technical assistance, with positive results. China commends the efforts of the Chair of the Committee and his team. As the first Council resolution dedicated to the issue of non-proliferation, resolution 1540 (2004) is an important part of the international non-proliferation regime. Over the years, the resolution and the Committee’s work have played an important role in strengthening the international non-proliferation regime and enhancing the capacity of all States to prevent proliferation. The international non-proliferation situation continues to be challenging and demands that we all continue to improve their cooperation and their synergy. First, we must build a political consensus and achieve shared security. All countries should subscribe to the modern concept of security, according to which we must work to achieve common, comprehensive, collaborative and sustainable security, build a security architecture that is fair and just for all and by all, create a peaceful and stable international environment and eradicate the conditions that fuel terrorism and proliferation activities as soon as possible. Secondly, we should strengthen State responsibility and promote pragmatic cooperation. The primary responsibility for non-proliferation lies with Governments. Countries should be respected and supported in developing anti-proliferation policies in the context of their national realities and improving their non-proliferation legislation. All parties should intensify their pragmatic cooperation on non-proliferation, based on equality and mutual respect, and focus on meeting developing countries’ needs by providing international assistance in this area. Thirdly, we should maintain fair and balanced approaches and look to reach solutions through political and diplomatic means. All parties should work consistently to find political and diplomatic solutions to urgent non-proliferation-related issues. Unilateralism, double standards and discriminatory practices should be rejected so as to safeguard the authority and effectiveness of the international non-proliferation regime. Fourthly, we must comply with the resolution’s mandate to the letter and conduct the Committee’s work in an orderly manner. The principle of consensus should continue to prevail, and the Committee’s Working Groups should function in a balanced manner, with the aim of increasing all countries’ capacity to implement the resolutions and provide a solid foundation for promoting their full implementation. China stands firmly against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. We have consistently and diligently met our international non-proliferation obligations and taken an active part in international and regional non-proliferation cooperation. We are committed to advocating for a political solution to urgent non-proliferation-related issues and support the rightful role of the United Nations in this area. As always, we stand ready to work with all parties to contribute to advancing the work of the 1540 Committee, strengthen the global governance of non-proliferation and maintain world peace and security.

We thank Mr. Llorentty Solíz, Permanent Representative of Bolivia, in his capacity as Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), for his briefing on the Committee’s work. We thank the Ambassador of Bolivia and his delegation for their stewardship of this subsidiary body of the Security Council and for their flexibility and ability to include differing points of view in their summary documents. We also thank the entire team of the Committee’s Group of Experts for its professionalism. Combating the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) is among the Russian Federation’s military and political priorities. As with all other serious issues, it requires the concerted and coordinated efforts of all States, without exception. We are eager to find common ground with our partners so as to promote the non-proliferation agenda as quickly as possible, especially since the problems in this area continue to worsen. Resolution 1540 (2004), which Russia and the United States were instrumental in bringing about, rightly occupies a special place in the global non-proliferation architecture. It was designed to establish a robust legal and law-enforcement bulwark for preventing WMDs from falling into the hands of non-State actors, including terrorists. The value of resolution 1540 (2004) also lies in the fact that it is a tool for cooperation rather than coercion or the extraction of services. The newer resolution, 2325 (2016), adopted as an outcome of the review process for resolution 1540 (2004), strengthens its non-proliferation potential, facilitates the exchange of best practices for its implementation and increases the effectiveness of the assistance provided to countries that need it while taking due account of their specific requirements. We believe that it is States that have the responsibility for implementing resolution 1540 (2004). International and regional organizations, industry, business, academia and scientific circles, as well as other sectors of civil society, play an important supporting role by assisting States in implementing specific provisions of this important Security Council resolution. The resolution’s institutional framework corresponds to its mandated tasks. We believe that our approach to the assessment of the operations of this Security Council subsidiary body and its Group of Experts should be a realistic one. Creating additional bureaucratic structures around 1540 Committee issues, limiting experts’ contracts and advocating artificially for radical and unconsidered proposals can create additional obstacles rather than increasing the effectiveness of the Committee’s work. We should therefore be guided by the principle of “first do no harm”. In the light of the ongoing activity of the Islamic State and other terrorist groups in Syria that have mastered chemical-weapon technology and are making active use of it, the significance of a collective effort to suppress the heinous problem of chemical terrorism is only increasing. But it is important to work in concert while realizing that as the situation in Syria evolves, terrorists, including those who have had practical experience in the area of chemical weapons, will try to go into hiding in third countries. For our part, we are eager to strengthen the WMD non-proliferation regime, including through the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). We stand ready to engage constructively with the Chair of the Committee and our partners. With regard to the references made today to the Salisbury incident, I will be brief. We are waiting for information from the investigation and answers to the questions that we have asked. I am not wrong in emphasizing that we are all pretty tired of unproven statements. The same applies to eastern Ghouta, where we hope peaceful civilian life will soon be restored. The experts from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons are investigating the allegations, and we hope that they will be permitted to do that.

I would like to begin by thanking Ambassador Llorentty Solíz for his briefing and commending him and Bolivia for their efforts in steering the work of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004). They deserve our praise. Ethiopia welcomes the progress made in the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) and subsequent resolutions aimed at preventing the proliferation to non-State actors of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. We note in particular, as the Chair of the Committee indicated, that the number of States that have submitted their national reports has reached 180, which in our view is a clear manifestation of the political commitment of States Members of the United Nations to addressing the threat posed by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, their means of delivery and related materials. However, we note with concern that of the 13 Member States that have yet to submit at least a first national report, 11 are in Africa. We have also noted with great concern, after a recent informal briefing by the Committee’s Group of Experts, that Africa remains far behind other regions both in terms of overall implementation and of implementation in relation to the establishment of domestic controls to prevent the proliferation of these weapons of mass destruction, particularly with regard to controlling related materials and implementing measures in the areas of accounting, securing, physical protection, border and law enforcement, export and trade-related controls. It is in that context that I would like to welcome the upcoming training session for points of contact for the African region, to be held in Addis Ababa in cooperation with the African Union. I would also like to reiterate our previous call for enhanced cooperation with the African Union in the implementation of the Common African Defence and Security Policy and other regional frameworks, such as the African Nuclear- Weapon-Free Zone. I would further like to encourage the Committee to strengthen its assistance framework to Member States, upon their request, with a view to addressing the implementation gaps, particularly in the area of domestic control measures, as well as in adopting and enforcing appropriate and effective laws that comprehensively address the proliferation risk caused by non-State actors, including terrorists. It is important for the Committee to work closely with the Group of Experts to address the challenges related to the assistance framework, particularly in the areas of matchmaking, the availability and conditions of assistance for all States and the limited number of responses to requests for assistance. We have noted from the Chair’s briefing that there is a plan to undertake country visits later this year with the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, and that the Group of Experts had a meeting with the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force to identify areas of collaboration. In addition, further collaboration should be envisaged between the 1540 Committee Group of Experts and members of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team established pursuant to resolutions 1526 (2004) and 2253 (2015) concerning the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, Al-Qaida and the Taliban and associated individuals and entities. We are hopeful that this issue will be taken up by the Committee in the implementation of its programme of work for 2018. I would like to conclude by affirming my delegation’s commitment to working closely with the Chair and members of the Council to that end. I would also like to reaffirm Ethiopia’s commitment to continuing taking all the measures necessary to prevent weapons of mass destruction from falling into the hands of non-State actors. The possibility that they may fall into terrorists’ hands has always worried us. We will never refrain from doing whatever is necessary to contribute to the full implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions in this regard.

I would like to thank the Ambassador of Bolivia for his briefing to the Security Council today and for Bolivia’s continued efforts as Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004). We welcome the important developments in the 1540 Committee’s work during 2017, which included the appointment of six new members to the Group of Experts. We are pleased that three of the new experts have already commenced their work and that the remaining three will join the Group in the coming weeks. I would also like to express my appreciation to Japan and Egypt for their contributions during their time on the Council as the coordinators of Working Groups I and III, respectively. We welcome Peru and Côte d’Ivoire as the new coordinators of those two Working Groups and look forward to working with them. They can be assured of our full support. We hope that the appointment of the Coordinator for the Group of Experts will also be agreed on soon. I would also like to take this opportunity to stress the importance of taking gender balance into account when appointing coordinators. Sweden remains strongly committed to strengthening the multilateral disarmament and non-proliferation regimes, to which resolution 1540 (2004) is a essential complement. The threat of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction to and through non-State actors is constantly evolving, and the global non-proliferation framework is under immense pressure. Again and again in recent years we have witnessed the use of chemical weapons by both State and non-State actors. In line with the comment by the British Ambassador, this cannot be allowed to become the new normal. It is imperative that we hold perpetrators to account and show the world that the use of these weapons remains unacceptable. We must recognize the changing nature of the threat, react, adapt and step up our efforts. I would like to reiterate once again our regret that the Council has failed to establish a new attribution mechanism for the use of chemical weapons in Syria. We will continue to support efforts that aim to achieve that objective. Accountability for the use of chemical weapons in Syria is crucial and must be ensured. We were pleased that the programme of work could be adopted this morning. The adoption was essential for the Committee to remain effective, and Sweden, as Vice-Chair of the Committee, thanks all Council members for their flexibility and spirit of compromise. I would also like to mention the important joint meeting that took place last year between the 1540 Committee and the Counter-Terrorism Committee. Such meetings have proved useful, and we encourage further exchanges and strengthened cooperation with other relevant Security Council Committees, including the Counter-Terrorism Committee. There remains a need to highlight the risks associated with intangible transfers of technology whereby sensitive know-how may be transferred through research, industry or social media. This is an issue that we raised repeatedly during the comprehensive review in 2016. As Vice-Chair of the 1540 Committee, we are currently considering ways to further those efforts. We remain committed to contributing to the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), including through the nuclear-security cooperation programme of the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority and our engagement in the Group of Seven Global Partnership Programme, where we currently co-chair the Biological Security Sub-Working Group. As we have seen in the past few days, the threat posed by weapons of mass destruction to international peace and security is clear and present. It is only by working together, in full support of the multilateral institutions that we have put in place, that these threats can be managed and overcome.

At the outset, I would like to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to Ambassador Llorentty Solíz, Permanent Representative of Bolivia, for his valuable briefing and outstanding work as Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), particularly those efforts aimed at preventing non-State actors’ development, acquisition, production, possession, transfer or use of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and their means of delivery. We hope today’s meeting will convince Member States to step up their efforts to implement resolution 1540 (2004) as intensively as possible, so as to achieve full implementation of the resolution’s provisions and universality for its very important guidelines, which represent a road map for Member States to develop national strategies and legislation designed to prevent the proliferation of these weapons to non-State actors and promote a future free of WMDs. We call on the 13 non-reporting States to submit their first reports as soon as possible. I would also like to welcome the new members of the Committee’s Group of Experts. We wish them every success in their work. The agreement reached by the members of the Council on the Committee’s 2018 programme of work, after more than two months of consultations, is a clear manifestation of the important role played by the Committee’s members. It highlights the sectors that are most urgently in need of attention in the light of new proliferation risks, as well as the national plans and regional visits by the Committee and its Group of Experts. It also addresses the special circumstances of certain States with regard to the implementation of measures to combat proliferation and enhance the role of civil society in combating the proliferation of WMDs. We are all aiming to improve the performance of the 1540 Committee and its four working groups and to operationalize its mechanisms at the national, regional and international levels, which have become a fundamental part of international efforts to achieve non-proliferation. That is extremely important for the maintenance of international peace and security. The State of Kuwait is deeply concerned about the current challenges to the WMD-non-proliferation regime. The Council has already met more than four times this month to discuss the use of WMDs in more than one country. The entire international community is aware of the recent tragedies in Syria, the latest of which centres on the ongoing uncertainty about the use of such lethal weapons in Douma last Saturday. In conclusion, I reiterate that the State of Kuwait aligns itself with the position of the League of Arab States on freeing the world from nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, beginning in the Middle East. We are therefore eager to improve the Committee’s work and performance. The State of Kuwait recently established a national point of contact with the Committee in accordance with paragraph 6 of resolution 2325 (2016). We will submit our second voluntary report soon, in cooperation with the Committee’s Group of Experts and its relevant Secretariat departments, the Office for Disarmament Affairs and the Department of Political Affairs.

I would now like to make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Peru. We would first like to thank Ambassador Sacha Llorentty Solíz for his briefing on the work of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004). We would like to commend his work and that of his team, and to express our strong support for the full implementation by all States of resolutions 1540 (2004) and 2325 (2016), especially speaking as the new Coordinator of the Working Group on monitoring and national implementation. Peru is committed to all efforts aimed at achieving general and complete disarmament and the non-proliferation of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons and their delivery systems, which constitute a threat to international peace and security. We reiterate our deep concern about the threat of terrorism and the risk of non-State actors acquiring, developing, using or trafficking such weapons and their delivery systems. We believe it is essential for the international community to remain united in order to respond effectively to the serious challenges facing non-proliferation regimes, which are the most serious threats to international peace and security in the world today. It is urgent that the challenge posed by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s nuclear and ballistic programme be addressed. We also believe that it is crucial to preserve the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on the Iranian nuclear programme and to strictly monitor its implementation. We would also like to stress the importance of reaching compromise in the Council concerning the unacceptable use of chemical weapons in Syria with a view to ensuring that the facts are fully investigated and that responsibility for it can be determined through an attributive mechanism. We are also concerned about the possibility that the misuse of new scientific innovations may lead to illicit proliferation activities, particularly through illegal technology transfers and illicit financial transactions. In that regard, we want to underline the importance of ensuring that all States implement measures aimed at fulfilling all their obligations, especially those relating to internal control and export. We must all adopt effective national controls in line with resolution 2325 (2016). Finally, we believe in the importance of the work of the 1540 Committee, particularly in responding to the risk that non-State actors, especially terrorists, may acquire chemical, biological or radiological weapons or fissile materials. Lastly, we commend the Chair’s successful efforts to ensure the Committee’s adoption of a programme of work, which will promote the full implementation of resolution 2325 (2016) and serve as the basis for its next comprehensive review. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. I invite Council members to informal consultations to continue our discussion on the subject.