S/PV.8993 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 Juan Ramón de la Fuente Ramírez, Permanent Representative of Mexico, in his capacity as Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004). I now give the floor to Ambassador De la Fuente Ramírez.

As the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), I am honoured to address the Security Council on the work of the Committee since the previous briefing, on 30 March 2021 (see S/2021/325, Annex I). Resolution 1540 (2004) remains a vital component of the global non-proliferation architecture aimed at preventing non-State actors, including terrorists, from gaining access to weapons of mass destruction. States have made significant progress in the full implementation of the resolution. Nevertheless, gaps remain and the full and effective implementation of the resolution is a long-term task. In 2021 and early 2022, in the face of continuing travel and other restrictions due to the coronavirus disease pandemic, the Committee maintained the precautionary measures that were adopted in 2020. Most business was conducted virtually, although four in-person Committee meetings were held. In comparison with 19 events in 2020, most of them virtual, in 2021 the Committee participated in one in-person and 23 virtual events. In the reporting period, the Committee continued to conduct the comprehensive review of resolution 1540 (2004), in accordance with the provisions of resolution 1977 (2011), as one of its main priorities. In April 2021 under resolution 2572 (2021), the Committee’s mandate was renewed until 28 February 2022; under resolution 2622 (2022) adopted on 25 February, it was further extended until 30 November 2022 to allow for the completion of the review. A central theme of the comprehensive review is the status of the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) by Member States. The Committee is also addressing its role in facilitating assistance matchmaking; its collaboration with relevant international, regional and subregional organizations and other United Nations bodies; and its outreach activities. The review is an inclusive process. While contributions by Member States who bear the primary responsibility for the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) will be given great importance, the Committee will also invite international, regional and subregional organizations, as well as relevant civil society organizations, to participate in open consultations in order to ensure wide-ranging consultations. Further details on such open consultations will be communicated soon since expectations and interest have remained high. Also during the reporting period, Mozambique submitted its first national report containing information on measures taken to comply with its obligations under resolution 1540 (2004). That brings to 185 the number of Member States who have now submitted first reports, leaving eight States that have not yet done so. One helpful activity, among others, in implementing resolution 1540 (2004) is the development of voluntary national implementation action plans by States, as encouraged by paragraph 5 of resolution 2325 (2016). The number of States that have submitted such plans to the Committee since 2007 now stands at 35, a number unchanged since my last briefing to the Security Council. However, during the reporting period, the Committee supported two States, namely Botswana and Mongolia, which are in the process of developing said action plans. Acknowledging that Member States are in the best position to identify effective national practices and to share them with the 1540 Committee and other partners, peer reviews have been held all around the world. The number of such reviews is unchanged since my last briefing to the Council. The Committee looks forward to hearing about the results of further peer reviews and will continue to support States that wish to conduct them, where appropriate. To date, a total of 136 Member States, compared to 127 in 2020, have informed the Committee of their national points of contact for the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). No training courses for regional points of contact were conducted in 2021 due to pandemic-related restrictions, as I mentioned before. The Committee hopes to resume such training courses soon. The Committee plays an important role in facilitating assistance to Member States to fulfil their 1540 obligations by matching assistance requests from States with offers of assistance from States or international, regional or subregional organizations. In 2021, States submitted to the Committee four new requests for assistance, compared to six in 2020. The Committee received assistance requests from Botswana, Sierra Leone, Tajikistan and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The Committee web page lists States and international, regional and subregional organizations that offer 1540-related assistance. The Committee stands ready to include new programmes or updated information regarding available assistance on its website. In addition to assistance provided by States and international, regional and subregional organizations, the Committee and its Group of Experts will undertake visits to States, at their invitation, to discuss national reporting, national action plans, Committee matrices and assistance on implementation measures. The Committee will continue to use its website and the Chair’s quarterly message for outreach and enhancing the transparency of its activities. Information relating to participation in outreach events, as well as statements, including video-messages, delivered by the Chair or on his behalf are regularly uploaded to the Committee’s website. In closing, I wish to thank my fellow Committee members for their efforts in support of the Committee’s work and to the Group of Experts, officials in Office for Disarmament Affairs and the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and my staff for the invaluable support to the Committee during the most recent period. I will now make a statement in my national capacity. Mexico reiterates its unequivocal conviction of the need to strengthen the international non-proliferation architecture in order to prevent the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of weapons of mass destruction and to garner the essential multilateral cooperation necessary to address global challenges. In that connection, we are convinced that the recent extension of the mandate of the 1540 Committee until November will allow us to continue with the broad review of resolution 1540 (2004). We hope that the members of the Security Council and the rest of the United Nations membership will participate actively in adjusting and bolstering the mandate of modern reality. We trust that together we will be able to identify those elements and thus contribute to curbing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction by non-State actors, including terrorists.

I thank Ambassador De la Fuente Ramírez for his briefing. I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements.

First of all, I would like to warmly thank the Permanent Representative of Mexico and his entire team for their hard work in chairing the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004). Resolution 1540 (2004) is a pillar of the international non-proliferation framework. Indeed, more than 15 years after its adoption, the threat not only remains, but is evolving. The channels of proliferation are becoming more complex, and the risk of biological, chemical and nuclear materials falling into the hands of non-State actors persists. We therefore agree that the current framework must be strengthened. We regret that the comprehensive review process has been delayed. This review is essential for maintaining the relevance of resolution 1540 (2004), and we want it to be inclusive, allowing all Member States and civil society organizations to have their say. The extension of the Committee’s mandate should enable us to carry out this review. There are aspects of resolution 1540 (2004) that could be strengthened, such as the financing of proliferation. We attach particular importance to assistance and cooperation. We stand ready to provide assistance to States that request it. We need to improve the coordination of assistance offers and needs. We must also deepen cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, the Biological Weapons Convention, the export control regimes and other United Nations committees, such as those dealing with terrorism. Finally, it is important to raise awareness of resolution 1540 (2004) in order to enhance its implementation. Useful proposals have already been made in that regard. Let me conclude by paying tribute to the Group of Experts, whose analytical and advocacy work remains indispensable.

I thank Ambassador Juan Ramón de la Fuente Ramírez, Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), for his briefing on the Committee’s activities and for his leadership of the 1540 Committee. Let me begin by reaffirming India’s commitment to global efforts against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and their delivery systems. Resolution 1540 (2004) identifies terrorists and terrorist groups as key non-State actors who may acquire, develop, traffic in or use weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. As indicated in United Nations reports, the threat of terrorists acquiring WMDs is no longer in the theoretical realm. The findings of the recent report of the United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh/Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant on the position and use of WMDs by Da’esh are deeply disturbing. Preventing terrorist groups from acquiring and using weapons of mass destruction must therefore be a central priority and responsibility of the Council and the international community. Having resolutely fought the battle against terrorism for many decades, India, through its annual resolution in the General Assembly, has drawn the attention of the international community to the dangers of proliferation of WMDs and the potential for its exploitation by terrorists and other non-State actors. First submitted in 2002, the resolution has been adopted by consensus, thus reflecting the global consensus on this matter. India accords great importance to the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). With our long-standing commitment to global non-proliferation, we have established a strong statutory national export control system. India is also among the few countries that regularly provide national reports of implementation on resolution 1540 (2004) to the Committee. In that regard, we are happy to know that we are moving closer to achieving universal national reporting on the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). We support the continuous and constant efforts by the Committee towards the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) wherever possible by offering to share our knowledge and technical expertise as part of the Committee’s assistance framework. Recognizing the key role of industry, academia and other key stakeholders in the implementation of the resolution, India has organized several outreach events involving those stakeholders. We have been organizing periodic outreach programmes on export controls for industry, including sector-specific and region-specific events in India, as well as for academic and research institutions, particularly covering intangible technology transfers. We had earlier hosted a two-day India-Wiesbaden conference on securing global supply chains through Government and industry partnerships, in New Delhi in 2018. We also support the 1540 Committee’s enhanced cooperation and coordination with international organizations such as the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and other relevant United Nations bodies, including the Office for Disarmament Affairs and the Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee, to prevent non-State actors from acquiring weapons of mass destruction. With respect to the current work of the Committee, greater urgency needs to be shown in advancing the Committee’s work. The mandate of the Committee has already been rolled over twice. While the Committee’s work was impacted by pandemic-related restrictions, those have since been lifted. During the recent mandate renewal, the Council provided a clear mandate to the Committee to complete the comprehensive review of the status of the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) and to submit a report before the expiry of its mandate. Positive progress has been achieved towards that goal, including through the provisional securing of dates and a venue for the open consultations, and we appreciate the Chair’s efforts in that regard. However, greater urgency is required to ensure that the mandate provided by the Council is fulfilled within the prescribed period. The early adoption of a 2022 programme of work with a clear timeline of activities for completing the comprehensive review and implementing the programme in a timely manner would contribute immensely to fulfilling that mandate. India will continue to engage constructively in the Council and the Committee towards that end. Let me conclude by reiterating the urgency of advancing the work of the Committee to prevent non-State actors from acquiring weapons of mass destruction. Procrastination cannot be an option anymore.

I thank Ambassador Juan Ramón de la Fuente Ramírez, Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), for his briefing. As a State party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of nuclear weapons (NPT), the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), we appreciate the 1540 Committee’s role as an essential component of the global non-proliferation architecture in preventing non-State actors from gaining access to weapons of mass destruction. The briefing today provides very useful information on the work and transparency of the 1540 Committee and the status of the implementation of the resolution ahead of the comprehensive review on the status of the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). The Committee’s resilience in pursuing its activities, including facilitating assistance to Member States to fulfil their 1540 obligations while maintaining precautionary measures during the coronavirus disease pandemic, is commendable. I would like to recall that in April 2016 Ghana submitted its national action plan for the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). Given how expedient our national action plan has been in helping us to implement resolution 1540 (2004), it is our hope that efforts will be intensified to encourage other Member States to develop voluntary national implementation action plans, as encouraged by the Council in operative paragraph 5 of resolution 2325 (2016). It is our belief that maintaining transparency and information-sharing through the Committee’s website will continue to serve as a useful platform in facilitating further outreach to Member States to fulfil their 1540 obligations. In view of the all-inclusive nature of the comprehensive review process, we encourage the participation and contributions of all Member States as well as the relevant international, regional and subregional organizations in the open consultations to be organized. We remain optimistic about the work of the Committee and appreciate the support from the Group of Experts and officials of the Office for Disarmament Affairs and the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs.

I would like to thank Ambassador Juan Ramón de la Fuente Ramírez for his briefing today. This has been a difficult and challenging year for him and for his work and for that of his team. It has been really exemplary in guiding the progress of the Council and the progress by the Committee, so I wanted to thank him for that. Ireland greatly values the work of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004). It is more important than ever to reiterate that any threat or use of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) is abhorrent. In seeking to prevent non-State actors from acquiring and using WMDs, resolution 1540 (2004) is a critical part of the global non-proliferation architecture. Its full implementation remains essential, and we encourage States to continue to take seriously their obligations under the resolution. The 1540 Committee and the Group of Experts, in our view, do vital work in that regard. Ireland welcomes the technical rollover of the 1540 mandate agreed last month. It allows us time to complete the comprehensive review. It is important that the comprehensive review and the open consultations planned for the end of May be completed in the best way possible, with the views and experiences of Member States fully reflected in the process. That will ensure strong and broad support for the mandate going forward. A meaningful review must also include the effective participation of international and regional organizations, industry, academia and civil society. While the onus of implementation falls on States, of course, the input of all relevant stakeholders is essential to ensuring that we prevent non-State actors, including terrorists, from acquiring, developing, trafficking in or using nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and their means of delivery. That is important not just for the review but also for the ongoing work of the Committee. We should build on the important work done under resolutions 1977 (2001) and 2325 (2016), extending the work of the Committee and the Group of Experts. Ireland sees the Committee’s monitoring, outreach and assistance work as central to its mandate, helping States to identify and address any gaps and vulnerabilities in regulations and national control frameworks. We hope to see that further strengthened under this review. Finally, though the comprehensive review is a key part of the Committee’s work this year, it is vital that the regular work of the Committee continue in parallel.

Norway warmly thanks Mexico for its work over the past year as Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) and for briefing the Council today. We would also like to thank the Group of Experts for its excellent work during another year of challenging circumstances — not least because of the ongoing restrictive coronavirus disease environment. The Group of Experts has Norway’s full support. It is true that the past year has been challenging for the 1540 Committee as we faced a second year in which activities had to be postponed and the comprehensive review could not be completed, but we are encouraged by the progress made in recent months. In that respect, I have three comments on the work of the Committee moving forward. First, the open consultations are a key part of the comprehensive review. It is important that those consultations be robust and that a broad range of stakeholders be included. Industry, academia and civil society, including international organizations such as the International Atomic Energy Agency, INTERPOL and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, play an important role in the implementation and follow-up of resolution 1540 (2004). We are pleased to hear that a pre-booking has been made for the open consultations in May. Norway looks forward to constructively engaging with the 1540 Chair and other members with respect to the remaining activities of the comprehensive review leading up to the renewal of the Committee’s mandate. Secondly, we would like to thank Mozambique for having submitted its first national report with information on the measures taken to comply with its obligations under resolution 1540 (2004). We encourage the remaining eight States that have yet to submit their first national report to do so without delay. Finally, Norway is working towards achieving balanced, mutual, irreversible and verifiable nuclear disarmament and preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The 1540 Committee has an important role to play in reaching these goals. The prospect of the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and their means of delivery is a real and continuous concern. We reiterate the continually evolving nature of the risk of proliferation, including the rapid advances in science, technology and international commerce. Please be assured, Mr. President, of our full support for the work of the 1540 Committee. We look forward to continuing to work together towards the fulfilment of the Committee’s important objectives for the duration of its mandate.

I would like to ask the President to convey to Ambassador Lana Nusseibeh our best wishes for a speedy recovery. At the outset, I would like to thank the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) for his very comprehensive briefing. I would also like to commend him for his tireless efforts aimed at coordinating the work of the Committee and guiding its members through these unusual times. I would also take this opportunity to commend the Group of Experts for their invaluable work in assisting the Committee to carry out its functions, providing awareness of the resolution and its requirements, assessing the status of its implementation and responding to requests for assistance. Almost 20 years after its inception, the Committee remains an essential tool for preventing non-State actors from acquiring nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, their means of delivery and related materials. Over the past two decades, the Committee has been instrumental in assisting States to establish appropriate domestic controls in order to address the risk of terrorist organizations obtaining, proliferating or using weapons of mass destruction. Brazil has been a long-time supporter of the work of the 1540 Committee. As an elected Council member, we voted in favour of its creation in 2004 (see S/PV.4956). In 2011, we also voted in favour of the extension of its mandate for 10 years (see S/PV.6518). We once again have the honour of being in the Security Council at a crucial time for the future of the Committee, when we have the responsibility of conducting a comprehensive review of the status of implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), as well as of adjusting the future mandate of the Committee to the current needs of the international community. Brazil supports the Chair’s approach as well as his efforts to carry out the comprehensive review process in a fully-fledged inclusive format, to which he has referred in his briefing in the Chamber today. The holding of open consultations with the wider membership of the United Nations, as well as with relevant regional, subregional and civil society organizations, will be essential for us to have a clearer picture of the current status of implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) and of ways to further foster adherence. In conclusion, I would like to remind Council members that the most efficient way to combat proliferation is through disarmament. At a time when the rhetoric about the use of weapons of mass destruction is resurfacing, it is important that States remember their commitments to eliminating their arsenals. The only way to guarantee that these abhorrent weapons are never again used by anyone, anywhere, under any circumstance, is through their complete, transparent, verifiable and irreversible elimination.

First of all, I would like to thank my colleague, the Permanent Representative of Mexico, as Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), and to express to him and his entire team our appreciation for their remarkable commitment in conducting the work of this important Committee. We welcome the extension of the mandate of the 1540 (2004) Committee until 30 November 2022 and note the difficult conditions under which the Committee has had to conduct its activities, particularly in the context of the constraints imposed by the pandemic. We also take note of the broad consultations that will be conducted with State actors, civil society, academia and parliamentarians, and the strengthening of the Committee’s cooperation with international, regional and subregional organizations as well as with other United Nations bodies, with a view to raising their awareness and improving implementation of the resolution. Since the submission of Gabon’s most recent report on its implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), in 2011, the situation with regard to my country has not changed: Gabon does not possess or produce nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and has strictly respected its commitments. Similarly, it does not facilitate or support non-State actors in this area. This commitment to international peace and security is a constant for my country. It is also with that objective in mind that my Government has committed itself to strengthening its position in favour of the fight against weapons proliferation by deciding last December to launch the process of ratifying the Arms Trade Treaty. We are also a party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and all the related safeguards agreements with the International Atomic Energy Agency and additional protocols since 1974, as well as to the Pelindaba Treaty, which creates a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Africa. We will continue to maintain our commitment to denuclearization. My country remains convinced of the relevance and central role that resolution 1540 (2004) must play in preventing the emergence of terrorist and other armed groups and strengthening the fight against them when they do emerge by preventing them from acquiring weapons of mass destruction. I would also like to take this opportunity to reaffirm our opposition to any use of weapons of mass destruction.

I would also like to congratulate and thank the Ambassador of Mexico for his leadership and commitment to advancing the work of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004). We also commend the professional work of the Committee’s Group of Experts. We agree that resolution 1540 (2004) is an essential element of the global non-proliferation architecture, and we must ensure that the resolution and its implementation remain effective and strong. We encourage all the members of the Security Council to remain united in supporting the work of the Committee by strengthening its mandate and adapting it to the new realities. My country attaches great importance to the treaties on arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation. We remain committed to further cooperating with the international community to prohibit the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction by States and non-State actors as well as of the materials necessary for the development of such weapons. States have made significant progress in implementing resolution 1540 (2004). Nevertheless, some gaps remain, and full and effective implementation of the resolution is a long-term task that will require continued efforts at the national, regional and international level. We welcome the open consultations on the in-depth review of the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) as a good opportunity to remind Member States of their obligation to implement the resolution. The threat of non-State actors acquiring weapons of mass destruction has not weakened. In this regard, the in-depth consideration of the resolution with the involvement of Member States, international regional and subregional organizations and civil society is an opportunity to make proposals aimed at strengthening the work of the Committee in order to meet current challenges and make it more effective. We hope that we will find consensus when it comes to the strengthening of the mandate of the 1540 Committee as part of the 2022 comprehensive review. Albania is convinced that open consultations are an essential step in ensuring that the resolution 1540 (2004) continues to play a central role in maintaining international peace and security in future. We will continue to support the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, as well as other international organizations that deal with the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and disarmament and play an important role in the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). Finally, Albania has approved its national strategy to combat the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and is actively contributing to regional security in that field. We support the work of the Committee and will continue to do so in the future.

I welcome the briefing by the Mexican Ambassador and commend him for the conduct of the work of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004). Weapons of mass destruction pose a grave danger. The indiscriminate nature of those weapons can lead to immediate and long-term effects on people, societies and the environment. That is why Kenya once again reaffirms that the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery constitute a threat to international peace and security, as stressed in resolution 1540 (2004). That threat can be eliminated only by complete disarmament. We call on Member States to adopt and enforce appropriate and effective laws that prohibit any non-State actor from manufacturing, acquiring, possessing, developing, transporting, transferring or using nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their means of delivery. As the global fight against terrorism continues to face enormous challenges, the 1540 Committee plays a key role as one of the mechanisms established by the Security Council in its efforts to combat terrorism. In that regard, Kenya welcomes the extension of the mandate ensuring the continuity of the work of the Committee towards the universal adoption and full implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). We also welcome continued efforts to implement the Committee’s mandate despite the challenges posed by the coronavirus disease, including the conduct of its comprehensive review, and are encouraged by its intention to hold open consultations on the review. In conclusion, we reaffirm Kenya’s strong commitment to the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) and reiterate our full support for the work of the Committee.

We would like to thank the Mexican Permanent Representative and his team for their hard work in chairing the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) the very clear briefing today. We also extend warm thanks to the Group of Experts that supports the Committee. Resolution 1540 (2004) has been a critical part of the multilateral non-proliferation architecture since its adoption in 2004. Since then, the Committee and its Group of Experts have reviewed more than 500 national implementation reports from 185 countries. The resolution remains an essential component of the international disarmament and non-proliferation architecture. We must remain extremely vigilant against the risk of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons being used by non-State actors. The threat of weapons of mass destruction has evolved since the Council adopted resolution 1540 (2004). The United Kingdom remains particularly concerned about non-State actors’ attempted use of crude toxin weapons such as ricin. Key to maintaining the relevance of resolution 1540 (2004) and support from Member States is the delayed but ongoing comprehensive review. We are committed to supporting an inclusive and transparent process that gives all Member States and interested civil society organizations an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to discussions on the Committee’s future mandate. We urge all Member States to join us in offering full support for the Committee’s work. For our part, the United Kingdom stands ready to work with other States to strengthen their national regulatory frameworks, including their ability to implement their laws and regulations governing chemical, nuclear and biological activities. We would also welcome the further consideration of aspects of resolution 1540 (2004) that have not yet been fully elaborated, including proliferation financing, as mentioned by my French colleague. Finally, let me stress that resolution 1540 (2004) forms part of the wider international disarmament and non-proliferation architecture, as well as the various multilateral export control regimes. The strength of that international architecture comes from all parts of it working together effectively; we therefore continue to support strong cooperation between the 1540 Committee and the Group of Experts with those institutions.

We thank the Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), Mr. Juan Ramón de la Fuente Ramírez, for his thorough briefing on the work of that subsidiary body of the Security Council and his indication of the priorities for the upcoming period. The Russian Federation is unwaveringly committed to the goals and objectives of resolution 1540 (2004). We greatly value the spirit of global cooperation inherent in the resolution and consider it essential to maintain its preventive non-proliferation character. The 1540 Committee has the important role of monitoring the implementation of the resolution by Member States and coordinating efforts to provide them with technical assistance, upon their request. In order to achieve that fundamental goal — the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) by all countries, taking into account their existing capabilities — much remains to be done. In that regard, it is necessary for the Committee to focus on fulfilling the tasks assigned to it despite the difficulties it may face, such as a pandemic or complex international situations. We trust that we will see a significant intensification of its activities in all major areas. For that, it is important to maintain a constructive atmosphere of cooperation within the Committee, which should base its work on the principle of consensus. On 25 February, the Security Council adopted resolution 2622 (2022) on the most recent technical extension of the mandate of the 1540 Committee until 30 November 2022. Russia joined the consensus reached in adopting that resolution in the interests of concluding the comprehensive review of the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), which unfortunately has been postponed more than once. We hope that as part of the review this year, it will still be possible to hold open consultations with Member States. We are convinced that those consultations must be inclusive and involve as many countries as possible in substantive discussions on non-proliferation and preventing weapons of mass destruction and related materials from falling into the hands of non-State actors. We appreciate the efforts of the Chair of the Committee, as well as the United Nations Secretariat, to ensure that consultations are held in person, which will make it possible to achieve that goal. We expect the arrangements for the conduct of the open consultations to be agreed as soon as possible and that the Committee will send invitations to Member States promptly so that they have enough time to prepare for the event. Since it is States that are responsible for implementing the provisions of resolution 1540 (2004), their contribution to the open consultations is essential for the Committee to prepare a full-fledged outcome document of the comprehensive review for submission to the Security Council. I would like to note the unquestioned importance of approving the Committee’s long-term mandate after 30 November 2022. We are convinced that it should be based on the unifying principles of resolution 1540 (2004) and aimed at maintaining the fundamental principles of the Committee’s work, without endowing it with intrusive or attributive powers. Only that will enable this subsidiary body of the Security Council to continue to carry out its essential role, which is to promote the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) in the interests of the entire international community.

I thank Ambassador De la Fuente Ramírez, Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), for his briefing. Over the past year, the Committee has done a great deal of good work to promote the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) by processing requests for assistance, conducting international cooperation outreach and advancing the comprehensive review process. China appreciates the efforts made by the Mexican Ambassador, as Chair, and his team and thanks the Group of Experts and the Secretariat for their contributions. In the 18 years since the adoption of resolution 1540 (2004), the international consensus with regard to non-proliferation has deepened. The non-proliferation regime is being continually improved. International cooperation on non-proliferation has steadily advanced and international efforts to address the proliferation activities of non-State actors have been effectively enhanced. It should also be noted that the global security situation remains complex and serious. The root causes of proliferation are far from having been eliminated. The risks posed by the proliferation activities of non-State actors have become more diverse. Unilateralism and double standards are increasing in the area of non-proliferation. The unfair and unreasonable aspects of the international non-proliferation regime have become more acute. The peaceful use of science and technology by the majority of developing countries is subject to many restrictions. In the new circumstances, China would like to put forward the following four proposals on strengthening global governance. First, we should adhere to true multilateralism and consolidate the international non-proliferation regime. Multilateralism is the best way to prevent division and confrontation and promote unity and cooperation. All parties should advocate a common, comprehensive, cooperative global security concept, accommodate the legitimate concerns of all countries, eliminate drivers of proliferation and seek common security. The international community, particularly major Powers, should abandon the practice of double standards, cease military cooperation that poses proliferation risks, fulfil their obligations in good faith and further enhance the authority, universality and effectiveness of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the Biological Weapons Convention and the Chemical Weapons Convention. Secondly, we should pay attention to the development of new technologies and eliminate the risk of multidimensional proliferation. The rapid development of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, 3D printing, gene editing and synthetic biology, is leading to a new round of scientific and technological revolution, which is injecting strong impetus into human development progress. At the same time, relevant technologies may be used by non-State actors for the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and their means of delivery. States should strengthen regulation and international cooperation to effectively eliminate the risk of the misuse of emerging technologies for proliferation activities by non-State actors. Thirdly, we should protect the right to peaceful uses and promote relevant international cooperation. The peaceful use of science and technology is an inalienable and legitimate right of all countries and should not be subject to unfair and unjustified restrictions. The international community should effectively address proliferation risks, prevent non-State actors from acquiring WMDs, promote relevant international cooperation and safeguard the right of all countries, especially developing countries, to peaceful uses. Last December, the General Assembly adopted resolution 76/234, on promoting international cooperation on peaceful uses in the context of international security, sponsored by China. It is hoped that, through the joint efforts of all parties, the right to peaceful uses will be respected and protected and that unjustified restrictions will be reduced in order to better achieve the common security and development of all countries. Fourthly, we should promote a comprehensive review process and strengthen the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). China supports the Committee’s efforts to develop a sound workplan to continue substantive progress on the comprehensive review, carry out an objective assessment of the resolution’s implementation by countries, make practical recommendations on addressing non-proliferation risks, further promote international cooperation on non-proliferation, enhance the effectiveness of assistance activities and promote the comprehensive and effective implementation of the resolution. That process should be led by Member States, while taking into account their international obligations and their actual national conditions in an integrated manner and guaranteeing the participation and voices of different countries, particularly those of developing countries. Finally, China firmly opposes the proliferation of WMDs and has always strictly fulfilled its own international obligations and actively participated in international non-proliferation cooperation, while respecting the right of all countries, especially developing countries, to peaceful uses. China will continue to work with all parties to promote the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), advance the comprehensive review of the implementation of the resolution and make a positive contribution to strengthening global governance on non-proliferation.

The United States thanks Mexico for its leadership in achieving the unanimous adoption of resolution 2622 (2022). This technical extension of the mandate of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) for most of the remainder of this year will allow the Committee and its Group of Experts to continue their important work, while providing sufficient time to complete a meaningful and inclusive comprehensive review and to submit that review’s report to the Security Council. The United States underscores its full support for the 1540 Committee as a powerful multilateral tool to help to prevent the most dangerous weapons from falling into the hands of non-State actors. We support the continued work of the Committee under the chairmanship of Mexico and look forward to collaborating with our fellow Committee members to complete the substantive work before us in the months ahead. A meaningful comprehensive review that brings together Member States and civil society, international and regional organizations, industry and academia is essential to ensuring that the Committee continues to meet the challenges of preventing non-State actors, including terrorists and terrorist groups, from acquiring or using weapons of mass destruction and related goods and know-how. In that regard, we welcome the opportunity to engage those stakeholders through the review’s open sessions that the Chair has scheduled for May and June. As we undertake the work of the comprehensive review and the mandate renewal, we will prioritize the full implementation of States’ obligations under resolution 1540 (2004) by improving the functionality and the credibility of the Committee, further empowering its Group of Experts and enhancing its support for assistance and outreach-related activities. We support the Chair’s ambitious but achievable timeline to complete the comprehensive review. In particular, we appreciate that the timeline underscores the importance of streamlining the Group of Experts’ work to strengthen the Committee, while also recognizing the vitally important roles played by international organizations, international regional organizations and civil society in promoting our shared goal of ensuring effective State-level implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). We remain committed to collaborating closely with fellow Council members to conduct a successful review that will inform the most effective and constructive substantive mandate renewal later this year. The possibility of weapons of mass destruction being acquired and used by terrorists or other non-State actors remains one of the greatest threats to international peace and security. Resolution 1540 (2004) is one of the few established, authoritative international instruments in place to address such threats. The comprehensive review and mandate renewal give us an opportunity to ensure that the resolution and its implementation are as strong and effective as possible. The stakes could not be higher.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of the United Arab Emirates. I want to join others in thanking Ambassador Juan Ramón de la Fuente Ramírez for his briefing today and for his able chairmanship of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004). I assure him of the full support of the United Arab Emirates for the Committee. I also wish to extend the gratitude of the United Arab Emirates to the Group of Experts, which has been instrumental in promoting the implementation of that resolution. We were glad to renew the 1540 Committee’s mandate unanimously last month (see S/PV.8977). The current global non-proliferation regime is vulnerable to the emerging threats posed by the illicit use of modern technologies, such as unmanned aerial vehicles, synthetic biology and artificial intelligence, which non-State actors and terrorists could exploit. The international community should therefore address such threats by reviewing the existing disarmament and non-proliferation instruments, including the 1540 Committee. Furthermore, Governments should do their part by periodically enhancing their national policies. For its part, the United Arab Emirates recently initiated a nationwide assessment for public and private sectors to develop appropriate measures against proliferation financing. Resolution 1540 (2004) has long been central in the efforts to ensure that terrorists and non-State actors do not acquire, develop, traffic in or use weapons of mass destruction. The Committee has played a vital role in supporting the global non-proliferation architecture by facilitating assistance and matchmaking for Member States in their respective efforts to implement resolution 1540 (2004). The United Arab Emirates supports the continuation of the comprehensive review of the status of implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) following postponements due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. We believe that the review process will strengthen the overall shape of the Committee and address the existing gaps identified by Member States and other stakeholders during consultations. Ultimately, the United Arab Emirates hopes to see the comprehensive review results reflected in the further renewal of the 1540 Committee and its Group of Experts in November. In that regard, the wants to highlight the following aspects of the work of the Committee. First, the Committee should urgently facilitate arrangements for open consultations with Member States, international, regional and subregional organizations, civil society and the private sector as part of the comprehensive review. We support the Chair’s efforts in that regard. It will be critical for Member States and other stakeholders to exchange views and best practices. Secondly, the Committee should consider streamlining its work and making it more accessible. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted several Committee activities, and in some instances the Committee had to carry out some of its activities virtually. Thus, we can look into expanding virtual engagement by the Committee with Member States and others, based on the feedback we get from relevant stakeholders. To conclude, we affirm the commitment of the United Arab Emirates to upholding international peace and security, and we look forward to supporting the work of the Chair, the Committee and the broader United Nations system in combatting the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction among non-State actors. I now resume my functions as President of the Security Council. There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers.