STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR ANUPAM RAY, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF INDIA TO THE CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT, DURING THE GENERAL DEBATE AT THE FIRST COMMITTEE OF THE 78TH SESSION OF THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY, NEW YORK, October 6, 2023
Mr. Chairman,
India congratulates you and assures you of our full support and cooperation.
The deliberations of the First Committee continue to take place this year under challenging global circumstances.
This is a time for all of us to walk together.
India attaches high importance to the Conference on Disarmament. India will be the first among the 6 Presidents of the CD next year.
India is pleased to note that the UNDC, the main deliberative body within the UN on disarmament issues, was able to agree on consensus recommendations on TCBMs in Outer Space.
India will table 4 draft resolutions in the First Committee. These well-known resolutions are:
- ‘Convention on the Prohibition of the Use of Nuclear Weapons’,
- ‘Reducing Nuclear Danger’,
- ‘Measures to Prevent Terrorists from Acquiring WMDs’ and;
- ‘Role of Science and Technology in the context of International Security and Disarmament’.
These resolutions have consistently highlighted crucial issues pertaining to disarmament and international security and have enjoyed wide support of the UN membership. We request continued support.
India remains firmly committed to the goal of universal, non-discriminatory and verifiable nuclear disarmament.
India has called for complete elimination of nuclear weapons through a step-by-step process, as also outlined in our Working Paper on Nuclear Disarmament submitted to the CD in 2007 (CD/1816).
As a responsible nuclear weapon State, India is committed as per its nuclear doctrine, to maintain credible minimum deterrence with the posture of No-First Use and non-use against non-nuclear weapon States.
Without diminishing the priority we attach to nuclear disarmament India supports the immediate commencement of negotiations in the CD of a FMCT, on the basis of CD/1299 and the mandate contained therein.
We share the widely felt disappointment that these negotiations continue to remain blocked, despite substantial support.
An Indian expert participated constructively in the work of the recently concluded GGE on Nuclear Disarmament Verification and are happy to note that the group was able to agree on a consensus report.
As a major spacefaring nation, India has vital developmental and security interests in space.
An Indian spacecraft landed on the moon recently. An Indian rover explored the south pole of the moon.
India believes that Outer Space belongs to all of us. We are one earth, one family, and have one future.
We believe that outer space should be an arena for cooperation, not conflict. India supports the negotiation of a legally binding instrument on PAROS at the CD.
India welcomes the decision of the 9th Review Conference of the BWC to establish an inter-sessional program, and the decision to develop with a view to establish mechanisms for the review of S&T developments and to foster international cooperation.
We hope that the Working Group will succeed in recommending measures, particularly on verification and compliance, to reinforce the objectives of the convention.
The Fifth Review Conference of the CWC, although unsuccessful in producing a consensus outcome document, succeeded in undertaking a comprehensive review of the Convention. We urge States Parties to work together to take forward the work on which consensus was achieved during the Review Conference, including the adaptation of the verification and inspection regime, improving the geographical representation and external engagement among others.
India has and will continue to actively participate in the work of the GGE on LAWS and believes that these deliberations shouldcontinue within the CCW.
We note that significantunderstandings have been achieved by the group over the course of its work.
Evolving technologies should not be stigmatized.Public opinion, my delegation believes, prefers an approach that also takes into account the positive impact of such technologies and its evolution.
The illicit transfers of conventional weapons, including small arms and light weapons, in particular to terrorists and non-state actors is an area of grave concern for India.
India welcomes the consensus outcome document at BMS-8 that recognized the adverse effects of illicit arms trade in exacerbating terrorism and emphasized the role of these UN instruments in addressing the threat posed by terrorism.
India contributed actively to the discussions of theOEWG on conventional ammunition.
India is committed to promoting an open, secure, stable, accessible, and peaceful ICT environment.
Cyberspace is facing an increasing number of challenges in the form of threats and its misuse for criminal and terrorist purposes. Recognizing the disparity in cyber preparedness among Member States to tackle various cyber threats and need to enhance their capabilities, India has proposed the development of a “Global Cyber Security Cooperation Portal”, anchored at the United Nations, as a global platform for international cooperation and coordination amongst Member States on security of cyber infrastructure and improving cyber capabilities.
India hosts a fully funded Annual Disarmament and International Security Fellowship Programme to advance disarmament education.
The third edition of this fellowship was held earlier this year in India. Young diplomats from 30 countries attended the course.
Mr. Chairman,
The complete statement will be placed online.
Mr. Chairman,
I will also like to, before ending, make a reference to the statement made by my distinguished colleague from Pakistan and his comments on the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. I will restrict myself to stating that the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakhare and will remain apart of India.
We also wish the people of Pakistan well. They have suffered from a combination of natural and man-made problems in the recent past. They deserve better.
My delegation will not raise this matter further.
Thank you.
