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EXPLANATION OF VOTE BY

MR. NIZHAN FARAZ RIZAL

SECOND SECRETARY

PERMANENT MISSION OF MALAYSIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS

 

ON THE DRAFT RESOLUTIONS L.48 AND L.49/REV.1

“COOPERATION BETWEEN THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE

ORGANISATION FOR THE PROHIBITION OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS”

 

UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK, 20 FEBRUARY 2023

 

Thank you, Mr. President.

 

Malaysia takes the floor to deliver an Explanation of Vote on the draft resolutions L.48 and L.49/Rev.1, both entitled “Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons”, that were presented for the Assembly’s consideration.

 

Mr. President,

 

2.      In our Explanation of Vote on the last resolution under this agenda item two years ago, in March 2021, my delegation had expressed hopes for a refined text that would facilitate the future work and operations of the UN and the OPCW. Unfortunately, this year, we have moved further away from our goal of consensus, with the tabling of two competing draft resolutions.

 

3.      While the Assembly has decided to adopt the resolution as contained in document L.49/Rev.1 and not to consider the text as contained in L.48, we deeply regret that the initiators of these draft resolutions were unable to reach agreement on a single text that could be broadly supported by all delegations. This is yet another instance of increased polarisation within this august body, against the spirit of multilateral cooperation embodied in the UN Charter.

 

Mr. President,

 

4.      There is no doubt about the importance of the OPCW as the implementing body of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). Sustained cooperation between the UN and the OPCW is important in attaining the CWC’s overarching objective of the total elimination of chemical weapons.

 

5.      However, as has been the case in previous years, the resolution we just adopted contains references that either do not relate directly to the title of the text, or do not enjoy consensus among Member States. The issues contained in Operative Paragraphs 6 through 10 have been duly covered in the annual First Committee Resolution on the CWC, recently adopted by the General Assembly as Resolution 77/73. These paragraphs – inter alia, on the empowerment of the OPCW with an attribution mandate – involve wellknown divergences among Member States, and may detract from the main objective of promoting cooperation between the UN and the OPCW. As regards Operative Paragraph 11, my delegation maintains the position that there is no need for a lengthy reference to a Security Council dossier in the present text.

 

6.      On Operative Paragraph 12, Malaysia’s position on the issue of Ukraine is clear and remains unchanged. We firmly believe in the importance of upholding the rule of law and the principles enshrined in the UN Charter, and the respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States. However, we are of the view that the inclusion of this issue in the resolution poses unnecessary complications in the context of the subject at hand. Furthermore, the OPCW’s role of ensuring the full implementation of the CWC applies in all parts of the world, in peace or in conflict situations.

 

Mr. President,

 

7.      Recognizing the importance of cooperation between the UN and the OPCW, Malaysia has once again voted in favour of the resolution as a whole. However, for the aforementioned reasons, Malaysia abstained in the voting on Operative Paragraphs 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the resolution as well as the amendments introduced to it. We believe that the proposals presented in the room today, while addresses some of our concerns, would have benefitted from ample time for deliberations. We sincerely hope that, when this item is next before the General Assembly, we would be considering one resolution which is focused on promoting cooperation between these two critical organisations.

 

I thank you.