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STATEMENT BY

MR. AZRIL ABDUL AZIZ,

DEPUTY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF MALAYSIA

AT MAIN COMMITTEE I

OF THE

TENTH REVIEW CONFERENCE OF THE

TREATY ON THE NON-PROLIFERATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS

NEW YORK, 4 AUGUST 2022

Mr. Chair,

 

We welcome the constructive approach shown by all delegations. We hope this will continue in our efforts to review and make tangible progress under this pillar. In this regard, Malaysia wishes to contribute to the discussions on Negative Security Assurances (NSA) and other key issues under this Committee.

 

Mr. Chair,

 

2.      Negative Security Assurances (NSA) remains one of the key issues to be addressed at this review conference, given that NSA was one of the key factors that led to the “grand bargain” of the 1995 extension decision for the NPT. The commitment of Nuclear Weapons States in relation to NSAs remains questionable. Some Nuclear Weapons States have highlighted that providing NSA’s is difficult, given the present challenging climate of the international security environment. We have heard other excuses during more peaceful times. The rhetoric from the NWS continue no matter what.

 

3.      The present arrangement on NSA in the form of unilateral declarations made by respective Nuclear Weapons States at the NPT are inadequate to prevent the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons against Non-Nuclear Weapons States. They could be withdrawn or changed relatively easily.

 

4.      Having voluntarily foresworn to never obtain the nuclear weapons option under the NPT regime, Non-Nuclear Weapons States should be accorded assurances against the use or threats of use of nuclear weapons that are unlimited in scope, application and duration. Malaysia firmly believes that effective measures to protect Non-Nuclear Weapons States against the use or threats of use of nuclear weapons would not only strengthen international peace and security but also positively contribute to the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. In this regard, it should also be in the interest of the Nuclear Weapons States to address the issue of NSA.

 

5.      For Malaysia, we stand firm in our convictions that the total, irreversible and verifiable elimination of nuclear weapons is the only absolute guarantee against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons. The conclusion of an effective, universal, unconditional, non discriminatory, and irrevocable legally binding instrument on security assurances against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is, and will continue to be, a matter of priority, until we attain the total elimination of nuclear weapons. This Conference must urgently call for the commencement and conclusion of negotiations of a NSA instrument.

 

Mr. Chair,

 

6.      Malaysia also shares the view that one of the best and most practical method to deal with the issue of NSA would be through the existing Nuclear Weapons-Free Zones Treaty (NWFZs). NWFZs constituted as one of the positive steps towards attaining the twin objectives of global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

 

7.      The Conference must call on all parties to international instruments concerning security assurances and nuclear-weapon-free zones, to honour and fully implement in good faith their obligations and commitments under these instruments, and must not,

under all circumstances, subject these obligations and commitments to preconditions that are not in line with the object and spirit of the instruments.

 

8.      The Conference must also call on all NPT States Parties to intensify their efforts aimed at establishing nuclear-weapon-free zones in the regions where they do not exist, in particular in the Middle East, and reaffirm the importance and validity of the 1995 resolution on the Middle East, until all its objectives are achieved. We also call on all Nuclear Weapons States to sign and ratify the Protocols to the Southeast Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty at the earliest.

 

Mr. Chair,

 

9.      On other issues under this Main Committee, we echo the view of many states that there is a need to emphasise the security concern of all humanity on the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons and the unacceptable risks inherent in nuclear weapons. We must reject all nuclear threats whether explicit or implicit, irrespective of their circumstances, and reaffirm that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought. We must also reaffirm that nuclear weapons must never be used again, under any circumstances.

 

10.      The Conference must also call on all Nuclear-Weapon States to reaffirm their commitment to implement all obligations and undertakings agreed in previous Review Conferences, in particular, to undertake further concrete efforts to reduce and ultimately eliminate nuclear weapons. Due to the prolonged delay, it would only be credible for these renewed commitments to include clear timelines without qualifiers such as “undiminished security and international stability”.

 

11.      Lastly, in the interest of time, we wish to also recall our pronouncements on other important elements, which we had presented previously, including the issues on CTBT, FMCT, JCPOA, DPRK, cessation of further development and modernisation of new types of nuclear weapons, nuclear deterrence, disarmament verification, and universalization of the NPT.

 

Mr Chair,

 

12.      Much have been said in these two weeks. At this Review Conference, as how we have heard in previous RevCons - Nuclear-Weapon States continue to state that they take their obligations under Article 6 of the NPT seriously. My delegation however, has not seen any corresponding actions that reflect such seriousness. Regrettably, we see little or no real progress under this pillar. Many of the obligations and commitments agreed in previous Review Conferences remained pending.

 

13.      Pending nuclear disarmament, strengthening of the NSA represents an important and achievable step towards the commitments undertaken by the NWS pursuant to Article VI of the NPT, which would in the short term further strengthen the NPT regime. It is vital for NWS to demonstrate their full commitment to nuclear disarmament in order to prevent the potential decline of international confidence in the NPT regime.

 

I thank you, Mr. Chair.