-General debate on all disarmament and international security agenda items
🇩🇪 Germany, 🇵🇱 Poland, 🇷🇺 Russian Federation, 🇮🇱 Israel, 🇰🇵 Democratic People's Republic of Korea, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇮🇷 Islamic Republic of Iran
Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, we have taken note of a rather comprehensive reply to our general statement by Iran yesterday. We shall endeavor to be somewhat more concise. However, we feel compelled to respond to the few points that were raised regarding issues concerning First Committee. Germany is and has always been in full compliance with the NPT, all articles contained therein and IEA safeguards. NATO's nuclear sharing arrangements have been and continue to be fully consistent with the NPT. They were put in place well before the NPT entered into force in 1970 and were well known to all signatories. Neither the IAA nor the Security Council have ever indicated any noncompliance by Germany with any of the articles of the NPT. It is therefore somewhat bewildering to be accused of non-compliance with the NPT by a state whose own track record speaks a very different language. Numerous IEA reports have pointed out Iran's disregard for its NPT safeguards obligations. On two occasions, in 25 and again in 2025, the IEA Board of Governors officially confirmed Iran's noncompliance. Just a few weeks ago, given Iran's unwillingness to live up to its obligations, the Board of Governors decided to report Iran's noncompliance to the UN Security Council and the General Assembly. We remain convinced that compliance is not merely an obligation, but a choice that strengthens the credibility of the disarmament and nonproliferation architecture. Our track record with IEA safeguards has been and continues to be impeccable. We can only encourage Iran to rediscover the merits of that approach and invite Iran to join once again those countries that have made this choice. Thank you very much.
Thank you very much, Mr. Chairperson. I take the floor to address the claim made by the delegate of the DPRK yesterday that Russia's aggressive behavior in Europe can be justified by the alleged violations of its security interests through NATO enlargement. This assertion is false and has been also a key element of the Russian disinformation campaign and needs to be debunked. Therefore, I would like to make three points today. First, NATO did not enlarge by itself sovereign states freely and democratically choose to join the alliance, exercising the right to determine their own security arrangements. Second, Poland joined NATO to safeguard its freedom, security, and democratic values. We did not wish to remain in a grey zone of security or return to the Russian sphere of influence. What Moscow seeks today by invading Ukraine is precisely the re establishment of such spheres in Europe. As for the latest round of NATO enlargement, Russia has no one to blame by itself. Its war of aggression, launched in 2022, was the trigger which encouraged additional two states to seek the NATO membership. Third, NATO is a defensive alliance. It seeks neither confrontation nor territorial expansion. NATO's strategic documents make it clear that the circumstances in which nuclear weapons might be used are extremely remote. Since the end of the Cold War, Allies have reduced the number of nuclear weapons assigned to NATO by around 90%. Russia has chosen a different path which stands in a stark contrast with NATO. It has increased its reliance on non-strategic nuclear weapons, maintained a disproportionately large arsenal of such weapons, repeatedly resorted to nuclear threats, and significantly lowered the threshold for nuclear weapons use in its declaratory policy. All of this makes credible NATO deterrence necessary. NATO's nuclear policy, including nuclear burden sharing, is a safeguard against intimidation and an important contributor to the overall stability and security. including non proliferation of nuclear weapons. Thank you very much.
Mr. Chairman, the Russian Federation repudiates the groundless and utterly unsubstantiated. Accusations in connection with the conduct of the special military operation in Ukraine. Our country fully complies with the obligations under international humanitarian law. Specifically from the very start of the conflict, the Russian armed forces have been operating in accordance with the 1949 Geneva Conventions and the protocols there too, as well as in accordance with the Convention on Inhumane Weapons. They are strictly complying with the national instructions on IHL, which were crafted in a manner that takes into account the content of the above-mentioned international treaties. The goal of the Russian military forces and their targets continue to be focused purely on military facilities and military infrastructure used for military purposes, contrary to attempts by opponents in Kiev and European countries to allege otherwise. Unfortunately, the same cannot be stated about the Kyiv regime, whose main aim is to inflict maximum damage on civilians, civilian infrastructure in Russia since uh late June for the Ukrainian armed forces. They have been routinely striking uh Russian uh uh deliberately striking Russian civilian infrastructure, oil refineries, so oil bases, port terminals, energy, industrial infrastructure, marketplaces, civilian service data centers, airfields, and maritime vessels. Since the start of this year, Kiev strikes on various regions in Russia have caused more than 8,000 casualties, including 425 children at least. Since last week alone, 552 civilians perished, including five children. Another 206 people were wounded. Uh civilian vessels are being targeted, including those transporting products for global markets, including food, oil, oil products. And in 2026, 214 such incidents were reported. And uh 20 and the this the 228 since the start, uh such incident since the start of the special military operations operation, 20 crew members died. And to compare figures, in 2025, 12 vessels were struck, uh, whereas in 2023 and 2024, only one one vessel uh and during those years, one vessel was struck. Despite the statistics, not a single European country even considers reprimanding their proteges in Kiev. And this is uh it's become norms, uh, a norm for Western countries with double standards being used. Their statements heard at the first committee are hypocritical attempts to justify their failures and uh short sightedness. The real reason for the difficult situation with IHL in Ukraine. Is the UAF's practice of deploying heavy military infrastructure in residential areas, the use of civilians as human shields and civilian infrastructure being used for military aims? Ukrainian units are deploying air defense systems and uh munitions and arms, storage sites, military and industrial complex, as well as uh drone production components and other military infrastructure, which are legitimate uh targets for the Russian armed forces. These are being deployed within residential areas, thereby posing a threat to the lives of ordinary Ukrainians. And this is a breach of Article 58 of Additional Protocol 1 of the 1949 Geneva Conventions, which uh stipulates to the extent that it is possible to avoid the placement of military facilities in densely populated areas. To conclude, we wish to call upon the international community to refrain from baseless allegations and for the facts that we have uh shared with you to be duly taken into account. Thank you for your attention.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, my delegation has requested the floor to react to the statement by the Palestinian representative earlier today. Mr. Chair, Israel has been engaged for three years in a war against terrorist groups that populate the Middle East and undermine its stability. This is a war that was imposed on us after the abhorrent terrorist attack by Hamas against Israel on October 7, 2024, 2023. It is not it is nothing less than tragic, tragic, that the Palestinian representative did not mention even in one word the tragedy this attack inflicted not only against my people, the people of Israel, but also against members of so many other communities that were murdered that day, and the casualties of the war in Gaza that came as a result of this attack. Chair, Israel has the right and indeed the obligation to protect and defend its citizens. The IDF operations in Gaza are and were pushed to bring this dismantling of Haza, of Hamas governing and military capabilities in order to assure that Hamas will never pose a threat to Israel and its people. This is an aim that every country, every country will have if it was in Israel Jews. We emphasize as always that Israel operates its military operations in accordance with international law, including the laws of armed conflict, and it will always do. Chair, despite the war and the suffering, Hamas is still unwilling to give up its arms and maintains tens of thousands of military operatives in Gaza, systematically concealing its military assets within the civilian environment. This is intended to create a sever, a condition in which civilians are human shields for Hamas operatives. Chair colleagues, we wish one day the Palestinian representatives will denounce the terrorist organization of Hamas for cowardly hijacking international humanitarian law for the protection of its own pro operatives in the account of the population in Gaza. Terrorist groups worldwide, from Hamas in Gaza and well beyond, must be held accountable. This is the duty of the international community. I think you change.
Mr. Chair, thank you for the floor. My delegation expresses its deep regret that the state who doesn't even know the member state's official name took the floor in this committee. And my delegation reminds Spain to properly call the official name of my country as listed in the UN system, that is, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Mr. Chair, my delegation categorically and totally rejects the stereotyped and absurd allegations. Of the delegations from Turkey, Luxembourg, Spain, who groundlessly blame the DPRK's sovereign rights and defensive measures. As we have mentioned on many occasions, the DPRK's position of nuclear weapons is a sovereign entitlement and right to defend itself from the nuclear threat of the US, which lasted for several decades. The DPRK's possession of nuclear weapons. Is clearly stipulated in its constitution, and if one tries to deny or change the constitutional position of my country as a nuclear weapon state, preaching denuclearization to us, it will be regarded as the most serious infringement upon its sovereignty. The DPRK's nuclear deterrent is the absolute might and irresistible force designed from A to Z to safeguard the sovereignty, security, and peace against aggression. and threat from outside. The DPRK will firmly defend the dignity and sovereignty of the nation, its people and constitution from all sorts of attempt from the hostile forces. I thank you, Chair.
Thank you, Chair. I had not intended to take the mic, but I feel compelled to do so in response to the statement from the Russian delegation. Chair, Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine continues to inflict immense suffering on civilians. More than four years after the start of the full scale invasion, evidence assembled by the OSCE, successive OSCE Moscow mechanism expert missions, the United Nations, and other independent bodies continues to paint a deeply disturbing picture. This reporting documents the Russian Federation's persistent violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law. The OSCE has recorded accounts of arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, torture and ill treatment, conflict related sexual violence, and the fabricated prosecution of Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war. It has also documented systematic restrictions on fundamental rights in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, alongside the humanitarian consequences of Russia's attacks on populated areas and civilian infrastructure. Successive OSCE Moscow mechanism expert missions have reinforced these findings. Experts have documented Russia's unlawful transfer and deportation of Ukrainian children, efforts to alter their identity, and programs of militarization and indoctrination. They have also reported widespread torture and ill treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war, as well as allegations of executions, sexual violence, and the denial of protections required under international law. Today, Chair, that suffering continues. Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukrainian cities to unprecedented levels. In the first eight months of this year, civilian casualties rose by 55% compared with the same period last year. As winter approaches, Russia has openly signaled its intention to intensify large-scale strikes against Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Millions of civilians once again face attacks that threaten to deprive them of electricity, heating, and essential services. The United Kingdom remains committed to accountability. We will continue to work with Ukraine to support efforts to document violations and preserve evidence, including of the over 260,000 recorded alleged war crimes. We will also continue to pursue justice through international and domestic mechanisms, including the ICC, the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression, and the Register of Damage. The background context for this growing humanitarian suffering is clear. Ukraine has repeatedly demonstrated its readiness for peace, but Russia has instead chosen to intensify its attacks. The United Kingdom calls for again for Russia to agree to a full and unconditional ceasefire. to enter in good faith into serious negotiations and to commit to a just and lasting peace, ending the dire humanitarian consequences of its illegal war against Ukraine. Thank you, Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. While we categorically reject baseless allegations made by certain Western countries against my against Iran's peaceful program nuclear program, I would like to underscore the following. To Germany, Spain, Luxembourg and certain other Western countries that level baseless allegations against Iran's peaceful nuclear program while refusing to condemn the illegal attacks against Iran's peaceful nuclear facilities, I have a clear message. Before pointing fingers at Iran, address your own violations of Article 1 and 2 of the NPT arising from your reliance on NATO's nuclear deterrence arrangements. Your selective invocation of international law, blatant hypocrisy, and double standards expose the hollowness of your accusations. Those who apply international law selectively have no credibility to lecture others on compliance. You cannot invoke international law against others while shielding yourselves and your allies from its obligations. I further warn these countries not to assume that the baseless allegations they make in this and other chambers carry no consequences. Such allegations have been used to manufacture a pretext for and lend political justification to the illegal US Israeli attacks against Iran. Which have killed more than 4,000 innocent people, including 168 schoolgirls in the MINOP. Those who propagate such allegations cannot wash their hands of the consequences when their rhetoric helps legitimize aggressions. Let me clear, those who knowingly spread false accusations that help pave the way for acts of aggression bear political and moral responsibility. for their rule in creating the conditions that enable such crimes. I thank you, Mr. Chap.
Mr. Chairman. The Russian Federation repudiates the latest share of unsubstantiated and baseless insinuations against us in connection with the conduct of the special military operation in Ukraine. We believe that the explanations that were provided regarding the full compliance with international obligation uh IHL obligations are comprehensive in nature. In connection with uh yesterday's uh baseless statements from uh the Republic of Korea regarding cooperation between uh the Russia and the DPRK, we wish to recall the fact that the UN Security Council did not limit the right of the DPRK under Article uh chap Article 51 of the Charter. We are also surprised at the regular attempts uh by SIOL to pin responsibility on Russia for the protracted years-long targeted escalatory actions which Are the root cause of the current crisis in uh on the Korean peninsula. During the 30th session of the General Assembly in Resolution 33 slash 90b, the first committee on the Korean Peninsula already set out concrete steps to provide for guarantees for a lasting peace on the Korean peninsula. This includes the withdrawal of all foreign troops present on the re in the Republic of Korea, as well as the replacement of the agreement of with a peace treaty, insofar as none of the above mentioned is part of the long-term plans of Washington and Seoul. Expecting any comprehensive solution to the nuclear issue of the Korean peninsula in the foreseeable future is hardly possible. Instead of implementation of the above measures, the Republic of Korea decided to uh uh to introduce peace and stability, so-called, by brandishing the U.S. milit nuclear truncheon in the c uh towards the D BRK. And then for the first time uh p uh in a long time, nuclear weapon with the deployment in 1967 to the present day, there have been joint uh exercises with the U.S. on uh uh carpet bombing uh c scenarios of cities in the DBRK on the basis of this uh longstanding aggressive policy. So together with Washington and Tokyo. are de facto establishing military alliances targeting states in the region. Thank you for your attention.
Verbatim from the transcript. A reply is identified from its own words, the Chair's grant, or its place in the right-of-reply sequence; delegations and addressees follow the transcript's attribution.