New York, August 2, 2022
Mr. President,
At the outset, allow me to congratulate you on assuming the Presidency of this Review Conference. You can count on full support of Slovakia in discharging your duties to navigate the Conference to successful and meaningful outcome.
Slovakia aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the European Union. The following remarks will be made in my national capacity.
Mr. President,
For half a century the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), which is the cornerstone of the global non-proliferation and disarmament architecture, has underpinned and immensely contributed to international peace and security. It is a crucial international Treaty with irreplaceable role for international community, to which there is no credible alternative.
However, Russia´s unprovoked and unjustifiable invasion of Ukraine, which grossly violated international law, including the UN Charter and which Slovakia condemns in the strongest terms, has significantly changed the security environment and raises serious questions about the future of non-proliferation and disarmament regime.
Nevertheless, despite the present circumstances we need to be determined and aim for unity for the sake of preserving and upholding the Treaty, its integrity and continued significance.
As a starting point, it is necessary to reaffirm the Treaty as the cornerstone of global nuclear non-proliferation regime, the essential foundation for the pursuit of nuclear disarmament as well as for further development of peaceful nuclear uses.
We need to strengthen the Treaty and further enhance implementation of the commitments undertaken during the previous review conferences. Slovakia supports a balanced approach to all three NPT pillars.
It is also important to continue our efforts to promote its universalization to make it a truly global instrument.
Mr. President,
Slovakia supports progressive step-by-step approach of mutually reinforcing legal measures and practical instruments to promote nuclear disarmament, which takes into account the prevailing security environment.
Welcomed developments such as the extension of the New START Treaty, launch of Strategic Stability Dialogue and the restatement of the Reykjavik Summit declaration by the United States and Russia are nowadays overshadowed by the contradictory actions of the Russian Federation that have eroded trust and prospects for further progress. It is nevertheless necessary to continue the dialogue on future verifiable arms control arrangements, prospectively engaging other states.
Early entry into force of the CTBT should be our common objective. We call on all States that have not yet done so, in particular the remaining Annex II States, to sign and ratify the CTBT without preconditions and further delay.
We support early commencement of negotiations on Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty in the Conference on Disarmament on the basis of the Shannon mandate. Pending the entry into force of such a treaty all States concerned should declare and uphold moratorium on the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear devices.
We acknowledge the value of multilateral cooperation in advancing nuclear disarmament verification.
States possessing nuclear weapons need to take action to reduce strategic and nuclear risk and implement practical measures to that end, including dialogue on transparency and nuclear doctrines and policies. We appreciate the level of transparency shown by some P5 countries.
Slovakia also welcomes various initiatives that in a pragmatic manner promote dialogue on how to advance nuclear disarmament and facilitate implementation of the goals of the NPT, such as the Stockholm Initiative, NPDI or CEND.
Mr. President,
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards system has the pivotal role in the implementation of the NPT non-proliferation obligations.
Full-scope safeguards complemented by Additional Protocols represent the current IAEA verification standard. We support their universalisation and call on all State Parties that have not yet done so to sign and ratify both the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreements as well as the Additional Protocol. Meeting the non-proliferation commitments goes hand in hand with the exercise of rights to the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
DPRK´s nuclear and ballistic missile program is a serious threat to international peace and security. We call on DPRK to constructively engage in dialogue with all relevant parties towards complete and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.
Slovakia supports the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) as an important element providing us with important guarantees about exclusively peaceful nature of Iran´s nuclear program. We are concerned that intensive diplomatic efforts within JCPOA Joint Commission in Vienna have been inconclusive so far. We commend the efforts of IAEA Director General to verify and monitor Iran´s compliance with JCPOA commitments but we are concerned about difficulties the IAEA monitors face in fulfilling their mission.
Mr. President,
The right of all NPT State Parties to access nuclear energy and technology is a core principle on which NPT stands. Nuclear energy and its peaceful uses remains also a key priority for Slovakia, a country with an approx. 55% share of nuclear energy in its energy mix. We believe that safe and sustainable use of nuclear energy will play an important role in decarbonizing economies and mitigating climate change as well as contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Slovakia supports and actively participates in international nuclear research, especially in the area of cancer treatment and diagnostics, including within CERN and other research and development projects.
Mr. President,
This Review Conference has a key responsibility to find a consensus in order to move our multilateral efforts forward. Let us use this opportunity for the sake of humanity.
Thank you for your attention.