STATEMENT BY MS CHO YI TING, DELEGATE OF THE PERMANENT MISSION OF SINGAPORE, AT THE 77TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY FIRST COMMITTEE THEMATIC DISCUSSION ON CLUSTER ONE: NUCLEAR WEAPONS, 14 OCTOBER 2022

Thank you, Mr Chairman.

Singapore aligns itself with the statements delivered by Vietnam on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN); and by Indonesia, on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, and would like to add the following.

2 As the Secretary-General said at the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons on 26 September 2022, “we need a new vision for nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation”. The historic gains that we have made on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation are, as we have said before, at risk of unravelling. While it was disappointing that the Tenth Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) failed to adopt a final document for the second consecutive time, we must continue to engage in open and constructive dialogue, press on to rebuild mutual trust, and make progress in all three pillars of the NPT. We propose four key steps in this regard.

3 First, it is imperative that we safeguard the NPT as the cornerstone of the global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime. We urge all States Parties to fulfil their obligations under the NPT, apart from rhetorically reaffirming commitments. Nuclear Weapon States must do more to fulfil their disarmament commitments under Article VI of the NPT, including reducing their nuclear arsenals, and ending the testing and qualitative improvement of nuclear weapons.

4 Second, we must continue working towards the universalisation of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). We are encouraged by the positive momentum with six Member States ratifying the CTBT in 2022. We urge the eight remaining Annex 2 States to sign and ratify the CTBT without delay. We should also urgently commence long-overdue negotiations on a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty.

5 Third, we must support the establishment and maintenance of Nuclear Weapon Free Zones, which are concrete steps towards a world free of nuclear weapons. Singapore reaffirms its commitment to the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ). We will continue to work closely with Nuclear Weapon States to resolve outstanding issues concerning their signing and ratification of the SEANWFZ Protocol without reservations. We also encourage efforts to achieve a genuine and lasting peace in a nuclear-weapon-free Middle East through open and constructive dialogue involving all relevant parties.

6 Fourth, we call on all Member States to support the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in its efforts to discharge its mandate effectively. The IAEA plays an indispensable role not just in verifying that non-Nuclear Weapon States abide by their non-proliferation obligations under the NPT, but also in ensuring high standards of nuclear safety and security. As a Member of the IAEA’s Board of Governors for the 2022-2024 term, Singapore will continue to support the IAEA’s important work. We also reaffirm our commitment to deepen cooperation with the IAEA, including by renewing the Singapore-IAEA Third Country Training Programme, and through the 2019 IAEA-ASEAN Practical Arrangements.

Mr Chairman,

7 A “new vision” for nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, as articulated by the Secretary-General, can only be achieved if Member States demonstrate collective political will to overcome longstanding and new challenges. Singapore reaffirms its commitment to working constructively with the international community towards such meaningful outcomes. Thank you.

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