STATEMENT BY MR ALLAN PHUA, DELEGATE TO THE 70th SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THEMATIC DISCUSSION ON OTHER DISARMAMENT MEASURES, FIRST COMMITTEE, 30 OCTOBER 2015

Mr Chairman,

            Like other delegates before me, allow me to congratulate you and members of your bureau on your appointments. You can count on the full support of my delegation.

2.         This year marks the 45th anniversary of the entry into force of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). With its near-universal subscription, the NPT remains the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime.

3.         However, it is widely acknowledged that the Treaty has come under severe strain. Progress in disarmament remains lacklustre and the political will to bring about a full realisation of Article VI of the NPT remains weak. A few states remain conspicuously absent from the NPT. Recent missile launches and the threat of a fourth nuclear test in the Korean Peninsula remain a source of serious concern. Despite efforts by many delegations, States Parties at the 2015 NPT Review Conference were unable to reach a consensus on the final outcome document. The divide between the Nuclear Weapon States and Non-Nuclear Weapon States over the priority and emphasis that should be given to nuclear disarmament as compared to nuclear non-proliferation continues to widen.

Mr Chairman,

4.         We recognise that complete nuclear disarmament is a long-term aspiration. As long as some countries continue to have nuclear weapons and others do not, the imbalance will always engender a sense of insecurity and distrust. In order to advance nuclear disarmament, we urge all Nuclear Weapon States to make concrete commitments to significantly reduce their nuclear arsenals in a transparent, irreversible and verifiable manner. All Nuclear Weapon States should also refrain from making qualitative improvements to their nuclear weapons and testing them. The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) remains a key tool to advance disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation and to build mutual trust and confidence. We strongly urge all countries, in particular the Annex 2 countries that have yet to sign and ratify the CTBT to do so. Progress also needs to be made at the Conference on Disarmament and on the Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty. 

5.         The discourse on the humanitarian dimension of the impact of nuclear weapons has been gaining increasing political support. Three conferences on this issue have been held since 2013. For the first time, two Nuclear Weapon States attended the Third International Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons in Vienna last December. This initiative was also an important element in discussions at the 2015 NPT Review Conference. To date, 119 States Parties, including Singapore, have endorsed the Humanitarian Pledge. While we collectively deliberate the next steps forward in a transparent and inclusive manner, we urge all States Parties to uphold the NPT, in particular Article VI, to eliminate the risks posed by nuclear weapons to mankind.

6.         As we work towards complete nuclear disarmament, Singapore strongly supports the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones as building blocks that help to strengthen global security. Within our region, we seek to preserve Southeast Asia as a zone free of nuclear weapons. As a State Party to the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Treaty (SEANWFZ), Singapore supports the intensification of ongoing efforts by ASEAN Member States and the Nuclear Weapon States to resolve all outstanding issues in accordance with the objectives and principles of the SEANWFZ Treaty, pertaining to the signing and ratifying of the Protocol of the SEANWFZ Treaty. We also regret that the Conference on the Establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and all other Weapons of Mass Destruction has yet to be held, and reiterate our call for the relevant stakeholders to continue open and constructive engagement to work towards the convening of the Conference as soon as possible.

7.         While Singapore remains committed to global efforts towards non-proliferation, we note that a robust global export control regime that guards against proliferation without hampering legitimate trade is critical. Since 2003, Singapore has been an active supporter of the activities of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI). We are a member of the PSI Operational Experts Group (OEG) and participate in the annual PSI OEG meetings. Singapore hosted two PSI maritime interdiction exercises, Deep Sabre I and II, in 2005 and 2009 respectively, and will be hosting the third exercise in 2016 in support of the Asia-Pacific Exercise Rotation initiative.

Mr Chairman,

8.         Apart from the nuclear threat, conventional arms have a major impact on global security. Singapore supports international initiatives that address the humanitarian concerns associated with the indiscriminate use of anti-personnel mines, cluster munitions, and the conventional weapons governed under the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons. We remain fully committed to working with the UN and members of the international community to ensure that these weapons are not misused.

9.         Singapore signed the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) in December 2014 and participated in the First ATT Conference of States Parties held in Cancun, Mexico in August 2015. Singapore’s signing of the ATT reaffirms our commitment to international efforts to eliminate the illicit arms trade.  We welcome the rapid progress of the ATT from its adoption to its entry into force. Singapore is working towards implementing the Treaty obligations domestically, before ratification.

Mr Chairman,

10.       In closing, the international community must demonstrate renewed commitment and political will to make progress on disarmament, non-proliferation and other security threats. As stated by the UN Secretary-General in his message at the Opening Plenary of the 2015 NPT Review Conference, “True national security can only be achieved outside and away from the shadow of the nuclear threat. This shadow must be removed for the sake of present and future generations.” Let us work together to bring about a more secure world.

11.       Thank you.

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