UZBEKISTAN

STATEMENT

of H.E.Mr.Alisher Vohidov

Perrnanent Representative of the Republic of Uzbeki stan to the United Nations

on General Debates of the Third Session of the Preparatory Committee

for the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on

the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons

New York, May 10, 1999

866 United Nati~t~s Plaza, Sue 326. ~ Yor1~, N.Y. 10017 Phone: (212) 486-4242 F~: (212) 486-t~g8

Unofficial translation provided by the Mission of Uzbekistan

Dear Mr. Chairman,

First, please allow me to congratulate you on your assumption of the Chairmanship of this preparatory committee. My delegation is confident that with your diplomatic experience and knowledge in the area of disarmament and international security, as well as with your skilful leadership we can successfully reach the mandate, given to the Preparatory committee.

Our felicitations also go to all members of the Bureau on election to their posts.

I also would like to thank the Chairman of the Second session of Preparatory committee in 1998, the Ambassador of Poland to UN, Mr. Wyzner and other members of the Bureau for their successful work done last year.

Mr. Chairman,

The current session of the Preparatory Committee is being held at the time when the international community attaches great attention to the issues of disarmament. This year is very crucial for all of us. This session of the Committee has very high significance if only because it is the last one in this millenium. And to meet the next century with merit we should do all our best in achieving our noble objectives.

In fact, on a threshold of the XXI century, when the international community faces the necessity to resolve many of the global problems, which seriously threaten the international peace and security, we should intensify our efforts, aimed at strenghtening the achieved results and gaining further substantial progress in the area of disarmament.

Mr. Chairman,

Proceeding from the confidence, that the NPT is one of the major documents in the field of the maintenance of international security and disarmament, the Republic of Uzbekistan fully shares and supports the principles and objectives, adopted on 1995 NPT Review Conference, according to which the nuclear non-proliferation, nuclear disarmament and international cooperation in the field of the usage of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes should be carried out. Undoubtedly, the efforts of Preparatory committee should be aimed at searching ways and means of realizing these principles and objectives.

Mr. Chairman,

It is Worthwhile to mention, that during the last few years the issue of establishing the nuclear-weapon-free zones (NWFZ) has become increasingly important in international disarmament agenda. It is widely recognized, that the establishments of nuclear-weapon-free zones on basis of the arrangements freely arrived among the states of the region concerned, represent an integral part of the mechanism of nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, which promotes strenghtening of international and regional peace and security.

Taking into account the fact, that the territories of nuclear-weapon-free zones, at present time cover more than 50 percent of Earth's land mass, and, more than hundred states are the participants of such zones, this question has become the issue of special importance.

Significance of NWFZ in strenghtening the global and regional peace and security was confirmed in many international documents, among which Final document of NPT Conference of 1995, documents of the First and Second sessions of Preparatory committee of NPT Review Conference of the year 2000, as well as the agenda of present session. Undoubledly this issue will be discused as one of the major issues of the forthcoming NPT Review Conference of the year 2000.

Mr. Chairman,

The Republic of Uzbekistan consistently takes mesasures, directed on maintenaning peace and strenghtening regional security. Among those we can attribute the initiative of announcing Central Asia as a nuclear weapon-free zone. To present date, there have been significant progress achieved in the realization of this innitiative.

Since the time of last year's session of Preparatory committee the group of experts from Central Asian states on the establishment of Central Asian Nuclear Weapon Free Zone (CANWFZ) have carried out several intensive meetings with the participation of the representatives of international organizations. The experts from nuclear states participated in some of them. In the result of these discussions we have managed to come considerably close to the agreement on all aspects of the "Basic Elements of the Treaty on the establishment of nuclear weapon-free zone in Central Asia

The last of these meetings was held in Geneva during the period of April 27-₃₀th of this year. In the course of the meeting, there were intensive and rather productive discussions among experts on the issues of achieving a consensus on many provisions of the Treaty on creation of CANWFZ, the draft of which was developed based on the results of previous meetings of experts. For achieving further progress in this question, the representatives of our states have agreed upon continuation of the consultations between the countries of Central Asia, as well as maintenance of their dialogue with the experts of nclear states.

The next meeting within the framework of this process will take place from September 28 to October 1 of this year in Sapporo, Japan.

Mr. Chairman,

For the successful achievement of the objectives set before the CANWFZ on the regional level, the reliable system of joint efforts of the states participanting in the Central Asian initiative, which provides the regime of nonproliferation; ecological safety of manufacturing that is connected with nuclear materials; and prevention of outflow of nuclear technologies and materials should be produced.

In the same aspect I would like to note the resolution of UN General Assembly 53/77 A, adopted with consensus in December last year. In the resolution, there was an expressed confidence that the creation of nuclear weapon-free zones can promote for the achievement of general and complete disarmament and that the creation of nuclear weapon-free zone in Central Asia on the basis of the arrangements, freely arrived among the states of the region concerned, and in view of specific peculiarities of the region can improve the security of these states and strengthen the global and regional security and peace. It has called upon all member states to support the initiative, aimed at the creation of nuclear weapon-free zone in Central Asia and has emphasized the concrete measures taken by the states of the region for the realization of this initiative.

In this regard I would like to thank the UN Secretary-General, Mr. K. Annan, Under-Secretary-General on disarmament issues, Mr. 3. Dhanapala and the UN Department on disarmament affairs in particular the UN Regional center for Pease and Disrmament in Asia and Pacific for the assistance given by them in developing basic elements of future Contract on creation CANWFZ.

Having this opportunity, I would like to thank all delegations, who expressed their support for our initiative - establishment of Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia.

Mr. Chairman,

It is necessary to note, that in the last years the significant achievement in process of disarmament has been made. The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the Convention on prohibition of biological and chemical weapons and other international documents have been adopted

Uzbekistan was among the first 10 states that signed and ratified the Comprehensive Test understanding of the Ban Treaty (CTBT). This showed not only a deep understanding of the importance of this Treaty, but also a desire to bring considerable assistance in solving the problem of non-proliferation of the nuclear weapons, improving global ecological condition, and strenghtening international security and regional stability.

At present, besides being a party of the CTBT, Uzbeki stan is also a participant of the Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the Convention on Physical Protection of Nuclear Material. The agreement on applocation of safeguards in connection with the NPT between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been strengthened by signing Additional protocol in 1998.

Uzbekistan welcomes the idea of calling a conference of the states, which have ratified the CTBT, and, proceeding from its general position on strengthening the regime of non-proliferation, acts for the prompt introduction of the CTBT.

In our opinion, the present conference will give a valuable opportunity for developing effective measures for achieving prompt ratification of the Treaty and can become a corner-stone in promoting a number of global and regional initiatives. It will contribute to the successful preparation for the 2000 Review Conference on the NPT and the consolidation of efforts of the international community on strenghtening of regime of non-proliferation on the threshold of the new millenium.

Strenghtening of the regime of non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and not expansion of the group of nuclear states, are the main priorities of the foreign policy of our country in the field of international security.

The Republic of Uzbeki stan, as the initiator of the creation of nuclear weaponfree zone in Central Asia, feels the responsibility for strenghtening of nonproliferation regime, and, is going to actively participate in achieving further progress in the area of disarmament.

In summary, allow me to assure you, Mr. Chairman, of full support and close cooperation of my delegation with your efforts in achieving successful results of the work of current session of Preparatory committee.

Thank you for your attention.