UZBEKISTAN

STATEMENT
by
Mr. Badriddin Obidov, member of the Delegation of the Republic of Uzbekistan

at

April 9, 2002, New York

Distinguished Mr. Chairman,

On behalf of the delegation of the Republic of Uzbekistan allow me to congratulate you on the election to the post of Chairman of the First session of the Preparatory Committee of the 2005 Review Conference. We are confident that under your skilful guidance the work of the present session of the Preparatory Committee will be conducted successfully and fruitfully.

Mr. Chairman

The present session of the Preparatory Committee is being held at the period, when threats to international peace and security taking very complex character, which requires the accomplishment of the most serious practical measures for strengthening the global system of strategic stability and the whole disarmament process.

As a matter of fact, tendencies appeared in the beginning of the new XXI century had an adverse impact on durability of the non-proliferation regime. The tragic events of September 11 unambiguously indicated at the urgent necessity for the consolidation of efforts and deepening of cooperation between all states of the world on the prevention of threat of proliferation and use by the terrorists of weapons of mass destruction.

In this connection, the task of the international community consists of the further strengthening of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, which during the period of more than 30 years remains a unique and most important document in the history of multilateral agreements on disarmament, uniting 187 states of the world.

In 2000 we successfully conducted the Sixth Review Conference on the NPT, which, in essence, became a first of its kind after the indefinite extension of the Treaty. Speaking about the outcomes of the 2000 Review Conference, the delegation of Uzbekistan emphasizes the importance of the adoption of 13 practical steps on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. The implementation of these decisions will ensure an opportunity for the strengthening the accountability of the states and consideration of the NPT review process.

Mr. Chairman,

The Republic of Uzbekistan fully supports the efforts of the world community in the struggle for reduction and liquidation finally of nuclear weapons. As a full-fledged state-party to the NPT and a state, which does not possess any nuclear weapons, Uzbekistan strictly adheres to the policy of rejecting the application, development, acquisition, stockpiling and proliferation of nuclear weapons.

Since the first years of its independence the Republic of Uzbekistan, along with implementation of other NPT provisions, directly has begun the realization of one of the fundamental dimensions of the NPT, namely Article 7 of the Treaty, which provides for conclusion of regional treaties and agreements on the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones.

Aiming at the strengthening of the NPT and in the interest of maintaining regional security, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan have agreed to establish in Central Asia a nuclear-weapon-free zone, considering it as a most important sphere of disarmament.

Regional political support for the establishment in Central Asia of a nuclear-weapon-free zone (CANWFZ) is reflected in the Almaty Declaration of the heads of the states, Tashkent Declaration of the ministers of foreign affairs of the countries of the region and Communiqué of the Bishkek consultative meeting.

The Delegation of Uzbekistan notes with satisfaction that the initiative on the Central Asian zone continues to receive the full support of the international community. Since 1997, the Central Asian initiative has been reflected in the documents of the five last sessions of the UN General Assembly.

The final document of the 2000 Review Conference has a paragraph with support to the efforts of the five Central Asian states on the establishment in the region of a nuclear-weapon-free zone, and welcoming the practical steps achieved towards the realization of this important regional initiative. As an outcome of the 2000 Review Conference, the NPT state-parties emphasized the substantial progress made in drawing up and agreeing on a draft treaty on the Central Asian nuclear-weapon-free zone.

We approached very closely to finalization of the process of agreeing on the draft of the Central Asian nuclear-weapon-free zone, and in this connection we are convinced that Central Asia can become the fifth region in the world, free from nuclear weapons.

We highly appreciate the efforts of the United Nations, IAEA and independent experts to support the activity of the regional group of experts on preparation of a text of the Treaty on the establishment of the Central Asian nuclear-weapon-free zone.

It is necessary to emphasize with a special gratitude a broad interest and political assistance of some countries, in particular of Japan, in the course of successful realization of this initiative.

Mr. Chairman,

Establishment and strengthening nuclear non-proliferation regime is the sole way to the creation of world order prohibiting any nuclear tests.

The Republic of Uzbekistan, supporting and strengthening the regime of nuclear nonproliferation, is the party to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and the Convention on Physical Protection of Nuclear Material. Signing the Additional Protocol in 1998 has strengthened the Agreement between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on application of safeguards in connection with the NPT.

We are confident that all states of the world consider speediest entrance into force of the CTBT as an occurrence of one of the most effective tools of deterrence of nuclear weapons proliferation and their development.

Mr. Chairman,

The Delegation of Uzbekistan regards as timely the initiative of the United Nations Secretary-General on education in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation. We believe that the realization of this initiative has the important significance in comprehensive realization of the necessity for strengthening the regime of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and process of disarmament, which will lead finally to the achievement of existence of the future generations without nuclear weapons. In this context, we commend the efforts undertaken by the United Nations Department for Disarmament Affairs.

In conclusion, let me to assure you, Mr. Chairman, of full support and close cooperation of the Delegation of Uzbekistan with you in your efforts to achieve successful results of the work of the current session of the Preparatory Committee.

I thank for attention.