Statement by the delegation of Ukraine at the 72 UN GA First Committee thematic debate on conventional arms

Statement by the delegation of Ukraine at the 72 UN GA First Committee thematic debate on conventional arms

Mr. Chair,

Ukraine fully shares concerns of the international community that the illicit transfer, accumulation and misuse of conventional arms and their ammunition, in particular small arms and light weapons, poses serious threat for security and stability in the world. Therefore, we support international efforts to address this challenge, including export control and boarder control measures, stockpile management, international cooperation and assistance.

At the national level, Ukraine attaches particular importance to ensuring effective export control procedures in the sphere of conventional arms that meet all standing international requirements. Ukraine strictly adheres to the respective resolutions and decisions taken by the UN, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the international export control regime Wassenaar Arrangement. The UN Security Council resolutions which impose sanctions regimes, including the arms embargo, are guidelines for the adoption of the relevant legislation and regulations in Ukraine and are strictly implemented by the national authorities.

We continue considering the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons (PoA) as an important and universal tool in global efforts to combat the threat posed by this type of weapons. We support proper implementation of the PoA as well as the International Tracing Instrument by all States. Ukraine looks forward to the Third Review Conference on the implementation of the UN PoA and the International Tracing Instrument to be held next year. We also support and cosponsor the draft resolution “The illicit trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in all its aspects” tabled this year by Japan, Colombia and South Africa.

We also share the view that the UN Register on Conventional Arms continues to be an instrumental transparency and confidence-building measure in the field of the conventional arms trade.

There remain significant challenges in countering the indiscriminate use and effects of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). We support continuing efforts in order to develop international and national measures to combat IED production and use. Thus, we back the draft resolution “Countering the threat posed by improvised explosive devices” put forward by Afghanistan.

Mr. Chair,

Addressing the destructive power of conventional armaments continues to be of the utmost importance in the context of regional security. In this respect, we have to stress again that the Russian military aggression against Ukraine with the use of regular military forces armed with modern types of conventional armaments and ammunition has significantly undermined the existing system of conventional arms control.

The Russian Federation continues its massive illicit transfers of military goods to our territory thus deliberately destabilizing not only sub-regional but the entire European security and totally ignoring persistent calls of the international community to establish the effective border control. Among other things, such illegal transfers are a great challenge for proper implementation of the Programme of Actions on SALW which serves as the only universal international tool to address the illicit trade in SALW.

We have no right to ignore such illicit supplies of conventional weapons from the Russian Federation, in particular to the Russia-guided illegal armed groups operating in the certain areas of Donetsk and Lugansk regions of Ukraine.

Mr. Chair,

Ukraine recognizes the important role of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) in addressing post-conflict measures in order to minimize the occurrence, risk and effects of Explosive Remnants of War (ERW).

Being a State Party to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Production, Stockpiling and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Landmines and on their Destruction (Mine Ban Treaty) for over 10 years Ukraine acknowledges its fundamental character in minimizing the occurrence, risk and effects of landmines.

Again, as a result of the armed aggression of Russia and offensive actions carried out by the Russia-guided illegal armed groups operating in the certain areas of Donetsk and Lugansk regions of Ukraine, nowadays our country has to deal with a drastically increased number of dangerous ERW, causing severe casualties among civilians, including children.

These ERW as well as antipersonnel mines which have indiscriminate effect are planted by illegal armed groups in residential areas and routes of communication between inhabited areas thus violating the Convention. In fact, they pose more threat to the civil population than to the military personnel. Ukraine is strongly concerned with such activity and calls upon Russia to make every effort to stop it.

Thank you.