UNGA67 First Committee
Thematic debate: Cluster One Nuclear Weapons
Statement delivered by Turkey
on behalf of the Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Initiative

October 17, 2012

Mr Chairman,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Initiative (NPDI) – Australia, Canada, Chile, Germany, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Poland, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

At our meeting in New York on 26 September 2012, the NPDI reiterated its resolve to support the implementation of the 2010 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference Action Plan ("Action Plan") through practical steps and to pursue the goal of a world free of nuclear weapons. Many NPT States are making important efforts towards achieving these objectives.

But much more needs to be done.

We recall that Action 5 of the 2010 Action Plan calls on the nuclear-weapon States to take steps to implement their commitments in a timely manner and to report on their efforts. In this regard, a key priority of the NPDI is to continue pushing for greater transparency from the nuclear weapons states. A culture of greater transparency is vital to building confidence and, ultimately achieving our collective goal of a world without nuclear weapons. The NPDI continues to engage the nuclear-weapon States on the draft reporting form which we first shared in June 2011, guided by Action 21 of the 2010 NPT Action Plan, as a contribution to the discussions between the Nuclear Weapon States (NWS) on transparency and reporting with regard to all types of nuclear weapons. The NPDI would welcome progress in the dialogue between the United States and Russia on all categories of nuclear weapons, including sub-strategic nuclear weapons. With respect to nuclear arsenals in general, the NPDI would like to see further quantitative reductions and parallel steps towards reducing the significance of nuclear weapons in the security strategies and military doctrines.

On regional issues, we reiterate our support for the establishment of the Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and other Weapons of Mass Destruction, and our support for efforts to implement the 2010 NPT Review Conference decision to convene a conference in 2012 on the establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction, to be attended by all states in the region on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at. We acknowledge and support fully the efforts by the Facilitator to consult broadly with all relevant stakeholders to prepare for a successful conference and call upon all parties in the Middle East to participate and engage in the spirit of genuine and constructive cooperation.

We endorse the Joint Ministerial Statement of the Friends of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) issued on 27 September, co-sponsored by 101 States and we urge the remaining eight Annex II states to ratify the Treaty as soon as possible and thereby end nuclear test explosions for all time. We welcome Indonesia's ratification of the CTBT which has been a crucial mark of progress towards the entry into force of this instrument. We welcome the ratification of the Treaty by Guatemala and are encouraged by advice from Iraq and Thailand on the steps they are taking towards ratification of the Treaty.

We remain deeply concerned by the lack of substantive work in the Conference if Disarmament across the four core issues on its agenda. We urge the adoption and implementation of a comprehensive Program of Work that includes the immediate commencement of negotiations on a treaty banning production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices. We also strongly support Canada's efforts at this session of the First Committee to propose ways forward for substantive work on this essential step toward a world without nuclear weapons and call upon all states to support this initiative.

We continue to support key legal instruments that safeguard and govern peaceful nuclear activities, and are promoting, at the highest political level, wider adherence to the Additional Protocol.

There is much more to do, and we look forward to taking proposals and ideas to the 2013 NPT PrepCom in order to address the issue of non-strategic nuclear weapons and the reduction of the role of nuclear weapons in military doctrines, the entry into force of the CTBT, export controls, nuclear-weapon-free zones and wider application of safeguards in NWS.

I thank you, Mr Chairman