Chair,

The United Nations, in accordance with the Charter, has a central role and the primary responsibility in the context of international peace and security.

India is committed to multilateralism and the ideals enshrined in the UN Charter. A reformed and effective UN is essential for it to successfully discharge its mandated functions.

India attaches high priority to the work of the UN disarmament machinery as laid out by the SSOD-1, with the triad comprising of the Conference on Disarmament, the First Committee and the UN Disarmament Commission, which continue to be the ideal forums for deliberation and negotiations on matters related to disarmament and international security.

Chair,

India accords importance to the Conference on Disarmament as the world’s single disarmament negotiating forum. The Conference has the mandate, membership and rules for negotiating legally-binding instruments on the core items under its Agenda.

The Conference this year was able to successfully adopt a decision on its work and its implementation. This is all the more noteworthy because the decision was accomplished in the midst of geopolitical stress and conflict. As the first Presidency of CD this year, India derives an element of satisfaction, in contributing to the outcome, along with other Presidencies and the collective membership.

India, on its part, has expressed its readiness and commitment to work with other Member States on all core items on the CD’s Agenda, including a Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty (FMCT) on the basis of CD/1299 and the mandate contained therein.

Chair,

As the main deliberative body within the UN on disarmament issues, the Commission’s role as a platform for dialogue and cooperation, bringing together universal membership of all Member States cannot be understated.

The Commission has made several important achievements in its past, having successfully adopted several notable guidelines and recommendations.

The Commission, last year, was able to successfully adopt consensus recommendations to promote the practical implementation of TCBMs in outer space. We are also pleased to note that the Commission - as a part of its current three-year cycle - has already begun deliberations on “recommendations on common understandings related to emerging technologies in the context of international security”.

Chair,

India also looks forward to the convening of the SSOD–IV, which can be a useful opportunity to take stock of the progress made in the disarmament machinery and to look at ways to further revitalize it.

India also values the important efforts and publications by UNIDIR in various areas of its work.

India’s annual Disarmament and International Security Affairs fellowship reflects the importance we attach to promoting disarmament education. Earlier this year, India held the 4th iteration of the Fellowship in which young diplomats from 24 countries attended the programme.

Chair,

The 1st Committee is mandated by the SSOD-1 to deal with the questions relating to international peace and security. It is an important platform that brings together all UN Member States.

India hopes that our work this year at the 1st Committee will further contribute to the disarmament machinery in its pursuit of collective solutions on matters related to international peace and security.

India stands ready to contribute to this process and work with fellow member States in our collective endeavour to achieve the objectives.

I thank you.