EU Statement – UN General Assembly 1st Committee: Regional Disarmament and Security
Mr. Chair,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States. The Candidate Countries North Macedonia*, Montenegro*, Albania*, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, the country of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidate Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the EFTA countries Iceland and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Georgia, Monaco and San Marino align themselves with this statement.
In the face of rising levels of violent conflict as well as threats to use force around the world, repeated blatant violations of the UN Charter and international law, coupled with a pervasive culture of impunity, there is a need for a new and stronger approach to global peace and security, anchored in multilateralism, human rights, fundamental freedoms and international law. Threats to the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of any State, under any pretext, are a threat to us all and cannot be tolerated. To allow this to go unchallenged would mean accepting an international order based on the use of force. Russia’s unprovoked, unjustified and illegal war of aggression is one of the greatest challenges to global peace and security, undermining the international rules-based order, damaging the global economy and global food security in ways which harm all countries. The recent announcement of the military mobilization by Russian authorities is an unprecedented escalation in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The EU resolutely condemns Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the atrocities being committed by Russian forces. It urges Russia to immediately stop its indiscriminate attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, and to immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all its troops and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders. Russia bears full responsibility for the loss of life, the human suffering and all the destruction it causes in Ukraine. There can be no impunity for war crimes. Perpetrators must be held to account. The EU also condemns in the strongest possible terms the involvement of Belarus in the ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine.
The UN General Assembly, in its resolutions of 2 March and 24 March 2022, has deplored in the strongest terms the war of aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine in violation of Article 2 (4) of the UN Charter. These resolutions sent a powerful message to Russia and Belarus that they are isolated in their actions. The EU calls on Russia and Belarus to abide by these resolutions.
At the same time, the EU hails the courage and determination of the Ukrainian people and its leadership in their fight to defend the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and freedom of their country. The EU is unwavering in its commitment to help Ukraine exercise its inherent right of self-defence as stated in the UN Charter against the Russian aggression and build a peaceful, democratic and prosperous future. In this regard, it will continue to work closely with international partners.
The EU firmly rejects and unequivocally condemns the attempted illegal annexation by Russia of Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions in addition to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol. Acquisition of territory through the use of force is a matter of concern for all of us. By wilfully undermining the rules-based international order and blatantly and repeatedly violating Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, Russia is putting global peace and security at risk.
Last week, the General Assembly sent a clear message to the Russian Federation condemning its attempt to annex Ukrainian territory. The adoption of the resolution A/RES/ES-11/4 entitled “Territorial integrity of Ukraine” has confirmed that the overwhelming majority of nations stand ready to defend the UN Charter, and reject Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and its people. The EU does not and will never recognize the illegal annexation, just as we have never recognised the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol in 2014. The above-resolution also demands that Russia immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.
Mr. Chair,
The changing nature of conflict, the proliferation of armed groups and growing violence cause enormous pain and suffering, and deeply affect the lives of men, women, boys and girls across the globe. Whenever peace recedes and armed conflicts destabilise states and entire regions, we all often face direct or indirect consequences and new security challenges. The EU has a long history of support for actions that address threats to international and regional security and promote disarmament. We cooperate closely with the UN as well as other partners to find solutions, which would underpin efforts to bring and maintain peace and security. Regional partnerships are of fundamental importance for addressing regional security issues and concerns and a fundamental factor for the development of regional dialogue that can facilitate confronting issues of common interests. Preventing and tackling security risks linked to arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation remains on the EU’s radar screen.
The diversion, illicit trade and unauthorised use of conventional arms, and especially small arms and light weapons (SALW) and their related ammunition, continue to constitute a serious impediment to global peace, security and sustainable development. The EU continues its active engagements in addressing issues related to illicit small arms as they endanger regional stability in various parts of the globe.
The majority of assistance projects supported by the EU can be considered as classic SALW-control projects. Most of them have a regional scope and are implemented with the help of regional organizations. In Africa, the EU has worked together with the African Union, ECOWAS, UNREC, and RECSA. In Europe, the EU works with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearing House for the Control on SALW (SEESAC) that is part of UNDP, including support to the implementation of the Roadmap for a sustainable solution to arms control in the Western Balkans by 2024. In Latin America, the EU works with the Organization of American States and UNLIREC. The EU also supports combating the illicit trade in and proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the Member States of the League of Arab States.
Other EU projects enable capacity building for arms export control, which is crucial in preventing SALW from falling into the wrong hands. The EU supports States, at their request, to strengthen their arms transfer control systems with a view to implementing the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). The activities under the project take place across the globe and include assistance for drafting legislation, training and sharing of best practices among export control professionals. In addition, the EU through the ATT implementation support program has provided technical assistance to a good number of beneficiary countries in Latin America, in Africa, in Central and South East Asia, in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus, aiming at strengthening their national systems, in line with the requirements of the Treaty.
Mr. Chair,
Disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of former combatants (DDR) plays an essential role in stabilisation and building lasting peace. It can prevent further exploitation of grievances and instability stirred by armed groups, some of which may be designated as terrorist organisations. DDR is thus an integral part of the EU’s contribution to the non-reoccurrence of violence and to broader stabilisation, as it addresses the risks posed by armed groups and supports the transition from armed confrontation to political engagement and inclusive governance.
The EU’s experience has demonstrated the need for early engagement with a long-term perspective, flexibility and a capacity to react swiftly, connecting diplomacy, development, peace, security and defence efforts in high-risk contexts. To meet the challenges posed by armed groups and to maximise the impact of its actions, the EU decided to update its DDR policy, drawing on its Global Strategy and its EU Integrated Approach to External Conflicts and Crises.
Furthermore, the EU extends its cooperation with various partners on strengthening biosafety and biosecurity at the national, regional, and international levels against the backdrop of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. On 25 November last year, the EU adopted its Council Decision No. 2021/2072 aimed, inter alia, at strengthening the implementation of the BTWC and advancing its universalization on the African continent. The EU is also a member of the G7 led Global Partnership against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction and supports its Signature Initiative to mitigate biological threats in Africa.
I thank you, Mr. Chair.
* North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.