Madame Chair,
Let me start by congratulating and wishing you success in your mandate as Chair of the First Committee for the 79th session. We are pleased to have this Committee chaired for the first time by a woman PR, and you have our full support.
We thank the President of the General Assembly, His Excellency Philemon Yang and the Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu for their addresses to the Committee.
Colleagues,
We share the PGA’s concern expressed here, that the world is at a “delicate crossroads”. We are witnessing profound changes that challenge the very foundations of the rules-based international order, including respect for the UN Charter and international law.
The international security architecture is being challenged among others, by conflicts, cyberattacks, and nuclear threats.
The war in Ukraine, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, Lebanon, and other regions are all glaring examples where by now, regrettably, the international community has fallen short of delivering tangible outcomes.
Albania reiterates its strong condemnation of Russia’s unjustified military aggression against Ukraine as a blatant violation of the United Nations Charter, international law, and humanitarian principles. Ukraine has our full and unwavering support in its just fight for their sovereignty and freedom.
We condemn the nuclear rhetoric by Russia with repeated threats of deployment of nuclear weapons to further intimidate its neighbors. Threats to use nuclear weapons are not acceptable.
The DPRK continues its unlawful activities with impunity, conducting illegal arms transfers to Russia and posing a threat to global peace and security with its illegal pursuit of nuclear weapons. DPRK’s weapons of mass destruction and delivery systems threaten international security and undermine the global non-proliferation regime.
The situation in the Middle East remains in dangerous escalation. All hostages should be released without conditions. A ceasefire in Gaza, West Bank, and in the south of Lebanon is needed immediately. The suffering of the civilians in this conflict should come to an end. We condemn the attack of Iran against Israel with 200 ballistic missiles, that only deteriorated the situation further.
These dramatic developments clearly show how fragile peace in the world is. Under this gloomy situation, multilateralism remains a key element. A global response is essential, making the effectiveness of the United Nations and its organs more imperative than ever.
The adoption of the Pact for the Future in the General Assembly last month shows that by joining its efforts the international community can reach a consensus, even on disarmament issues, as we have recommitted to strengthening the disarmament and non-proliferation architecture.
As a state party of Chemical Weapons Convention and Biological Weapons Convention, Albania considers these multilateral instruments very important and concrete examples of effective multilateralism. We regularly support and cosponsor related resolutions in the First Committee.
The joint efforts of the international community should continue for the universalization and the full implementation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
The risk of terrorists or other non-state actors acquiring weapons of mass destruction remains a real and serious threat to international security. The SC resolution 1540 is a very valuable instrument that provides guidance to Member States in taking all necessary measures to prevent non-state actors from acquiring nuclear, chemical, biological or radiological weapons or the equipment necessary for their production.
We strongly advocate CTBT’s prompt entry into force and its universalization.
Cybersecurity is a crucial element of international security. Two years ago, Albania has been targeted by multiple hacker groups linked with another state. The cyberattack aimed to destroy the governmental infrastructure, paralyzing public services and stir chaos and insecurity in the country. The attacks continue permanently and in a very sophisticated manner.
From this context, Albania is investing in its national cyber resilience, paying significant attention, at the same time, to regional and international approaches to cybersecurity.
The Open-Ended Working Group on ICT has given a substantial input to the discussion on the implementation of the norms of responsible state behavior. Malicious cyber activities require a whole-of-government response, as they have the potential to affect a nation’s economy, society and national security, as well as individuals. We therefore support every effort to improve and further strengthen the cooperation between states on one side and private sector, civil society and academia on the other side.
The developments in different parts of the world are a reason for concern regarding the Outer Space. Outer space has witnessed a surge in security challenges over recent years with threats endangering the long-term sustainability of the space environment. The space security should remain a global goal for all the countries. It’s crucial for all nations to uphold their obligations under international treaties and work towards maintaining outer space as a peaceful and cooperative domain. We fully support the draft-resolution tabled by Japan and USA, which intends to strengthen and uphold the global non-proliferation regime, including in outer space, and reaffirms the shared goal of maintaining outer space for peaceful purposes.
Being aware of the direct negative impact of the illicit trade of Small Arms and Light Weapons in undermining the development and increasing the threats and conflicts, we reiterate our commitment to addressing this issue as a sine qua non to combating all forms of violence. Albania has made substantial strides in implementing the Programme of Action (PoA) and the International Tracing Instrument (ITI). Our approach has been multi-faceted, encompassing legal, institutional, and operational measures to ensure comprehensive control over the production, transfer, and possession of SALW.
Madame Chair,
Let me conclude by emphasizing the importance of gender equality and the inclusion of the youth in the disarmament discussions and processes. We reiterate our commitment to the Women, Peace and Security and Youth, Peace and Security Agendas and encourage the UN initiatives with the young generation, believing that their commitment, the energy and creativity of young people could give the process the fresh input it needs.
Thank you!
