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Explanation of vote
Draft resolution L.11
African Nuclear-Weapon Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba)
Italian delegation on behalf of the European Union
Mr. Chairman,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union on the
resolution L.11 entitled “African Nuclear-Weapon Free Zone
Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba)”. The Acceding Countries (Cyprus,
Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Malta,
Slovakia and Slovenia) align themselves with this statement.
The EU attaches great importance to the development and strengthening
wherever possible of internationally recognised Nuclear-Weapon-Free
Zones, based on arrangements freely arrived at among the States
of the region. Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones enhance regional and global
peace and security and are a means to promote nuclear disarmament,
stability and confidence. We welcome and support the signature and
ratification by the nuclear-weapon States of the relevant protocols
of Nuclear-Weapon Free Zones and look forward to the entry into
force of the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty at an early
date.
Therefore, the EU welcomes the efforts undertaken this year at
the First Committee to preserve consensus on this resolution and
is satisfied that this has been the case.
Nevertheless, as contemplated in the guidelines adopted by the
UNDC in its 1999 substantive session on the <<Establishment
of nuclear-weapon-free zones on the basis of arrangements freely
arrived at among the States of the region concerned>>, every
zone is the outcome of specific circumstances and must reflect the
diversity of situations existing within it. Every nuclear-weapon-free-zone
must be a well defined geographical entity.
The EU shares Spain’s legitimate concern not to be singled
out in this resolution. The EU calls upon the parties concerned
to resume their efforts to find a solution acceptable to all of
them that takes into account the specific circumstances and the
diversity of situations existing within the area of application
of the Treaty.
I thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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