EU Presidency Statement - Explanation of vote on African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty

Explanation of Vote On the draft resolution on "African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba)" L.8 by Ambassador John Freeman as UK Presidency on behalf of the European Union, United Nations General Assembly 60th Session, First Committee, New York

Mr. Chairman,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union on the draft resolution L.8 entitled "African Nuclear-Weapon Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba)". The Acceding Countries Bulgaria and Romania, the Candidate Countries Turkey and Croatia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, EFTA country Liechtenstein, member of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine align themselves with this Explanation of Vote.

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.


* Croatia continues to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.

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