Ministry Statements & Speeches:
Thank you Mr President.
It is to New Zealand’s deep disappointment that we meet again to discuss the use of the veto, only three days since we last did so.
New Zealand is a core supporter of the Veto Initiative. We are pleased to see those P5 members who choose to use their veto power called to account before the General Assembly. The regularity with which this still occurs, however, is highly regrettable.
New Zealand has a long history of working to advance nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. A core tenet of our foreign policy has been our firm belief that nuclear war must be avoided, and that the elimination of nuclear weapons is the only way to properly address their risks and avoid the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of their use.
The threat posed by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems in our own region today is acute and confronting. The DPRK’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes are one of the greatest threats to security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. The DPRK’s actions in continuing its illegal ballistic missile launches and testing are irresponsible and provocative, and increase the risk of miscalculation and conflict.
New Zealand has worked with partners to help ensure that UN sanctions are achieving their objective of constraining the DPRK’s illegal development of its weapons systems.
The 1718 Committee Panel of Experts has played a vital role in monitoring the sanctions. Its reports provided independent, thorough and detailed evidence and recommendations available to all members of the UN. Its work benefitted New Zealand and other Member States as we collectively seek to respond to the threat posed by the DPRK’s nuclear and missile programmes, and highlighted where others have been complicit in supporting the circumvention of sanctions.
Prior to this year, the mandate of the Panel had the unanimous support of the Council. Its disestablishment weakens the global non-proliferation system and undermines international peace and security.
We cannot ignore the aggravating circumstances in which this veto was cast on 28 March.
It is shocking that the Russian Federation unilaterally ended the Panel’s mandate, following reports of its own potential complicity in sanctions violations.
The fact that these potential violations of sanctions are related to Russia’s illegal and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine make its actions even more outrageous.
Russia’s actions make a mockery of the Council and the UN.
Supporters of the Veto Initiative have long advocated for the General Assembly to exercise its collective political responsibility to address matters of international peace and security where the primary body charged with that responsibility, the Security Council, is unable to do so.
New Zealand would therefore support the General Assembly playing a constructive role in finding potential ways forward. This should include considering all options available to it under the UN Charter to ensure the international community can respond in an appropriate and informed way to the DPRK’s illegal weapons programmes and the continued threat they pose to regional and global peace and security.
Thank you.