Philippines calls for transparency, accountability in nuclear disarmament at UN disarmament session

The Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Mission of the Philippines to the United Nations in New York, Antonio M. Lagdameo, called for the urgent need for transparency and accountability of nuclear-weapon States regarding their disarmament obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) through points of referenced in the 2023 United Nations Disarmament Commission (UNDC) General Debate at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

Ambassador Lagdameo also stressed that outer space must remain exclusively for peaceful purposes, and opposed any attempt to turn outer space into a domain of war.

The UNDC is in its third and final substantive session of this cycle to make recommendations on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and on the practical application of transparency and confidence-building measures in outer space activities with the objective of preventing an arms race in outer space.

Ambassador Lagdameo shared his grave concern over nuclear rhetoric and the continued modernization and refinement of nuclear weapons capabilities, and reiterated the urgent need for transparency and accountability through benchmarking, measurable and time-bound actions on disarmament. nuclear weapon with set deadlines as a practical step towards achieving a world free of nuclear weapons. Although Ambassador Lagdameo conveyed the urgent need to reduce the risk of using nuclear weapons, he stressed that this should not be an alternative to total nuclear disarmament.

Indonesia calls for concrete measures to promote nuclear disarmament

On the issue of outer space, Ambassador Lagdameo invited member states to consider the Philippine working papers on the duty of “due consideration” and on transparency and confidence-building measures (MTC) on activities in outer space. outer space to take concrete steps towards the implementation of the MTCs recommended by the Group of Governmental Experts in 2013.

ASEAN is committed to nuclear disarmament

Prior to delivering the Philippine national statement, Ambassador Lagdameo also made a statement on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

He highlighted ASEAN’s commitment to nuclear disarmament through international instruments and ASEAN-led mechanisms that keep Southeast Asia free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction. Regarding outer space, Ambassador Lagdameo highlighted the need for training programs to ensure that outer space is a common heritage of humanity, which all States can make use of.

Ambassador Lagdameo reiterated the urgent need for transparency and accountability through benchmarks, measurable and time-bound actions on nuclear disarmament

The substantive session of the UNDC will be held from April 3 to 20, 2023 and is expected to adopt recommendations furthering nuclear disarmament and international non-proliferation efforts, as well as recommendations on the practical application of transparency and confidence-building measures. confidence in outer space activities.