Statement by First Deputy Permanent Representative Dmitry Polyanskiy at an open VTC of UNSC members on the implementation of resolution 1540
Mr. President,
We thank Chair of 1540 Committee, Permanent Representative of Mexico Ambassador Juan Ramón de la Fuente for the substantive briefing.
As it was your first briefing in this capacity, I would like to wish to you every success in your work at the helm of this UNSC subsidiary body. We count on your faithful chairmanship and fair brokerage in the Committee’s negotiations work. We also thank our Indonesian colleagues under the command of Ambassador Dian Djani for their chairmanship in the complicated year 2020.
Mr. President,
Russia consistently puts much emphasis on UNSC resolution 1540 as it is one of the few universal documents in the area of WMD non-proliferation. This resolution has been incorporated in the foreign policy strategy of Russia as a priority.
Successful implementation of the resolution at national levels should be promoted by the efforts of the specialized SC Committee, which should do the monitoring and coordinate global efforts that render technical support to the states in need upon their request. Though the 1540 Committee functions on the basis of Chapter VII of the UN Charter, it is not tasked to impose any “services” on the Member States. The resolution does not touch upon the sovereign right of states to define their own ways of how to implement its provisions.
Much needs to be done to meet the basic goal – have resolution 1540 fully implemented by everyone. Unfortunately, the force-majeure circumstances created by the pandemic produce a continuous negative impact on the work of the 1540 Committee, and many tracks of the non-proliferation agenda suffer thereunder. However, we remain convinced that these emergency interruptions must not undermine the efficiency of the Committee’s efforts.
We are faced with a pivotal task – complete the comprehensive review of the 1540 implementation, which started last year and which was envisaged by UNSC resolution 1977. We expect the review to be productive and enhance the effectiveness of 1540 implementation, as well as the work of this subsidiary body and its Panel of Experts. We believe that the main task is to preserve the spirit of cooperation that surrounds the resolution. This becomes especially important once we take into account the current turbulence in the international affairs. The resolution remains one of the few “isles” of stability and non-confrontation in multilateral diplomacy. Provision of technical assistance to states should remain a priority track of the 1540 Committee. It is of principal importance that the Committee should be able to be the central coordinator of global efforts related to the resolution, define the goals and priorities of such work.
We believe all of us are interested in enhancing efficiency of the Committee, which should rest upon the unifying principles of resolution 1540. Otherwise, our controversies at this non-proliferation platform will play in the hand of those, whom resolution 1540 was designed to counter – non-state entities, including terrorists, who seek possession of WMDs or WMD materials.
Thank you.
