Remarks of the Representative of Ukraine

on the occasion of International Day against Nuclear Tests

(September 5, 2013) 

Mr. President,

First of all I would like to thank the President of the General Assembly (H.E. Vuk Jeremic) and PermanentRepresentative of Kazakhstan (H.E.Byrganym Aitimova) for convening this high level interactive panel discussion.  

We all were pleased to support Kazakhstan’s initiative on the establishment of International Day against Nuclear Tests in 2009, which gave us the opportunity to reaffirm the support of international community for the objectives of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.

The universalization of the Treaty remains one of the key objectives of the multilateral efforts in the areas of nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation. This is exactly why Ukraine actively advocates the earliest possible entry into force of the Treaty. We work consistently to achieve this goal. Ukraine signed and ratified the CTBT and implements diligently its obligations and commitments under the global nonproliferation regime. 

Mr. President,

I would like to draw your attention to the fact that more than 22 years ago, immediately after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Belarus appeared to be on the same page.

Our countries owned the largest nuclear arsenals in the world.

There could have been great temptation for our nations to keep it, but we chose a different path. We renounced our nuclear arsenals. And we know that we have done the right thing.

Mr. President,

Today we realize that there is a strong necessity to work together in order to improve the entire system of nuclear safety in the world, and Ukraine has already begun this process.

I want to draw your attention to the crucial importance of the appropriateness and safety of use of the highly enriched uranium.

Ukraine has demonstrated its good will through renouncing to use highly enriched uranium by which we made another practical contribution to strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation strategy.

 I am pleased to acknowledge that this position of Ukraine has found support among other members of the UN.

I urge the Member States to follow our example.

Thank you.