Statment by the Permanent Representative of Argentina to the United Nations, Ambassador Martín García Moritán

June 20, 2016

 

Mr. Chair,

Let me first congratulate for organizing these open consultations on the comprehensive review of the status of implementation of Resolution 1540 of 2004, you can count on the full support of the Argentina delegation.

Twelve years ago, Argentina welcomed the adoption of Resolution 1540 by the Security Council, considering that it is a clear sign of support for international multilateral institutions; principle that promotes our country in all areas of its foreign policy.
   
Having submitted its first national report on October 26, 2004, with subsequent updates -the last of which is in the process of elaboration-, Argentina has expressed an inescapable commitment to non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, constituting an active member of the five non-proliferation regimes (Australia Group, Zangger Committee, the Nuclear Suppliers Group  [NSG], Wassenaar Arrangement and the Missile Technology Control Regime [MTCR]), as well as of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI).

The Argentina Republic is convinced that an effective system of export controls must be supported on four pillars: (1) a national system of granting licenses, transparent and standardized; (2) the effective implementation or enforcement of existing legislation applicable to export control; (3) promoting corporate awareness about the importance of this system for industrial development and the safety of international trade and (4) close regional cooperation.

As a country firmly committed to non-proliferation and to the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, Argentina welcomes the development of this process of global review of the implementation of Resolution 1540 (2004) to lay the foundations on which to continue combining our efforts to fight against the risk posed by non-state actors acceding to weapons of mass destruction, their delivery systems and related technologies, a risk today perhaps even greater than when adopted the Resolution.

With regard to our region, it is important to highlight the unwavering commitment on non-proliferation of Latin America and the Caribbean, who have been pioneer in establishing a zone free of weapons of mass destruction.

In this regard, I note that this year the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Declaration of Mendoza (Argentina) is commemorated, signed on 5 September 1991 by the foreign ministers of Argentina, Brazil and Chile, and which subsequently acceded Bolivia, Ecuador, Paraguay and Uruguay.

Through the Declaration of Mendoza, the signatory countries and its adherents undertake not to develop, produce, stockpile, transfer or use chemical or biological weapons.

It is true that there is a disparity in levels of implementation of its obligations under Resolution 1540 among the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. We understand the reasons for this divergence, and recognize that this is an opportunity to deepen cooperation between the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean so that all countries in the region can acquire the technology and the training necessary to respond to threats posed by non-states actors.

In this regard, I wish to emphasize that Argentina is a provider of assistance within the framework of Resolution 1540 of the United Nations and develops training in the identification of strategic goods both at the regional and subregional level and in the area of South –South cooperation with African countries. Our commitment to our region is inescapable, and Argentina will continue to provide assistance to those countries that request it, as previously noted.

Mr. Chair

Argentina takes into account in the global review of the implementation of Resolution 1540 (2004) its traditional perspective, projected on two levels: the first, is on respect of the right to development and peaceful use of advanced technologies, and the second, it is referred to non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, whether nuclear, chemical or biological, and their delivery systems and related technologies. In this context, we reaffirm the sovereign right to development of sensitive technologies as nuclear, chemical, biological, and pharmaceutical and nanotechnology, among others, in state and private joint ventures as mechanisms to achieve the development of our industries. At the same time, we cooperate very actively with the actions of the international community to achieve a world free of weapons of mass destruction, holding the principle of absolute prohibition of development, possession, acquisition, transfer or use thereof, both state and non-state actors.

Mr. Chair,

As a member of the Group of Friends of the 1540 let me reiterate the commitment and involvement of my country in this review process. I welcome the exchange of views that this review promotes and I am convinced that the process will culminate with an updated and strengthened resolution so as to cope with the challenges that the international situation presents.

Thank you very much Mr. Chair.