Statement by Ambassador Dr. Anupam Ray, Permanent Representative of India to the Conference on Disarmament, Geneva during the General Debate of the First Committee of the United Nations General Assembly, October 2022

Mr. Chairperson

India congratulates you on your assuming the Chair of the First Committee. My delegation assures you of our full support and cooperation.. 

The deliberations of the First Committee, a part of the Disarmament triad along with the Conference on Disarmament and the UN Disarmament Commission, will take place this year under challenging geopolitical circumstances, and following the pandemic.

    External Affairs Minister of India Dr. S. Jaishankar in his recent address at the 77^th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) stated that

“India is on the side of peace and will remain firmly there. We are on the side that respects the UN Charter and its founding principles.

We are on the side that calls for dialogue and diplomacy as the only way out.

We are on the side of those struggling to make ends meet, even as they stare at the escalating costs of food, of fuel and fertilizers.”

Mr. Chairperson,

    India would be completing its tenure as a member of the Security Council this year. During our term, we have endeavoured to be a voice of reason and a voice of the underrepresented developing world on key peace and security issues, and a bridge-builder for narrowing divides and fostering consensus on such issues. We have also focused on critical areas like maritime security, counter-terrorism and peacekeeping. 

Mr. Chairperson

India remains firmly committed to the goal of universal, non-discriminatory and verifiable nuclear disarmament. India has called for complete elimination of nuclear weapons through a step-by-step process, as also outlined in our Working Paper on Nuclear Disarmament submitted to the CD in 2007 (CD/1816). India reiterates its call to undertake the steps outlined in the Working Paper, including negotiation in the CD of a Comprehensive Nuclear Weapons Convention.

India attaches high importance to the Conference on Disarmament as the world’s single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum, as mandated by the final document of SSOD-I and reaffirmed most recently in UNGA Resolution 76/62. India has participated constructively in the work of the CD’s Subsidiary Bodies. 

    India is pleased that the UNDC, the main deliberative body within the UN on disarmament issues, was able to commence substantive proceedings after a gap of almost 3 years. 

Mr. Chairperson,

    In the current First Committee session, India will be tabling 4 draft resolutions: ‘Convention on the Prohibition of the Use of Nuclear Weapons’, ‘Reducing Nuclear Danger’, ‘Measures to Prevent Terrorists from Acquiring Weapons of Mass Destruction’ and ‘Role of Science and Technology in the context of International Security and Disarmament’, which have consistently highlighted crucial and pertinent issues in disarmament and international security and have enjoyed wide support of the membership.

Mr. Chairperson

As a responsible nuclear weapon State, India is committed as per its nuclear doctrine, to maintain credible minimum deterrence with the posture of no-first use and non-use against non-nuclear weapon States.

Without diminishing the priority we attach to nuclear disarmament, India supports the immediate commencement of negotiations in the CD of a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty on the basis of CD/1299 and the mandate contained therein. We share the widely felt disappointment that these negotiations continue to remain blocked. 

India continues to actively participate in the work of the GGE on Nuclear Disarmament Verification. 

Mr. Chairperson

Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space is an important priority area for India. As a major spacefaring nation, India has vital developmental and security interests in space. We believe that outer space should be an arena for cooperation, not conflict. Even as we participate constructively in the OEWG on Reducing Space Threats, India supports the negotiation of a legally binding instrument on PAROS at the CD, to address the global concerns related to space security. 

Mr. Chairperson

    The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) are worthy examples of global non-discriminatory treaties for the complete elimination of the respective categories of weapons of mass destruction.

India will contribute substantively and concretely to the upcoming Ninth Review Conference of the BWC. India and France have jointly proposed for the establishment of a database for assistance in the framework of Article VII of the Convention and hope that this proposal will receive the support of all Member States towards a decision on this at the Review Conference. We also look forward to contributing constructively for the success of the 5^th CWC Review Conference scheduled to take place next year.

Mr. Chairperson

India has and will continue to actively participate in the work of the GGE on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems. India believes that these deliberations are most appropriately continued within the framework of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons. 

Illicit transfers of conventional weapons, including small arms and light weapons, in particular to terrorists and non-state actors is a grave area of concern for India. India welcomes the consensus outcome document at the Eighth Biennial Meeting of States (BMS-8) on the implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action (POA) on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) earlier this year, that recognized the adverse effects of illicit arms trade in exacerbating terrorism and emphasized the role of these UN instruments in addressing the threat posed by terrorism. 

We are pleased that the GGE on United Nations Register of Conventional Arms (UNROCA), chaired by India, adopted a consensus report. We invite all member States of the UN to participate in this valuable voluntary transparency and confidence-building mechanism which allows countries to report on their transfers of conventional arms.

India continues to actively participate in the ongoing discussions of the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG) on conventional ammunition. We underscore the need to address the diversion of ammunition to non-State actors and extend our support to strengthening the IATG guidance in this area.

Mr. Chairperson

India is committed to promoting an open, secure, stable, accessible, and peaceful ICT environment. Cyberspace is facing an increasing number of challenges in the form of threats and its misuse for criminal and terrorist purposes.  Recognizing the disparity in cyber preparedness among Member States to tackle various cyber threats and need to enhance their capabilities, India has proposed the development of a “Global Cyber Security Cooperation Portal”, anchored at the United Nations, as a global platform for international cooperation and coordination amongst Member States on security of cyber infrastructure and improving cyber capabilities. We look forward to productive discussions and decision on this in the coming year at the OEWG on ICT. 

Mr. Chairperson

In line with the SSOD-1’s emphasis on promoting expertise in disarmament and in empowering younger generations, India hosts a fully funded Annual Disarmament and International Security Fellowship Programme to advance disarmament education.

Mr. Chairperson,

India stands ready, to engage and contribute to multilateral processes and work with Member States to achieve our collective objectives.

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