STATEMENT BY
H.E. Mr. VILAYAT
GULIYEV
MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN
at the UN Conference
on
Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban
Treaty
New York 12 November 2001
Mr. President,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
At the outset, I would like to congratulate you on your assumption of this responsible post and to express our confidence that the present Conference under your wise guidance will be a significant milestone on the path to strengthening international nuclear security and stability in the new millennium.
The Republic of Azerbaijan regards combating proliferation of weapons of mass destruction as one of the priorities of its foreign and security policy. We have signed and ratified major international legally binding documents and contribute to the efforts of the international community in this field in the multilateral and bilateral frameworks. Since joining the Treaty in 1999 up today the work on revealing the national capacity for full realization of all opportunities of the Treaty, and implementation of relevant obligations has been conducted in our country.
It is well known that there are no nuclear weapons and technology as well as nuclear materials on the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan, but existence of nuclear weapons, components and technologies in our region is obvious. Being situated at the major communication crossroads between the East and the West and the North and the South, in the conflicts torn region, the Republic of Azerbaijan undertakes all necessary measures, including creation of a respective legislative basis, to prevent possible transfers through its territory of all components, materials and technology related to weapons of mass destruction, as well as means of their delivery.
I would like also to draw your attention to some most urgent needs of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the field of nuclear and radioactive safety:
- integration of the national stations into the international network;For studying and strengthening the national capacities of Azerbaijan in this field, we intend to hold a seminar on the implementation of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty in Baky in summer 2002, as the first step towards a closer cooperation with the Organization.
- provision of our Republic with the advanced equipment in this field;
- provision of the security of pipelines and dams by means of purgative technologies to prevent environmental contamination caused by nuclear explosions, drillings as well as seismic activity in Azerbaijan;
- modern technologies for forecasting of nuclear explosions and earthquakes.
Allow me also to recall the initiative to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the South Caucasus launched by the President of Azerbaijan in 1997 at the International Conference in Tashkent. Given the geo-strategic location of this region and on-going conflicts, including the one between the States of that region, we strongly believe that creation of such a zone in the South Caucasus will be an important milestone in the enhancement of security both at regional and international levels. My country reiterates its call upon the international community to support this endeavor.
Unfortunately, the major hurdles to establish this zone as well as to concert other international efforts on nuclear non-proliferation are regional conflicts and particularly occupation by neighboring Armenia of 20 percent of our territory. As the result of this occupation the significant part of our territory and international borders are not under the control of the Government, and this in its turn increases the danger of illegal trafficking of nuclear materials in our unstable region.
We should also keep in mind that unresolved regional conflicts eventually provoke the arms race, the increasing trafficking and accumulation of armaments in the region, which creates a potential threat of proliferation of nuclear materials and technologies. The access to the nuclear materials and technology by some countries and appeared possibilities for their illegal trafficking could cause the most unfavourable consequences for the security of Azerbaijan and the region as a whole.
All aforementioned factors put on the agenda the task of strengthening of international monitoring regime in our region. Supporting a comprehensive nuclear disarmament concept, the Republic of Azerbaijan intends to take active role in the efforts of the international community on implementation of the international regime on nuclear safety.
In conclusion, I would like to express my confidence that the present Conference will be conducive to a substantial progress in attaining fundamental objectives of the Treaty for the sake of security and development of every country and the entire mankind.
Thank you for your attention.