Mr. President,

Allow me, in the first place, to congratulate you for your well?deserved election to preside over the work of this conference. We do appreciate your broad professional experience as well as the leadership of your county, Mexico, has in the area of nuclear disarmament.

My delegation fully endorses the statement made by the most distinguished Minister of Foreign Affairs of Chile on behalf of the Rio Group, in which we are members.
 

Mr. President,

Costa Rica condemns the use, possession, treat of use and the development of nuclear weapons. We believe that there is no ethical, legal or strategic justification for the development of weapons of mass destruction. We repudiate any military doctrine that seeks to justify the possession of nuclear weapons resorting to a misconceived understanding of national security, raison d’Etat, or military strength. What would be the use national security during a nuclear winter? Therefore, no State can claim for itself the right to endanger the survival of the human specie.

The Comprehensive Nuclear Text Ban Treaty (CTBT) is a key mainstay in the struggle against nuclear proliferation. This treaty, by proscribing experimental nuclear detonations and establishing an effective verification system, sets substantial obstacles to the development of nuclear armament. By signing and ratifying this treaty, States Parties show their commitment to peace, security and disarmament. In consequence, we are gratified by the fact Chat 161 nations have signed this instrument and that 84 have already ratified it. Costa Rica, on its part, deposited its ratification instrument on September 25.

We welcome the fact that 31 states among the list of 44 whose ratification is indispensable for the entry into force of the treaty have already done so. Nevertheless, we are concern by the fact that 13 states with nuclear capacity, including two Permanent Members of the Security Council and several others that have already performed experimental nuclear detonations, have not yet ratified. Thus, we call upon all States that have not yet ratified this instrument to do so promptly.
 

Mr. President,

The early entry into force of the CTBT is just the first step towards general and complete nuclear disarmament. The eradication of nuclear weapons is indispensable to ensure the security of mankind. While nuclear weapons exist, we live under the treat of a conflagration that might result from a possible arms race, an involuntary accident or, even, a criminal act of nuclear terrorism. In this context, disarmament becomes an urgent ethical imperative.

Those States that possess nuclear weapons have a heighten duty to commit themselves to the negotiations on disarmament and to show, in such a way, their leading rote in the International Community. They must adopt a no-first use policy. They should deactivate and decommission their offensive systems and plead never to develop new nuclear armament. The States with nuclear capacity must initiate a progressive, systematic and unwavering process of dismantling their stocks of weapons of mass destruction. Simultaneously, it is indispensable that the States with nuclear capacity stop all transfers of technology, know-how and materials that could be use to develop nuclear weapons.

Furthermore, we call again upon all those states that have not signed or ratified yet the Comprehensive Nuclear Text Ban Treaty to do so. The entry into force of this international instrument is an indispensable and urgent step to guarantee the security of mankind as a whole. Those states that possess nuclear weapons have a particular obligation to do so; their early ratification is indispensable to prevent a new arms race.

The negotiations on nuclear disarmament must be reactivated. In particular, it is indispensable to adopt a legally binding universal instrument which would forbid the production of fissile material and reinforce the guarantees of non-use and non-treat of use of this kind of weapons.

We deem the strengthening the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) necessary in order to bolster its verification capacity and to establish an effective system of physical protection of the nuclear materials. Even more, we propose that the financial resources currently devoted to weapons, both conventional and nuclear, should be directed to promote real social and economic development as well as equity among all nations.

Costa Rica welcomes the work of the Preparatory Commission of the CTBT Organization both in the development of the international verification system, which is already operational, and in the promotion of international cooperation on this issue.
 

Mr. President,

This conference, being held on the fifth anniversary of the opening for signature of the Comprehensive Nuclear Text Ban Treaty, should prompt the International Community to reaffirm its commitment to the principles of disarmament, peace and security that inspired the CTBT. Only thus we will be able to create a better world for all.
 

Thank you
 
 

Sources

• http://www.un.org/webcast/ctbt/statements/costaricaE.htm