LUXEMBOURG
 
 

Short speech of
S.e. Mrs. Lydie Polfer
Vice-First Minister
Foreign Minister
and of the Foreign Trade
Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

with the Conference of Article XIV of the OTICE
 

New York, November 12 2001

(Only the marked speech is taken)

 

 
 
Mr. President

1. First of all allow me to join my voice to all those which congratulated you for your election with the Presidency on this second Conference aiming at facilitating the entry into force of the Treaty for the complete prohibition of the nuclear tests. I join fully the statement made by the Foreign Minister of Belgium in the name of the European Union.

2. My thanks are addressed to the Secretary General of the United Nations, to have convened this Conference in difficult circumstances following the tragic events of September 11, as with all the members of the Secretariat who will have worked for his organization. I would also like to make share with the executive Secretary of the preparatory Commission of the OTICE of my recognition for the ceaseless efforts which it made since nearly five years. I am pleased with the adoption of an agreement of partnership between the preparatory Commission and the United Nations, as well as the concluding of cooperation agreements with the Agencies and the specialized Programs of the United Nations.

3. Lastly, Mr. President, allow me to express my gratitude with the governments of Japan and of Mexico for their engagement since the Conference holding preceding of Particle XIV now two years ago. I make a point of mentioning in this context the activities undertaken by the European Union, which they are the Action plan adopted last April, who aims at supporting the entry into force of the TICE, or the many bilateral steps taken since the last Conference.
 

Mr. President,

4. The shortly after the tragedies events of September 11 we met today to show the attachment which we carry with the TICE as a central element of non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament. This instrument forms part of the total strategy as described into Particle VI of the Treaty of nuclear Not-Proliferation, which has as a finality general and complete nuclear disarmament.

5. To date, 13 ratifications still miss before the TICE does not come into effect. This should not mask the fact that already 161 States signed the Treaty on this date, and that 84 ratified it. The support of the international community in favour of the TICE is unchanged and for this reason the States signatories wished to meet as soon as possible to underline the fact that the entry into force of the Treaty would remain a priority. This support also results in the determination to set up the network of checking which will allow, once the TICE in force, to check the observation of it.

6. Beyond the objective of the input into force diligent of the TICE, I make a point of stressing that the finality of our action also consists in promoting the universality of it. This is why it is important me to call some in all the States which did not sign the Treaty yet to do it without delaying and to thus join the international community in political the dune formulation globate of security.

7. The complete and verifiable abandonment of the nuclear tests constitutes an instrument impossible to circumvent of any total strategy of non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament. II is essential to recognize that no State cannot ensure only the safety of its citizens. This still stresses the importance that cover the multilateral instruments such as the TICE in the field of the international security.
 

Mr. President,

8. I would like to conclude to repeat my call in all the States which do not make not made sign and ratify without delaying the TICE, and particularly to those of the 44 States whose ratification is necessary to the entry into force of the Treaty. I also make a point of recalling that the international community must ensure the means of the installation of the system of checking.
 

Mr. President,

9. The final declaration that we have to adopt at the end of this conference will reflètera our engagement towards the objectives of the TICE and forgers our determination to ensure the input into force nearest of the Treaty.
 

Thank you Mr. President.