YK:n yleiskokouksen 61. istunto New Yorkissa; I-komitea; panelikeskustelu; joukkotuhoasekomission puheenjohtaja Hans Blix

Geneven pysyvän edustuston CD-sektorin päällikön, sls Kari Kahiluodon pitämä puhe Euroopan Unionin puolesta New Yorkissa 12.10.2006

Madam Chair,
Dr. Blix,

I am as Presidency European Union. We would like to express our appreciation to you Dr. Blix for the work done by the WMDC under your leadership.

The report of the Commission "Weapons of Terror: Freeing the World of Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Arms", represents a valuable contribution to our collective efforts to revive and strengthen the multilateral disarmament and non-proliferation system.

Proliferation of WMD is a growing threat to international peace and security. Despite difficulties, we have to strive continuously to revive and strengthen multilateral disarmament and non-proliferation treaties and agreements. The EU is a staunch supporter of effective multilateral action also in this field, as expressed in our Security Strategy, Strategy against Proliferation of WMD and other EU instruments.

We would like to congratulate the WMDC for involving many of the world’s leading experts to work together on such an important topic. The broad geographical composition and other representativeness of the WMDC increase its importance and timeliness.

The target audiences of the WMDC report, aside from governments, are parliaments, political parties, non-governmental organisations, the mass media and the public at large. Disarmament is not an issue only for inter-governmental meetings, and information about it must be disseminated and discussed openly. The WMDC sets a good example here also in very practical terms, among other things through easy availability in the internet and providing the report summaries in several languages.

Thank you.