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Madam President, First let me use this opportunity to convey my country’s heartfelt condolences to the Government of Nepal and its people as well as to the governments of those countries whose citizens lost their lives during the devastating earthquake in Nepal last weekend.    Madam President, I congratulate you on your election as President of this Conference and wish you all the success in your endeavors. Let me also assure you of the support of Lithuanian delegation in this regard. Lithuania aligns itself with the statement made by the High Representative of the European Union Ms. Federica Mogherini earlier this week. In addition, allow me to make the following comments in my national capacity. For over 45 years the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) has been the cornerstone of non-proliferation and disarmament instruments in our quest to maintain and strengthen the international peace, security, stability and trust.

Three mutually reinforcing pillars of the NPT should be promoted in a balanced manner to further enhance credibility, integrity and enduring importance of the NPT regime. Real progress on nuclear disarmament towards total elimination of nuclear weapons and compliance with the obligations under the NPT would undoubtedly generate further incentives for peaceful uses of nuclear energy, to address many challenges we face in the advancement of human and economic development needs, such as food safety, nutrition, disease prevention, medical diagnostic and therapeutic capacities, water resource management, and protection of environment.

As a non-nuclear weapon state, Lithuania reiterates its commitment to the goal of general and complete disarmament and a world free of nuclear weapons. We support global efforts working on the building blocks for achieving effective, verifiable and irreversible nuclear disarmament. Lithuania does not share the view that creating new structures for negotiation could help to overcome existing differences. In order to eliminate nuclear weapons, conditions should be created to ensure regional peace, security and trust that would render nuclear deterrence obsolete. Effective and verifiable measures on nuclear arms reduction and control are an essential element. In this regard we deplore the recent recurrence of nuclear arguments in political rhetoric by one nuclear weapon state in support of its political goals.

The international community has already agreed on a number of multilateral building blocks  for achieving a world without nuclear weapons.  Two next logical steps in this direction are the early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and immediate start of the negotiations for the Treaty to Ban the Production of Fissile Material for Nuclear Weapons or other nuclear explosive devices (FMCT). 

Madam President,

In the turbulent security environment of today, proliferation challenges continue to threaten international stability.

We note with regret that the goal of a Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems has not been reached yet. We highly commend the tireless efforts of co-conveners and the Conference facilitator, Ambassador Laajava, to convene the proposed Helsinki Conference at the earliest possible date.

We welcome the E3+3 negotiations and the prospect of a comprehensive diplomatic solution of the Iranian nuclear issue. We call on Iran to further engage in constructive negotiations and to fully cooperate with the IAEA regarding all outstanding issues, including those of possible military dimensions. A balanced outcome of negotiations, once fully implemented, would serve to advance our shared goal of strengthening the global nonproliferation regime.

Lithuania condemns the outright violations by the DPRK of its international obligations, in particular those contained in UN Security Council Resolutions 1718, 1874, 2087 and 2094. We urge the DPRK to abandon its nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles programmes and return to the NPT and IAEA Safeguards at an early date.

Madam President, 

Twenty years ago Ukraine, following Belarus and Kazakhstan, joined the NPT as non-nuclear weapon State and removed Soviet-era nuclear weapons – the third largest arsenal in the world at the time – from its territory in exchange for security assurances. It was a historic achievement and a huge step towards a future without nuclear weapons.

In return, under the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, the nuclear-weapon States, including the Russian Federation, reaffirmed their commitment to respect the independence, sovereignty and the existing borders of Ukraine, to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity and political independence of Ukraine, and guaranteed that none of their weapons will ever be used against Ukraine.

By illegally occupying Crimea and continuing to use a whole array of means to destabilize eastern Ukraine, the Russian Federation has breached its obligations under the UN Charter, the Budapest Memorandum, as well as the very foundations of the international law. These blatant violations have serious ramifications on the NPT, as well as the whole course of disarmament process and we condemn them in the strongest terms. Lithuania urges the Russian Federation to respect Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the denuclearized status of Crimea which it annexed illegally.

Madam President,

Lithuania remains committed to ensuring responsible development of peaceful uses of nuclear energy. The inalienable rights should go hand in hand with responsible behaviour of State Parties in terms of abiding by their non-proliferation obligations, recognised international standards, conventions and safeguard agreements. We believe that a key priority in this regard is the universalization of the International Atomic Energy Agency’ Additional Protocol. This, combined with the adherence to full-scope safeguards, will provide the confidence that nuclear energy is developed in the best non-proliferation environment.

Lithuania attaches great importance to increasing transparency and trust between and among countries that are developing nuclear construction projects, in particular between neighbouring countries if they may be affected by such plans. In this regard, all nuclear power plants should meet the highest nuclear safety requirements, and fully comply with all relevant international agreements. Any planned or existing nuclear projects should be developed in open, transparent, and honest consultations with all potentially affected countries and by settling constructively all trans-border issues.

Madam President,

The growing use of civil nuclear applications in the world increases the importance of nuclear security. The international non-proliferation regime, based on the NPT obligations, the IAEA verification and safeguards system have prevented significant spread of nuclear weapons. Still, proliferation as well as the risk of non-state actors getting access to nuclear materials or radioactive sources remains a serious threat to the international security. Three Nuclear Security Summits - in Washington, Seoul and in The Hague - laid an important framework of far-reaching initiatives that collectively strengthen nuclear security around the globe, reduce the threat of nuclear terrorism and secure all vulnerable nuclear material in the years to come. An inclusive cooperation among all States, with the IAEA in the lead, will help to achieve these goals.

Lithuania looks forward for the meaningful discussions on how to strengthen the implementation of the NPT. The overarching goal of all Parties should be to extend the nearly 70-year record of non-use of nuclear weapons forever.

I thank you, Madam President.