News

United Nations General Assembly

66th session

First Committee

STATEMENT BY

H.E. Ambassador Vaidotas Verba

Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the Organisation

for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in The Hague

Thematic discussion on other weapons of mass destruction

17 October 2011, New York

Mr. Chairman,

As a Member State of the European Union, Lithuania fully subscribes to and actively supports the EU policies in the domain of the international security, disarmament and non-proliferation.

The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction is a major threat to international peace and security. The risk that terrorists acquire biological or chemical weapons aggravates the problem of WMD proliferation. It is crucial the United Nations play an active role in enhancing international cooperation in this very important field.

Let me outline some issues of particular importance to my delegation.

UN Security Council Resolutions 1540 and 1977

Lithuania fully supports the comprehensive implementation of the UN SC Resolutions 1540 and 1977. These resolutions are cornerstones to prevent and counter WMD proliferation and terrorism. Lithuania implements all the relevant provisions of the Resolution 1540 and urges all States to fully meet their obligations.

The Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention

Lithuania will participate in the forthcoming 7th BTWC Review Conference in December 2011 with the hope to strengthen the Convention and its implementation during the next inter-sessional period.

Chemical weapons ban. Chemical Weapons Convention

The Chemical Weapons Convention is a key example of how ambitious disarmament goals might be achieved, when countries are united by clear objectives and willingness to engage in constructive dialogue.

The Organisation for the Prohibition of the Chemical Weapons played a key role in reaching the global ban of chemical weapons. Now there is a widely recognised need to build around its increased role in the collective security and in non-proliferation of chemical weapons by building its role as a platform of cooperation and prevention, preparedness and response against misuse of toxic chemicals.

The OPCW should concentrate to build its future around 4 priorities: firstly, achieving global chemical disarmament, secondly, ensuring non-proliferation of CW, thirdly, building effective solutions in preparedness and response against threat of use of CW and toxic chemicals, and, fourthly, to expand international cooperation programme and activities.

Sea-dumped chemical weapons

The sea-dumped chemical weapons relate to the heritage of the past chemical weapons programmes and should be on the agenda of the international community. We have to recognise the importance of the issue and its relevance to the Chemical Weapons Convention. The sea-dumped chemical weapons are not required to be declared under the Convention. The Chemical Weapons Convention does not cover the chemical weapons dumped in sea before 1985. At the same time, OPCW could offer support for those Member States who seek voluntary cooperation on issues related to chemical weapons and promote cooperation with other relevant international organisations.

The issue of waste originating from sea-dumped chemical munitions remains a long-term objective of Lithuanian policy and its engagement with the international partners, both Governments and international organisations.

Using this opportunity we would like to inform the First Committee that last year under Lithuania’s initiative, the Second Committee adopted the resolution 65/149 “Cooperative measures to assess and increase awareness of environmental effects related to waste originating from chemical munitions dumped at sea” by consensus and with co-sponsorship of 42 UN Member States. This important resolution lays basis for further cooperation in sharing information and raising awareness on this subject.