– As delivered –
Statement by H.E. Volkan Bozkir, President of the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
2 October 2020
Excellencies,
Distinguished speakers,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Thank you all, Heads of State and Government, leaders of civil society and all participants, for your participation at this event to commemorate the International Day for Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, and for demonstrating your continued dedication to our shared goal of a world free of nuclear weapons.
This Day provides an occasion for the global community to reaffirm our commitment to global nuclear disarmament as a priority.
It reminds us all of the urgency of nuclear disarmament.
It reminds us that the weapons that killed hundreds of thousands of people in Hiroshima and Nagasaki are still readily available, to the use of some states.
And it reminds us that there are terror organizations who are after these weapons.
It is imperative that every Member State act without delay in fulfilling their disarmament and non-proliferation commitments.
Ladies and gentelmen,
The United Nations is a critical partner on nuclear disarmament, given its universal membership and its long experience in grappling with nuclear disarmament issues.
Amid growing divisions and rifts in the multilateral disarmament architecture, much work remains to be done.
It is imperative that every Member State act without delay in fulfilling their disarmament and non-proliferation commitments.
By acting together, we can achieve our shared goal of a world free of nuclear weapons.
Thank you very much.
