Remarks delivered on behalf of the President of the General Assembly, Mr. Dennis Francis,
By
H.E. Mr. Ahmad Faisal Muhamadat, Permanent Representative of Malaysia at the 78th plenary meeting on the Use of the Veto
6 May 2024
Excellencies,
We convene this meeting based on the standing mandate for a General Assembly debate when a veto is cast in the Security Council, in line with resolution 76/262, also aligned with the provisions of the Charter related to the powers and functions of the General Assembly in matters pertaining to the maintenance of international peace and security.
I welcome the timely submission of the special report of the Security Council on the veto cast in the Council on 24 April 2024 under the agenda item “non-proliferation”. Regrettably and yet again, the Council failed to find consensus on a draft resolution addressing weapons of mass destruction in outer space.
I encourage all delegations to use today’s discussion as an opportunity to address the urgent need to safeguard the UN non-proliferation objectives on Earth or in the orbit. The 1967 Outer Space Treaty clearly prohibits States Parties from placing in orbit around the Earth any objects carrying nuclear weapons or any other kinds of weapons of mass destruction, install such weapons on celestial bodies, or station such weapons in outer space in any other manner.
Outer space does not belong to individual nations. Its peaceful and sustainable use is not subject to national appropriation and must be a place of peace and cooperation for the benefit and in the interests of all countries. This is not a mere aspiration and should be respected by virtue of article IV of the 1967 Treaty.
The militarization of outer space is a very concerning trend. Besides further deepening mistrust and divisions, this inevitably threatens life on Earth, and could have catastrophic consequences. Any arms race in outer space is in violation of the Treaty, and we must do all we can to keep the space weapons-free.
I urge all Member States, especially those with higher capabilities to explore the outer space, to fully respect the provisions of the Treaty.
The Office of the President of the General Assembly will continue the practice of transmitting a short summary of the plenary debate to the President of the Security Council.
I thank you.
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