Statement by the Delegation of the Republic of Armenia at the Fifty-Seventh Session of the Preparatory Commission of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization

12 նոյեմբերի, 2021

Thank you, Mr. Chairman

I would like to start by welcoming the Executive Secretary, Doctor Robert Floyd to his first Preparatory Commission session and thank him for his reports regarding the Verification Related Activities for the period January-June 2021 and non-verification related activities for the period April-August 2021. We also would like to thank the Executive Secretary for his opening remarks, which we listened carefully and took note of.

I also would like to express our great appreciation for the work carried out by the Working Group A and Working Group B. In this context I would like to specifically thank the Chair of the Working Group A, Ambassador Nada Kruger, for her exemplary leadership of the group. I also would like to express our gratitude to the Chair of the Working Group B – Mr Erlan Batyrbekov of Kazakhstan – for steering the work of the group.

We took note of the reports of the latest sessions of the working Group A and the Working Group B and support the recommendations contained therein.

We also took note of the report of the Advisory Group and express our appreciation to Mr. Pedro Alexandre Penha Brasil of Brazil for serving as Acting Chairperson for the Fifty-Seventh Session of the Group.

Armenia also appreciates the work of the Provisional Technical Secretariat, and we join previous speakers in commending the efforts of the PTS for ensuring the continuation and uninterrupted work of the Secretariat in light of difficulties and restrictions resulting from the COVID19 pandemic. As a state signatory we highly value the continuation of providing of trainings aimed at further development of states’ verification and monitoring capacities.

Mr. Chairman,

Armenia considers the Comprehensive test-ban treaty to be an indispensable pillar and tool for a global nuclear non-proliferation regime and disarmament, and here I would like to reiterate that Armenia takes extremely seriously its commitments related to nuclear non-proliferation, arms-control and disarmament and implements them in good faith.

As a staunch supporter of global non-proliferation agenda, we therefore also support all the efforts aimed at promoting the entry into force of the Treaty and we would like to assure of Armenia’s readiness to bring its contribution towards achieving this goal.

We welcome the recent Article XIV conference held on 23-24 September 2021. We note that the conference has been held in the year when we mark the 25^th anniversary of opening of the CTBT for signature and has been a good opportunity for state Signatories to reiterate their commitment to the Treaty as well as to discuss the state of affairs and way forward with regards the universalization of the CTBT.

In this context we would like to express our appreciation to Italy and South Africa – the co-facilitators of the Conference, as well as the Secretariat for organizing it in these difficult times of COVID19 pandemic.

Mr. Chairman,

The verification and monitoring system of the CTBTO is the most important asset of this Organization and an efficient and sophisticated non-proliferation instrument.

We believe that sustainment and further development of the verification regime – the International Monitoring System, the International Data Centre and the On-Site Inspection capabilities - should continue to remain the priority area and the centre of focus both for the PTS and the Commission.

By saying this, Armenia firmly believes that the verification system and monitoring capacities of the CTBTO should be used only for the goals and purposes related to the mandate of the CTBTO and falling within the scope of the Comprehensive Test-Ban Treaty.

Mr. Chairman,

I would like to conclude my statement by expressing Armenia’s appreciation to you and high regard for your skillful leadership of the Preparatory Commission during the year. We highly value and commend your commitment and resolve to continue efforts aimed at finding consensual solutions to all issues that we have on our agenda.

I thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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