Madam Vice-Chair,
My delegation wishes to congratulate you, as well as the other members of the Bureau, on your election and to wish you every success in guiding our discussions, even though the Commission was unable to adopt its programme of work in accordance with General Assembly resolution 80/66.
I would also like to express our sincere gratitude to the Republic of Paraguay for its competent chairmanship during the previous term and throughout the preparatory process for the present session.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo aligns itself with the statements delivered by Indonesia and Nigeria on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement and the African Group, and would like to add the following in its national capacity:
Madam Vice-Chair,
This year once again, the Disarmament Commission is meeting in a difficult geopolitical context, marked by growing global tensions and increased competition in strategic armaments, coupled with declining trust among nuclear-weapon States.
We therefore understand that there is a risk of armed violence among nuclear-weapon States.
In the face of this risk, my delegation reaffirms its commitment to the objective of general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control, and attaches particular importance to the global non-proliferation architecture, including the role of the United Nations disarmament machinery.
That is why my delegation reiterates, once again, the need to continue promoting multilateralism as a fundamental principle of negotiation in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation. In this regard, we reaffirm the central role of the Disarmament Commission as the sole specialized deliberative body within the United Nations multilateral disarmament machinery, mandated to examine specific disarmament issues in depth and make concrete recommendations to the General Assembly.
On that basis, the Democratic Republic of the Congo considers it important that the Disarmament Commission continue its work in accordance with its mandate, as set out in the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly (resolution S-10/2), as well as in accordance with the relevant General Assembly resolutions and decisions concerning its functioning, rules of procedure and methods of work.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo reaffirms its support for the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as the cornerstone of the nuclear non-proliferation regime and an essential foundation for pursuing nuclear disarmament and the peaceful use of nuclear energy; it underscores the importance of the full and balanced implementation of the Treaty’s three pillars, namely nuclear disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation and the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
Nuclear-weapon States are therefore called upon to demonstrate political will and flexibility in working towards the implementation of the obligations and commitments undertaken in 2000 and reiterated in 2010 regarding nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, with a view to achieving the total elimination of nuclear weapons.
Madam Vice-Chair,
For its part, the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to support the objective of complete nuclear disarmament, which is a prerequisite for the maintenance of international peace and security. In this regard, it recalls the historic entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), welcomes the holding of the first three Meetings of States Parties, and looks forward to the first Review Conference of the Treaty, which will take place at the end of 2026 under the presidency of South Africa.
This is also an opportunity to invite all States that have not yet signed or ratified the TPNW to do so, and to encourage all observer States — including those allied with nuclear-weapon States — to continue their constructive engagement in the Treaty process, recognizing that the humanitarian imperatives enshrined in the TPNW are universal and admit no exception.
Madam Vice-Chair,
The Democratic Republic of the Congo underscores the importance of respecting the inalienable right of all States to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, as well as the central role played by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) through its technical support and continued cooperation.
With regard to emerging technologies in the context of international security, including artificial intelligence, my delegation recognizes that, while they may offer considerable benefits for human well-being and sustainable development, they also carry significant implications for international peace and security.
It is therefore urgent for us to establish robust mechanisms to regulate this field in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and applicable international law, so that these technologies contribute to international peace and security as well as sustainable development, and do not fall into the hands of malicious actors.
In conclusion, Madam Vice-Chair,
The Democratic Republic of the Congo fully supports the work of the Disarmament Commission. It reaffirms its commitment to participating actively and constructively throughout our discussions.
Once again, we call on all other Member States to demonstrate political will and commitment to the principle of transparency in addressing issues of disarmament and international security, with a view to achieving the objective of a world free of nuclear weapons.
I thank you for your attention.