AS DELIVERED

Mr. Chairman, my delegation is pleased to once again join consensus on draft resolution L1, “Establishment of a nuclear weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East.” We support the important goals of this resolution and the consensus-based spirit in which it was pursued this year. We note, however, that, as it pertains to preambular paragraph 8 of the resolution, we do not consider the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons to constitute an “initiative leading to general and complete disarmament.”

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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