We find ourselves in an unprecedented situation: One of the permanent members of the UN Security Council threatens with the use of nuclear weapons. Such reckless signaling is totally unacceptable.
This represents a direct threat to international security and stability and seriously undermines the joint statement of the P5 leaders that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought.
Norway encourages all nuclear armed states to confirm their support to the P5 statement and commends those that have already done so during our deliberations. Dialogue and communication are crucial, especially in times of crises. We would welcome a continued Strategic Stability Dialogue between the United States and the Russian Federation.
We also encourage China to engage in a dialogue that could lead to cuts in all categories of nuclear weapons. This would benefit our common security.
The Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is the cornerstone of the international nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation regime.
As many other states, we were disappointed by the lack of concrete commitments for disarmament in the draft final document of the NPT 10th Review Conference.
However, the fact that all but one state was willing to accept this draft, highlights the commitments we share to the NPT.
We should build on the fact that a lot of common ground was found on several divisive issues before Russia blocked consensus.
Credible verification to support future disarmament agreements in which all states can have confidence, remains a high priority for Norway.
We continue our leadership on the UN Governmental Group of Experts (GGE) and appreciate that its work moves forward.
Together with partner countries we again table a decision on nuclear disarmament verification, to keep the item on our agenda.
We also continue our active participation in the International Partnership for Nuclear Disarmament Verification (IPNDV) and the Quad Nuclear Verification Partnership, focusing on technical and scientific work.
Norway has also proposed, together with the United Kingdom, a new initiative on a multilateral dialogue on irreversibility.
This is an established principle for disarmament, but there is no clear common understanding of what it entails.
Multilateral work is therefore needed.
Risk reduction remains another priority for Norway which seems even more urgent in the current security situation.
Norway also promotes a fact-based approach to humanitarian consequences of use of nuclear weapons.
This perspective should guide our efforts for nuclear disarmament as it centers on the catastrophic consequences for people and the environment of any use of nuclear weapons.
Norway welcomes the recent ratifications of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty by Equatorial Guinea, The Gambia, São Tomé and Príncipe, The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, and The Commonwealth of Dominica.
With the latter, there is now universal adherence to the Treaty across Latin America and the Caribbean. This is an important step in support of international peace and security.
Norway urges all states to ratify the Treat without delay, including those needed for the treaty to enter into force.
Progress must also be made on the negotiation and conclusion of a verifiable Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT).
A solution would need to address existing stocks.
Norway will continue its efforts to promote gender equality and diverse participation in disarmament processes and supports initiatives to include the younger generation.