Thank you Chair,

And let me congratulate you on the assumption of your duties.

In addition to the statement delivered by the European Union, I would like to make the following remarks in my national capacity.

Chair, Excellencies, and distinguished delegates,

Each State present in this room has expressed the desire, through the NPT’s preamble, to ease international tension and strengthen trust so that nuclear weapons can eventually be eliminated.

However, with a nuclear-armed Russia waging war in Europe, with a China rapidly and opaquely increasing its nuclear arsenal, and with the arms control architecture in disarray, it is safe to say that trust is low and tensions are high.

I take no pleasure in painting this bleak picture, since it is my country’s disposition to search for common ground. However, it would be of little benefit to anyone to pretend that the world has not undergone fundamental changes.

We, however, remain unwavering in our belief in the possibility of a brighter future: one where ultimately no nuclear weapons exist anymore.

To not lose sight of that prospect, urgent work is needed to support a climate conducive to disarmament. For that reason, the Netherlands prioritizes balanced and realistic measures that lower risks, ease tensions, and help to build trust and confidence.

First, we must discuss and identify effective measures to minimize nuclear risks, without being prescriptive or exhaustive. It goes without saying that such measures are not a substitute for disarmament.

Second, nuclear-weapon states should clearly and unambiguously reaffirm their commitments under Article VI of the Treaty. Given the expiration of the New START Treaty, we call on the three holders of the largest nuclear arsenals — namely, Russia, the United States, and China — to negotiate a follow-up agreement to New START that is fit-for-purpose and verifiable.

Third, we have to improve transparency and accountability to increase confidence and trust. Reporting is a key measure in this regard and we underline the importance of robust and transparent reporting by  all States Parties, in particular the nuclear-weapon states and let me compliment France, the UK and the US for presenting their national reports at side events during this Conference. 

Fourth, a nuclear-weapon free world requires robust, credible, and effective verification. The GGE on Nuclear Disarmament Verification and the International Partnership for Nuclear Disarmament Verification (IPNDV) have done important work to develop mutual understandings of verification. It is important to continue these efforts through IPNDV and the upcoming Group of Scientific and Technical Experts as a meaningful step towards the full implementation of Article VI.

Finally, the CTBT and an FMCT are indispensable instruments for achieving and sustaining a nuclear-weapon free world. The Review Conference should, therefore, encourage States that have not yet done so to ratify the CTBT and in particular to uphold the moratorium on nuclear testing. States Parties should also formulate steps to commence negotiations on an FMCT as soon as possible and we call on all states that possess nuclear weapons to instate an immediate moratorium on the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other explosive devices.

Chair,

Let me conclude by extending an open hand to others in the room so that we may work together to ease tensions, build trust and once again take steps towards our common goal of a world free of nuclear weapons.

Thank you Chair.