Statement by H.E. Mrs. Mar\u00eda Fernanda Espinosa Garc\u00e9s, President of the 73rd<\/sup> Session of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ General Assembly<\/h3>\n9 September 2019<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/pga\/73\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2019\/09\/Tweeet-300x200.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Mr. Secretary-General, Ant\u00f3nio Guterres,<\/p>\n
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,<\/p>\n
Let me begin by welcoming Her Excellency, Dr. Annika Thunborg, former spokesperson and Chief of Public Information of Preparatory Commission of the CTBTO and Ambassador of Sweden to Mexico and Mr. Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, who will be making statements shortly.<\/p>\n
Dear Mr. Secretary-General, Ant\u00f3nio Guterres,<\/p>\n
Every year, the International Day Against Nuclear Weapons Tests provides an important opportunity to enhance public awareness and education about the devastating effects of nuclear weapon tests.\u00a0 Every year, on this occasion we call for the cessation of those tests, which is a crucial milestone to achieving a world free of nuclear weapons.<\/p>\n
This year marks the 10th<\/sup> observance of the day. It is an occasion to reflect on our shared vision of nuclear disarmament \u2013 as set out in the very first resolution of the General Assembly; to assess where we are headed if we continue on our current trajectory; and to discuss together how we can close the gap between the two.<\/p>\nSome 2000 nuclear tests have been conducted since 1945, with devastating consequences for people and for our planet. \u00a0The effects \u2013 on lives and livelihoods; on human health; on soil and groundwater; on animals, birds and marine life; on the atmosphere \u2013 reverberate across generations, with profound impacts on all aspects of sustainable development.<\/p>\n
Today, we honour the memory of all victims of nuclear tests and pay our respects to those whose lives have been adversely affected. We owe it to them, and to generations unborn, not to repeat the horror of nuclear tests and nuclear weapon explosions.<\/p>\n
I pay tribute to the Government of Kazakhstan for its leadership on this issue and express my solidarity with those who continue to be affected by the hundreds of tests carried out at Semipalatinsk \u2013 the first of which was conducted 70 years ago. In 1991, you took the bold and necessary step to close down this test site and you have been a vocal proponent for nuclear disarmament ever since: supporting the establishment of the Central Asian Nuclear-Weapons-Free Zone, as well as the creation of this International Day.<\/p>\n
And here, I would like to take a moment to express again my sincere condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Yukiya Amano, the late Director-General of the IAEA, who passed away last July.<\/p>\n
He will be remembered for his principled leadership and sound judgement, for his handling of the international response to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident, and for increasing international confidence in IAEA nuclear safeguards. I am sure his legacy will endure.<\/p>\n
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Excellencies,<\/p>\n
We are moving through a dangerous period \u2013 one marked by tensions between nuclear-armed states. These differences can only be resolved through dialogue. We cannot even contemplate the destructive power of the world\u2019s existing nuclear arsenal, although contemplate it we must, as the humanitarian impact initiative has shown.<\/p>\n
Nuclear weapons and tests are totally at odds with our commitment to the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development. Not only do they affect people, they affect our planet, our prosperity, our ability to forge the partnerships we need, and our prospects for peace.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ custom_padding__hover=”|||” custom_padding=”|||”][et_pb_code _builder_version=”3.27.4″ text_orientation=”left” z_index_tablet=”500″]\n\n
<\/p>\n
Mr. Secretary-General, Ant\u00f3nio Guterres,<\/p>\n
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,<\/p>\n
Let me begin by welcoming Her Excellency, Dr. Annika Thunborg, former spokesperson and Chief of Public Information of Preparatory Commission of the CTBTO and Ambassador of Sweden to Mexico and Mr. Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, who will be making statements shortly.<\/p>\n
Dear Mr. Secretary-General, Ant\u00f3nio Guterres,<\/p>\n
Every year, the International Day Against Nuclear Weapons Tests provides an important opportunity to enhance public awareness and education about the devastating effects of nuclear weapon tests.\u00a0 Every year, on this occasion we call for the cessation of those tests, which is a crucial milestone to achieving a world free of nuclear weapons.<\/p>\n
This year marks the 10th<\/sup> observance of the day. It is an occasion to reflect on our shared vision of nuclear disarmament \u2013 as set out in the very first resolution of the General Assembly; to assess where we are headed if we continue on our current trajectory; and to discuss together how we can close the gap between the two.<\/p>\n Some 2000 nuclear tests have been conducted since 1945, with devastating consequences for people and for our planet. \u00a0The effects \u2013 on lives and livelihoods; on human health; on soil and groundwater; on animals, birds and marine life; on the atmosphere \u2013 reverberate across generations, with profound impacts on all aspects of sustainable development.<\/p>\n Today, we honour the memory of all victims of nuclear tests and pay our respects to those whose lives have been adversely affected. We owe it to them, and to generations unborn, not to repeat the horror of nuclear tests and nuclear weapon explosions.<\/p>\n I pay tribute to the Government of Kazakhstan for its leadership on this issue and express my solidarity with those who continue to be affected by the hundreds of tests carried out at Semipalatinsk \u2013 the first of which was conducted 70 years ago. In 1991, you took the bold and necessary step to close down this test site and you have been a vocal proponent for nuclear disarmament ever since: supporting the establishment of the Central Asian Nuclear-Weapons-Free Zone, as well as the creation of this International Day.<\/p>\n And here, I would like to take a moment to express again my sincere condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Yukiya Amano, the late Director-General of the IAEA, who passed away last July.<\/p>\n He will be remembered for his principled leadership and sound judgement, for his handling of the international response to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident, and for increasing international confidence in IAEA nuclear safeguards. I am sure his legacy will endure.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ custom_padding__hover=”|||” custom_padding=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.27.4″ text_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ text_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_vertical_length=”text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ text_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_blur_strength=”text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ text_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” link_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_vertical_length=”link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_blur_strength=”link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_vertical_length=”ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_blur_strength=”ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_vertical_length=”ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_blur_strength=”ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_vertical_length=”quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_blur_strength=”quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_2_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_2_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_2_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_3_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_3_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_3_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_4_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_4_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_4_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_5_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_5_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_5_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_6_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_6_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_6_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px” z_index_tablet=”500″]<\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n We are moving through a dangerous period \u2013 one marked by tensions between nuclear-armed states. These differences can only be resolved through dialogue. We cannot even contemplate the destructive power of the world\u2019s existing nuclear arsenal, although contemplate it we must, as the humanitarian impact initiative has shown.<\/p>\n Nuclear weapons and tests are totally at odds with our commitment to the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development. Not only do they affect people, they affect our planet, our prosperity, our ability to forge the partnerships we need, and our prospects for peace.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ custom_padding__hover=”|||” custom_padding=”|||”][et_pb_code _builder_version=”3.27.4″ text_orientation=”left” z_index_tablet=”500″]\n\n