Security Council Extends Mandate of Committee Monitoring Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Weapons for 9 Months, Unanimously Adopting Resolution 2622 (2022)
The Security Council today renewed the mandate of its committee monitoring implementation of a resolution that aims to prevent non-State actors from acquiring nuclear, biological and chemical weapons and their means of delivery, as Council members debated the technical nature of that renewal after its unanimous adoption.
Unanimously adopting resolution 2622 (2022) (to be issued as document S/RES/2622(2022)) and acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, the Council decided to extend, until 30 November 2022, the mandate of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) with the continued assistance of its group of experts.
By the text, the Council further decided that the Committee should continue to conduct and complete the comprehensive review on the status of implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) and submit its conclusions to the Council.
Speaking in his national capacity after the adoption, the representative of the Russian Federation, Council President for February, expressed his delegation’s support for the resolution’s preventive nature, which supports several germane international agreements. Serious concerns, however, remain with regards to, inter alia, the Committee’s work process, and there is no justification for limiting action to a technical roll-over. Instead, contributions of key participants must be considered, otherwise the review process and its value will be wasted. Further, there were problems of discussing modalities rather than technical issues, he said, expressing hope for progress in the coming months.
Calling on the Chair to step up efforts to enhance the review process, he said the Committee must be able to work on tasks before it rather than exclusively focusing on a technical roll-over. Regarding the future parameters of its mandate, he said the Committee’s unique spirit of cooperation must be ensured. It should not become a “controller” that is allowed to interfere with the internal affairs of States, he said, adding that its mandate must, inter alia, provide technical assistance to States upon request.
China’s representative expressed hope that the Committee will discharge its mandate and that the positions of all States will be considered.
The delegate from Mexico, Committee Chair, said extending the mandate will allow for broad efforts to implement resolution 1540 (2004). Noting the comments just made on the technical renewal of the mandate, he said consultations had been conducted in good faith and in a transparent manner. Indeed, the majority had expressed agreement on a technical rollover, making it possible to have the information required for a substantive resolution later this year.
The representative of the United States said, in light of comments made by his counterpart from the Russian Federation, that his delegation welcomes the mandate extension, which will allow the Committee’s continued function as a powerful tool to prevent weapons of mass destruction from falling into the hands of non-State actors. Anticipating a forthcoming substantive resolution, he underlined the importance of the current mandate. Welcoming the opportunity to engage with stakeholders in relevant formats, he said the United States will prioritize States’ obligations under resolution 1540 (2004) and enhance its support for assistance and outreach activities. The United States also endorses the proposed timeline to complete a review, which will inform the mandate renewal later in 2022, he said.
The United Kingdom’s delegate expressed strong support for today’s resolution, stressing that resolution 1540 (2004) has been a critical part of the multilateral non-proliferation architecture since its adoption. As such, it is vital that the work of the Committee and its group of experts continues, he added.
The meeting began at 10:04 a.m. and ended at 10:16 a.m.