United Nations First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) General Debate Speech Ambassador Robert Wood U.S. Permanent Representative to the Conference on Disarmament, U.S. Special Representative for Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BWC) Issues and U.S. Commissioner for the New START Treaty’s Bilateral Consultative Commission (BCC) October 9, 2020 Text of Video Statement Thank you, Mr. ...
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 9 October, 2020 | Topics: Ambassador CD, Featured Event, International Security, News | Tags: Arms Control
Possible options for addressing the humanitarian and international security challenges posed by emerging technologies in the area of LAWS
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 30 September, 2020 | Topics: Arms Control, Fact Sheets, Featured Event, International Security | Tags: Arms Control
Review of potential military applications of related technologies
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 30 September, 2020 | Topics: Arms Control, Fact Sheets, Featured Event, International Security | Tags: Arms Control
Further consideration of the human element in the use of lethal force and aspects of human-machine interaction in the development, deployment and use of emerging technologies in the area of LAWS
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 30 September, 2020 | Topics: Arms Control, Fact Sheets, Featured Event, International Security | Tags: Arms Control
Characterization of the systems under consideration in order to promote a common understanding on concepts and characteristics relevant to the objectives and purposes of the Convention
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 30 September, 2020 | Topics: Arms Control, Fact Sheets, Featured Event, International Security | Tags: Arms Control
An exploration of the potential challenges posed by emerging technologies in the area of LAWS to International Humanitarian Law
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 30 September, 2020 | Topics: Arms Control, Fact Sheets, Featured Event, International Security | Tags: Arms Control
Opening Statement Group of Governmental Experts on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems Statement September 21, 2020 Thank you Mr. Chair for stepping in to lead the GGE, and let me begin by ensuring you of our delegation’s support during the upcoming meeting. We also thank Ambassador Karklins for his work, including his initiative to invite national ...
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 30 September, 2020 | Topics: Arms Control, Fact Sheets, Featured Event, International Security | Tags: Arms Control
The United States has shown much flexibility during this negotiation. And we will continue to work with you and other delegations to pass a final report.
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 16 September, 2020 | Topics: Ambassador CD, Arms Control, Conference on Disarmament, Events, Fact Sheets, Featured Event, News | Tags: Arms Control
Thank you, Mr. President. On behalf of the United States, I congratulate you on your assumption of the CD Presidency and assure you of my delegation’s support as you guide us through the closure of the 2020 session.
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 27 August, 2020 | Topics: Ambassador CD, Arms Control, Conference on Disarmament, Events, Featured Event, Former U.S. Ambassadors, News | Tags: Arms Control
Every CD Member State, indeed, Mr. President, every nation on Earth, should insist, as a matter of international peace and security, that China engage on nuclear arms control, transparency, and confidence building with the United States and the Russian Federation without further delay.
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 13 August, 2020 | Topics: Ambassador CD, Arms Control, Conference on Disarmament, Featured Event, International Security, News | Tags: Arms Control
On May 11, 1995, States Party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons decided that the Treaty, known as the Non-Proliferation Treaty or NPT, should remain in force indefinitely.
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 12 May, 2020 | Topics: Arms Control, Featured Event, News, Press Releases | Tags: Arms Control
The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) released a report attributing 3 instances of chemical weapons use to the Assad regime
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 9 April, 2020 | Topics: Arms Control, Featured Event, News, Press Releases, U.S. Secretary of State | Tags: Arms Control
The United States is the world’s single largest financial supporter of conventional weapons destruction, investing over $3.7 billion in more than 100 countries since 1993.
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 2 April, 2020 | Topics: Arms Control, Featured Event, News, Press Releases | Tags: Arms Control
Secretary Pompeo: "The United States remains committed to denying Iran any pathway to a nuclear weapon."
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 6 March, 2020 | Topics: Arms Control, Featured Event, News, Press Releases, U.S. Secretary of State | Tags: Arms Control
Ambassador Wood: "Mr. Chairman, the United States would like to see this Meeting of States Parties (MSP) adopt at least some modest decisions or recommendations on substantive matters."
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 3 December, 2019 | Topics: Ambassador CD, Arms Control, Biological Weapons, Featured Event, News | Tags: Arms Control
The United States does not support adding a separate item on Protocol III to the agenda of next year’s meeting or amending Protocol III.
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 20 November, 2019 | Topics: Arms Control, Featured Event | Tags: Arms Control
Urban areas are admittedly complex operating environments during war, but existing IHL appropriately governs the use of explosive weapons, like all weapons, including through principles and rules related to the protection of civilians.
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 20 November, 2019 | Topics: Arms Control, Featured Event | Tags: Arms Control
The United States greatly values Protocol V as an instrument that brings together States with the common goal of minimizing the risk and effects of Explosive Remnants of War. Full implementation of Protocol V assists in our collective efforts to reduce the post-conflict humanitarian problems caused by ERW.
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 20 November, 2019 | Topics: Arms Control, Featured Event | Tags: Arms Control
The United States places great value in the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) as an international humanitarian law (IHL) treaty framework that brings together States with diverse security interests to discuss issues related to weapons that may be deemed to be excessively injurious or to have indiscriminate effects.
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 20 November, 2019 | Topics: Arms Control, Featured Event | Tags: Arms Control
The United States is prepared to join consensus on the creation of a Working Capital Fund to provide liquidity for CCW staff costs over the course of the year, but from our perspective it is important to incorporate several key elements in the terms of reference.
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 20 November, 2019 | Topics: Arms Control, Featured Event | Tags: Arms Control
The United States values the opportunities the meeting of experts provide for High Contracting Parties to voluntarily share humanitarian mine action best practices and other issues related to implementation of the protocol.
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 20 November, 2019 | Topics: Arms Control, Featured Event | Tags: Arms Control
The eighteenth session of the Bilateral Consultative Commission under the U.S.-Russia New START Treaty was held in Geneva from November 6-13, 2019.
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 15 November, 2019 | Topics: Arms Control, Europe & Eurasia, Featured Event | Tags: Arms Control
The United States has explained in detail, many times our concerns about definitions and about verification related to objects in outer space and especially related to the draft "Treaty on the Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space" that has been submitted to this body by Russia and China. We have previously provided ...
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 14 August, 2019 | Topics: Ambassador CD, Arms Control, Featured Event, News, Speeches | Tags: Arms Control
Ambassador Wood: "One of the essential steps toward the ultimate goal of a world without nuclear weapons is an end to the production of fissile material for use in nuclear weapons, which is the principal objective of an FMCT."
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 9 August, 2019 | Topics: Ambassador CD, Arms Control, Featured Event, International Security, News | Tags: Arms Control
The United States provided its six-month notice of withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty due to the Russian Federation’s continuing violation of the treaty.
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 2 August, 2019 | Topics: Arms Control, Featured Event, News, U.S. Secretary of State | Tags: Arms Control
INF Myth Busters: Pushing Back on Russian Propaganda Regarding the INF Treaty.
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 31 July, 2019 | Topics: Arms Control, Featured Event, International Security | Tags: Arms Control
Timeline of Highlighted U.S. Diplomacy Regarding the INF Treaty Since 2013.
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 31 July, 2019 | Topics: Arms Control, Featured Event, International Security | Tags: Arms Control
The dialogue is a continuation of U.S. and Russian discussions on a broad range of strategic security issues.
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 19 July, 2019 | Topics: Arms Control, Featured Event, International Security, News, Press Releases | Tags: Arms Control
The Strategic Security Dialogue is the latest in a series of meetings the United States has conducted with Russian officials to build on Secretary Pompeo’s and Foreign Minister Lavrov’s discussions during their May 14 meeting in Sochi, Russia.
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 17 July, 2019 | Topics: Arms Control, Featured Event, International Security, News, Press Releases | Tags: Arms Control
Ambassador Wood: "Today is the day many members of the Conference on Disarmament have been waiting for since May 27: the end of the disastrous and illegitimate CD presidency of the former Maduro regime in Venezuela."
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 20 June, 2019 | Topics: Ambassador CD, Arms Control, Conference on Disarmament, Featured Event | Tags: Arms Control
The United States therefore condemns, in the strongest terms, Venezuela’s presidency of this body while it is represented by members of the illegitimate Maduro regime. As such, we will boycott the CD for the next four weeks – the duration of Venezuela’s presidency.
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 28 May, 2019 | Topics: Ambassador CD, Arms Control, Featured Event, News | Tags: Arms Control
When we emphasize the degree to which the CEND initiative learns lessons from the past about how it is futile — and can be counterproductive — to try to address disarmament issues without considering the underlying circumstances of the security environment in which disarmament-related decisions take place, we are not just making idle assumptions. This ...
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 1 May, 2019 | Topics: Arms Control, Conference on Disarmament, Events, Featured Event, News | Tags: Arms Control
As we work with international partners to make this emerging dialogue a reality, I think the approach and the insights that animate today’s colloquium are precisely the right ones. I think we all share a commitment to bringing into being a world that is not only free of nuclear weapons, but is also one in ...
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 23 April, 2019 | Topics: Arms Control, Conference on Disarmament, Featured Event, International Security, News | Tags: Arms Control
Today’s release of the 18th edition of To Walk the Earth in Safety, the Department of State’s annual report summarizing the accomplishments of the U.S. Conventional Weapons Destruction Program, highlights our enduring commitment to making post-conflict communities safer and setting the stage for their recovery and development.
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 3 April, 2019 | Topics: Arms Control, Fact Sheets, Featured Event, International Security, News | Tags: Arms Control
We, like all States, desire a successful outcome to this GGE. We have sought to contribute to a successful outcome by participating actively in these discussions, including with representatives from our Defense Department and The submission of Several working papers.
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 28 March, 2019 | Topics: Arms Control, Featured Event, News | Tags: Arms Control
The United States would like to supplement its remarks during yesterday’s session on IHL challenges by responding to a few points raised by our colleagues and by offering a deeper exploration of U.S. practices in the assessment of weapons systems, which we hope will, to borrow from our Australian counterparts, both deepen and broaden understandings ...
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 28 March, 2019 | Topics: Arms Control, Featured Event, News | Tags: Arms Control
Mr. Chair, let me briefly address some of the questions in the program of work before expounding in a bit more detail how legal reviews can contribute to IHL compliance.
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 27 March, 2019 | Topics: Arms Control, Conference on Disarmament, Featured Event, News | Tags: Arms Control
The key issue for human-machine interaction in emerging technologies in the area of LAWS is ensuring that machines help effectuate the intention of commanders and the operators of weapon systems.
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 27 March, 2019 | Topics: Arms Control, Conference on Disarmament, Featured Event, News | Tags: Arms Control
Assistant Secretary Christopher Ford: "The United States is in the process of developing implementation plans for a pathbreaking new initiative aimed at bringing countries together in a constructive dialogue exploring ways in which it might be possible to ameliorate conditions in the global security environment so as to make that environment more conducive to further ...
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 27 March, 2019 | Topics: Arms Control, Conference on Disarmament, Featured Event, News, Speeches | Tags: Arms Control
The United States Supports identifying general characteristics of systems that should be under the GGE’s consideration.
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 26 March, 2019 | Topics: Arms Control, Conference on Disarmament, Featured Event, International Security, News | Tags: Arms Control
The United States believes that discussion of the possible options for addressing the humanitarian and international security challenges posed by emerging technologies in the area of LAWS must involve consideration of how these technologies can be used to enhance the protection of the civilian population against the effects of hostilities.
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 26 March, 2019 | Topics: Arms Control, Conference on Disarmament, Featured Event, International Security, News | Tags: Arms Control
"Let me reiterate that the United States remains committed to arms control efforts and remains receptive to future arms control negotiations if conditions permit."
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 19 March, 2019 | Topics: Arms Control, Conference on Disarmament, Featured Event, International Security, News, Speeches | Tags: Arms Control
I’m taking the floor to put on the record my government’s strong opposition to a representative of the former Maduro regime occupying the seat reserved for Venezuela.
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 15 February, 2019 | Topics: Ambassador CD, Arms Control, Featured Event, International Security, News, Western Hemisphere | Tags: Arms Control
The United States currently holds the chairmanship of MASG, a group of over 30 donor states working together to coordinate humanitarian mine action programs and increase mine action where it is most needed.
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 6 February, 2019 | Topics: Arms Control, Featured Event, News | Tags: Arms Control
"We are happy to host you and the Mine Action Support Group (MASG) again this year. The MASG serves a very important role in the international donor community."
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 6 February, 2019 | Topics: Ambassador CD, Arms Control, Conference on Disarmament, Featured Event, International Security, News, Speeches | Tags: Arms Control
"The United States remains committed to effective arms control that advances U.S., allied, and partner security; is verifiable and enforceable; and includes partners that comply responsibly with their obligations."
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 4 February, 2019 | Topics: Arms Control, Europe & Eurasia, Featured Event, International Security, News, U.S. Secretary of State | Tags: Arms Control
Today, I would like to speak with you about the importance of compliance with arms control obligations and the consequences when states violate arms control, nonproliferation, and disarmament agreements and commitments. As Secretary Pompeo has said, “when treaties are broken, the violators must be confronted, and the treaties must be fixed or discarded. Words should ...
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 22 January, 2019 | Topics: Ambassador CD, Arms Control, Conference on Disarmament, Featured Event, News, Speeches | Tags: Arms Control
Today we held talks with a Russian delegation on the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 15 January, 2019 | Topics: Arms Control, Featured Event, International Security, News | Tags: Arms Control
Secretary Pompeo: "Our goodwill gestures have been futile in correcting the Iranian regime’s reckless missile activity and its destructive behaviors. No nation can dispute that Iran is in open defiance of UN Security Council Resolution 2231." Western Hemisphere Counterterrorism Ministerial Dec. 11: Deputy Secretary Sullivan delivered opening remarks at The Western Hemisphere Counterterrorism Ministerial at ...
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 12 December, 2018 | Topics: Arms Control, Featured Event, International Security, Near East & North Africa, News, U.S. Secretary of State, USUN | Tags: Arms Control
We’ve discussed our concerns about Russia’s longstanding violations of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty for many years now.
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 7 December, 2018 | Topics: Arms Control, Featured Event, Press Releases | Tags: Arms Control
Since 2013, the United States has raised its concerns with Russia regarding Russian development of a ground-launched cruise missile (NATO designator: SSC-8, Russian designator: 9M729) with a range capability between 500 and 5,500 kilometers on repeated occasions.
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 6 December, 2018 | Topics: Arms Control, Fact Sheets, International Security, News | Tags: Arms Control
Ambassador Wood: "Mr. Chairman, the United States cannot accept the choice of Venezuela as one of the Vice Chairs of the BWC Meeting of States Parties."
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 5 December, 2018 | Topics: Ambassador CD, Arms Control, Conference on Disarmament, Featured Event, News | Tags: Arms Control
Ambassador Wood: "Mr. Chairman, the BWC is confronted by a range of substantive challenges arising from the threat of biological weapons."
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 4 December, 2018 | Topics: Ambassador CD, Biological Weapons, Conference on Disarmament, Events, Featured Event, News | Tags: Arms Control
One of the founding principles of the CWC is to “exclude completely the possibility of use of chemical weapons, through implementation of the provisions” of the CWC. The success of this principle depends entirely on all States Parties’ compliance with their obligations. When States Parties fail to meet these obligations, they must be held accountable.
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 23 November, 2018 | Topics: Arms Control, Conference on Disarmament, Featured Event, Speeches | Tags: Arms Control
The U.S. Delegation appreciates Iraq’s efforts to focus our discussions this year on the clearance of explosive remnants of war, or ERW. The United States has long supported efforts to clear ERW in Iraq, and we are proud of the cooperative partnership that we have developed with the government of Iraq in addressing the danger ...
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 20 November, 2018 | Topics: Arms Control, Conference on Disarmament, Featured Event, Humanitarian Affairs | Tags: Arms Control
Although the U.S. delegation voted against these resolutions, our votes in no way detract from our longstanding support for voluntary transparency and confidence-building measures (TCBMs) for outer space activities.
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 7 November, 2018 | Topics: Arms Control, Featured Event, News | Tags: Arms Control
The United States, France and the United Kingdom look forward to continuing to engage constructively and pragmatically with other UN Member States in order to strengthen the safety, stability, security, and sustainability of outer space activities.
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 6 November, 2018 | Topics: Arms Control, Featured Event, News | Tags: Arms Control
Mr. Chairman, the United States is a High Contracting Party to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) and all of its Protocols. We view the CCW as an important instrument because it has brought together States with diverse national security concerns, but shared concern over certain threats that affect us all.
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 1 November, 2018 | Topics: Ambassador CD, Arms Control, Featured Event, News, Speeches, USUN | Tags: Arms Control
States base their decisions regarding deterrence and defense on their perceptions of the security environment. The U.S initiative on “Creating the Conditions for Nuclear Disarmament” – which we refer to as “CCND” for short – reflects that reality by recognizing that reducing regional tensions and conflicts will contribute to creating conditions conducive to progress on ...
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 1 November, 2018 | Topics: Ambassador CD, Arms Control, Featured Event, News, Speeches, USUN | Tags: Arms Control
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to thank you for your efforts to try and find a consensus way forward on this issue.
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 29 October, 2018 | Topics: Ambassador CD, Arms Control, News, USUN | Tags: Arms Control
The Sixteenth Session of the Bilateral Consultative Commission under the U.S.–Russia New START Treaty was held in Geneva from October 10–18, 2018.
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 19 October, 2018 | Topics: Arms Control, Featured Event, News | Tags: Arms Control
Ambassador Wood: "This joint statement reflects the great concern a number of countries have about the damage Syria’s CD presidency has done to Conference.”
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 11 September, 2018 | Topics: Arms Control, Biological Weapons, Conference on Disarmament, Featured Event, International Security, Near East & North Africa, News | Tags: Arms Control
United States Remarks at the Conference on Disarmament As delivered by Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control, Verification and Compliance Yleem D.S. Poblete Geneva, Switzerland August 14, 2018 Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, all. Mr. President, I would like to bring to the attention of this body a matter related to outer space ...
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 14 August, 2018 | Topics: Arms Control, Conference on Disarmament, Featured Event, International Security, News, Press Releases | Tags: Arms Control
President Donald J. Trump of the United States of America and Chairman Kim Jong Un of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) held a first, historic summit in Singapore on June 12, 2018.
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 12 June, 2018 | Topics: Arms Control, East Asia & Pacific, Featured Event, International Security, President of the United States, Press Releases | Tags: Arms Control, Donald J. Trump
Ambassador Robert Wood: Simply put, it is a travesty that the Syrian regime – which continues to indiscriminately slaughter its own people with weapons banned by the Chemical Weapons Convention – should presume to preside over this body.
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 29 May, 2018 | Topics: Ambassador, Ambassador CD, Arms Control, Biological Weapons, Conference on Disarmament, Featured Event, International Security, Near East & North Africa, News, Speeches | Tags: Arms Control
Secretary Pompeo: "We'll continue to work with allies to counter the regime's destabilizing activities in the region, block their financing of terror, and address Iran's proliferation of missiles and other advanced weapons systems that threaten peace and stability. We will also ensure Iran has no path to a nuclear weapon -- not now, not ever. ...
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 21 May, 2018 | Topics: Arms Control, Featured Event, Speeches, U.S. Secretary of State | Tags: Arms Control, Michael R. Pompeo
Closing Statement by the United States Second Session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2020 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Ambassador Robert A. Wood Permanent Representative of the United States to the Conference on Disarmament Geneva, May 4, 2018 Mr. Chairman, First, allow me to thank you for your impressive ...
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 4 May, 2018 | Topics: Ambassador CD, Arms Control, Featured Event, International Security, News | Tags: Arms Control
The United States remains committed to the 1995 decision related to Art VIII on strengthening the review process.
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 2 May, 2018 | Topics: Ambassador CD, Arms Control, Featured Event, International Security | Tags: Arms Control
As we review the implementation of the Treaty, it is important to consider the current challenges and how we can adapt and respond to preserve the benefits of the Treaty for all.
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 2 May, 2018 | Topics: Ambassador, Ambassador CD, Arms Control, Featured Event, International Security | Tags: Arms Control
As we approach the NPT’s 50thanniversary, the United States reaffirms its commitment to promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear energy in accordance with Article IV of the Treaty and in support of the development goals of NPT Parties.
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 1 May, 2018 | Topics: Arms Control, Featured Event, International Security | Tags: Arms Control
Ambassador Wood: "The international community is at a critical juncture in the fight to uphold the international norm against chemical weapons use."
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 28 February, 2018 | Topics: Ambassador, Arms Control, Biological Weapons, Featured Event, International Security | Tags: Arms Control
Through the Treaty’s verification regime, which includes short-notice, on-site inspections at New START Treaty-related bases and facilities, the United States is able to verify information about the strategic nuclear arsenal of the Russian Federation. The verification regime provides both countries insight into each other’s strategic nuclear delivery systems, warheads, and facilities.
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By U.S. Mission Geneva | 5 February, 2018 | Topics: Arms Control | Tags: Arms Control
