Statement by the Deputy Head of the Delegation of the Russian Federation at the Third Session of the Preparatory Committee for the 11th Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (Strengthening of the Review Process), New York, 7 May 2025

Mr. Chair,

Our delegation would like to emphasize a few points related to organizational modalities.

First. We cannot but recognize that this year the United States has issued visas for the majority of the members of our delegations in a timely manner, and we express our appreciation for that. However, two of our experts had difficulties. Their visas were issued a day or two before the beginning of the event. What is more, that happened only after the Chair had intervened.

We believe it essential that the recommendations on the strengthening of the review process should envisage that the host Parties should issue visas for all participants in the NPT review meetings free of charge and as soon as possible, irrespective of any national restrictions. We have suggested the insertion of a pertinent point in the draft decision on strengthening the review process. We hope that it will be taken into account.

Second. During both the previous review process events and the current Preparatory Committee session we have encountered an absolutely unacceptable situation when the European Union represented by its Brussels officials has not been merely making statement equally with States, but making it before most of them. What is more, the EU representatives devote little attention to the agenda issues, but instead use the floor to make unfounded, unjustified and politicized accusations against the NPT States parties.

We believe that this should be put to rights to eliminate discrimination resulting from giving the EU advantages over other inter-State associations. Any references to the UN General Assembly resolution are irrelevant in this case.  The Review Conferences and the Preparatory Committees' sessions have their own rules of procedure. Therefore, it should be clearly stipulated that at NPT review meetings the representatives of intergovernmental associations can only be given the floor after the States parties have made their statements. Exceptions are only made if such associations are represented by the NPT State parties. We have proposed a pertinent insertion in draft decision on the strengthening of the review process. We hope that it will be taken into account.

Third. It has surprised us that at the Preparatory Committee meetings time limits apply to the statements of the NPT States parties while a separate session is given to the so called non-governmental organizations. It is our firm belief that States parties to the Treaty should have priority in expressing their views before both NGOs and any other observers. This also should be put down in the recommendations on the strengthening of the review process.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.