188体育

Thank you, Mr President.聽

Let me start by thanking the core group for presenting the resolution before us to this Council. We commend the core group and particularly the Republic of the Marshall Islands itself, for the constructive approach they have taken during the negotiations on this text. I am sure all of us in this room were moved by what the Charg茅 d鈥橝ffairs from the Marshall Islands said just a moment ago. And I am sure we are not alone in expressing our condolences to him and his Permanent Representative for her loss.

Mr President,

The UK would like to stress that we聽fully recognise聽the seriousness of the challenges that the Republic of the Marshall Islands聽has faced following nuclear testing between 1946 and 1958. We commend聽the efforts made by both the Government of the Marshall Islands and the Government of the United States to address these challenges and welcome the ongoing聽bilateral discussions between the two governments聽on these issues.聽

It is with deep regret, however, that the UK聽must disassociate itself from聽Operative Paragraphs 4, 5聽and 11 of this Draft Resolution.聽As聽set out in our Explanation of Vote in respect of聽Human Rights Council聽Resolution 48/13聽last year, and our聽Explanation of聽Vote聽in respect of UN General Assembly Resolution A/76/L.75 this year, we don鈥檛 consider that there is international consensus on the legal basis of the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. By extension, we do not accept the connection made in聽the聽Resolution before us聽to the testing of nuclear weapons and its impact on such a right.聽Joining consensus on this text should therefore not be misinterpreted as the UK agreeing to any expansion of the recognition of this right.聽Furthermore, we are not聽persuaded聽that聽the OHCHR聽is the appropriate body聽to advise the National Nuclear Commission on these matters, as set out in Operative Paragraph 11 of this resolution.聽

Notwithstanding those concerns, we do however join consensus on this initiative. 聽

Thank you.