Statement delivered by Ambassador Trishala Persaud, Chargé d’Affaires a.i., Permanent Mission of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana to the United Nations during the Briefing on Threats to International Peace and Security (Weapons Transfers)

Thank you, Mr. President,

I thank Mr. Ebo for his briefing and take note of Dr. Kneissl’s contribution to the discussion.

Guyana continues to express concern about the mounting civilian casualties and widespread destruction sustained in the ongoing war.

We maintain that any lasting solution will not be achieved through military action; it must be done through diplomacy and good-faith negotiations conducted in accordance with the provisions of the United Nations Charter and international law.

We reiterate our call for the parties to the conflict to commit, in good faith, to a serious political and diplomatic process toward ending the conflict.

The tragic human toll of the war and its devastating impact on regional stability and international security cannot be overemphasized. Guyana condemns the use of violence against civilians and the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and calls upon the parties to uphold their obligations under international law, including international human rights law and international humanitarian law, and to respect the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution. We also demand that they ensure the safety of civilians and humanitarian workers in the affected areas.

Mr. President,

The updates provided by Mr. Ebo regarding the transfer of weapons are concerning. Guyana continues to stress, that the supply of weapons and ammunition in any armed conflict situation risks further escalating or prolonging the violence and presents a significant risk of their diversion to unauthorized end users.

Each year we receive increasingly harrowing reports of the detrimental impact of the diversion, illicit trafficking, and proliferation of weapons, especially of small arms and light weapons and their ammunition, on entire communities and their disproportionate impact on women and girls.

We must do more to ensure effective arms-control measures and prevent further instability and insecurity in the world.

In this regard, Guyana urges all parties to ensure that the transfers are transparent, conducted within international legal frameworks, and have stringent provisions for controls to prevent their irregular transfer.

As a State Party to the Arms Trade Treaty, the Biological Weapons Convention, the Chemical Weapons Convention, the Anti-Personnel Landmine Convention, and the Convention on Cluster Munitions, Guyana deplores the use of these weapons and calls for full compliance with international law and international disarmament instruments and obligations. We further encourage states that are not yet party to these treaties to accede to them.

Mr. President,

In closing, I wish to once again stress the urgency of resolving this conflict through peaceful means.

We call again for the Russian Federation to withdraw its military forces from the internationally recognized territory of Ukraine and encourage the international community to redouble its efforts to secure lasting peace in Ukraine.

I Thank You.