Statement by H.E. Ambassador MIKANAGI Tomohiro, Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, at the Plenary meeting of the General Assembly, Agenda item 62: Use of the Veto

Thank you, Mr. President.
 
Peace and stability in the Middle East, as well as maintaining the international non-proliferation regime, are of utmost importance. To uphold these goals, we must faithfully implement the decisions made by the Security Council.
 
Iran’s nuclear issue remains a significant challenge for regional and global peace and stability. It is therefore regrettable that the Security Council was unable to renew the mandate of the Panel of Experts for the 1737 Sanctions Committee, and that the veto by Russia and China has undermined the global nonproliferation regime.
 
As a country committed to the NPT regime for maintaining international peace and security, Japan has consistently insisted that Iran’s development of nuclear weapons must never be allowed, and emphasized the necessity of resolving Iran’s nuclear issue through dialogue, in close cooperation with relevant countries.
 
With this in mind, the momentum for dialogue must not be lost. It is all the more necessary now to ease the military tensions, achieve an early de-escalation of the situation, and steadily resolve the nuclear issue and other issues of concern, through U.S.-Iran talks. Prime Minister Takaichi and Foreign Minister Motegi have made multiple telephone calls with their Iranian counterparts.
 
Japan continues to call on Iran to properly implement the relevant Security Council resolutions and immediately resume full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in accordance with its obligations under the relevant safeguards agreement.
 
Japan will continue to duly implement the relevant Security Council resolutions and make all necessary diplomatic efforts together with the international community.
 
I thank you.