Speaking at the High-Level segment of the Conference on Disarmament, the Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Morocco in Geneva, Omar Zniber, underlined the importance of the Conference "as a unique multilateral forum for negotiation in the area of disarmament which is one of the founding pillars of the United Nations".

In this regard, the Kingdom "has always made it a priority element in its foreign policy, by organizing, hosting, and taking an active part in several international meetings and conferences, on important themes for the international community", he said, noting that this constructive role of Morocco is welcomed by all delegations, given the pragmatism and spirit of compromise that it advocates.

According to the diplomat, this involvement is the result of a sense of responsible commitment in favor of regional, continental and international peace and security.

He noted that the Kingdom is a solicited actor for its various and sometimes major contributions at the regional level, as is the case in Libya, the Sahel and Africa, through the participation in Peacekeeping Operations, but also on all essential thematic issues, such as the fight against terrorism and the fight against organized crime, but also against arms trafficking.

"Even today, the stakes of the past are not totally out of date, and you will agree with me, they have even taken on larger and more difficult dimensions to pin down," he said, noting that "in addition to the threats induced by nuclear, biological and conventional weapons, new risks have emerged, linked to technological development and artificial intelligence, which put us in the face of constantly changing challenges".

The arms race in outer space, the development of supersonic missiles or other advanced technologies increase the risks and maintain the "balance of power" to a very small margin, which serves as justification for militarization tendencies, contrary to the mission of the Conference, which is to reduce this type of risk, he pointed out.

Zniber stressed, in this regard, that Morocco welcomes, like the entire international community, the agreement between the United States and Russia, with a view to renewing the "New Start" treaty.

According to the ambassador, "it is imperative, more than ever, to conclude multilateral agreements, legally binding, and allow the Conference on Disarmament to return to its initial mandate, and to campaign so that it does not find itself in a deadlock that would only make it a forum for exchange and debate. The situation of lethargy over the past two decades cannot continue".

Morocco is also delighted, he said, "to have taken part in this forum, with persistence and commitment, in the arduous negotiations which led to the ban of chemical weapons and nuclear tests which remain today cornerstones of the international security system and constitute a powerful legal arsenal for the international community".

The Treaty of the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons is, to date, the most advanced instrument that the international community has been able to negotiate, despite all its imperfections and the criticisms that it may arise, the diplomat said, adding that "Morocco attaches capital importance to it and all States Parties have a duty to respect its provisions, in particular Article VI, relating to general and complete nuclear disarmament."