Blanar Urges Disarmament Conference to Break Deadlock

Geneva/Bratislava, 25 February (TASR) - The Conference on Disarmament must overcome decades of stalemate, refocus on substance and demonstrate its relevance, Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar declared on Tuesday. Blanar was addressing the sole multilateral forum for disarmament negotiations in Geneva, held as part of the programme of the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), the ministry's press department said. "The world needs stronger multilateralism. Slovakia fully supports the United Nations and the international institutional architecture built over decades, but these institutions must be bolstered, adapt to new challenges and undergo modernisation," Blanar said. In the context of a deteriorating global security situation and the erosion of international law, international organisations, multilateralism and diplomacy remain indispensable tools for resolving disputes and tensions, he added. The minister also highlighted the consequences of the disconcerting global situation, which directly affects arms control, disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation. According to Blanar, the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons must remain the cornerstone of the global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime, and the upcoming review conference must reaffirm its continued relevance. He also called for renewed efforts towards nuclear arms control and stressed the need for the remaining states to sign and ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty without delay. In support of multilateralism in the field of disarmament and the promotion of peaceful solutions, Slovakia has submitted its candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for 2028-2029. It is also seeking membership of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency and will assume a mandate on the Executive Council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in May 2026. mf