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As head of the United Nations Conference on Disarmament (CD), Morocco is placing its presidency under the banner of dialogue and the revitalization of this multilateral body’s work to address growing global tensions, said Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Kingdom to the UN Office at Geneva, Omar Zniber.
The three-day high-level segment of the CD, which opened Monday with statements by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and numerous FMs and senior security officials from various regions, stresses the strategic importance of this multilateral forum, Zniber told the press.
In a “highly unsettled” international context marked by significant geopolitical tensions, disarmament remains, he noted, a major concern for the international community.
In light of the difficulties and longstanding stagnation affecting the Conference’s ability to produce substantive and normative outcomes, Morocco intends, during its presidency, to organize debates in an inclusive manner, encourage attentive listening among member states, and promote initiatives aimed at making discussions more productive.
“Despite the obstacles, Morocco is here,” the CD president affirmed, expressing “great confidence” in the Conference’s ability to regain momentum under a Moroccan presidency committed to revitalizing the multilateral disarmament process.
In his remarks, the UN Secretary-General issued an urgent call to restore international trust amid rising tensions and record-high military spending.
Guterres stressed in particular that nuclear arms control “has proven its value,” noting that it has “prevented catastrophe” and “significantly reduced arsenals.”
Earlier in the day, the high-level segment also featured a statement by Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, delivered on his behalf by Zniber.
In his address, the minister called for renewed commitment to multilateralism and disarmament at a time of escalating tensions, persistent armed conflicts, and a troubling erosion of trust among international actors.
Bourita also reaffirmed that nuclear disarmament remains an essential political and moral imperative, calling for the full and effective implementation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), a cornerstone of the international non-proliferation regime.
Morocco, represented by Zniber, holds the presidency of the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva through March 13, 2026. The Conference is the United Nations’ sole multilateral negotiating forum dedicated to disarmament treaties.
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