HIBAPRESS
The Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Morocco to the United Nations Office and International Organizations in Geneva, Omar Zniber, reaffirmed today in Geneva, Morocco's firm commitment to multilateralism, at a time when this fundamental pillar of international cooperation faces complex and accelerating global challenges.
Zniber said, in a speech opening the first plenary session of the Conference on Disarmament under the Moroccan presidency, “I am fully convinced that flexibility, constructive engagement, and sincere political will are indispensable conditions for enabling this conference to effectively perform its mandate.” He added that “in a rapidly changing international environment, we can only move forward collectively in a spirit of consensus and shared responsibility.” In this regard, he affirmed that Morocco, guided by the principles of moderation, openness, and inclusiveness, is ready to support all initiatives aimed at forging consensus among member states. He stated, “We are strongly determined to strengthen the conference and its fundamental contribution to international peace and security,” pointing out that “dialogue must remain our basic tool.” The Moroccan diplomat also pledged to support any initiative aimed at stimulating the work of this conference and restoring its ability to achieve concrete results, considering that the state of paralysis that this institution is experiencing is no longer acceptable. He noted that “a body established for negotiation cannot be limited to discussion alone,” pointing to the deterioration of the strategic environment as a result of the modernization of nuclear arsenals, the shift of doctrines towards more ambiguity and risks, and the weakening of arms control mechanisms. He added that all these challenges make, “the nuclear threat, which we thought was under control, reappear as a strategic reality.” Zniber pointed out that this disturbing dynamic weakens trust, fuels competition, and shrinks the space for dialogue, stressing that “nuclear disarmament must remain the utmost priority.” He continued, saying: “As long as nuclear weapons exist, the risk of their use remains. And their complete and irreversible elimination, which can be verified, remains the only guarantee to confront this existential threat.” For his part, the current President of the Conference on Disarmament reviewed several pending priorities, referring in particular to the legally binding negative security assurances for non-nuclear-weapon states, as well as the prevention of an arms race in outer space. He added that these challenges are increasing due to the rapid transformations associated with artificial intelligence and autonomous systems, which are redefining deterrence in the absence of an appropriate regulatory framework, stressing that the conference should move immediately because “waiting means succumbing to the fait accompli.” On the other hand, he mentioned that respecting existing obligations remains essential, pointing out that with the upcoming review conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in New York, it is necessary to demonstrate the ability of multilateralism to achieve concrete results. He added that “the reality is clear: paralysis weakens credibility, stagnation increases risks, and the strategic environment is becoming more rigid.” He concluded by emphasizing that “peace requires political decisions. We are responsible for building a world free from the nuclear threat,” considering that “the conference must return to being active in the face of ongoing strategic transformations.” It is worth noting that Morocco is assuming, until March 13, 2026, in Geneva, the presidency of the Conference on Disarmament, which is the only multilateral body of the United Nations tasked with negotiating treaties related to disarmament. This presidency reinforces Morocco's position as a committed and credible actor in the service of multilateral issues, dialogue, and collective security. It also reflects the Kingdom's continued engagement for a world based on law and cooperation, and the search for appropriate solutions to address various common challenges.
