Statement by Mr. Arsen Kotanjyan, First Secretary of the Delegation of Armenia at the UNGA80 First Committee Thematic Discussion on Conventional Weapons

Mr. Chair,

Effective functioning of Conventional Arms Control regime is essential for maintenance of peace and security at international and regional levels. The international security architecture continues to bear the detrimental impacts of strategic instability, erosion of arms control mechanisms, constant increase of military expenditure worldwide and weaponization of newly emerging domains. The unwavering commitment towards arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation remains as crucial as ever.

Throughout years, Armenia has been committed to the implementation of the legally binding Treaty on the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe and the Vienna Document on Confidence- and Security-Building Measures. We also actively contributed to the updating of the Vienna Document, supporting most of the proposals for its modernization.

Mr. Chair,

Armenia advocates for the responsible transfer of arms, since weapons must never be allowed to contribute to violations of international humanitarian law or international human rights law, as well as to be used in ways that deliberately or indiscriminately harm civilian populations.

By upholding rigorous international standards, states demonstrate their commitment to the highest ethical and legal practices, strengthening the credibility of the international system and reinforcing the principle that the protection of human life and dignity must guide security policy. Irresponsible transfers, by contrast, fuel conflict and worsen humanitarian crises.

Furthermore, preventing the diversion of weapons to non-state actors, such as terrorist or criminal groups is not only a humanitarian necessity but also a matter of national and global security. Each transfer decision must be supported by rigorous risk assessment, so that arms do not fall into the hands of those who would use them to threaten international peace.

It is in this spirit, that Armenia places explicit importance on the necessity of ensuring responsible transfer of lethal autonomous weapons systems, which are distinct from traditional arms, given their capacity to autonomously perform the critical function of identifying, selecting, and engaging targets without direct intervention of a human operator. At a time when there is no dedicated international instrument regulating this domain, and when consensus on the scope and nature of restrictions yet to be achieved, states must exercise utmost due diligence when authorizing transfers of such systems.

We continue to closely follow the discussions within the Group of Governmental Experts on LAWS under the CCW, and we recognize that the Group has already achieved tangible progress. In this regard, Armenia fully supports the two-tiered approach, according to which lethal autonomous weapon systems that are inherently indiscriminate and cannot be employed in compliance with international humanitarian law must be prohibited, while additional measures should be developed to ensure that the potential use of these systems is brought firmly into line with the requirements of IHL.

At the same time, we note with concern that the issue of the transfer of such systems has not yet been fully addressed within the Group. For Armenia, this matter is of significant importance, as the irresponsible transfer of lethal autonomous weapon systems carries potential negative consequences that transcend borders and may affect the security of all states.

That said, Armenia will continue its constructive engagement with like-minded states to address the complex challenges associated with the transfer of lethal autonomous weapon systems in relevant international fora. We believe that only through inclusive dialogue, cooperation and adherence to the principles of international law can the international community ensure that the development, acquisition, and transfer of such systems do not undermine international peace and security. In this regard, Armenia stands ready to contribute actively to the discussions and concerted efforts aimed at preventing the irresponsible transfers of these emerging technologies.

Thank you.