19th regular meeting of the subscribing states to the Hague code of conduct against ballistic missile proliferation

The nineteenth Annual Regular Meeting of the Subscribing States to the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation (HCoC) took place in Vienna under the Chairmanship of Switzerland, Chair for the period 2020-2021, with the participation of 71 registered delegations, on 12 October 2020.

The participants reaffirmed the importance of the Code as a unique multilateral confidence building and transparency instrument against ballistic missile proliferation, which contributes to the process of strengthening existing national and international security arrangements and disarmament and non-proliferation objectives and mechanisms. The Subscribing States stressed the importance of achieving full implementation of the Code, in particular with regard to the timely submission of pre-launch notifications and annual declarations.

The subscriptions to the Code by Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Equatorial Guinea and Somalia since the 2019 HCoC regular meeting were welcomed, and seen as a good example for the process of universalization. Currently, 143 States have subscribed to the Code.

The Subscribing States reaffirmed the threat to international peace and security posed by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, which constitutes a serious concern of the international community, in various regions of the world. The Subscribing States discussed developments in the DPRK missile programme since the 2019 HCoC regular meeting in the context of relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.

The Subscribing States also reaffirmed the right to exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes as provided for in the Outer Space Treaty. The need to exercise the necessary vigilance in the consideration of assistance to Space Launch Vehicle programmes so as to not contribute to, support or assist any ballistic missile programme in countries in contravention of international norms and obligations, as is provided for in the Code, was also emphasized.

The Subscribing States agreed to continue efforts to universalize the Code through various outreach activities. The Subscribing States agreed to promote a resolution on the HCoC to be adopted at the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.