Between July 22 and August 2, 2024, the Palais des Nations in Geneva is hosting the second out of the three planned sessions of the Preparatory Committee of the Eleventh Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), which is to be held in New York in 2026. The forum is dedicated to the preparation for the Review Conference, focusing on issues related to the implementation of the NPT in all its three pillars (nuclear disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation and the use of nuclear energy and technologies for peaceful purposes), the strengthening of the review process of the treaty and other substantive topics, including challenges to, and opportunities for strengthening the universal and effective implementation of the NPT.

The Bulgarian delegation to the Second Preparatory Committee for the 11th NPT Review Conference is led by Ambassador Yuri Sterk, Permanent Representative to the UN Office and other international organizations in Geneva. In its statements during the General and the thematic debates in the clusters on nuclear disarmament and peaceful uses of nuclear energy and technologies, Bulgaria declared its unwavering support for the NPT and emphasized the need to take concrete steps for the treaty’s implementation in its three pillars. As the only realistic venue to achieving global nuclear disarmament, the significance of the progressive step-by-step approach was reaffirmed, which calls for taking up concrete, practical steps and for enhanced dialogue and cooperation among all states, especially among the nuclear weapon states. Ambassador Sterk also underlined Bulgaria's support for the inalienable right of all States Parties to develop, research and use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, in accordance with Article IV of the Treaty and with all safety, security and non-proliferation norms.

As a representative of a responsible State Party to the NPT which is also a current member and Vice-Chair of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the head of the Bulgarian delegation confirmed our country's position on the Agency's central role in peaceful international nuclear cooperation and supported IAEA’s activities and the established system of nuclear safeguards as a core component of the NPT nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime. In this regard, Bulgaria condemned the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the occupation of the Ukrainian Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), declaring our strong support for the efforts of the IAEA and its Director General R. Grossi to monitor the situation at the ZNPP and other Ukrainian nuclear sites and to provide an objective information, advice and technical assistance and support to Ukraine.