Statement by Permanent Representative Andranik Hovhannisyan at the 25th Annual Regular Meeting of the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation

Statement by the Delegation of the Republic of Armenia

The Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation (HCoC)

25th Regular Meeting of the Subscribing States

Vienna, 28-29 May 2026

Mr. Chair,

At the outset, we would like to congratulate Ambassador Mohammed Hindawi of Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on assuming HCOC Chairmanship for 2026-2027 and express our gratitude to Ambassador Alejandro Garofali Acosta for his able leadership during Uruguay's chairmanship. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Austria for its continuous support as the Immediate Central Contact of the Code.

Distinguished delegates,

Armenia underscores the critical importance of universal implementation of the international obligations in the areas of arms control and non-proliferation and reiterates its steadfast support to the mechanisms that underpin it. In the current global security environment marked by growing tensions and rapid technological developments, the continued relevance of the HCOC remains undeniable.

My delegation reaffirms its strong commitment to the objectives and principles of the HCOC as an important confidence-building and transparency instrument in the field of non-proliferation and international security. As a Subscribing State to the HCOC, Armenia has been consistently and fully complying with the requirements of the Code, including by timely and accurate submissions of its declarations.

Armenia places strong emphasis on the responsibility of states in the international transfer of arms. Weapons must not be supplied where there is a risk that they could be used to commit or facilitate violations of international humanitarian law or international human rights law, or to cause harm to civilians in a deliberate manner. Armenia underscores the importance of thorough, evidence-based risk assessments in arms transfer decisions, with a view to ensuring that weapons do not end up reinforcing instability or fueling violence beyond state control.

Armenia continues to strengthen its export control system and emphasizes the importance of full and effective national border control to prevent unregulated transfers that can further fuel conflicts or instability.

Mr. Chair,

Armenia supports efforts aimed at strengthening the visibility, universality and effectiveness of the Code. We welcome ongoing discussions on outreach activities and technical assistance. We also recognize that the political and voluntary nature of the instrument impacts its enforceability, while the sole reliance on self-reporting mechanisms, with no independent verification system, no standardized quality control procedures, and inconsistent levels of detail among submissions may reduce the trust in submitted information and result in uneven implementation of the Code by its Subscribing States.

In this regard, we see merit in continuing discussions on ways to improve transparency and reporting practices, and ensure that the Code remains responsive to new and emerging missile-related technologies and challenges. The establishment of annual implementation assessment reports, introduction of public transparency dashboards for compliance records can be among such measures. We also see value in strengthening capacity-building efforts and institutional cooperation in order to support subscribing states in fulfilling their commitments effectively.

Since the HCOC relies heavily on self-reporting and voluntary political commitments, external analytical support can help address existing gaps in consistency and implementation assessment or corroborate the pre-launch notifications and annual declarations, increasing trust in submitted information without creating intrusive verification mechanisms. Such data can strengthen early warning and situational awareness, as well as help to identify undeclared ballistic missiles or their systems.

In conclusion, Armenia reiterates its commitments to the Code and stands ready to constructively engage with all partners for contributing to a safer and more secure world for all.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.