Statement by

Mr. Heidar Ali Balouji

First Counselor

Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations

At the 2nd Substantive Session of the OEWG on Security of and in the Use of ICTs

On “Capacity Building”

New York, 31 March 2022

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

Mr. Chair,

Capacity building is crucial for any cooperative arrangements in cyberspace. This is especially important when it comes to the gaps between developed and developing countries. 

States can exercise responsible behavior, realize their rights and accomplish their obligations in the ICTs environment if and when the required capacities exist. Furthermore, it is promising to see that almost all countries in our Group show readiness towards cooperation on capacity building.

This is, however, not realized unless technological, infrastructural and informational needs are met, including through the de-monopolization and facilitation of access to and transfer of new ICT-related science and technologies. 

My delegation is of the firm view that providing open, fair and non-discriminatory access to ICT-related science, technologies, products and services should be prioritized for early action in the area of capacity-building. Security should never be used as a pretext to hamper international cooperation on ICTs for peaceful purposes.

Restrictive measures against other States in the ICT environment, such as limiting and blocking IP addresses, restrictions to the registration of domain names and the removal of popular apps from app marketplaces, pose serious threats to ICTs development, security and trustability while affecting existing capacities and efforts to build and develop the required capacities. The damaging health impacts of these sanctions during the COVID-19 pandemic have been widely acknowledged, including within UN reports. There is a need for concrete measures to remove the existing restrictive measures against countries and their possibility in the future.

Access of all states to ICT-related products, services, equipment, networks, science and technologies should be unrestricted and facilitated. Illegal access to products through implanting backdoors must be avoided.

The OEWG should focus on the components of the global architecture for capacity building, including cyber security training and education, under the auspices of the UN. This should guarantee a balanced, non-discriminatory and demand-driven global cooperative arrangement for ICTs-related capacity building ensuring security, safety, and integrity of ICT supply chains as well.

At the regional level, despite a range of schemes with specific components and scopes, there are still countries and sub-regions that are not part of those mechanisms. The OEWG should facilitate and encourage sub-regional and regional schemes with the widest participation of demanding states. 

The Islamic Republic of Iran has the capacity to engage in programs at regional, sub-regional and bilateral levels, including through contribution into programs for disadvantaged countries and regions.

Any capacity-building program relevant to cyberspace should be designed and implemented under the national policies and needs of States with their economic, social and cultural system. These programs should not become an instrument to intervene in their internal affairs. 

On international cooperation and capacity-building, we think that the OEWG should promote effective measures in this regard. The principle of common but differentiated responsibilities should be applied to the ICT environment, so developed countries and international entities should provide cooperation and assistance to developing countries upon their request without any condition or discrimination while taking into account the specific needs and particularities of each recipient State. 

Some specific and concrete proposals and measures that the OEWG can take to advance capacity-building in the realm of cyber security are as follows:

1 -  Transfer of technology, technical assistance and financial support;

2- Establishment of a specific funds to support projects to promote security in the ICT environment in developing countries;

3- A dedicated fellowship program;

4- Establishment of a data bank for best available technics in the sphere of cyber security. 

I thank you! Mr. Chair.