Statement by HE Mr. Mitsuru Kitano, Permanent Representative, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the International Organizations in Vienna at the Forty-Fifth Session of the Preparatory Commission for the CTBTO
2015/11/16
Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman,
Before commenting the specific subjects of the Preparatory Commission, I would like to touch upon the recent terrorist attacks in Russia, Turkey, Lebanon and France about which we are in great shock and express our great indignation. I express my sincere condolences to all the victims and extend my heartfelt sympathies to the injured as well as to the families. Japan stands together with the people of these countries at this difficult time and expresses our sincere solidarity with them.
Mr. Chairman,
At the outset, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Ambassador Ayoko of Nigeria for your dedicated and able chairmanship of the Preparatory Commission for the CTBTO. I would also like to thank the Executive Secretary, Dr. Lassina Zerbo, for his opening remarks and the report. We appreciate the Executive Secretary’s continuous efforts to enhance the verification regime and to promote entry into force of the Treaty, for instance through holding the successful Science and Technology Conference 2015 and raising awareness on the Treaty in many countries.
[Budget Issues]
Mr. Chairman,
With regard to the final draft of the 2016-2017 Programme and Budget proposal, we believe that the first biennial budget proposal incorporating the multi-year funding modality is one of the manifestations of the maturity of this organization. We support and welcome the establishment of these mechanisms.
We welcome that consensus among States Signatories has been reached on the final draft of the 2016-2017 Programme and Budget proposal under the leadership of the Chairman of Working Group A, Ambassador Azeez of Sri Lanka. We appreciate the Executive Secretary’s leadership in substantial budget saving measures and prioritization of programmes. After careful examination, I am delighted to state that Japan is ready to join the consensus on the budget proposal.
[Human Resources]
Mr. Chairman,
Let me now touch upon the issue of Human Resources. We appreciate the Provisional Technical Secretariat’s (PTS) continuous efforts to improve the system of recruitment. At the same time, we are concerned about the fact that there is still the issue of vacancies. It is essential to fill the vacancies as early as possible to provide a sound basis for a sustainable working environment for the organization to fulfil its mandate. We hope that the PTS will take appropriate measures to improve the situation taking into account suggestions made by the Advisory Group and the Internal Audit’s report, which will be issued by 1 December 2015.
[Procedures for the appointment of Chairpersons and Vice-Chairpersons of Working Groups A and B]
Mr. Chairman,
On the procedures for the appointments of chairs and vice-chairs of the Working Groups, we appreciate the tireless efforts of the Chairperson of the Commission, Ambassador Ayoko to reach consensus on the procedures. We believe that we are indeed close to the goal and strongly appeal to States Signatories to show extra flexibility to allow a consensus to be reached.
[Draft Memorandum of Understanding between the Preparatory Commission and the African Union Commission]
Mr. Chairman
With regard to the Memorandum of Understanding between the Preparatory Commission and the AU, we believe that it will contribute to the promotion of the entry into force and universalization of the Treaty, as well as to the build-up and full utilization of the verification regime in Africa. We hope for an eventual conclusion of the MoU after the consultations amongst relevant parties.
[Promotion of the entry into force of the Treaty]
Mr. Chairman,
Japan, as Co-Chair together with Kazakhstan, welcomes the successful conduct of the Article XIV conference on 29 September in New York and appreciates the cooperation of States Signatories and the PTS.
We believe that the Conference was a success by creating a strong political momentum towards the entry into force of the Treaty.
In this respect, we would like to bring to your attention a joint statement that Japan’s Prime Minister HE Mr. Shinzo ABE and the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, HE Mr. Nursultan NAZARBAYEV, signed last month (27 October 2015) to renew their commitment to the promotion of the entry into force of the CTBT.
Based on the spirit of this joint statement and the Final Declaration adopted at the Conference, Japan and Kazakhstan will actively promote the entry into force and universalization of the Treaty as co-coordinators throughout the next 2 years. In this regard, Japan and Kazakhstan are preparing the Action Plan for promoting early entry into force of the CTBT in 2015-2017 and will convene a briefing session on this issue on 25 November.
[Twentieth anniversary of the Treaty and the Commission]
Mr. Chairman,
Next year will be the twentieth anniversary of the Treaty and the Commission. It will be a very important opportunity to enhance momentum towards the entry into force of the Treaty. We welcome the work of the open-ended working group under the leadership of Ambassador Istrate of Romania. We support and take an active role in these consultations. We hope that the good ideas already raised in the previous working group will take shape on this occasion.
I thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Before commenting the specific subjects of the Preparatory Commission, I would like to touch upon the recent terrorist attacks in Russia, Turkey, Lebanon and France about which we are in great shock and express our great indignation. I express my sincere condolences to all the victims and extend my heartfelt sympathies to the injured as well as to the families. Japan stands together with the people of these countries at this difficult time and expresses our sincere solidarity with them.
Mr. Chairman,
At the outset, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Ambassador Ayoko of Nigeria for your dedicated and able chairmanship of the Preparatory Commission for the CTBTO. I would also like to thank the Executive Secretary, Dr. Lassina Zerbo, for his opening remarks and the report. We appreciate the Executive Secretary’s continuous efforts to enhance the verification regime and to promote entry into force of the Treaty, for instance through holding the successful Science and Technology Conference 2015 and raising awareness on the Treaty in many countries.
[Budget Issues]
Mr. Chairman,
With regard to the final draft of the 2016-2017 Programme and Budget proposal, we believe that the first biennial budget proposal incorporating the multi-year funding modality is one of the manifestations of the maturity of this organization. We support and welcome the establishment of these mechanisms.
We welcome that consensus among States Signatories has been reached on the final draft of the 2016-2017 Programme and Budget proposal under the leadership of the Chairman of Working Group A, Ambassador Azeez of Sri Lanka. We appreciate the Executive Secretary’s leadership in substantial budget saving measures and prioritization of programmes. After careful examination, I am delighted to state that Japan is ready to join the consensus on the budget proposal.
[Human Resources]
Mr. Chairman,
Let me now touch upon the issue of Human Resources. We appreciate the Provisional Technical Secretariat’s (PTS) continuous efforts to improve the system of recruitment. At the same time, we are concerned about the fact that there is still the issue of vacancies. It is essential to fill the vacancies as early as possible to provide a sound basis for a sustainable working environment for the organization to fulfil its mandate. We hope that the PTS will take appropriate measures to improve the situation taking into account suggestions made by the Advisory Group and the Internal Audit’s report, which will be issued by 1 December 2015.
[Procedures for the appointment of Chairpersons and Vice-Chairpersons of Working Groups A and B]
Mr. Chairman,
On the procedures for the appointments of chairs and vice-chairs of the Working Groups, we appreciate the tireless efforts of the Chairperson of the Commission, Ambassador Ayoko to reach consensus on the procedures. We believe that we are indeed close to the goal and strongly appeal to States Signatories to show extra flexibility to allow a consensus to be reached.
[Draft Memorandum of Understanding between the Preparatory Commission and the African Union Commission]
Mr. Chairman
With regard to the Memorandum of Understanding between the Preparatory Commission and the AU, we believe that it will contribute to the promotion of the entry into force and universalization of the Treaty, as well as to the build-up and full utilization of the verification regime in Africa. We hope for an eventual conclusion of the MoU after the consultations amongst relevant parties.
[Promotion of the entry into force of the Treaty]
Mr. Chairman,
Japan, as Co-Chair together with Kazakhstan, welcomes the successful conduct of the Article XIV conference on 29 September in New York and appreciates the cooperation of States Signatories and the PTS.
We believe that the Conference was a success by creating a strong political momentum towards the entry into force of the Treaty.
In this respect, we would like to bring to your attention a joint statement that Japan’s Prime Minister HE Mr. Shinzo ABE and the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, HE Mr. Nursultan NAZARBAYEV, signed last month (27 October 2015) to renew their commitment to the promotion of the entry into force of the CTBT.
Based on the spirit of this joint statement and the Final Declaration adopted at the Conference, Japan and Kazakhstan will actively promote the entry into force and universalization of the Treaty as co-coordinators throughout the next 2 years. In this regard, Japan and Kazakhstan are preparing the Action Plan for promoting early entry into force of the CTBT in 2015-2017 and will convene a briefing session on this issue on 25 November.
[Twentieth anniversary of the Treaty and the Commission]
Mr. Chairman,
Next year will be the twentieth anniversary of the Treaty and the Commission. It will be a very important opportunity to enhance momentum towards the entry into force of the Treaty. We welcome the work of the open-ended working group under the leadership of Ambassador Istrate of Romania. We support and take an active role in these consultations. We hope that the good ideas already raised in the previous working group will take shape on this occasion.
I thank you, Mr. Chairman.