Statement by First Secretary Yuko Mizuno at the Sixty-Second Session of Working Group A of the Preparatory Commission for the CTBTO
2022/10/19
Thank you, Chair.
Let me first express my gratitude to H.E. Ambassador Nguyen Trung Kien, Permanent Representative of Viet Nam, for your dedication in leading and coordinating this Session of Working Group A (WGA).
I also appreciate the Executive Secretary, Dr. Robert Floyd, for his opening remarks, which includes kind word for our Prime Minister’s initiative in the Friends of the CTBT Meeting in September.
[Entry-Into-Force and Universalization]
Mr. Chair,
We welcome Equatorial Guinea as well as Sao Tome and Principe’s ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) in September.
Japan applauds the Executive Secretary’s tireless efforts in vigorous outreach activities to promote the entry into force of the Treaty, which resulted in six newly ratified countries in the year commemorating the 25th anniversary year.
In this regard, we urge all States that have not yet done so to sign and ratify the Treaty without further delay, in particular the remaining eight States listed in Annex 2, in order to further advance the CTBT.
It has become increasingly important under the current severe security situation that the international community maintains and strengthens the NPT. Japan has made a series of efforts to this end, such as the submission of the United Nations General Assembly resolutions on the elimination of nuclear weapons. At the NPT Review Conference, Prime Minister KISHIDA proposed the “Hiroshima Action Plan” as the first step of a realistic roadmap towards a world without nuclear weapons. The entry into force of the CTBT is an important step in advancing this plan. To that end, Prime Minister Kishida co-chaired the High-level Meeting of the Friends of the CTBT, convened by Australia, Canada, Finland, Germany, Japan and the Netherlands, on 21st September in New York.
[Challenge against the Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Regime]
Mr. Chair,
Amid the crisis in Ukraine, the use of nuclear weapons by Russia is being discussed as a real possibility. The threat of nuclear weapons, let alone the use of them, should never be tolerated.
Japan condemns any act that could undermine the effectiveness of the verification system of the CTBTO, and in this context, strongly urges the Russian Federation to immediately cease all attacks, which could place the IMS facility in Ukraine at risk.
Japan also expresses serious concerns over North Korea's intensified nuclear and missile activities. North Korea’s nuclear and missile development, including the series of ballistic missile launches with the unprecedented frequency, threatens the peace and security of Japan, the region, and the international community, and is totally unacceptable.
Japan reaffirms its strong commitment to working with the international community in achieving complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of all of North Korea’s nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, ballistic missiles of all ranges as well as related programs in accordance with relevant UNSCRs.
We urge North Korea to comply with its obligations under the relevant UNSCRs and to return at an early date to full compliance with the NPT and the IAEA safeguards and to sign and ratify the CTBT. We also call on all States to fully implement the relevant UNSCRs.
[Budget]
Mr. Chair,
We appreciate the PTS for issuing the final draft of the 2023 Budget Update Proposals. Given the austerity measures taken under severe budgetary circumstances, Japan's basic stance on the budget of international organizations across the board is Zero Nominal Growth (ZNG) and it remains unchanged.
Since the issuance of the initial draft of the 2023 Budget Update Proposals, the rise of the global inflation rate and significant increase in fuel prices are posing challenges for the global economy. Japan strongly encourages efficient formulation and implementation of the budget, while appropriately reflecting the impact of these issues on the budget, and ensuring the effectiveness of the verification system.
[Human Recourses]
Mr. Chair,
Japan appreciates all efforts undertaken by the PTS to achieve gender parity. In this regard, we are pleased to see progress in the percentage of female staff in the Professional and higher category, which reached 37% as of the end of August of this year. We look forward to further improvements.
[Closing Remarks]
Mr. Chair,
Undoubtedly, we have substantive issues, including the 2023 Budget, ahead of us. Japan is ready to engage in fruitful discussions aimed towards reaching a decision at the next Preparatory Commission in November.
Thank you.
Let me first express my gratitude to H.E. Ambassador Nguyen Trung Kien, Permanent Representative of Viet Nam, for your dedication in leading and coordinating this Session of Working Group A (WGA).
I also appreciate the Executive Secretary, Dr. Robert Floyd, for his opening remarks, which includes kind word for our Prime Minister’s initiative in the Friends of the CTBT Meeting in September.
[Entry-Into-Force and Universalization]
Mr. Chair,
We welcome Equatorial Guinea as well as Sao Tome and Principe’s ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) in September.
Japan applauds the Executive Secretary’s tireless efforts in vigorous outreach activities to promote the entry into force of the Treaty, which resulted in six newly ratified countries in the year commemorating the 25th anniversary year.
In this regard, we urge all States that have not yet done so to sign and ratify the Treaty without further delay, in particular the remaining eight States listed in Annex 2, in order to further advance the CTBT.
It has become increasingly important under the current severe security situation that the international community maintains and strengthens the NPT. Japan has made a series of efforts to this end, such as the submission of the United Nations General Assembly resolutions on the elimination of nuclear weapons. At the NPT Review Conference, Prime Minister KISHIDA proposed the “Hiroshima Action Plan” as the first step of a realistic roadmap towards a world without nuclear weapons. The entry into force of the CTBT is an important step in advancing this plan. To that end, Prime Minister Kishida co-chaired the High-level Meeting of the Friends of the CTBT, convened by Australia, Canada, Finland, Germany, Japan and the Netherlands, on 21st September in New York.
[Challenge against the Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Regime]
Mr. Chair,
Amid the crisis in Ukraine, the use of nuclear weapons by Russia is being discussed as a real possibility. The threat of nuclear weapons, let alone the use of them, should never be tolerated.
Japan condemns any act that could undermine the effectiveness of the verification system of the CTBTO, and in this context, strongly urges the Russian Federation to immediately cease all attacks, which could place the IMS facility in Ukraine at risk.
Japan also expresses serious concerns over North Korea's intensified nuclear and missile activities. North Korea’s nuclear and missile development, including the series of ballistic missile launches with the unprecedented frequency, threatens the peace and security of Japan, the region, and the international community, and is totally unacceptable.
Japan reaffirms its strong commitment to working with the international community in achieving complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of all of North Korea’s nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, ballistic missiles of all ranges as well as related programs in accordance with relevant UNSCRs.
We urge North Korea to comply with its obligations under the relevant UNSCRs and to return at an early date to full compliance with the NPT and the IAEA safeguards and to sign and ratify the CTBT. We also call on all States to fully implement the relevant UNSCRs.
[Budget]
Mr. Chair,
We appreciate the PTS for issuing the final draft of the 2023 Budget Update Proposals. Given the austerity measures taken under severe budgetary circumstances, Japan's basic stance on the budget of international organizations across the board is Zero Nominal Growth (ZNG) and it remains unchanged.
Since the issuance of the initial draft of the 2023 Budget Update Proposals, the rise of the global inflation rate and significant increase in fuel prices are posing challenges for the global economy. Japan strongly encourages efficient formulation and implementation of the budget, while appropriately reflecting the impact of these issues on the budget, and ensuring the effectiveness of the verification system.
[Human Recourses]
Mr. Chair,
Japan appreciates all efforts undertaken by the PTS to achieve gender parity. In this regard, we are pleased to see progress in the percentage of female staff in the Professional and higher category, which reached 37% as of the end of August of this year. We look forward to further improvements.
[Closing Remarks]
Mr. Chair,
Undoubtedly, we have substantive issues, including the 2023 Budget, ahead of us. Japan is ready to engage in fruitful discussions aimed towards reaching a decision at the next Preparatory Commission in November.
Thank you.