Statement by H.E. Mr. Mitsuru Kitano, Permanent Representative, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan at the Fifty-Fourth Session of Working Group A of the Preparatory Commission for the CTBTO

2018/10/17
Thank you, Mr. Chairperson.

At the outset, I would like to welcome you, H.E. Ambassador Lotofi Bouchaara of Morocco, in your function as the Chairperson of Working Group A. Let me assure you of the full cooperation and support of my delegation to you. I also wish to thank the Executive Secretary, Dr. Lassina Zerbo, for his comprehensive opening remarks and for his two recent visits to Japan.

Mr. Chairperson,

We welcome the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) by Thailand and the signature of the Treaty by Tuvalu on 25 September, which brings the total number of signatories to 184 and ratifications to 167. These rising figures demonstrate the advancement of the CTBT and continuing support of the vast majority of the international community for the Treaty.

While extending a warm welcome to these two countries, 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 for further advancement of the CTBT.

Mr. Chairperson,

We appreciate the PTS for issuing the revised 2019 budget update proposals and providing further explanations on price adjustments made to the 2019 budget.

Japan attaches critical importance to fulfilling the CTBTO’s mandate, and is convinced that adequate resources are needed for the functioning of the verification system to effectively detect nuclear tests.

On the other hand, Japan's basic stance on the budget of the international organizations across the board is well known and remains unchanged. Given the austerity measures taken under severe budgetary circumstances, we welcome the PTS’s continued efforts to implement cost-saving and efficiency measures, and request the PTS to continue such endeavors.

Mr. Chairperson,

The verification regime of the CTBTO relies on the timely payment of assessed contributions to carry out its work in an effective manner. Japan has been calling upon those States Signatories that have not yet done so to fulfill their financial obligations to the Organization, which were last outlined at Working Group B in August. We take note that payment has been made by some States Signatories since then. We urge other States who have not yet done so to do the same without further delay.

Mr. Chairperson,

We welcome the favorable decision made by the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF) Board on transitioning from the Provident Fund to the UNJSPF scheme. We thank the continuous efforts made by the PTS and urge it to take all possible measures that would enable a smooth transition to the UNJSPF.

Mr. Chairperson,

Japan reaffirms our strong commitment to the goal of achieving complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement (CVID) of all of North Korea’s nuclear weapons, existing nuclear programs, and related facilities as well as ballistic missiles of all ranges in accordance with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. Mindful of the recent developments, including the U.S-North Korea summit in Singapore in June, as well as the three Inter-Korean Summits, Japan calls on North Korea to take concrete steps toward denuclearization. We also call on all Member States to fully implement the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.

As a part of efforts to achieve CVID, we urge North Korea to sign and ratify the CTBT.

Mr. Chairperson,

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all State Signatories and the PTS who lent their support and cooperation during the Ninth Ministerial Meeting of the Friends of the CTBT, convened by Australia, Canada, Finland, Germany, Japan and the Netherlands, on the 27th of September and for the Joint Ministerial Statement adopted at the meeting. We believe that the Ministerial Meeting and the Joint Statement have contributed to building up and enhancing a political momentum towards early entry into force of the CTBT and its universalization.

The Joint Ministerial Statement adopted at the meeting will be registered as a United Nations document. We invite all State Signatories that have not yet done so to associate themselves with the Joint Ministerial Statement.

Mr. Chairperson,

In closing, Japan would like to reassure you, and the PTS, of its full support and cooperation in the deliberations of all important matters in front of us.

Thank you, Mr. Chairperson.