Statement by Ambassador Mr. Toshiro OZAWA at the 38th Session of the Preparatory Commission for the CTBTO
2012/6/14
Thank you Mr. Chairman,
As this is my first opportunity to speak at the Preparatory Commission, I wish to say to you, Mr. Chairman, that my delegation has confidence in your wisdom and assures you of our full cooperation. I also thank the Executive Secretary, Ambassador Tibor Tóth, for his informative Opening Remarks.
[Promotion of the CTBT]
Mr. Chairman,
We are happy to note that Guatemala’s ratification in January and Indonesia’s ratification in February this year has brought the total number of ratifications to 157. The total number of the remaining Annex II States has now gone down to 8. Japan, together with other countries, will strengthen our efforts to promote the ratification by these 8 remaining Annex II States (i.e. China, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, Pakistan and the United States). I welcome the encouraging statement made earlier this morning by the representative of the U.S. on this matter. U.S. was the first country to sign the CTBT.
Japan, together with the other CTBT Friends Countries (i.e. Australia, Canada, Finland, and the Netherlands) and the Co-Chairs of the Article XIV Conference (i.e. Mexico and Sweden) together will convene the CTBT Friends Ministerial Meeting in September in New York at the time of the UNGA. We call upon all states to support us in this endeavour. I thank the EU for their encouraging remarks made earlier this morning regarding this event.
[Strengthening CTBT verification regime]
Mr. Chairman,
We are happy to note that 85% of the IMS facilities have been installed and that 80% have been certified. We commend the PTS for their efforts to steadily build up the verification regime. We understand that a number of noble gas facilities still need to be constructed and that the remaining IMS stations are located in geographically remote areas or areas experiencing political difficulties. Nonetheless, we expect the PTS to continue its work on installation and certification, while ensuring effective budget implementation.
We believe that it is also necessary to continue to build up the verification measures of the On-site Inspections (OSI). The coming Integrated Field Exercise (IFE14) will be very important in this respect, and I have the pleasure to announce that Japan will make a contribution-in-kind (CiK) for the IFE14 by lending out necessary equipment for the implementation of the IFE14. The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has been recommended as the host country for the IFE14 at the 38th session of WGB, and Japan supports the decision to officially approve Jordan as the host country during the current session of the Preparatory Commission.
[Programme and budget 2013]
Mr. Chairman,
We note that the proposed draft budget exceeds Zero Real Growth (ZRG) by 1.7 %. Japan understands that one of the major factors behind the increase is the need to strengthen the Storage Area Network in order to ensure a smooth processing of huge amounts of data, and thus, to provide information to the States Signatories in a timely manner. We also understand that the Post Certification Activity (PCA) costs do increase owing to the increasing number of IMS facilities. At the same time, however, we are happy to acknowledge the PTS’s efforts to cut the budget in other areas. Needless to say, many States Signatories are facing difficult budgetary constraints. Therefore, Japan calls upon the PTS to continue its efforts to develop and maintain the verification system with its increasing costs, but at the same time, to strive for efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Mr. Chairman,
The experience of the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11 last year and the subsequent nuclear accident at TEPCO’s Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station has shown that the CTBT verification regime has the capability not only to detect nuclear explosions, but also to be useful in responding to natural disasters. The IMS monitored the vast number of seismic aftershocks and the dispersion of radionuclides in a timely manner, and the ATM provided effective and objective projections of the future dispersion of radioactive materials. Through this experience, Japan renewed its recognition of the important role of the Atmospheric Transport Modelling (ATM), and consequently made a voluntary contribution of US$ 736,000 in February this year for the enhancement of the ATM. We expect that this contribution will improve the calculation capabilities of the system, the accuracy of future forecasts of dispersion of radioactive materials and, thus, lead to a better detection capability of nuclear tests.
[Capacity Development]
Mr. Chairman,
We believe that the capacity building of IMS station operators and analysts at the National Data Centers (NDCs) is essential for promoting the implementation of national obligations as stipulated in the CTBT, especially for developing countries. With this view, Japan, in cooperation with the PTS, will convene 3 workshops this year: the East Asia Regional National Data Center (NDC) Workshop, the International Noble Gas Experiment Workshop, and the International Hydroacoustics Workshop. The East Asia Regional National Data Center (NDC) Workshop will be dedicated to developing human resources by transferring knowledge about monitoring and analyzing data and, thus, will enhance the effectiveness of the NDCs. The other two technical workshops are expected to contribute to the improvement of monitoring and analyzing techniques of noble gas and hydro acoustic measurements.
We commend the PTS for its efforts to convene the Capacity Development Initiative (CDI) courses. In this respect, we take pride in mentioning that Japan recently co-hosted the CTBTO seminar entitled “CDI seminar Engaging the Experts, Train-the-Trainers: A seminar on CTBT Education in the 21th Century”. This seminar was held earlier this week from 11 to 12 June in the conference room of the Japanese Mission.
[Procedures for Appointment of the Executive Secretary]
Mr. Chairman,
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Ambassador Dato’ Shahrul for his excellent work as facilitator for the procedures for appointment and modalities of tenure of the next Executive Secretary. His efforts during the inter-sessional period must be acknowledged and praised by us all. Japan expects that the States Signatories will reach a decision on this matter during this session of the Preparatory Commission, and hopes that the States Signatories will be able to appoint the next Executive Secretary by acclamation at the next Preparatory Commission in October.
Thank you Mr. Chairman.
As this is my first opportunity to speak at the Preparatory Commission, I wish to say to you, Mr. Chairman, that my delegation has confidence in your wisdom and assures you of our full cooperation. I also thank the Executive Secretary, Ambassador Tibor Tóth, for his informative Opening Remarks.
[Promotion of the CTBT]
Mr. Chairman,
We are happy to note that Guatemala’s ratification in January and Indonesia’s ratification in February this year has brought the total number of ratifications to 157. The total number of the remaining Annex II States has now gone down to 8. Japan, together with other countries, will strengthen our efforts to promote the ratification by these 8 remaining Annex II States (i.e. China, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, Pakistan and the United States). I welcome the encouraging statement made earlier this morning by the representative of the U.S. on this matter. U.S. was the first country to sign the CTBT.
Japan, together with the other CTBT Friends Countries (i.e. Australia, Canada, Finland, and the Netherlands) and the Co-Chairs of the Article XIV Conference (i.e. Mexico and Sweden) together will convene the CTBT Friends Ministerial Meeting in September in New York at the time of the UNGA. We call upon all states to support us in this endeavour. I thank the EU for their encouraging remarks made earlier this morning regarding this event.
[Strengthening CTBT verification regime]
Mr. Chairman,
We are happy to note that 85% of the IMS facilities have been installed and that 80% have been certified. We commend the PTS for their efforts to steadily build up the verification regime. We understand that a number of noble gas facilities still need to be constructed and that the remaining IMS stations are located in geographically remote areas or areas experiencing political difficulties. Nonetheless, we expect the PTS to continue its work on installation and certification, while ensuring effective budget implementation.
We believe that it is also necessary to continue to build up the verification measures of the On-site Inspections (OSI). The coming Integrated Field Exercise (IFE14) will be very important in this respect, and I have the pleasure to announce that Japan will make a contribution-in-kind (CiK) for the IFE14 by lending out necessary equipment for the implementation of the IFE14. The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has been recommended as the host country for the IFE14 at the 38th session of WGB, and Japan supports the decision to officially approve Jordan as the host country during the current session of the Preparatory Commission.
[Programme and budget 2013]
Mr. Chairman,
We note that the proposed draft budget exceeds Zero Real Growth (ZRG) by 1.7 %. Japan understands that one of the major factors behind the increase is the need to strengthen the Storage Area Network in order to ensure a smooth processing of huge amounts of data, and thus, to provide information to the States Signatories in a timely manner. We also understand that the Post Certification Activity (PCA) costs do increase owing to the increasing number of IMS facilities. At the same time, however, we are happy to acknowledge the PTS’s efforts to cut the budget in other areas. Needless to say, many States Signatories are facing difficult budgetary constraints. Therefore, Japan calls upon the PTS to continue its efforts to develop and maintain the verification system with its increasing costs, but at the same time, to strive for efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Mr. Chairman,
The experience of the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11 last year and the subsequent nuclear accident at TEPCO’s Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station has shown that the CTBT verification regime has the capability not only to detect nuclear explosions, but also to be useful in responding to natural disasters. The IMS monitored the vast number of seismic aftershocks and the dispersion of radionuclides in a timely manner, and the ATM provided effective and objective projections of the future dispersion of radioactive materials. Through this experience, Japan renewed its recognition of the important role of the Atmospheric Transport Modelling (ATM), and consequently made a voluntary contribution of US$ 736,000 in February this year for the enhancement of the ATM. We expect that this contribution will improve the calculation capabilities of the system, the accuracy of future forecasts of dispersion of radioactive materials and, thus, lead to a better detection capability of nuclear tests.
[Capacity Development]
Mr. Chairman,
We believe that the capacity building of IMS station operators and analysts at the National Data Centers (NDCs) is essential for promoting the implementation of national obligations as stipulated in the CTBT, especially for developing countries. With this view, Japan, in cooperation with the PTS, will convene 3 workshops this year: the East Asia Regional National Data Center (NDC) Workshop, the International Noble Gas Experiment Workshop, and the International Hydroacoustics Workshop. The East Asia Regional National Data Center (NDC) Workshop will be dedicated to developing human resources by transferring knowledge about monitoring and analyzing data and, thus, will enhance the effectiveness of the NDCs. The other two technical workshops are expected to contribute to the improvement of monitoring and analyzing techniques of noble gas and hydro acoustic measurements.
We commend the PTS for its efforts to convene the Capacity Development Initiative (CDI) courses. In this respect, we take pride in mentioning that Japan recently co-hosted the CTBTO seminar entitled “CDI seminar Engaging the Experts, Train-the-Trainers: A seminar on CTBT Education in the 21th Century”. This seminar was held earlier this week from 11 to 12 June in the conference room of the Japanese Mission.
[Procedures for Appointment of the Executive Secretary]
Mr. Chairman,
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Ambassador Dato’ Shahrul for his excellent work as facilitator for the procedures for appointment and modalities of tenure of the next Executive Secretary. His efforts during the inter-sessional period must be acknowledged and praised by us all. Japan expects that the States Signatories will reach a decision on this matter during this session of the Preparatory Commission, and hopes that the States Signatories will be able to appoint the next Executive Secretary by acclamation at the next Preparatory Commission in October.
Thank you Mr. Chairman.
The Practical Export Control Workshop was hosted by the Wassenaar Arrangement as part of its 20th Anniversary programs and held at the Permanent Mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Vienna on 27 and 28 June 2016. More than 100 government representatives from 46 countries participated in the technically focused Practical Workshop.
Workshop speakers included the 2016 WA Plenary Chair Ambassador Anu Laamanen (Finland), 2016 WA General Working Group Chair Ambassador Paul Beijer (Sweden), 2015-2016 WA Experts Group Chair Robertas Rosinas (Lithuania), 2016 WA Licensing and Enforcement Officers Meeting Chair Jon Erik Strömö (Norway), as well as the Head of the WA Secretariat, Ambassador Philip Griffiths. The WA control lists as well as export licensing and enforcement topics were covered during the two days.
The following link from WA’s webpage contains more details:
http://www.wassenaar.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/June-2016-Workshop-media-release.pdf
Workshop speakers included the 2016 WA Plenary Chair Ambassador Anu Laamanen (Finland), 2016 WA General Working Group Chair Ambassador Paul Beijer (Sweden), 2015-2016 WA Experts Group Chair Robertas Rosinas (Lithuania), 2016 WA Licensing and Enforcement Officers Meeting Chair Jon Erik Strömö (Norway), as well as the Head of the WA Secretariat, Ambassador Philip Griffiths. The WA control lists as well as export licensing and enforcement topics were covered during the two days.
The following link from WA’s webpage contains more details:
http://www.wassenaar.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/June-2016-Workshop-media-release.pdf