Statement by Counsellor Mr. Masaki ISHIKAWA at the 39th Session of Working Group B of the Preparatory Commission for the CTBTO
2012/8/13
Thank you, Mr. Chairman,
First of all, please allow me to express on behalf of the Government and the people of Japan, our deepest condolences to the victims and their families as a result of the earthquake in Iran last weekend.
On behalf of the government of Japan, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Executive Secretary for his opening statement. Let me also thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your efforts to coordinate this Working Group B meeting, and all the Task Leaders, who continue to guide us through the Working Group.
[Promotion of the CTBT’s Entry into Force]
Mr. Chairman,
Japan welcomes the recent progress towards universalization of the CTBT, such as the ratification of Guatemala and Indonesia early this year, which brings the total number of ratification to 157 and the total number of remaining Annex II States to 8. Japan, in cooperation with other countries, intends to make efforts to promote the ratification by the outstanding Annex II States.
The CTBT Friends Countries, Australia, Canada, Finland, Japan and the Netherlands, and the Co-Chairs of the Article XIV Conference, Mexico and Sweden, are now in the process of preparing for the CTBT Friends Ministerial Meeting to be held on 27 September in New York. In the middle of July, we sent the invitation letters to the Foreign Ministers of all States Signatories. We will also circulate the draft programme and the draft Joint Statement accordingly. In order to enhance the momentum towards the early entry into force of the CTBT, we call upon all states to support us in this endeavour.
[Enhancing IMS and IDC capability]
Mr. Chairman,
Japan is pleased to note that approximately 85% of the IMS facilities have been constructed and 80 % have been certified. Japan commends the PTS for its consistent effort to build up the verification regime for the future entry into force of the treaty. Particular attention must continue to be paid to the remaining certifications, construction of the Noble Gas facilities and construction of the IMS stations in geographically remote areas or areas experiencing political difficulty while ensuring efficient budget implementation. With regard to the issue of the reallocation of some IMS stations, it is important to focus on the technical aspects when discussing this matter in order to achieve a high detection capability of the IMS network.
It is necessary to strengthen the Storage Area Network (SAN) for processing the huge amounts of data, which are dealt with the Atmospheric Transport Modelling (ATM), and for providing information to the States Signatories in a timely manner. We look forward to receiving a confirmation of the technical usefulness of the strengthened SAN during this session. Japan calls upon the PTS to launch the project for the enhancement of the ATM without delay.
Japan expects that software development, such as the installation of the Regional Seismic Travel Time (RSTT) model, will lead to improvement of the IDC products.
It is important to cooperate with scientific and technical experts to develop the CTBT verification technologies. In this regard, Japan is looking forward to the upcoming Science and Technology Conference to be held next year.
[Development on the OSI]
Mr. Chairman,
We welcome the efforts to promote OSI readiness, such as the prioritized allocation of programme budget to the OSI division and the increasing number of sessions dedicated to OSI issues during the WGB. Regarding the host country for the IFE14, Japan takes note with satisfaction that the States Signatories decided to approve the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan as the host country for the IFE14 at the 38th session of the Preparatory Commission.
We expect that the IFE14 will be conducted successfully in order to enable the States Signatories to measure and confirm the progress of the OSI verification system. We believe that Build-up Exercise II/IV from 8 to 14 September and Build-up Exercise III next year will contribute to the success of the IFE14.
Japan expects that progress will be made regarding the development of the equipment for the IFE14. Japan offered a Contribution-in-Kind of OSI related equipment for the IFE14 to reduce the IFE14 budget and ensure its efficient implementation.
We welcome that the draft OSI Operational Manual has been updated based on previous discussions and outcomes. One of the key objectives of the coming IFE14 should be to demonstrate the effectiveness and consistency of the draft OSI Operational Manual. We hope that substantial progress will be made on the draft model text of the OSI Operational Manual during this session of Working Group B for the full-fledged and efficient implementation of On-site Inspections.
[Capacity Development]
Mr. Chairman,
We reaffirm our strong belief that capacity building of IMS station operators and analysts at the National Data Centers (NDCs), especially in developing countries, is essential for the smooth implementation of national obligations as stipulated in the CTBT and for the sustainable operation and maintenance of the IMS stations. Japan appreciates the PTS’s efforts to convene trainings and workshops to that effect.
Japan contributes to capacity building for instance by conducting the JICA Global Seismological Training Course every year. This year Japan, in cooperation with the PTS, will also convene the East Asia Regional National Data Centre (NDC) Workshop, the International Noble Gas Experiment Workshop, and the Hydro Acoustic Workshop.
In closing, I would like to assure you, Mr. Chairman, that our delegation will continue to actively engage in the discussions at this WGB session in order to make tangible progress on the issues at hand.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
First of all, please allow me to express on behalf of the Government and the people of Japan, our deepest condolences to the victims and their families as a result of the earthquake in Iran last weekend.
On behalf of the government of Japan, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Executive Secretary for his opening statement. Let me also thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your efforts to coordinate this Working Group B meeting, and all the Task Leaders, who continue to guide us through the Working Group.
[Promotion of the CTBT’s Entry into Force]
Mr. Chairman,
Japan welcomes the recent progress towards universalization of the CTBT, such as the ratification of Guatemala and Indonesia early this year, which brings the total number of ratification to 157 and the total number of remaining Annex II States to 8. Japan, in cooperation with other countries, intends to make efforts to promote the ratification by the outstanding Annex II States.
The CTBT Friends Countries, Australia, Canada, Finland, Japan and the Netherlands, and the Co-Chairs of the Article XIV Conference, Mexico and Sweden, are now in the process of preparing for the CTBT Friends Ministerial Meeting to be held on 27 September in New York. In the middle of July, we sent the invitation letters to the Foreign Ministers of all States Signatories. We will also circulate the draft programme and the draft Joint Statement accordingly. In order to enhance the momentum towards the early entry into force of the CTBT, we call upon all states to support us in this endeavour.
[Enhancing IMS and IDC capability]
Mr. Chairman,
Japan is pleased to note that approximately 85% of the IMS facilities have been constructed and 80 % have been certified. Japan commends the PTS for its consistent effort to build up the verification regime for the future entry into force of the treaty. Particular attention must continue to be paid to the remaining certifications, construction of the Noble Gas facilities and construction of the IMS stations in geographically remote areas or areas experiencing political difficulty while ensuring efficient budget implementation. With regard to the issue of the reallocation of some IMS stations, it is important to focus on the technical aspects when discussing this matter in order to achieve a high detection capability of the IMS network.
It is necessary to strengthen the Storage Area Network (SAN) for processing the huge amounts of data, which are dealt with the Atmospheric Transport Modelling (ATM), and for providing information to the States Signatories in a timely manner. We look forward to receiving a confirmation of the technical usefulness of the strengthened SAN during this session. Japan calls upon the PTS to launch the project for the enhancement of the ATM without delay.
Japan expects that software development, such as the installation of the Regional Seismic Travel Time (RSTT) model, will lead to improvement of the IDC products.
It is important to cooperate with scientific and technical experts to develop the CTBT verification technologies. In this regard, Japan is looking forward to the upcoming Science and Technology Conference to be held next year.
[Development on the OSI]
Mr. Chairman,
We welcome the efforts to promote OSI readiness, such as the prioritized allocation of programme budget to the OSI division and the increasing number of sessions dedicated to OSI issues during the WGB. Regarding the host country for the IFE14, Japan takes note with satisfaction that the States Signatories decided to approve the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan as the host country for the IFE14 at the 38th session of the Preparatory Commission.
We expect that the IFE14 will be conducted successfully in order to enable the States Signatories to measure and confirm the progress of the OSI verification system. We believe that Build-up Exercise II/IV from 8 to 14 September and Build-up Exercise III next year will contribute to the success of the IFE14.
Japan expects that progress will be made regarding the development of the equipment for the IFE14. Japan offered a Contribution-in-Kind of OSI related equipment for the IFE14 to reduce the IFE14 budget and ensure its efficient implementation.
We welcome that the draft OSI Operational Manual has been updated based on previous discussions and outcomes. One of the key objectives of the coming IFE14 should be to demonstrate the effectiveness and consistency of the draft OSI Operational Manual. We hope that substantial progress will be made on the draft model text of the OSI Operational Manual during this session of Working Group B for the full-fledged and efficient implementation of On-site Inspections.
[Capacity Development]
Mr. Chairman,
We reaffirm our strong belief that capacity building of IMS station operators and analysts at the National Data Centers (NDCs), especially in developing countries, is essential for the smooth implementation of national obligations as stipulated in the CTBT and for the sustainable operation and maintenance of the IMS stations. Japan appreciates the PTS’s efforts to convene trainings and workshops to that effect.
Japan contributes to capacity building for instance by conducting the JICA Global Seismological Training Course every year. This year Japan, in cooperation with the PTS, will also convene the East Asia Regional National Data Centre (NDC) Workshop, the International Noble Gas Experiment Workshop, and the Hydro Acoustic Workshop.
In closing, I would like to assure you, Mr. Chairman, that our delegation will continue to actively engage in the discussions at this WGB session in order to make tangible progress on the issues at hand.
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