Statement by Counsellor Mr. Masaki ISHIKAWA at the 43rd Session of Working Group A of the Preparatory Commission for the CTBTO
2013/5/27
Thank you Mr. Chairman,
On behalf of the Japanese Government, I would like to thank Ambassador Enkhsaikhan for chairing the Forty-Third Session of Working Group A. We assure you of our full and continued cooperation. We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to the Executive Secretary, Ambassador Tibor Tóth, for his opening remarks and the Chair of the Advisory Group, Sir Michael Weston, for his leadership during the Fortieth Session of the Advisory Group.
Let me also thank Ambassador Tibor Tóth for his work as the Executive Secretary of the CTBTO and express our respect for his achievements. We would like to confirm Japan`s intention to further strengthen the relationship with the PTS under the leadership of the incoming Executive Secretary, Dr. Lassina Zerbo.
[Nuclear test announced by North Korea]
Chairman,
At the outset, I would like to touch upon North Korea`s announcement of its third nuclear test on 12 February this year. Despite the repeated calls by the international community as a whole to comply fully with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and to cease any further provocations including nuclear tests, North Korea has conducted a further nuclear test. This is totally unacceptable, as it represents a grave challenge to the international non-proliferation regime centred on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and seriously undermines the peace and security in North East Asia as well as the international community.
We note that the International Monitoring System (IMS) of the CTBTO was able to detect unusual seismic waveforms which indicated characteristics of an explosion immediately after the nuclear test and that the International Data Center (IDC) released the IDC products promptly. We welcome that it was demonstrated once again that the CTBT verification regime is functioning successfully. We commend the PTS for its prompt response, such as convening a technical briefing just 6 hours after the event occurred.
In addition, radioactive noble gases that could be attributed to the nuclear test announced by North Korea in February were detected at Takasaki Station (JPX38) early last month. We thank the PTS for the detailed and informative technical briefing on this issue. We value the analysis by the PTS and deem it very useful. We appreciate that the PTS sustained the verification regime`s readiness even after the three weeks period of the high alert monitoring status following the nuclear test by North Korea on 12 February 2013. We also highly appreciate the PTS`s efforts to maintain the effectiveness of JPX38 as a monitoring facility. I would like to point out that as a result of careful examination and analysis, Japan is of view that the detected Xenon was not released from any nuclear related facility or other sources within Japan.
[Promoting CTBT entry into force]
Chairman,
The nuclear test by North Korea once again confirmed the importance of consistent efforts to build-up and maintain the verification regime and the role of On-Site Inspection (OSI) in order to distinguish whether a nuclear test has been conducted or not. To this end, the early entry into force of the CTBT is indispensable. In this regard, we welcome the recent progress towards universalization of the Treaty, such as the ratifications of Brunei on 10 January 2013 and Chad on 8 February 2013 which brings the total number of ratifications to 159.
We expect that the upcoming Eighth CTBT Article XIV Conference will be convened successfully. I recall that the CTBT Friends Ministerial Meeting last year was attended by more than 80 countries including 21 Foreign Ministers and that 101 countries eventually associated themselves with the Joint Ministerial Statement. Japan will cooperate fully with the Article XIV Conference coordinators and all States Signatories to further gain momentum towards the early entry into force of the CTBT through the upcoming Article XIV Conference.
[Advisory Group (AG) report and recommendations]
Chairman,
We would like to thank the Chair of the Advisory Group, Sir Michael Weston, for his dedicated work. Japan supports the AG recommendations of the Fortieth Session of the Advisory Group as a whole.
[2014 Draft Programme and Budget (P&B)]
Chairman,
Regarding the preparation of the initial draft 2014 Programme and Budget proposals, we would like to express our respect to Dr. Zerbo for his leadership as well as to the PTS for its efforts in this regard. Japan commends the PTS for providing an initial draft based on clear prioritizations. We take note that the budget slightly exceeds Zero Real Growth.
The number of IMS facilities has increased approximately four times during the last decade, while basically adhering to Zero Real Growth (ZRG) budget. Japan commends the PTS for having certified more than 80% of the IMS facilities to date under such limiting conditions. We understand that the fixed costs have increased due to the increase of Post-Certification Activity (PCA) related costs. We commend the PTS for its efforts to save and reduce the total amount of the budget through reduction of various expenses such as staff travel costs and conference costs. On the other hand, it is also a matter of fact that many countries are facing severe fiscal constraints. We expect that the PTS makes further efforts to maintain and to build up the verification regime while saving and reducing expenses within limited budget through measures aiming at further efficiency. Japan is of the view that this initial draft 2014 Programme and Budget is a good basis for deciding on the 2014 budget and will continue to engage constructively in the dialogue on this agenda item.
[Installing the IPSAS-compliant Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System]
Chairman,
With regard to the implementation of the IPSAS-compliant ERP system, Japan welcomes that the project team of the PTS has made progress on the installation of the system. Regarding maintenance and operation costs after the installation, we expect that the PTS provides more details on the estimated costs of the different options, such as installing the IPSAS-compliant ERP system as planned and continuing with the current system, in order to facilitate a smooth decision-making process on this matter.
[Closing]
In closing, we expect that constructive discussions will take place during this WGA to produce significant outcomes.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
On behalf of the Japanese Government, I would like to thank Ambassador Enkhsaikhan for chairing the Forty-Third Session of Working Group A. We assure you of our full and continued cooperation. We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to the Executive Secretary, Ambassador Tibor Tóth, for his opening remarks and the Chair of the Advisory Group, Sir Michael Weston, for his leadership during the Fortieth Session of the Advisory Group.
Let me also thank Ambassador Tibor Tóth for his work as the Executive Secretary of the CTBTO and express our respect for his achievements. We would like to confirm Japan`s intention to further strengthen the relationship with the PTS under the leadership of the incoming Executive Secretary, Dr. Lassina Zerbo.
[Nuclear test announced by North Korea]
Chairman,
At the outset, I would like to touch upon North Korea`s announcement of its third nuclear test on 12 February this year. Despite the repeated calls by the international community as a whole to comply fully with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and to cease any further provocations including nuclear tests, North Korea has conducted a further nuclear test. This is totally unacceptable, as it represents a grave challenge to the international non-proliferation regime centred on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and seriously undermines the peace and security in North East Asia as well as the international community.
We note that the International Monitoring System (IMS) of the CTBTO was able to detect unusual seismic waveforms which indicated characteristics of an explosion immediately after the nuclear test and that the International Data Center (IDC) released the IDC products promptly. We welcome that it was demonstrated once again that the CTBT verification regime is functioning successfully. We commend the PTS for its prompt response, such as convening a technical briefing just 6 hours after the event occurred.
In addition, radioactive noble gases that could be attributed to the nuclear test announced by North Korea in February were detected at Takasaki Station (JPX38) early last month. We thank the PTS for the detailed and informative technical briefing on this issue. We value the analysis by the PTS and deem it very useful. We appreciate that the PTS sustained the verification regime`s readiness even after the three weeks period of the high alert monitoring status following the nuclear test by North Korea on 12 February 2013. We also highly appreciate the PTS`s efforts to maintain the effectiveness of JPX38 as a monitoring facility. I would like to point out that as a result of careful examination and analysis, Japan is of view that the detected Xenon was not released from any nuclear related facility or other sources within Japan.
[Promoting CTBT entry into force]
Chairman,
The nuclear test by North Korea once again confirmed the importance of consistent efforts to build-up and maintain the verification regime and the role of On-Site Inspection (OSI) in order to distinguish whether a nuclear test has been conducted or not. To this end, the early entry into force of the CTBT is indispensable. In this regard, we welcome the recent progress towards universalization of the Treaty, such as the ratifications of Brunei on 10 January 2013 and Chad on 8 February 2013 which brings the total number of ratifications to 159.
We expect that the upcoming Eighth CTBT Article XIV Conference will be convened successfully. I recall that the CTBT Friends Ministerial Meeting last year was attended by more than 80 countries including 21 Foreign Ministers and that 101 countries eventually associated themselves with the Joint Ministerial Statement. Japan will cooperate fully with the Article XIV Conference coordinators and all States Signatories to further gain momentum towards the early entry into force of the CTBT through the upcoming Article XIV Conference.
[Advisory Group (AG) report and recommendations]
Chairman,
We would like to thank the Chair of the Advisory Group, Sir Michael Weston, for his dedicated work. Japan supports the AG recommendations of the Fortieth Session of the Advisory Group as a whole.
[2014 Draft Programme and Budget (P&B)]
Chairman,
Regarding the preparation of the initial draft 2014 Programme and Budget proposals, we would like to express our respect to Dr. Zerbo for his leadership as well as to the PTS for its efforts in this regard. Japan commends the PTS for providing an initial draft based on clear prioritizations. We take note that the budget slightly exceeds Zero Real Growth.
The number of IMS facilities has increased approximately four times during the last decade, while basically adhering to Zero Real Growth (ZRG) budget. Japan commends the PTS for having certified more than 80% of the IMS facilities to date under such limiting conditions. We understand that the fixed costs have increased due to the increase of Post-Certification Activity (PCA) related costs. We commend the PTS for its efforts to save and reduce the total amount of the budget through reduction of various expenses such as staff travel costs and conference costs. On the other hand, it is also a matter of fact that many countries are facing severe fiscal constraints. We expect that the PTS makes further efforts to maintain and to build up the verification regime while saving and reducing expenses within limited budget through measures aiming at further efficiency. Japan is of the view that this initial draft 2014 Programme and Budget is a good basis for deciding on the 2014 budget and will continue to engage constructively in the dialogue on this agenda item.
[Installing the IPSAS-compliant Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System]
Chairman,
With regard to the implementation of the IPSAS-compliant ERP system, Japan welcomes that the project team of the PTS has made progress on the installation of the system. Regarding maintenance and operation costs after the installation, we expect that the PTS provides more details on the estimated costs of the different options, such as installing the IPSAS-compliant ERP system as planned and continuing with the current system, in order to facilitate a smooth decision-making process on this matter.
[Closing]
In closing, we expect that constructive discussions will take place during this WGA to produce significant outcomes.
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