Statement by H.E. Mr. Mitsuru Kitano, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan at the Twenty-Fourth Session of Joint Meeting of Working Groups A and B of the Preparatory Commission for the CTBTO
2015/3/20
Thank you, Messrs. Co-Chairs,
On the outset, I would like to extend my delegation’s sincere congratulations to Dr. Joachim Schulze for his assumption of the chairmanship of Working Group B. I assure Dr. Schulze of my delegation’s full support to your chairmanship in the present and upcoming sessions.
[Promotion of Entry Into Force of the Treaty]
Messrs. Co-Chairs,
This year marks the 70th year after the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and next year will be the 20th year since the opening for signature of the CTBT. We recognize that these two years are of great importance for the promotion of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation in general, and for the promotion of early entry into force of CTBT in particular.
During these milestone years, Japan will be, together with Kazakhstan, the Co-President of the Article XIV conference in September this year and co-coordinator for entry into force thereafter. In these positions we intend to spare no effort in promoting the early entry into force of the Treaty.
The Article XIV conference will be held at the end of September in New York. I would like to take this opportunity to ask States Signatories for cooperation in achieving a high number of ministerial-level participants in order to increase the momentum for the early entry into force of the Treaty. Japan will host a GEM (Group of Eminent Persons) meeting in Hiroshima from 24 to 25 August this year.
It is our sincere hope that those meetings and our efforts toward the early entry into force of the Treaty will make a tangible contribution to the goal of “a world free of nuclear weapons.”
[The CTBTO Budget]
Messrs. Co-Chairs,
Like many other countries, the Government of Japan is currently faced with a severe budgetary situation. We therefore appreciate the repeated efforts of the PTS to find savings and to streamline the budget, and would like to appeal to the PTS to continue such efforts. In this context, we welcome Executive Secretary Dr. Zerbo’s initiative of prioritizing projects by introducing a budgetary ceiling.
We would like to reiterate our high expectations for the informal meetings on the budget before Working Group A (WGA). We hope that States Signatories and the PTS will engage in substantial discussions at these informal meetings.
Concerning the introduction of a biennial budget mechanism, we welcome the ongoing discussions among the members of the Advisory Group on the details of the amendments to the Financial Regulations and Rules toward this goal. We hope that the discussions by States Signatories will make progress in order for the Preparatory Commission to adopt the biennial budget mechanism at its coming meeting in June.
[Equipment Storage and Maintenance Facility]
Messrs. Co-Chairs,
The issue of the Equipment Storage and Maintenance Facility (ESMF) is important as it may concern all States Signatories. In order to find the most suitable option in a timely manner, the relevant parties need to be provided with adequate information and to make efforts to resolve this issue.
[Procedures on Appointment of Chairpersons and Vice-Chairpersons of the Subsidiary Bodies of the Commission]
Messrs. Co-Chairs,
With regard to the procedures on the appointment of Chairpersons and Vice-Chairpersons of the subsidiary bodies of the Commission, we would like to express our appreciation for the efforts by the previous Chair of the Preparatory Commission, Ambassador Das of Malaysia and the current Chair, Ambassador Ayoko of Nigeria, and recognize that, in fact, we are close to reaching a consensus. We consider the basic requirement for the Chairpersons and Vice-Chairpersons to be for them to have the necessary expertise. At the same time, it is important to provide equal and universal opportunities to all countries for designating their own candidates. Therefore, with regard to regional representation, we support the wording of “due consideration shall be accorded to geographic representation.” We hope that this issue will be discussed appropriately and promptly before the next meeting of the Preparatory Commission, in June, and that we come to an agreement among States Signatories in a timely manner.
I thank you, Messrs. Co-Chairs.
On the outset, I would like to extend my delegation’s sincere congratulations to Dr. Joachim Schulze for his assumption of the chairmanship of Working Group B. I assure Dr. Schulze of my delegation’s full support to your chairmanship in the present and upcoming sessions.
[Promotion of Entry Into Force of the Treaty]
Messrs. Co-Chairs,
This year marks the 70th year after the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and next year will be the 20th year since the opening for signature of the CTBT. We recognize that these two years are of great importance for the promotion of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation in general, and for the promotion of early entry into force of CTBT in particular.
During these milestone years, Japan will be, together with Kazakhstan, the Co-President of the Article XIV conference in September this year and co-coordinator for entry into force thereafter. In these positions we intend to spare no effort in promoting the early entry into force of the Treaty.
The Article XIV conference will be held at the end of September in New York. I would like to take this opportunity to ask States Signatories for cooperation in achieving a high number of ministerial-level participants in order to increase the momentum for the early entry into force of the Treaty. Japan will host a GEM (Group of Eminent Persons) meeting in Hiroshima from 24 to 25 August this year.
It is our sincere hope that those meetings and our efforts toward the early entry into force of the Treaty will make a tangible contribution to the goal of “a world free of nuclear weapons.”
[The CTBTO Budget]
Messrs. Co-Chairs,
Like many other countries, the Government of Japan is currently faced with a severe budgetary situation. We therefore appreciate the repeated efforts of the PTS to find savings and to streamline the budget, and would like to appeal to the PTS to continue such efforts. In this context, we welcome Executive Secretary Dr. Zerbo’s initiative of prioritizing projects by introducing a budgetary ceiling.
We would like to reiterate our high expectations for the informal meetings on the budget before Working Group A (WGA). We hope that States Signatories and the PTS will engage in substantial discussions at these informal meetings.
Concerning the introduction of a biennial budget mechanism, we welcome the ongoing discussions among the members of the Advisory Group on the details of the amendments to the Financial Regulations and Rules toward this goal. We hope that the discussions by States Signatories will make progress in order for the Preparatory Commission to adopt the biennial budget mechanism at its coming meeting in June.
[Equipment Storage and Maintenance Facility]
Messrs. Co-Chairs,
The issue of the Equipment Storage and Maintenance Facility (ESMF) is important as it may concern all States Signatories. In order to find the most suitable option in a timely manner, the relevant parties need to be provided with adequate information and to make efforts to resolve this issue.
[Procedures on Appointment of Chairpersons and Vice-Chairpersons of the Subsidiary Bodies of the Commission]
Messrs. Co-Chairs,
With regard to the procedures on the appointment of Chairpersons and Vice-Chairpersons of the subsidiary bodies of the Commission, we would like to express our appreciation for the efforts by the previous Chair of the Preparatory Commission, Ambassador Das of Malaysia and the current Chair, Ambassador Ayoko of Nigeria, and recognize that, in fact, we are close to reaching a consensus. We consider the basic requirement for the Chairpersons and Vice-Chairpersons to be for them to have the necessary expertise. At the same time, it is important to provide equal and universal opportunities to all countries for designating their own candidates. Therefore, with regard to regional representation, we support the wording of “due consideration shall be accorded to geographic representation.” We hope that this issue will be discussed appropriately and promptly before the next meeting of the Preparatory Commission, in June, and that we come to an agreement among States Signatories in a timely manner.
I thank you, Messrs. Co-Chairs.
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