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

Thank you, Mr. Chairman,

Let me take this opportunity to thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your dedicated work as the Chair of Working Group A. We will provide our full support as you exercise your chairmanship. On behalf of the Government of Japan, I would also like to express our sincere appreciation to the Executive Secretary, Dr. Lassina Zerbo, for your comprehensive opening remarks. My thanks also goes to the Chair of the Advisory Group, Sir Michael Weston, and the members of the Advisory Group for their most welcome report.

Mr. Chairman,

First, I would like to touch upon the issue of the introduction of a biennial budget mechanism, a very important subject before us. I would like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation for the work of the Advisory Group in examining and proposing an updated draft amendment to the Financial Regulations and Rules to introduce this mechanism. We strongly support the introduction of this mechanism of a biennial budget with the proposed amendment in line with other Vienna-based organizations starting from the 2016 – 2017 budgetary cycle.

Next, let me also address another important issue, the issue of the introduction of the multiyear funds. We also value the work of the Advisory Group in examining the proposed draft amendment to the Financial Regulations and Rules to introduce multiyear funds. We recognize the importance of introducing these funds for long term financial stability, and steady and long term build-up of the verification capabilities. Therefore, we would like to express our support for the creation of the funds proposed by the Executive Secretary from the 2016-2017 budget cycle and call upon other States Signatories to seriously consider this important proposal.

We take note of the initial draft budget for 2016-2017 and welcome the additional saving measures of US$1.5 million in 2016. In this regard, we highly value the leadership of the Executive Secretary in introducing a ceiling to the budget and prioritizing programmes. Our national position on all international organizations remains the same, and we would therefore like to request the Provisional Technical Secretariat (PTS) to consider and explore the possibility of achieving further efficiency in the budget.

Mr. Chairman,

As for the external audit, with satisfaction we take note of the unqualified opinion accorded bythe External Auditor to the CTBTO, and the steady improvement attained in the implementation of recommendations of the internal audit.

We are, however, concerned about the slow pace of improvement of the staffing situation at the PTS and therefore urge the PTS to advance the measures identified in the human resources situation report expeditiously. We also ask the PTS to report further developments in this regard to the Advisory Group in October 2015, to allow the Group to come up with possible recommendations to improve this situation.

Mr Chairman, Let me take this opportunity to express our gratitude for the work of Ambassador Rolf Stalder, distinguished Ambassador of Switzerland, in finding solutions to the issue of the status of inspectors and surrogate inspectors. We would like to assure Ambassador Stalder of our continued support to his efforts as Coordinator.

Mr Chairman,

Let me here refer to the NPT Review Conference that was held from 27 April to 22 May in New York. I myself attended the Conference together with some of our colleagues here in this room. I was encouraged by the fact that the Chair's proposed Final Document included strong messages on CTBT issues. For instance, it “welcomes the efforts by the CTBTO Preparatory Commission toward the completion and provisional operationalization of the on-site inspection regime at the entry into force of the Treaty and encourages it to build upon achievements at the Integrated Field Exercise 2014 in Jordan.” (paragraph 147) The Document also “calls upon the eight remaining States listed in Annex 2 of the CTBT to take individual initiatives to sign and ratify that Treaty without further delay and without waiting for any other State to do so.” (paragraph 154, subparagraph 15).

It is extremely regrettable that the Conference failed to reach consensus on this Document because of the reasons unrelated to the CTBT. Yet it is worthwhile noting that these CTBT related paragraphs reflect wishes of all NPT State Parties. Japan, together with Australia, Hungary, Indonesia, Kazakhstan and Nigeria, presented the working paper last month to contribute to the Review Conference. In this context, my delegation also appreciates the Executive Secretary's general statement at the Conference as has been pointed out by distinguished Ambassador Ayoko of Nigeria.

Mr. Chairman,

70 years after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and almost 20 years after the opening for signature of the Treaty, entry into force of the CTBT is vitally important and urgent as it is one of the most important pillars of the disarmament and non-proliferation regime.

In this light, the Article XIV conference in September this year has special importance. We hope that this occasion will reinforce the political impetus towards the entry into force of the Treaty and we thus call for ministerial level participation and positive cooperation of States Signatories to make the conference a success for all of us. We are ready to do our best in collaboration with our distinguished delegates from Kazakhstan.

Mr. Chairman,

Let me end my statement by drawing your attention to the Group of Eminent Persons (GEM) meeting in Hiroshima, Japan, on 24-25 August and the high level session jointly held by GEM members and the UN Conference on Disarmament Issues on 26 August in the same city. We hope this will contribute to the policy oriented dialogue among prominent participants to advance the objective of early entry into force of the Treaty.

I thank you, Mr. Chairman.