| Statement by Ambassador Hu Xiaodi, Head of the Chinese Delegation, at the Meeting of the States Parties to the CCW (27 November 2003, Geneva) |
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| 2004/04/16 |
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Mr. Chairman,
The Chinese delegation is pleased to see you on the chair of this meeting. I am convinced that your diplomatic skills and experience will steer this meeting to positive outcome.
Mr. Chairman,
In recent years, the international security and arms control are faced with severe challenges. The international community has endeavored to maintain the multilateral arms control system and promoted the multilateral arms control and disarmament process. In this regard, all the delegations and representatives of relevant organizations presented here have made their contributions through their work here. Our work is aimed at improving the universality and effectiveness of the CCW, which is a concrete step to promote the multilateral arms control. At the same time, due to the nature of the CCW, our work is also aimed at safeguarding human security by addressing the humanitarian concerns arising from war. We are pleased that we could be proud of ourselves for the positive results we have been achieving.
Mr. Chairman,
Since the Convention entered into force, its states parties have increased from 20 at the initial stage to 92 by now, and its purposes and objectives have been universally recognized with its influence growing accordingly. This is indispensable to the joint efforts by and cooperation among all states parties. I am convinced that, with its universality improving, the Convention will play a more and more significant role in the field of conventional arms control and humanitarianism.
Mr. Chairman,
The Second Review Conference of the States Parties to the CCW in 2001 adopted the Amended Article I of the Convention, extending the scope of application of the Convention and its existing protocols from international armed conflicts to include non-international armed conflicts, thus further enhancing the effectiveness of the Convention. We are pleased to note that 20 states have ratified the Amendment,which will enable it to enter into force on 18 May, 2004. China deposited its Protocol of Ratification of the Amendment to the Secretary-General of the United Nations on August 11 this year. We hope that those countries that have not yet ratified the Amendment will do so as soon as possible, so as to promote its universal implementation at an early date.
Mr. Chairman,
In order to eliminate the threat posed by the Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) to civilians and the social-economic development of affected countries, the CCW Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) has carried out effective work in the past two years and has made positive progress. During the GGE meeting closed just several days ago, the ERW Protocol was concluded. This Protocol will help address the humanitarian problems caused by ERW in a relatively comprehensive way. On the one hand, it will promote the efforts by the countries concerned to clear the existing and future ERW as soon as possible. On the other hand, it will encourage countries to adopt voluntary measures to improve the reliability of explosive ordnance so as to prevent and reduce the occurrence of ERW. According to the Protocol, countries will also take an active part in assistance and cooperation for the above-mentioned efforts.
As a result of compromise, the ERW Protocol is not satisfactory in all its aspects. The Chinese delegation has all along held the view that, in this Protocol, the user of explosive ordnance which has become ERW should bear more and stricter obligations and responsibility in clearing those ERW. And there should have had more comprehensive and obligatory responsibilities for the user in dealing with existing ERW.
Despite all these dissatisfactions, the ERW Protocol is, after all, an outcome of the joint efforts and cooperation of all parties to the CCW. It reflects the common aspiration of the international community in effectively addressing the humanitarian concerns aroused by ERW and embodies a feasible and balanced result of earnest negotiation of more than two years. We should actively promote the signing, ratification and implementation of this Protocol.
Mr. Chairman,
On the issue of possible preventive measures aimed at improving the design of certain specific types of munitions, the Chinese delegation is of the view that, after two years' discussion, this Group is still diversified on this issue and is difficult to make progress in this regard. The ERW Protocol has incorporated generic preventive measures aimed at improving the reliability of explosive ordnance. The pressing task is to encourage countries to accede to this Protocol and promote its early entry into force.
Mr. Chairman,
China's position on mines other than anti-personnel mines (also known as AVL) has always been clear. In addressing this issue, we should strike a right balance between the humanitarian concerns and states' legitimate military needs and take into account the divergence among countries in terms of economic and technological capacity. The past two years' discussions have shown that the proposal to start negotiations on detectability and self-destruction/self-deactivation of AVL will pose great financial and technological difficulties to many countries, and is therefore hard to be materialized. Nevertheless, we are ready to further explore feasible options to deal with the AVL issue to the best of our capabilities.
Mr. Chairman,
China has always supported the CCW-related work and has faithfully fulfilled its obligations under the Convention, making concrete contributions to its implementation and improvement. We are willing to continue to make join efforts with other states parties in further promoting the CCW-related work and to make substantive progress in this regard.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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