I have the honor to introduce the draft resolution L.18 on the Convention on the Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects (CCW). I do so on behalf of almost 50 countries . My delegation is deeply grateful to all the co-sponsoring States for their support and hope that many more will join us in the coming weeks.
The purpose of the CCW is to ban or restrict the use of specific types of weapons that cause excessive injury or unnecessary suffering to combatants, or affect civilians indiscriminately. This is as pertinent and pressing as ever.
In only a few weeks time States Parties to the CCW will meet to review the scope, operation, status and implementation of the Convention and all its Protocols. This upcoming Third Review Conference will be a timely opportunity to take stock of important achievements over the last 5 years within this framework Convention. Also it will coincide with a significant event, the entry into force on 12 November 2006 of the Convention's Protocol V on Explosive Remnants of War.
But the Review Conference should also look forward. The Group of Governmental Experts has agreed a number of important recommendations to the Review Conference, including a Plan of Action to promote the universality of the Convention and its Protocols. The issue of mines other than anti-personnel mines (MOTAPM) has been under serious consideration, or may I even say negotiation, for several years. Work has continued on the implementation of existing principles of humanitarian law and possible further measures to prevent munitions becoming explosive remnants of war. The need to promote compliance with the Convention has been recognized and is being addressed.
The draft resolution which I introduce today is an expression of support for the CCW-process. The specific substantive issues will, of course, have to be addressed by the States Parties at the Review Conference.
Today the CCW has 100 States Parties. Let me take this opportunity to call upon all states that have not yet done so to become parties to the Convention and all its Protocols, including the important amendment that extended the scope of the Convention to include situations of non-international conflict.
I am confident that this draft resolution will again receive full support by this Committee and that, as in previous years, it will be adopted without a vote.