Mr President,
I am speaking on behalf of the European Union. "The Candidate Countries, Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia* , the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this declaration".
The European Union would like to express its appreciation for the work you have undertaken as President of the Conference of States Parties to Protocol V of the 1980 Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons. Equally we would like to thank the five coordinators for their excellent work during this past year.
Large numbers of civilians are killed or injured each year by explosive remnants of war. The presence of unexploded and abandoned explosive ordnance has grave consequences for civilians and their communities. Protocol V on Explosive Remnants of War was concluded to help address these serious post-conflict problems. With the adoption of Protocol V, and its entry into force in November 2006, the CCW showed that the Convention remains a living and important instrument of international humanitarian law.
Last year saw steady and continued progress in the implementation of Protocol V. The general framework for implementation has been put into place. This has allowed the adoption and refinement of a mechanism for national reporting and the establishment and further development of procedures for exchanging information, including for requests for assistance. A Plan of Action on Victim Assistance was adopted, and consideration continued of clearance, removal or destruction of ERW.
This year’s informal meeting of experts, now a regular intersessional event, was well organised and very productive. It has enabled progress on generic preventive measures, inter alia, towards the elaboration of a guide for the implementation of Part 3 of the Technical Annex. The European Union would like to see this work completed during next year. Also, a draft guide has been proposed with the purpose to assist States Parties in their national reporting. Here again, the European Union would welcome the early approval of such a tool, which could – at the discretion of States Parties – be used in filling out the forms for the required national reporting. We call on all States Parties to take full advantage of this document. The EU also takes this opportunity to call on those States Parties that have not yet done so to meet their reporting obligations under this Protocol.The European Union underlines the importance of the strict and effective implementation of the provisions of Article 4 of the Protocol on recording, retaining and transmission of information on the use or abandonment of explosive ordnance. In this respect the European Union welcomes the expert discussion on the Article 4 Generic Electronic Template as an appropriate tool for effective recording and retaining of information. As it has illustrated the complex nature of this issue, the European Union is looking forward to continuing the exchange on national practices and experience in implementing Article 4, including the use of the Template.
On the subject of clearance, removal or destruction of ERW the experts listened to a number of national presentations made by States in need of assistance for ERW clearance. They also benefitted from a range of useful presentations by UN and GICHD - Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining - specialists on the impact of the detailed recording and the timely provision of recorded data on the effective clearance on the ground, as well as on the need of priority setting and environmental challenges of clearance. Clearance of ERW remains one of the core issues of the Protocol. Thus, further discussions on the topic are needed, in particular on progress achieved or challenges left for some States in clearance of ERW, and on national practices in recording information of the use or abandonment of explosive ordnance and its impact on clearance of contaminated areas.
The meeting of experts also continued consideration on cooperation and assistance, as well as victim assistance. On the latter subject, the meeting heard national presentations, a panel of international experts and not least, the survivors themselves. It is clear, from the deliberations on these two subjects, that in our efforts to enhance effectiveness in the implementation of this Protocol and its humanitarian aim, it is important to try to identify possible practical synergies with other instruments of international humanitarian law. In order to achieve an efficient and targeted implementation of the Plan of Action on Victim Assistance as well as a successful matching of cooperation and assistance, continuous and strengthened efforts are needed on the national level in understanding the scale of the problem and the real state of implementation on the ground.
As to the universality of Protocol V we have seen marked progress since the last Conference of States Parties. Thirteen new States have acceded to the Protocol, which has brought the number of States Parties to 61. The European Union is very pleased about these new accessions. However, there is still major scope for progress, which should encourage us to continue with our efforts towards universalisation. The European Union recalls in this context its Joint Action of 2007 to promote the universalisation of the CCW and its annexed Protocols. These seminars have has allowed to share knowledge and experience on the CCW in Latin America and the Caribbean, East and West Africa, the Horn of Africa, the Great Lakes region and South Africa, Central Asia, the Middle East and the Mediterranean, and in South-East Asia and the Pacific Islands, contributing towards realising the objective of universalisation. Mr President,
The European Union attaches great importance to an effective implementation of Protocol V. This instrument responds to post-conflict humanitarian problems caused by ERW with measures that are meant to minimise their occurrence, effects and risks. States should be encouraged to adopt regulations and practices that will promote the aims of the Protocol. On its part, the European Union and its Member States have - over the years - provided important financial assistance to mine action and clearance of ERW, and will continue to do so.
We are looking forward to a productive Conference of States Parties in support of effective implementation of Protocol V. We know that you will lead our work wisely, and I would like to assure you that you have the full support of the European Union in your endeavours.
Thank you, Mr President.
_______________* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process."