Vienna Chapter
Mr. Chairman,
On behalf of the State Signatories of the Group of 77 and China, I
would like to congratulate you on your Chairmanship of the 22nd session of
the Preparatory Commission of the CTBTO. I am confident that your
outstanding diplomatic skills and broad experience will steer this session
to a successful conclusion.
The Group wishes to thank the Executive Secretary, Ambassador
Wolfgang Hoffmann, for his comprehensive written and oral reports and we
would like to express our appreciation for the diligent efforts of the PTS
in implementing the mandates of the Preparatory Commission for the
establishment of the verification system at the Entry Into Force of the
Treaty.
We are pleased to note that since the last Prep Com, Eritrea, Saint
Kitts and Nevis and Sudan have signed and six other State Signatories of
the G-77 and China, namely, Bahrain, Belize, Eritrea, Libyan Arab
Jamahiriya, Seychelles and Sudan have ratified the Comprehensive
Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). This is a clear manifestation of support
of G-77 and China to the Treaty. We have been informed that one member of
the Group, namely Tunisia is at the stage of final process of ratification
and its ratification will be announced in this session. We would also like
to welcome the ratification of the Treaty by Serbia and Montenegro,
bringing the total number of ratifications to 115.
Mr. Chairman,
The G-77 and China attaches great importance to the objectives of
International Cooperation activities as stipulated in para 12 of article
IV of the Treaty, including facilitation of fullest possible exchange of
technologies relating to the verification system, capacity building and
application of those technologies for peaceful purposes. The Group
believes that all the workshops in this regard should continue to be
guided by those objectives. We welcome the efforts of the International
Cooperation Section of those objectives and take note with appreciation of
convening of the Workshop on CTBTO International Cooperation for States
from Northern Africa, in Tunis, from 13 to 15 April 2004. We take note
with appreciation the hosting of the Workshop on CTBTO International
Cooperation for States from South-East Asia which was held in Kuala Lumpur
from 9 to 11 December 2003.
Mr. Chairman,
We appreciate the activities undertaken by the PTS during 2003 in the
implementation of the 7 Major Programmes. We would like to ask the PTS to
continue assisting in the promotion of cooperation among States
Signatories to facilitate the exchange of technologies used in the
verification of the Treaty. The Group believes that training courses of
the PTS are useful for the dissemination of information about different
technologies of the international monitoring system facilities of the
Treaty. Those activities should be further coordinated and should involve
wider representation.
Mr. Chairman,
As regards the programme and budget for 2005, we would like to
reemphasize our budget principles which have been mentioned in the
previous statements and in WGA and WGB meetings. In this regard the Group
takes note with appreciation the efforts of the PTS in implementation of a
realistic approach towards the program and budget for 2005 and trying to
keep the 2005 at the same level of 2004 with no programmatic increases
over the 2004 funding level, or in PTS staffing levels by sticking to the
two assumptions of last year namely no programmatic or staff increase and
accommodation of proposed changes by prioritization and reallocating the
resources.
We believe that by prioritization and reallocating the resources the
PTS can easily accommodate the changes and have a budget, which is really
based on no programmatic increase. Therefore we are expressing again our
priorities and areas in which the reallocations can be done. The Group is
of the opinion that funding for the Capital Investment Fund (CIF) should
further decrease as a lot of progress has already been made in the IMS
Major Programme, and the majority of stations have been site surveyed,
installed and are being certified.
Mr. Chairman,
The only purpose of the proposed system-wide performance test is to
evaluation of the whole system. Since there are no verification related
activities for the system before the Entry In to Force of the Treaty, we
believe that the test should be done in a very limited timeframe, taking
into account the sole purpose of testing the system. The Group is of the
view that the cost of this exercise should be absorbed within the existing
resources and there should be no extra budgetary provision to this item.
The Group also believes that Post Certification Costs should be
reduced taking into account already approved guidelines in the WGB
(CTBT/WGB-19/1 Para 15) and WGA (CTBT/WGA-22/1 Para 15).
The Group would like to stress that the recommendations for enhancing
security measures should be decided by State Signatories after discussion
in a transparent manner with the secretariat and with due regards to cost
efficiency and a realistic and practical approach based on a real threat
perception and local security situation.
In this regard, the Group is of the view that additional financial
burdens as a result of these measures should not be imposed on State
Signatories beyond their capacity to pay for them. The Group therefore
welcomes any voluntary contribution and further consultations between the
PTS and other organizations as well as UN Secretariat in New York. We
expect that the State Signatories will be fully informed about any
developments in this regard.
Mr. Chairman,
The Group has expressed its views on the initiative of WGB for the
review of the organizational structure of the PTS, both in Working Group B
and Working Group A and takes note of the decision of the Working Group A
in this regard as reflected in its latest report. In the light of very
recent developments and consultations, and the present composition of a 9
member team and the mechanism of joint chairmanship, we are ready to work
with other State Signatories on this issue taking into account the
following consideration.
From our point of view the tasks of the PTS are based on two main
pillars namely political issues and technical issues and the balance
between political and technical tasks of the PTS should be maintained in
the restructuring process as well as the enhancement of coordination and
cost efficiency. We reiterate that the recommendations of the team should
be implemented only after thorough reviewing by the State Signatories and
decisions should be taken in the Working Groups and the Prep-Com. We
believe that the whole process of restructuring should be fully
transparent and in close consultation with the State Signatories. With
regard to the funding of the team, it is our view that this exercise
should be funded within available resources.
The Group noted with satisfaction that the External Auditor had
placed an unqualified opinion on the 2003 Accounts. The Group also takes
note the 2003 Report of the PTS on Human Resources Management in
CTBT/PTS/INF.665. In order to improve and enhance fair geographical
representation and gender balance at the decision making level posts in
the PTS, The group is of the view that in recruitment of the new members
of the PTS due regard should be paid to the principle of wider
geographical representation and transparency should be applied in the
process of recruitments. Equitable geographical representation, as well as
high-level standards of expertise, competence, integrity and experience
shall be the main criteria for appointment of the staff in the PTS. The
Group reaffirms the criteria for recruitment of the staff which have been
clearly stipulated in the paragraph 50 article II of the treaty and firmly
believes that any introduction of other new criteria such as linkage of
recruitment with the contribution is beyond the text of the Treaty. The
Group is following the issue of equitable geographical representation in
the PTS seriously and expects improvement of the situation in the near
future and reserves its right to come back to this issue later on.
The Group believes that the Human Resources issues in the PTS should
continue to be treated in an open and transparent approach according to
the existing staff rules and regulations. Therefore, the Group strongly
support the Commission's non-career policy, especially the seven-year
limit service in the PTS, as outlined in its staff rules and regulations
and the administrative directive on recruitment, appointment,
reappointment and tenure. Although it is the prerogative of the Executive
Secretary to make some exceptions to the service limit in accordance with
Administrative Directive No. 20 (Rev.2), in order to retain essential
expertise or institutional memory in the PTS, but these exception shall be
done in absolute minimum cases in accordance with the Administrative
Directive No. 20 (Rev.2), and WGA reports. These exceptions shall be
reported to the Commission.
We take note of the fact that the only reason on which the judgment
of the International Labour Organization Administrative Tribunal (ILOAT)
was based to rule out the decision of the Executive Secretary is non
reflection of the Non career policy and 7 year limit in the contract of
the staff. Since we don't have access to the new contracts we ask the PTS
to take due care and make sure that the requirements of the judgment are
fulfilled.
Mr. Chairman,
The Group takes note with appreciation your efforts, and the informal
meetings held under your chairmanship for reaching consensus on the new
modalities of tenure of a future Executive Secretary and the appointment
of a future Executive Secretary. We thank you and believe that your paper
can be a basis for further consideration. Although the Group supports the
criterion that the next Executive Secretary must come from a ratifying
State, we believe that in the framework of Preparatory Commission the only
legal actors are State Signatories. The Group is of the view that there
must not be any link between the fulfilling of financial obligations of a
Signatory State and the selection of the future Executive Secretary,
because it is an unprecedented link and no reference in this respect is
made in the Treaty or Rules of Procedure.
In the selection of the new Executive Secretary paramount importance
should be attached to the principle of fair geographical representation,
therefore new Executive Secretary should be a person from a developing
country with highest quality of competence and integrity and demonstrated
diplomatic and managerial skills and experience to assist the work of the
Commission.
Mr. Chairman,
The Group takes note of the decision of Working Group B in its 21st
session, as stipulated in para 10-12 of CTBT/WGB-21/1, on the proposed
system-wide performance test. We are of the view that this test should be
carried out when the majority of the IMS stations, especially certified
stations, are in place and connected to the IDC and after enough
preparation for this wide scale test had been made by the PTS. The only
purpose of this test is to evaluate the performance of the whole system.
We take note of the fact that Working Group B in its latest meeting (para
12 of CTBT/WGB-21/1) agreed "the schedule for the phases of wide
scale testing as well as their duration should be flexible". However,
we believe that the test should be done in a very limited timeframe,
taking into account the sole purpose of testing the system. In the light
of this position we believe that option one of level of operation as
reflected in document CTBT/PTS/INF.664 could be a basis for further
consideration subject to reducing the monitoring level by PTS staff to
normal working hours.
The Group attaches great importance to the National Data Centers
(NDCs) and welcomes the establishment of a joint theme task of NDC in the
framework of Working Group B and supports the main objectives of this task
as articulated by its distinguished task leader in the report of last WGB.
We believe that the PTS should play a more active role in promoting the
NDCs of developing countries, especially in providing hardware and
software. The Group invites the PTS to ensure wider participation of the
developing countries in IDC training courses.
In accordance with the provisions of the Treaty, and with the text on
the establishment of the Prep Com and due to the development in the work
of the PTS, we believe that adopting a Confidentiality Policy for the PTS
is a real and urgent need. The confidentiality policy should create a
strict and transparent regime for handling all data and information
available to the PTS. In this regard, we take note of the paper of the PTS
on its policies and procedures in handling sensitive information, in
document CTBT/PTS/INF.614. This document could be a basis for further
discussion. However, we believe that a comprehensive approach is necessary
for the confidentiality policy of the PTS. We believe that more time in
WGB discussions should be allocated to this important task.
The Group believes that all the elements of the verification regime
of the treaty including IMS, IDC and OSI, are important and in this regard
attaches great importance to a balanced approach in establishing all those
elements. We urge all State Signatories to actively participate in the
financing of OSI activities. We encourage the PTS and State Signatories to
continue exploring ways and means to enhance participation of the experts
of developing countries in these and other WGB discussions. From our point
of view elaboration of the draft OSI Operational Manual, based on the
Initial Draft Rolling Text (IDRT), remains a priority task for all members
of the Commission. We consider that enough resources should be allocated
to the OSI major program in order to help the necessary preparations for
the establishment of the OSI regime at Entry Into Force of the Treaty.
This should include testing and evaluation of all OSI equipments,
establishing supporting infrastructures and preparing a comprehensive
programme for training of the inspectors and The Group asks for the
continuation and increased contribution of the PTS, based on the
experience of workshops, tabletop exercises and field experiments, to the
discussion of draft OSI Operational Manual.
Thank you Mr. Chairman.
*****
Mr Chairman,
I would like to express the sincere appreciation of the Group of 77
and China for the outstanding manner in which you have guided the complex
process of informal consultations, and also to warmly congratulate both
you and our partners on achieving a positive outcome, which will enable us
to proceed smoothly with the appointment of a new Executive Secretary.
Mr Chairman,
The Group of 77 and China supports your statement, which will form an
integral part of the report on the present session of the Commission, and
reaffirms the importance of the criteria of integrity, solid diplomatic
experience and management skills in the process of selecting a new
Executive Secretary. These criteria will assist the Executive Secretary in
the task of promoting the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.
Naturally, the Group attaches particular importance to equitable
geographical distribution, a principle which, incidentally, is enshrined
in the text of the Treaty.
May I assure you, Mr Chairman, of the cooperation of the Group of 77
and China in working both with you and with other States Signatories on
the basis of the delicate compromise we have just reached. We are driven
by the desire to promote the entry into force of the Treaty, which
constitutes a specific stage in nuclear disarmament and is also one of the
key objectives of the Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation Treaty
(NPT), and therefore of the strengthening of the multilateral system in
this field.
Mr Chairman,
Since we have just formally adopted a decision on selection criteria
for the appointment of the next Executive Secretary, allow me to restate
the position of the Group of 77 and China with regard to the link between
the financial stability of the Commission and the appointment of the
Executive Secretary.
The Group sees no legal basis for this link, which it views as a
condition that goes beyond the obligations undertaken by States
Signatories in accordance with the Treaty. Moreover, this link is also
seen to deprive small States Signatories of their inalienable right to
propose candidates for the post of Executive Secretary. The Group is of
the view that the establishment of such a link is largely politically
motivated, and is therefore a particularly delicate issue.
The Group of 77 and China nonetheless wishes to underline the
importance it attaches to the financial stability of the Commission, which
is a matter of budgetary issues rather than the selection of candidates
for the post of Executive Secretary. I should like to take this
opportunity to urge all States Signatories which have not yet done so to
pay their financial contributions in full and on time.
Thank you.
Monsieur le Président,
Je voudrais vous exprimer les sincères remerciements du G-77
et de la Chine, pour la manière remarquable avec laquelle vous avez
conduit ce laborieux processus de consultations informelles, et tiens à
vous féliciter chaleureusement, ainsi que nos partenaires, pour cet
heureux aboutissement qui nous permettra d'aborder, dans la sérénité,
la désignation du nouveau Secrétaire exécutif.
Monsieur le Président,
Le Groupe des 77 et la Chine appuie votre déclaration, qui
fera partie intégrante du rapport de cette session de la
Commission, le Groupe réaffirme l'importance que revêtent les
critères d'intégrité, d'une solide expérience
diplomatique et de capacités de gestion dans le processus de sélection
du nouveau Secrétaire exécutif. Ces critères seront
de nature à faciliter la mission du Secrétaire exécutif
de promotion du TICE.
Naturellement, notre Groupe est particulièrement attaché
à la répartition géographique équitable,
principe, qui au demeurant, est consacré par le texte du Traité.
Je peux vous assurer, Monsieur le Président, de la coopération
du Groupe des 77 et de la Chine, pour travailler avec vous, ainsi qu'avec
les autres Etats signataires, sur la base de ce délicat compromis
que nous venons de réaliser. Nous sommes animés par la
volonté d'œuvrer en faveur de l'entrée en vigueur du
Traité, qui constitue une étape concrète dans le désarmement
nucléaire et l'un des objectifs majeurs de la Conférence de
révision du TNP, et partant du renforcement du système
multilatéral dans ce domaine.
Monsieur le Président, Maintenant que nous venons d'adopter,
formellement, la décision concernant les critères de sélection
pour la désignation du prochain Secrétaire exécutif,
permettez-moi de revenir sur la position du Groupe des 77 et de la Chine
au sujet du lien entre la stabilité financière de la
Commission et la désignation du Secrétaire exécutif.
En effet, notre Groupe ne voit pas de fondement juridique à ce
lien qui est perçu comme une conditionnalité qui va au-delà
des obligations contractées par les Etats signataires au titre du
Traité. De plus, ce lien est également perçu comme un
élément qui prive les petits Etats signataires de leur droit
inaliénable à postuler au poste de Secrétaire exécutif.
Pour le Groupe, l'établissement de ce lien relève d'une appréciation
éminemment politique, ce qui lui donne un caractère
particulièrement sensible.
Ceci étant dit, le G-77 et la Chine tient à souligner
son attachement à la stabilité financière de la
Commission qui relève de questions budgétaires, et non de la
sélection des candidats pour le poste de Secrétaire exécutif.
Je saisis cette occasion pour exhorter tous les Etats signataires qui ne
l'ont pas encore fait, à s'acquitter, à temps, de la totalité
de leurs contributions financières.
Je vous remercie.
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