STATEMENT BY THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA DURING THE THIRTY-SIXTH
SESSION OF WORKING GROUP B, 14 FEBRUARY - 4 MARCH 2011 DELIVERED BY HE AMBASSADOR
ALI ASGHAR SOLTANIEH, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE IR OF IRAN
Mr Chairman,
1. On behalf of the States Signatories of the Group of 77 and China, I would like to
express the satisfaction of the Group in seeing you chairing the Thirty-Sixth Session of
Working Group B. The Group is confident that, under your guidance and with the
assistance of the Task Leaders, Working Group B will fulfill its task in an effective and
efficient manner.
2. The Group of 77 and China would like to thank the Executive Secretary for the report
he conveyed orally at the current session and for the information contained therein, and
would also like to take this opportunity to commend the Provisional Technical
Secretariat for the timely and professional manner in which it has conducted its work in
preparation for this session.
Mr Chairman,
3. Regarding the programme of work of the Preparatory Commission and its subsidiary
bodies for 2011, the Group of 77 and China takes note of the decision adopted by the
Preparatory Commission at its Thirty-Fifth Session, as contained in document
CTBT/PC-35/2/Annex II, dated 17 November 2010. As far as Working Group B is
concerned, the Group of 77 and China is of the opinion that, through further
streamlining of its activities, an efficient use of the time at its disposal and a productive
intersessional work conducted via discussions and exchange of opinions on the Experts
Communication System (ECS), its annual programme of work can be carried out in two
three-week sessions per year, without the need for additional sessions.
4. In this regard, the Group of 77 and China supports all efforts aimed at rationalizing and
optimizing the methods of work of Working Group B and, more specifically, it
welcomes the discussion that you, Mr Chairman, launched on the ECS in October 2010,
inviting for comments, suggestions and ideas. It is in this context that the Group of 77
and China would like to recall the fact that, in its statement at the Thirty-Fifth Session
of Working Group B, it had suggested the use of videoconferences as a means of
interactive involvement, a technological tool that is already in use in other international
organizations and that could widen the scope of participation of experts - especially
from developing countries -, thus enriching the work conducted within the CTBTO
regime.
5. Having said this, the Group of 77 and China would like to convey its intention of
engaging in a frank and constructive discussion insofar as this is not misconstrued as a
revision of its position as far as the number of sessions assigned to Working Group B
and their duration are concerned. Indeed, the Group of 77 and China encourages
deliberations on possible ways of improving the methodology of work of Working
Group B, but always within the framework of the position sustained by the Group of 77
and China in respect of the number of sessions and their duration.
6. The Group of 77 and China reiterates the position expressed in its statement at the
Thirty-Fifth session of the Preparatory Commission (CTBT/PC-35/NAT.1, dated 9
November 2010). We believe that experience in the past two years has proven that,
through further streamlining in terms of efficiency, holding no more than two regular
sessions, with a duration of three weeks each, allows for proper and effective
consideration of issues currently on the agenda of Working Group B, while at the same
time avoiding excessive burdens for States Signatories, especially developing ones, in
terms of attendance of meetings by experts from capitals.
7. In this latter regard, and bearing in mind the importance given by the Group of 77 and
China to making progress on the draft OSI Operational Manual, the Group takes note of
the paper issued by the Task Leader on a Targeted Programme of Work
(CTBT/WGB/TL-18/45, dated 1 February 2011), which states that the programme
outlined therein should be achievable in the schedule of sessions as approved by the
Preparatory Commission at its Thirty-Fifth session and as contained in decision
CTBT/PC-35/2/Annex II, dated 17 November 2010. Nevertheless, in light of what has
been previously said and of the fact that the terms of this decision have left the
possibility of a fourth additional week of meetings for the second session of Working
Group B subject to a decision by the latter at this session - as reflected in paragraph 29
of the Report of the Thirty-Fifth Session of the Preparatory Commission (CTBT/PC-
35/2, dated 15 November 2010) -, the Group of 77 and China hereby reconfirms its
position on this matter. The Group of 77 and China is confident that, with the help of an
improved and more efficient work methodology, in its current session Working Group
B will succeed in progressing in the implementation of its programme of work -
including in the OSI Major Programme and in the draft OSI Operational Manual.
Mr Chairman,
8. With regard to the implementation of the pilot project for financing the participation of
technical experts from developing countries in Working Group B meetings, while the
Group of 77 and China is appreciative both of the voluntary contributions made by
States Signatories and of the work conducted by the Provisional Technical Secretariat, it
believes that the participation of developing countries should be further enhanced. It
also believes that, to this end, additional ways and means should be sought so as to
further expand the number of participants, and that, in this process, due consideration
should be given to the need to preserve an equitable geographical distribution so that
participation may be wholly and not partially representative of the entire community of
States Signatories.
9. The Group of 77 and China takes note of the fact that in recent years quite a number of
activities have been organized by the Provisional Technical Secretariat outside of
Austria. However, for various reasons, especially reasons relating to some hosting
countries, experts from some Signatory States selected by the Provisional Technical
Secretariat were unable to participate in these activities. The Group is concerned over
this situation and asks that the Provisional Technical Secretariat take such factors into
account when organizing activities in the future, with a view to ensuring the widest
possible participation by experts from Signatory States.
Mr Chairman,
10. The Group of 77 and China thanks the Executive Secretary for the report on the
verification-related activities undertaken by the Provisional Technical Secretariat for the
period July-December 2010 (CTBT/ES/2010/4, dated 25 January 2011), and takes note
of the report on the status of Provisional Technical Secretariat work on International
Monitoring System stations, radionuclide laboratories and noble gas systems as of 31
December 2010 (CTBT/PTS/INF.142/Rev.28, dated 26 January 2011).
11. In this latter regard, the Group notes, in particular, that 254 out of the 272 International
Monitoring Stations that had been installed as of 31 December 2010, have been
certified; that 10 out of the 16 radionuclide laboratories have equally been certified; and
that 27 out of the 40 noble gas systems have been installed - with three of those having
already been certified. Likewise, the Group notes that the 272 International Monitoring
Stations installed as of the cut-off date of the said report represent 80 per cent of the
IMS network. The Group of 77 and China believes that priority should be given to
protecting investments already made and to finalizing the installation of those
International Monitoring Stations for which work is already under way.
12. The Group of 77 and China considers the project for the reconstruction of stations HA3
and IS14 in the Juan Fernández Islands to be one of the issues having the highest
priority, due to the importance of such stations within the IMS network. To this end, the
Group is looking forward to a progress report from the Provisional Technical Secretariat
on the matter.
13. As for the report of the Executive Secretary on the verification-related activities
undertaken by the Provisional Technical Secretariat for the period July-December 2010,
the Group of 77 and China cannot help but notice the persistent imbalance in the
attention given to the three Major Programmes of the verification system, namely the
International Monitoring System (IMS), the International Data Centre (IDC) and on-site
inspections (OSI). The Group of 77 and China deems it opportune to reiterate its
concern over the fact that, despite the statement contained in paragraph 1 of the
aforementioned report to the contrary, there continues to be an excessive focus on
station-building, an imbalance that goes in clear detriment of the overriding importance
assigned by the Group of 77 and China to duly safeguarding existing investments.
14. Nevertheless, the Group of 77 and China would like to state that, as it said at the
previous session of Working Group B, it is both cognizant of and grateful to the
Provisional Technical Secretariat for the ongoing efforts undertaken by it to redress the
existing imbalance. The Group of 77 and China views these adjustments as a step in the
right direction, and encourages the Provisional Technical Secretariat to continue to seek
efficiencies and revisit the prioritization across the Major Programmes of the
verification regime of the CTBT in order to attain a regime that is balanced, coherent
and efficient.
Mr Chairman,
15. Regarding the IMS and, more specifically, the activities conducted by the Provisional
Technical Secretariat in the field of technology development during the reported period,
the Group of 77 and China takes note with satisfaction of the Infrasound Technology
Workshop organized by the Tunisian National Data Centre in Tunis from 18 to 22
October 2010; the CTBTO Advanced Training/Capacity-Building Course for National
Data Centre Technical Staff in South-East Asia, the Pacific and the Far East (SEAPFE)
held in Malaysia from 18 to 29 October 2010; as well as of the workshop on noble gas
monitoring and IMS radionuclide laboratories hosted by the Argentine Regulatory
Authority in Buenos Aires from 1 to 5 November 2010. It is the view of the Group of 77
and China that these three activities provide clear examples of the benefits that can be
reaped from a productive interaction of the Provisional Technical Secretariat with the
scientific and technological sectors, thus helping ensure that the IMS remains
scientifically and technologically relevant.
16. Regarding the IDC, the Group of 77 and China supports the attention given by the
Provisional Technical Secretariat to the introduction of measures relating to station
performance/reliability and data availability, quality and timeliness, a matter identified
by the Policy Making Organs to be a priority. The Group of 77 and China renews its
call for realistic, sustainable, long-term solutions - such as the reallocation of staff and
funds from other Major Programmes for this purpose, if necessary - to address the
increasing demands imposed on PTS staff as a result of the steady expansion of the
IDC. It also welcomes the efforts undertaken by the Provisional Technical Secretariat in
the realms of capacity building and training, aimed at enhancing the capability of all
States to participate fully in the verification system. In this regard, the Group of 77 and
China takes note with satisfaction of the delivery, installation and commissioning of
National Data Centre (NDC) equipment to Congo and Costa Rica, as well as of the
delivery of equipment to Kenya, Senegal and the Central African Republic. Also, the
Group of 77 and China views with satisfaction the continued implementation of the
memorandum of understanding between the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO), through the joint assistance to be provided to Haiti
and, in this framework, the prospective delivery of basic equipment for the
establishment of an NDC in that country.
17. As far as National Data Centres are concerned, the Group of 77 and China deems worth
noting that it views CTBTO online support as a useful and cost-effective tool for
developing States Signatories, to tackle technical problems that they may encounter in
their respective NDCs.
18. The Group of 77 and China stresses the importance of strengthening technical
capabilities of States Signatories through an improvement of their ability to benefit
more from the global verification regime, in particular the use of data collected by the
IMS and IDC products resulting from data analysis, including the technologies used for
a greater understanding of natural hazard risks, earth processes and other scientific uses.
19. In this regard, the Group of 77 and China encourages the Provisional Technical
Secretariat to finalize the "Capacity Building Project", aimed at providing States
Signatories with training courses and workshops on the data products and software of
the PTS related to seismic, infrasound, hydroacoustic, radionuclide and Atmospheric
Transport Models, thus contributing to the use of civil and scientific applications for
socioeconomic development.
20. Regarding the OSI, the Group of 77 and China takes note of the Concept for the
Preparation and Conduct of the Next Integrated Field Exercise (IFE)
(CTBT/PTS/INF.1105, dated 27 January 2011), aimed at, as the Provisional Technical
Secretariat states in the said document, developing a roadmap and methodology for the
preparation and conduct of a second IFE it plans to conduct in 2014. It also takes note
of the Adjustment of the OSI Action Plan (CTBT/PTS/INF.1106, dated 19 January
2011), which, as the Provisional Technical Secretariat puts it, provides suggestions on
possible adjustments to the Action Plan in light of the possible impact of the IFE
concept. The Group of 77 and China considers that, although the on-site inspection
component of the verification regime needs to be further developed and, if necessary,
adjusted, this should always be done in accordance with the guidelines provided by the
Policy Making Organs. Furthermore, the Group of 77 and China is of the view that, for
such process to be effective, it should include a thorough assessment of the experience
drawn from the IFE conducted in Kazakhstan in 2008, and that it should take,
realistically, due account of all cost and sustainability considerations involved, within
the prospects of the entry into force of the Treaty.
21. The Group of 77 and China would like to reiterate its position regarding the level of
"OSI readiness": any definition prior to the entry into force of the Treaty has to be fully
developed and agreed by the Policy Making Organs.
22. Finally, the Group of 77 and China takes note of the note presented by the Executive
Secretary as an addendum to the Status of National Implementation Measures,
Including Privileges and Immunities, Facility Agreements and the PTS Programme of
Legal Assistance (CTBT/PTS/INF.1095/Add.1, dated 1 February 2011).
Mr Chairman,
23. The Group of 77 and China is confident that the delegations attending the current
session will engage in fruitful and relevant discussions that, hopefully, by the end of
these deliberations, will result in substantial progress on the different issues on the
agenda of Working Group B.
