STATEMENT BY THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA DURING THE FORTY-FIRST
SESSION OF WORKING GROUP B, 19-30 AUGUST 2013 DELIVERED BY HE AMBASSADOR
MAHMOUD ELAMIN, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SUDAN
Coordinators,
1. The Group of 77 and China takes note that both Friends of the Chair, Messrs Svein Mykkeltveit and David McCormack, will be coordinating the Forty-First Session of Working Group B. The Group assures you of its full cooperation towards achieving fruitful deliberations.
2. The Group would like to thank the Executive Secretary for the written report on the progress in the implementation of the verification related activities for the period January-June 2013, as well as for the statement made today.
Coordinators,
3. The Group takes note with satisfaction of the success of the Science and Technology Conference 2013, as it had provided an opportunity to identify and benefit from the new and improved verification technologies to be incorporated in the Treaty's verification regime. The Group notes that the Conference was an effective avenue for an exchange of knowledge and ideas between the Preparatory Commission of the CTBTO and the broader scientific community.
4. The Group reiterates its position on the importance of promoting a balanced approach towards the three main dimensions of the verification regime, namely the International Monitoring System, International Data Centre and On-Site Inspection. In this regard, the Group continues to encourage the Provisional Technical Secretariat to seek efficiencies and revisit prioritization across the Major Programmes in order to achieve the desired balanced, coherent and efficient verification regime.
5. The Group welcomes the conclusion contained in the report on the Build-Up Exercise III, that the Provisional Technical Secretariat has successfully conducted this activity. The Group is of the view that evaluation of IFE14 should be as ambitious as the exercise itself. Bearing in mind the dedicated work being conducted by the Provisional Technical Secretariat and the resources invested in IFE14, a broad and rigorous evaluation would result in a strong statement on the Provisional Technical Secretariat achievements related to On-Site Inspection.
6. The Group welcomes the flexibility of the States Signatories in trying out new working methods, such as reducing the duration of the meetings. The Group believes that this may allow for more efficient consideration of issues currently on the agenda of Working Group B, while easing the attendance of meetings by experts from capitals.
7. Finally, regarding capacity-building and training, the Group appreciates the continuing efforts conducted by the Provisional Technical Secretariat aimed at enhancing the technical capacity of all States Signatories in CTBT related technologies. The Group notes the recent NDC capacity-building and training workshops and welcomes the Provisional Technical Secretariat in providing basic equipment sets to increase the capability of States Signatories to participate fully in the verification regime.
