Statement by H.E. Mr. Yoshiki Mine

Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Japan

To the Conference on Disarmament

Third Review Conference to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May be Deemed to be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects

Geneva, 17 November 2006

Mr. Chairman

Distinguished delegates

I would like to make a brief statement on behalf of the Government of Japan.

Japan attaches great importance to the CCW, which addresses the issue of conventional weapons with the participation of a broad number of countries, while giving due consideration to both humanitarian and security concerns. In view of this, Japan has made great efforts for creating a possible protocol within the CCW to minimize the humanitarian impact of MOTAPM .

Mr. Chairman,

We would like to once again convey our praise to the coordinators for their tireless work in this area. In addition, we appreciate that States Parties made various efforts for reaching agreement, which is shown by the number of beneficial proposals put forward to deepen discussion.

Mr. Chairman,

Japan aims for the adoption of a protocol on MOTAPM that includes regulations on detectability and active-life, which would be implemented with the wide participation of the States Parties. It is unfortunate, however, that this conference could not reach agreement on such a protocol. In order to avoid wasting the efforts that have been made over the past five years, Japan hopes that member states will recommence discussions aimed at forging consensus among them within the CCW. Once such discussions resume, Japan will constructively contribute to the work to produce an international instrument on MOTAPM. Moreover, we call on all states parties to carry out, to the extent feasible, best measures to minimize the humanitarian effect of MOTAPM until an international norm can be established.

Thank you