Statement by Ambassador Yukiya Amano, Director General for Arms Control and Scientific Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan To The First Review Conference of the Chemical Weapons Convention

Mr. Chairman,
Distinguished delegates, Director-General,

At the outset, let me extend my heartfelt congratulations to you, Ambassador Djoudi, on your chairmanship of this First Review Conference of the Chemical Weapons Convention. I am fully confident that this historic Conference will be successful under your excellent leadership and diplomatic skills. I assure you of our delegation's full support.

I would also like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation to the outgoing Ambassador of Argentina, His Excellency Daverede, for his dedicated work as the Chairman of the Working Group for the Preparation of the Review Conference. Ambassador Daverede's coordination skills were of tremendous value to the preparations for this Conference.

Mr. Chairman,

The Chemical Weapons Convention was the first treaty to eliminate a whole category of weapons of mass destruction with verification. The Convention has achieved significant progress towards global disarmament and non-proliferation by initiating the destruction of existing chemical weapons and enforcing the ban on chemical weapons through its extensive verification regime.

The OPCW has been making steady progress towards universality. In order to eliminate chemical weapons from every corner of the earth, the most important task is to achieve the full universality. In this regard, the number of States Parties has now reached 151, but more than 40 countries still remain outside the reach of the Convention. Some of these countries may not be aware of the importance of the Convention to them. Others may feel that their geopolitical circumstances do not allow them to join the Convention immediately. Whatever the reason is for their non accession, Japan urges all States not party to the Convention, in Asia and anywhere else in the world, to join the Convention as early as possible.

Mr. Chairman,

With the emergence of the new threat of global terrorism, strengthening of national implementation of the CWC is becoming an even more important and urgent task. Implementation by States Parties of the prohibitions set forth in the Convention can prevent terrorists from finding safe heavens and means to produce or obtain chemical weapons.

Japan has been providing technical support to countries in Asia and elsewhere in the fields such as export control and law enforcement. Japan will seek to cooperate with the OPCW to organize assistance programs with a view to strengthening national implementation.

Japan welcomes the implementation support programs offered by the Technical Secretariat as well as the assistance provided in this area by other States Parties. This type of assistance can be an incentive for States not party to join the Convention. I would like to take this opportunity to request all States Parties to strengthen their own national implementation and, if possible, support other States Parties in their implementation efforts so that there will be a more uniform implementation of the CWC around the world.

Mr. Chairman,

Strengthening the CWC goes hand in hand with strengthening the OPCW. In Japan's view, effectiveness, transparency and fairness in implementation of the Convention's provisions contribute to the strength of the Organization by enhancing trust among States Parties and the Technical Secretariat.

Such trust and cooperation were evident in our recent deliberations and agreement on the long-standing issue of tenure policy. It is encouraging to note that under the leadership of Director-General Pfirter the Technical Secretariat is working in closer cooperation with States Parties to resolve issues of importance to the OPCW.

Japan has been assisting the Technical Secretariat with voluntary contributions for staff training and international cooperation. Together with all the other States Parties, Japan is prepared to cooperate fully with the Technical Secretariat for the purpose of strengthening the OPCW.

Mr. Chairman, distinguished delegates,

I would now like to touch upon the issue of abandoned chemical weapons in China.

On last Friday, April 25, the Governments of Japan and China officially agreed on the selection of main technologies for the ACW destruction. The two sides also agreed on the location of the destruction plant. This is an important milestone on the road to the safe destruction of the ACWs in China. With China's cooperation, Japan will continue to do its utmost to complete the destruction of the ACWs as early as possible.

With regard to old chemical weapons occasionally discovered in Japan, we appreciate the cooperation we have received from the Technical Secretariat for the smooth destruction of these items. We are determined to solve these problems as quickly as possible and seek the Technical Secretariat's continued cooperation on this matter.

Mr. Chairman,

This First Review Conference is an opportunity for us to look back on our achievements and make plans for future progress. It is also an opportunity to send a strong message to the world that we will continue our efforts towards the goal of complete elimination of chemical weapons. I am fully confident, Mr. Chairman, that under your enlightened stewardship and with the cooperation of all the States Parties present here, this Conference will send a clear message to people around the world and will bring a world free of chemical weapons a step closer to reality.

Thank you.