PERMANENT MISSION OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA GENEVA
8thConference of the High Contracting Parties to Protocol V General exchange of views
Geneva, 10 November 2014
Statement by Ambassador AHN Youngjip
Madam President,
As this is the first time my delegation takes the floor, I would like to congratulate you on your assumption of the Presidency of this important meeting. I am confident that your able leadership and wisdom will bring this meeting to a fruitful conclusion, and I assure you of my delegation’s full support and cooperation.
I would like to take this opportunity to express the sincere gratitude of my delegation to the coordinators for their hard work on the main issues of the Protocol. Building upon the useful expert presentations and subsequent live discussions at the Meeting of Experts in April, my delegation hopes that the 8thConference will make a meaningful contribution to ensuring the full implementation of the Protocol.
The Republic of Korea attaches great importance to this Protocol in view of the severe humanitarian and developmental impact of explosive remnants of war on post-conflict society. Since its accession in 2008, the Republic of Korea has been making continuous efforts to comply faithfully with the Protocol.
Indeed, protocol V needs to secure wider adherence. In this regard, we warmly welcome Iraq and Greece as new Contracting Parties to the Protocol V. In addition to the steady progress toward its universalization, we also welcome the gradual increase in the rate of national reporting of the State Parties to the Protocol. We commend the Coordinator on National Reporting for his work to update the Guide to National Reporting. My delegation looks forward to a further increase in the number of national
reports submitted each year, thanks to a merger of the two overlapped reporting forms, E and F, and updated Guide to National Reporting.
The Republic of Korea has been submitting its annual national report, and will continue to strengthen its effort to provide up-to-date information in a timely and transparent manner, and furthermore, to share best practices and policies.
Madam President,
The Republic of Korea welcomes the ongoing efforts to spread the voluntary best practices specified in the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG) as the standard for munitions management. The Republic of Korea has strengthened its policy to minimize the risks and effects of ERW and has enforced generic preventive measures through relevant regulations. We continue to make efforts to harmonize such a self-established directive with internationally-recommended guidelines. Also, the Republic of Korea continues to raise awareness of the Protocol among relevant personnel through regular education and training courses.
The Republic of Korea endeavors to cooperate with ERW-affected countries to deal with the post-war consequences of unexploded ordnances and emplaced landmines at the bilateral and multilateral level. This year the Republic of Korea concluded a Memorandum of Understanding with Viet Nam to address the issue, and is exploring concrete projects to provide first aid and rehabilitation treatment to ERW victims.
My delegation once again extends its appreciation to you Madam President for your dedicated efforts in preparing for this Conference and would like to reaffirms its strong commitment to the letter and spirit of the Protocol.
Thank you, Madam President.
/End/
