Statement by the Republic of Korea (Protocol V _ ERW) Thank you, Mr. President.
Let me join the previous speakers in congratulating you on your assumption of the Presidency of this Conference. I am confident that your able stewardship will lead this conference to a fruitful conclusion. You have my delegation’s full support in your endeavor to guide our work.
Mr. President,
The Republic of Korea attaches great importance to this Protocol as a practical step forward in minimizing the humanitarian impacts of Explosive Remnants of War (ERW). While striking a balance between military demands and humanitarian concerns, it provides us with a useful and realistic framework to address the humanitarian and developmental impacts of ERW.
The speedy increase in the number of States Parties to the Protocol, which is 61 today, is an encouraging sign. This clearly demonstrates the importance that the international community attaches to this Protocol. We warmly welcome the new members who have expressed their consent to be bound by this Protocol this year, namely Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Mali, Pakistan, Peru, the United Arab Emirates and the United States. We call upon those States that have not yet done so to ratify and implement this Protocol without further delay.
We are pleased to note the successful operation of the Protocol V database which compiles national reports and their annual updates. Our government has submitted its first national report, and will continue to fulfill the obligations stipulated in the Protocol, thereby providing up-to-date information in a timely and transparent manner.
As reflected in this first national annual report, the Republic of Korea has begun to take all the necessary measures to implement the Protocol. This year our government has issued “Instructions on the Management of ERW and so forth.”
The aim of this regulation is for the Ministry of National Defense to swiftly deal
with ERW, including their clearance, removal or destruction. You can find more detailed information on the Protocol V database.
Mr. President,
The First Conference in 2007 took a number of important decisions with regard to the implementation of this Protocol, especially aiming at establishing a comprehensive framework to facilitate the exchange of information and assistance among the States Parties in addressing the effects of the ERW. We are pleased to note that there has been much progress in implementing those decisions, through the Meetings of Experts in the past two years.
Taking this opportunity, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Coordinators for their hard work to lead the consultation and cooperation processes on respective issues, such as (1) Clearance, (2) Cooperation and Assistance and Requests for Assistance, (3) Generic Electronic Template, (4) General Preventive Measures, and (5) Victim Assistance. We hope the recommendations and reports of the Coordinators will be given due consideration and this Third Conference will make meaningful decisions to realize a pragmatic roadmap for the implementation of this Protocol.
In concluding, Mr. President, I thank you once again for your dedicated efforts in preparing for this Conference, and would like to reassert the unwavering commitment of the Republic of Korea to the letter and spirit of the Protocol.
I thank you, Mr. President.
