Statement by Vladimir Yermakov, Head of the Delegation of the Russian Federation, Director of the Department for Nonproliferation and Arms Control of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, at the Sixth Review Conference of States Parties to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons on Agenda Item 11 "General Exchange of Views", Geneva, 13 December 2021
13 December 2021 20:45
2585-13-12-2021
Mr. Chairperson,
We congratulate you on your appointment to this position of responsibility and wish you success in your work. You can count on the support of the Russian delegation in your constructive endeavours. We are confident that, despite irregular working conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the States Parties will manage to come to mutually acceptable decisions of the Sixth Review Conference (RC) of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW).
Mr. Chairperson, distinguished colleagues,
The Russian Federation confirms its unwavering commitment to its international obligations. We have been strictly following the existing Compliance Mechanism of the Convention and its Protocols, including the decision on its consolidation adopted at the 2011 RC and reaffirmed at the 2016 RC. We submit our annual reports under the Convention, both in general and under the Amended Protocol II (AP-II) and Protocol V (P-V), in a timely manner. Our interdepartmental delegation actively participates in all events related to the CCW and its Protocols.
Mine and explosive remnants clearance activities of the Russian Armed Forces conducted both in our territory and in foreign countries have been a major contribution to the implementation of AP-II and P-V. Such work has been done, for example, in Syria, Laos, South Ossetia and Nagorno-Karabakh. We think there is no need to explain the challenging circumstances our military has to work under.
The Russian Federation remains open to cooperation in humanitarian mine clearance. Since 2014, the Russian Ministry of Defence has been holding activities for international exchange of military and technical information, as well as international mine action conferences at the International Mine Action Centre. We invite interested States and relevant organizations to participate in these events.
Mr. Chairperson, distinguished colleagues,
The Review Conference offers every opportunity to conduct an in-depth analysis of the CCW operation over the last five years, as well as to work on and coordinate further joint action based on the object and purposes of the Convention.
The consolidation of the framework of the CCW and its five Protocols is directly dependent on the pace of its universalization. In this context, we call upon all States that have not done so to accede to the Convention, including all its Protocols. We believe that this area of our joint work is a priority.
It is obvious that the CCW, like any international mechanism, needs to be improved to keep up with the changing world. We are talking about making better use of the unique disarmament potential of the Convention on the basis of a balance between humanitarian concerns and legitimate national security interests. This review cycle has confirmed that this balance is fragile and therefore requires support. Conceptually, attempts by certain countries and civil society representatives to use humanitarian concerns, to the detriment of global interests, as an absolute imperative for introducing restrictions and bans on specific types of conventional arms seem weak.
For instance, we disagree with the idea of resuming independent expert work on mines other than anti-personnel mines (MOTAPM). Our position is that the MOTAPM are a legitimate and effective means of national defence. Any attempt to present their use as a "particular humanitarian threat" is divorced from reality.
Furthermore, we believe that the calls to add the issue of the use of explosives in densely populated areas for consideration within the CCW framework are untenable. These matters can only be resolved through good-faith compliance with the existing rules of international humanitarian law, primarily the 1977 Additional Protocol I to the 1949 Geneva Conventions.
The issue of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) remains relevant. We support its consideration under AP-II. We are willing to continue informal work on IEDs within the Group of Experts.
We note the growing interest in lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS). We welcome the results achieved in 2017-2021 by the relevant Group of Governmental Experts (GGE). We reaffirm our willingness to discuss LAWS-related matters within the GGE as an optimal platform on the basis of an agreed mandate and agenda. We believe that the existing rules of international law can be fully applied to LAWS and do not need to be adapted to take into account the specific features of these weapons systems.
The Russian Federation, like many other States, is concerned about the funding of CCW activities. We call upon all countries to fulfil their relevant commitments under the Convention and pay annual contributions on time and in full. We are in favour of ensuring priority financing for the staff contracts of the Implementation Support Unit. We are open to substantive discussions on possible ways to improve the financial situation of the Convention.
The Russian Federation reiterates its commitment to a constructive, result-oriented dialogue will all parties concerned.
Thank you.
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