Ministry Statements & Speeches:
Thank you, Mr President
Please allow me to congratulate you on your assumption of the Presidency of this important Review Conference, and on behalf of the New Zealand delegation, to extend our thanks to you for the gracious hospitality you have extended to all delegates and participants so far this week. You have my delegation’s full support as you discharge your solemn responsibilities Chairing our Convention for this 5th Review Conference.
Please allow me to recognise the representative of the Kingdom of Tonga, and welcome the promising update he has provide the Review Conference this morning. New Zealand would of course warmly welcome the signature and ratification of this Convention by Tonga, and we standby by to assist in any way we can.
We meet today in a country heavily affected by a harmful legacy of landmine use and explosive remnants of war. The impressive results achieved here in Cambodia in responding to this legacy should inspire us all to further, sustained efforts toward achieving a mine free world.
The Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention is a success story to be celebrated.
Thirty years ago, the world reckoned with a devastating pattern of harm left in the wake of these inhumane weapons. As we meet in Siem Reap today, the Convention has 164 States Parties, many of us contributing to mine clearance, victim assistance and most diligently upholding the norm against the use, transfer, production, or acquisition of anti-personnel mines.
We are of the view that this norm has global international force.
It is in this context that New Zealand is deeply troubled by the announcement of the United States on 20 November that it intends to transfer anti-personnel mines to Ukraine, a State Party to this Convention. We call on the US to respect the Convention’s prohibitions, as we expect of all non-States Parties to this treaty.
New Zealand strongly supports Ukraine’s right to defend itself against Russia’s illegal war of aggression. Russia’s extensive use of anti-personnel mines in Ukraine has been a humanitarian, ecological, and economic catastrophe. We have been consistent in our unequivocal condemnation of Russia. Moreover, we have reminded Russia of its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law.
This unequivocal condemnation of Russia’s aggression and our enduring support for Ukraine’s self-defence do not change the fact that use or acquisition of anti-personnel mines by Ukraine would breach its obligations under this Convention. We call on Ukraine to fully comply with its obligations as a State Party. We are also deeply concerned that further use of anti-personnel mines in the conflict will increase harm to civilians. There are also the risks anti-personnel mines pose to humanitarian deminers: whatever the purported safety features of those systems, clearance personnel have little option but to treat any mine as in an armed, dangerous state.
New Zealand condemns the use of anti-personnel mines by any actor and in any circumstances. We urge the United States and Ukraine to reconsider their respective decisions to transfer and accept anti-personnel mines.
In closing, Mr President, it is imperative that we continue to chart a course towards a fully universalised treaty, and our collective vision of a mine free world.
Thank you.