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Madame Chair, Lithuania’s position on conventional arms is fully reflected in the statement of the European Union delivered last week. In my national capacity I would like to underline few additional aspects. Madame Chair, The massive illicit flows of arms and ammunition as well as lack of the effective control fuel conflicts, exacerbates violence and impedes development. An easy access to conventional weapons facilitates spreading terra by various armed and criminal groups.

We need immediately to stop these dangerous trends and as a first step by universally applying and responsibly implementing various control instruments that we already have at our disposal.

Lithuania continues to advocate for the need to increase transparency in arms trade and remains convinced that entry into force of the Arms Trade Treaty can mark a turning point in ensuring a more transparent and responsible international arms trade.  

We call on State Parties to make their reports public and welcome decisions taken at the Second Conference of States Parties to the Treaty. Establishment of the ad hoc working groups on implementation, transparency, reporting and working group on universalization are important steps advancing the aim and purpose of the ATT.

Nevertheless, a lot more remains to be done, as the Treaty’s full potential can only be reached when it is applied universally and implemented vigorously.

Madame Chair,

With today’s security challenges, ongoing armed conflicts, spread of violent terrorism, we need to work in close partnerships and to build trust. Lithuania is strongly convinced that if implemented in good faith, the OSCE could serve a good model for regional cooperation in conventional arms control, including confidence and security building measures. With a political will, the OSCE participating States could take the benefit of already existing instruments in achieving concrete results in areas such as lowering the thresholds, increasing the opportunities for verification activity, modernizing and updating the exchange of military information, strengthening risk reduction mechanisms and enlarging the scope of CSBMs. We believe that the modernization of Vienna Document in 2016, non-selective implementation of the Open Skies Treaty could be an indispensable asset to ensuring stability and security in Europe.

Madame Chair,

Landmines, unexploded remnants of war and improvised explosive devices continue to be part of our reality heavily affecting civilian populations. In this area, Lithuania welcomes Global Demining Initiative for Colombia and is glad to announce its contribution through the European Union Trust Fund.

Madame Chair, let me conclude by assuring you of my country’s commitment to remain actively engaged in working with partners to further strengthen international co-operation and thus promoting stability and security in our world.

Thank you.