News

United Nations General Assembly

66th session

First Committee

Statement by the Republic of Lithuania

Thematic discussion on Conventional Weapons

19 October 2011, New York

Mr. Chairman,

We are at the outset of a very intensive conventional disarmament season. The Diplomatic Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty, the Review Conference of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons and the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons are just few events that will focus the attention of the disarmament community in the next 12 months.

As a member of the European Union, Lithuania fully subscribes to and actively supports the EU policies in the domain of international security, disarmament and non-proliferation.

Let me now elaborate on the matters of a particular importance to our delegation. 

Lithuania supports the negotiations of the Arms Trade Treaty. We are convinced that only a legally binding instrument that sets the highest international standards for the transfers of conventional weapons can prevent them from being used against international humanitarian law and human rights obligations and threatening international, regional and national security.

Lithuania welcomes the positive results achieved at the Arms Trade Treaty preparatory process and the constructive engagement of the fellow UN Member States. We also express our appreciation for the way Ambassador Roberto Garcia Moritan guides this process and continue to support his chairmanship through the conclusion of the negotiations in 2012.

Mr. Chairman,

Illegal trade and accumulation of small arms and light weapons continues to be a major cause of violence, suffering and impediment to development. We continue to consider the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons as the central multilateral framework addressing the scourge by these weapons.

Lithuania looks forward to the upcoming Review Conference of the PoA. The agreement on an operational follow-up mechanism, enhancement of regional cooperation, further progress on marking and tracing, improvement of matching needs with resources are the issues of particular importance. 

Furthermore, given the close relationship between security and development, Lithuania has signed and supports the “Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development”.

On the Convention on Cluster Munitions, in just over a year after its entry into force, the Convention already has an important humanitarian impact, as countries clear contaminated land, destroy stockpiles and establish victim assistance programmes.

Lithuania became the 55th State Party to the Convention in March 2011. We have also submitted a voluntary transparency report under Article 7. Lithuania welcomes the growing number of ratifications and accessions to the Convention and calls to put more effort in keeping and – indeed – increasing the momentum to make this treaty universal.

We also welcome the adoption of the Vientiane Action Plan for 2010-2015 and the Beirut Declaration. We are pleased that the proposed mechanism of Implementation Architecture and Intersessional Work closely follows a successful example of the Mine Ban Treaty.

As forums and instruments related to the conventional weapons are becoming more numerous and complex, there is a clear need to explore ways of a more integrated approach, increased coherence and cooperation between their respective memberships, secretariats, NGOs and other stakeholders.

On the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, Lithuania is convinced that negotiations on a new additional protocol on cluster munitions should lead to the adoption of a legally binding document that would provide a significant humanitarian effect and strengthen international humanitarian law.

We are convinced that an agreement on such a document at the forthcoming CCW Review Conference would be an important step and contribution to ongoing restrictions in the use of cluster munitions that would eventually lead to their prohibition.

On the Anti-Personnel Landmine Ban Treaty, Lithuania remains convinced that the main responsibility to implement the Convention lies with a relevant State Party. However, the assistance from other stakeholders is vital. At the same time, donors should take into account the particular situation of each receiving country, encourage national ownership and contribute to building national capacities. It is also essential that both – aid receiving and providing parties – honor their mutual commitments to cooperate. This is what Lithuania has learned from its experience of assistance programmes, as well as a Co-Chair of the Standing Committee on Stockpile Destruction.

In the latter capacity, our delegation would like to thank all concerned countries and stakeholders for their cooperation in implementing the provisions of the Convention on stockpile destruction.

We call mine action community to further assist affected States, including through development of technical solutions to overcome the particular challenges, such as destroying PFM mines in an effective, sustainable and environmentally sound manner.

Mr. Chairman,

Confidence and security building measures, reporting and transparency in particular, provide an important contribution to creating trust between countries and to overall peace and security situation.

The UN Register of Conventional Arms is one of the tools created for this purpose. We welcome a new initiative to enhance use of the Register database by presenting it on the official UN website in a user-friendly way.

Lithuania calls all UN Member States to submit their annual reports and to include, on a voluntary basis, information on the transfers of SALW.

CSBMs are no less important at a regional level. As a Chair of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Lithuania would like to underline the significance of the innovative CSBMs toolbox developed in the framework of the OSCE, which could also be considered by other regional initiatives.     

Finally, let me express Lithuania’s strong conviction that multilateral, regional and national programmes related to security and development, should take into account gender aspects, in particular by promoting participation of women as beneficiaries, practitioners and decision makers. The Security Council resolution 1325 and subsequent resolutions on Women, Peace and Security provide us with relevant framework in this regard.    

Thank you.