Lithuania's statement at the Conference on Disarmament

(Friday 28 March 2003 )
Intervention by Mr. Erikas Petrikas
Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Lithuania
To the UN and other International Organisations
To the Conference on Disarmament

Geneva, 27 March 2003

Madame President,

Since Lithuania, an observer country to the Conference on Disarmament, is taking the floor for the first time, allow me to extend my country’s congratulations on your assumption of the Presidency of the Conference. We wish you every success, and let me assure you, Madame President, you can count on our delegation’s full support and cooperation.

I will be brief. I would like to inform the distinguished delegates that on 25 March 2003 the Lithuanian Parliament ratified the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction. Hence, Lithuania will proceed with the final obligations necessary to become a full party to the Convention.

I would like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation of the Coordinating Committee for its effective implementation of the Ottawa Convention. We also wish to commend the work of the Geneva International centre for Humanitarian Demining and, especially the Implementation Support Unit for its valuable support. Ever since the entering into force of the Mines Ban Treaty in 1999, we have also felt the encouraging backing of the ICBL, ICRC, UNMAS, VERTIC and other organisations as well as state parties to the Convention.

A great deal of credit also goes to the Standing Committees, Co-chairs and Co-rapporteurs, and, personally, to the President of the Fourth meeting of the State Parties to the Convention, Ambassador Jean Lint of Belgium.

I would like to recall that on 2 July 2002 the Lithuanian Government for the first time submitted an initial transparency measure report under Article 7 of the Mine Ban Treaty on a voluntary basis. We are very pleased that other countries, not yet parties to the Convention, are following this example, and we fully endorse such steps.

In conclusion, Madame President, I would like to reaffirm Lithuania’s readiness to join the efforts aimed at securing the successful implementation and strengthening of the Ottawa Convention – a tool of crucial importance in eradicating anti-personnel mines and bringing the human suffering caused by these weapons to an end.

I thank you, Madame President.