Preparatory Commission for the                                                PC-X/21

Organisation for the Prohibition                                                7 April 1995

of Chemical Weapons                                                                     Original:   ENGLISH

SOUTH AFRICA

STATEMENT MADE BY THE DELEGATION OF SOUTH AFRICA AT THE TENTH SESSION REGARDING THE APPOINTMENT OF SENIOR STAFF MEMBERS IN THE PROVISIONAL SECRETARIAT

The South African delegation regrets the fact that the lack of agreement on the appointment of a senior position in the Secretariat could possibly prevent the Commission from concluding its important tasks.

By not adopting its Report for this Session, the Commission could not only threaten the progress made towards entry into force of the Convention during this Session as well as during the past intersessional period, but could also delay the important work to be completed during the forthcoming intersessional period.  This, Mr. Chairman, will not be acceptable to the South African delegation, as it is very likely to affect the process of ratification in many countries.

As the Commission is aware, South Africa is already advanced towards ratifying the Convention.  In fact, we intend to be able to deposit South Africa's instrument of ratification with the United Nations before the next Session of the Preparatory Commission.  However, the apparent lack of progress made towards entry into force, especially in areas such as Technical Cooperation and Assistance, Confidentiality, Chemical Weapons Issues, etc, together with the lack of support from certain countries to conclude the work of the Commission, raises the question whether all Member States are equally committed to implementing the Convention.

Mr. Chairman, should the Commission not be able to conclude the work which has been done during this Session and thereby provide a mandate for the very important tasks to be attended to during the next intersessional period, it could very well raise questions in South Africa's Parliament on whether South Africa should not delay its own ratification process so as to access the commitment by Member States to progress entry into force of the Convention.

The South African delegation also wishes to point out that the practical implications of not adopting the Commission's Report could have further practical implications for the preparations for implementing the Convention in South Africa.  In this regard, South Africa views the adoption of the following recommendations of vital importance: that the US offer on the Information Management System be accepted; that the Secretariat be authorised to approach the World Customs Organisation with the request to consider amending the HS codes to facilitate the trading of chemicals through existing National Customs controls; and that Member States be requested to submit tenders for inspection equipment, etc.

The unfortunate actions taken by certain delegations with regard to the appointment of Secretariat staff members; which could possibly hold the decision to adopt the Report of the Commission in abeyance, could also have an impact on the ratification process in other countries of which many do not have declarable chemical industries or the intention to develop such industries.  The decision by these countries to ratify the Convention will be based only on the political will of their Governments to comply with international non-proliferation and disarmament obligations such as the Chemical Weapons Convention.  This, Mr. Chairman, should not be discouraged!

In closing, the South African delegation wishes to urge the Commission to seriously consider the implications of not agreeing on the appointment of Secretariat staff members, which could possibly prevent the Commission from concluding its important tasks at this crucial time.  If consensus cannot be reached on the appointment of new staff members during this Session, the incumbent positions should be retained until the next Plenary Session. We would therefore suggest to the Commission, in view of the lack of agreement between a few delegations, that paragraphs 10.2 and 10.3 of the Commission's Report be amended so as to provide for the provisional appointments of the incumbent staff members and that the rest of the Report be adopted as it stands.  This will allow delegations with reservations on the appointment of senior staff members to consult further on this issue and to seek a possible solution before the next Plenary Session.

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