AFRICAN UNION UNION AFRICAINE UNIO AFRICANA Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, - PDF document

AFRICAN UNION UNION AFRICAINE UNIÃO AFRICANA Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, P.O. Box: 3243 Tel.: (251-11) 5513 822 Fax: (251-11) 5519 321 Email: situationroom@africa-union.org AFRICA REGIONAL WORKSHOP IN PREPARATION FOR THE EIGHTH REVIEW CONFERENCE OF THE BWC 13-14 SEPTEMBER 2016 ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA CLOSING REMARKS BY DR ADMORE KAMBUDZI AG. DIRECTOR, PEACE AND SECURITY DEPARTMENT

1 Your Excellency, Ambassador Dr György Molnár, President-Designate of the Eighth BWC Review Conference, Distinguished representatives of the Implementation Support Unit of the Biological Weapons Convention, Distinguished representatives of AU Member States, the European Union, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States, Esteemed representatives of UNREC and ISS, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is my pleasure to join you at this closing session. I was briefed on the deliberations that you have undertaken during the workshop and I wish to commend all of you for your open and constructive contributions. The African Union strongly believes that such forums are critical to raise awareness among Member States and provide them with the opportunity to interact among each other, as well as with the relevant international organizations and partners. Such exchanges serve to consolidate our positions and lead to stronger participation in the international forums, ultimately leading to strengthening of the multilateral regimes that serve our collective security. I wish to emphasize that the African Union’s framework on WMD disarmament and non-proliferation is centered on three strategic objectives. First, the African Union recognizes that Chemical, Biological and Nuclear weapons are a threat to global security, and that their use constitutes an existential as well as a moral threat to the international community. Therefore, the universality and full compliance with the international regimes forms the foundation for their authority, effectiveness, confidence-building measures and reliable non-proliferation assurances they are meant to provide. This is

2 why the African Union continues to call upon its Member States and other members of the international community to become part of the international regimes. Second, the risk of WMD proliferation to non-state actors, including criminal and terrorist groups, is another concern for the AU and the international community. The AU therefore works within the framework of the different regimes, including UN Security Council resolution 1540 of 2004, to provide the necessary support and expertise to Member States in ensuring that they implement legislative, export controls, law enforcement and other control measures to ensure that their territories are not exploited for proliferation and illicit trafficking purposes. The third strategic objective, which builds on the first two and constitutes the overarching and ultimate goal, is to ensure that Member States have full access to, and are able to benefit from, the related sciences and technologies in a manner that serves their socio-economic development agenda. In this respect, the African Union strongly believes that the international instruments on disarmament and non-proliferation must also deliver fully on their promise to serve as tools to enhance international cooperation in peaceful applications. Ladies and Gentlemen, As you have been informed by Dr Sharif during this workshop, the African Union remains strongly committed to the object and purpose of the Biological Weapons Convention. Over the past couple of years, the African Union has increased its engagement on the Convention and will continue to do so in support of Member States

3 efforts, whether in terms of national implementation, or at the statutory meetings in Geneva. With regards to the upcoming Review Conference, I wish to commend the Member States that have participated in this workshop as well as in the sessions of the Preparatory Committee in Geneva. I understand that some of you have emphasized the need for a robust and concrete outcome of the Review Conference and that you wish to see the needs and views of developing states taken into consideration later this year and in the future of the Convention more generally. I wish to assure you that the African Union shares your concern and will provide all the assistance necessary to ensure that Member States have a common forum to deliberate and consolidate their positions in the future. Having said that, I also wish to underscore that Member States must participate actively in the relevant forums in Geneva. Our participation must be strong and supported by concrete proposals and constructive inputs. More importantly, we must ensure that our obligations pursuant to the Convention are fully implemented at the national level. It is only then that we can authoritatively and credibly engage and negotiate with other members of the international community towards strengthening the implementation of the Convention. Ladies and Gentlemen, Regarding future steps, the African Union intends to participate in the Review Conference and present the views expressed in this workshop as well as the meeting that we held in October 2015. The African Union will also ensure that its permanent

4 mission in Geneva provides a regular forum for Member States to consult and exchange on the Convention. On national implementation, the African Union will continue to mobilize and facilitate the delivery of international assistance in a manner that serves both the non- proliferation purposes of the Convention as well as the development needs and objectives of the concerned States Parties. In concluding, I wish to express my utmost thanks and appreciation to Ambassador Molnár, the Implementation Support Unit, and the European Union for partnering with the African Union in organizing this workshop. I also wish to thank all of you for your time, commitment and contribution to enriching our discussions. Thank you for your kind attention.