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25. June 2020
STATEMENT DELIVERED BY AMBASSADOR RAPULANE MOLEKANE, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, ON DRAFT PROCEDURE FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, FIFTY – FOURTH SESSION OF THE CTBTO PREPARATORY COMMISSION, 25 JUNE 2020, VIENNA, AUSTRIA
Madam Chair
South Africa thanks you, Ambassador Merbaki for your extensive consultations aimed at ensuring inclusivity in all deliberations of the 54th Session of the Preparatory Commission. We appreciate receiving the Draft Procedure for the Appointment of the Executive Secretary based on the 2012 process. We also note with satisfaction that after your consultation at the request of the Bureau, Dr Zerbo, has responded positively with an indication that he is available to continue serving as Executive Secretary. Ordinarily, this response could have concluded the matter and allowed us space to concentrate on pressing and urgent matters, however to respond to the need for competition and to allow for State Parties to exercise their democratic right, we should then discuss the draft procedure as proposed by the Chair.
South Africa believes that the appointment of the Executive Secretary is one of the important tasks of the Preparatory Commission, as this portfolio is critical for the effective functioning of the CTBTO. To this end, the Preparatory Commission must allow itself sufficient time to careful consider any process that ultimately leads to the appointment of the Executive Secretary. The time available between receipt of this proposal and this session does not meet this criterion. South Africa therefore proposes that time be provided for extensive consultations on the draft procedure. These consultations should be scheduled in such a manner that ensures that the Preparatory Commission is able to finalise and appoint the next Executive Secretary before the end of the current term.
Furthermore South Africa encourages the Preparatory Commission to work towards a permanent procedure for the appointment of future Executive Secretaries prior to the Treaty entering into force.
With these words, I thank you Madam Chair.
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