STATEMENT DELIVERED BY AMBASSADOR RAPULANE MOLEKANE, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, 57TH SESSION OF WORKING GROUP B OF THE COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN TREATY ORGANISATON (CTBTO), 23 AUGUST 2021, VIENNA, AUSTRIA

Chairperson,

South Africa congratulates you, Mr. Erlan Batyrbekov, on your election as the Chair of Working Group B and is pleased to have you as the chairperson of the 57^th Session of Working Group B. We also wish to congratulate you, Dr Robert Floyd on your assumption of the position of Executive Secretary and thank you for your opening statement.

My delegation is fully committed to the CTBTO and thanks the Provisional Technical Secretariat (PTS) for the work it has done, including with regard to the compilation of the Verification Related Activities Report for the period January to June 2021, and the preparatory arrangements for this Session.

South African associates itself with the statements delivered on behalf of the African Group and the Group of 77 + China and would like to add a few remarks in our national capacity.

Chairperson,

Next month the Treaty marks the 25^th Anniversary of its opening for signature, but it is yet to enter into force. South Africa thus reiterates its call to the remaining Annex II countries to sign and ratify the Treaty without further delay. Their signature and ratification will be a positive step in their commitment to global peace and security. In this regard, I confirm the statement made by my Co – President Designate for the Article XIV Conference, the Permanent Representative of Italy, and express my hope that State Signatories will work with us towards finalising the Conference Declaration soon.

My delegation welcomes the report of the Executive Secretary on verification related matters for the period January to June 2021, and is pleased to note that the PTS has all necessary means to ensure that the International Monitoring System continues to function without hindrance and thus the data availability of certified stations remain high. Similarly, IDC products were issued without interruption and continue to meet the indicative timeliness guidelines provided by Working Group B.

South Africa reiterates its belief in the importance of maintaining and expanding the preparedness of the CTBTO to implement the Treaty once it comes into force. To this end, the completion of IMS facilities and the maintenance thereof, as well as capacity building that enables State Signatories to implement the provisions of the Treaty are key. In this regard, my delegation thanks the PTS for the completion of the major upgrade of the Infrasound Station IS47 located in Boshof, South Africa, which is a reflection of the good cooperation between my country and the PTS in supporting South Africa to fulfil its obligations to the Treaty.

Furthermore, my delegation reiterates its call for the PTS to respect territorial integrity and the decisions of the United Nations in all its endeavours. In this regard we underscore the need for the PTS to abide by the provisions of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 73/295 and the General Assembly’s call for all international organizations including those established by Treaties to respect this resolution.

Chairperson

My delegation joins others in appreciating the efforts made by the PTS to conduct capacity building interventions through virtual means where possible and further joins others in requesting the Secretariat to timeously reschedule those capacity building projects which were not held during the reporting period.

Chairperson,

My delegation places great importance on gender equality and youth empowerment, in this regard we commend the Secretariat for hosting a successful Science and Technology Conference 2021, which provided an opportunity for scientific exchanges and benefited, amongst others, young scientists. South Africa is proud and privileged to have contributed to this Conference through presentations delivered by women scientists.

With these few remarks, I thank you, Mr Chairperson.

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