STATEMENT BY MS LIU JIAMIN, DELEGATE OF THE PERMANENT MISSION OF SINGAPORE, AT THE 78TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY FIRST COMMITTEE THEMATIC DISCUSSION ON CLUSTER FOUR: CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS, 23 OCTOBER 2023

Thank you, Mr Chairman.

Singapore aligns itself with the statements delivered by Cambodia on behalf of ASEAN, and by Indonesia on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement. I would like to add three points in our national capacity.

2 First, Singapore recognises that the widespread availability and illegal proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW), as well as their ammunition, has exacerbated armed conflicts and lethal violence worldwide. We therefore reaffirm our commitment to efforts by the UN to curb the illicit production, trafficking, and trade in SALW, including the full implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (PoA). We look forward to the 4^th Review Conference of the PoA in 2024 and support efforts to overcome challenges in operationalising the International Tracing Instrument (ITI), while considering the potential implications from the emergence of new technologies.

3 We also commend the success of the Open-Ended Working Group on Conventional Ammunition in adopting a Global Framework for safe, secure, and sustainable through-life conventional ammunition management. Singapore was glad to have contributed by co-convening with Brazil, Ghana, Jamaica, and Switzerland a series of informal dialogues on international cooperation and assistance for through-life ammunition management. We look forward to the implementation of the Global Framework.

4 Second, Singapore shares the international community’s concern for the humanitarian impact that the indiscriminate use of conventional weapons can have on innocent civilians and reaffirms our full commitment to their responsible use. In line with this, Singapore deposited our instrument of accession to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) in September 2023, and looks forward to formally becoming a High Contracting Party in early 2024. Singapore also supports initiatives against the indiscriminate use of anti-personnel landmines and cluster munitions, and have traditionally voted in favour of the relevant resolutions on the implementation of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention and Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM). Singapore continues to maintain our indefinite moratorium on the export of anti-personnel landmines and cluster munitions.

5 Third, Singapore is committed to promoting transparency and establishing common international standards in the conventional arms trade. We have regularly submitted national reports to the UN Register of Conventional Arms (UNROCA) since 1993, and have actively engaged in the Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) on the UNROCA in 2019 and 2022. Singapore strongly encourages the implementation of the recommendations of the 2022 GGE, to ensure the continued relevance of the UNROCA as an important transparency and confidence-building instrument. As one of the world’s busiest transit and transhipment hubs, Singapore adopts a rigorous approach to curb the illicit flow of arms through a robust export control regime, which we review regularly to ensure that Singapore remains fully compliant with our international obligations on arms transfers.

Mr Chairman,

6 It is vital that all States fulfil their obligations to eradicate the illicit trade in, and indiscriminate use of conventional arms. At the same time, this must be balanced with the sovereign right of States to acquire arms for legitimate self-defence and responsible law enforcement. Singapore reaffirms our commitment to working with the international community on curbing the unauthorised diversion, illicit trade and indiscriminate use of conventional weapons, to safeguard international peace and security.

7 Thank you for your attention.

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