Mr. Chairman,

India shares the concerns about the challenges posed by transfers of conventional weapons, including small arms and light weapons to terrorists and non-State actors, which has become a major threat to international peace and security and an impediment to the full realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Following the conclusion of the 3rd Review Conference of the UNPOA on SALW in New York last year, we look forward to participating in the 7th BMS next year. We attach high importance to the UNPOA as the cornerstone of multilateral efforts to prevent, combat and eradicate illicit trade in SALW. The full and effective implementation of the UNPOA and the ITI is a priority for India, especially as a means for combating terrorism and transnational crime.

The CCW is one of the important instruments within the UN framework which offers a unique forum for progressive controls over certain categories of conventional weapons. The Convention and its Annexed Protocols, while stipulating measures to mitigate humanitarian concerns arising from the use of specific weapons also take into account the military necessity of such weapons and thus strive to strike a balance between the two concepts. India is fully committed to the CCW and the humanitarian principles enshrined in the Convention. India has ratified all five Protocols annexed to the Convention as well as Amended Article I. We are committed to taking all necessary steps to implement our obligations under the CCW and its Protocols, including AP II and Protocol V.  We remain concerned about the current financial status of the CCW and call on all States to make their financial contributions in full and on time. In this context, we also welcome the efforts undertaken in recent years to ensure predictability and sustainability in the Convention's finances.

India supports the approach enshrined in AP II of striking a balance between humanitarian concerns on landmines and legitimate defence requirements, particularly those of States that have long borders. India has fulfilled its obligations under AP II related to the non-production of non-detectable mines as well as rendering all anti-personnel mines detectable. India also observes a moratorium on the export and transfer of landmines. We are fully committed to the eventual elimination of anti-personnel landmines. The availability of militarily effective alternative technologies that can cost effectively perform the defensive function of anti-personnel landmines will facilitate the achievement of this goal. India’s ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities underscores the importance it attaches to the issue of victim assistance. India has been regularly participating as an Observer in the meetings of the APMBC and looks forward to participating in the 4th Review Conference in Oslo later this year.

  We welcome the progress made in the GGE on LAWS over the last three years since its establishment in 2017.  We remain convinced that the CCW is the relevant forum to address this issue; this not only strengthens the Convention but also underlines that it is capable of responding meaningfully to evolving new technologies applicable to armed conflict in the 21st century. We support continued substantive technical discussions in the GGE on LAWS within the CCW context with the participation of all relevant stakeholders.

 India supports the UN Register on Conventional Arms and the UN Report on Military Expenditures and has submitted its national reports regularly. We also participated constructively in the GGE on UNROCA which convened earlier this year. India has strong and effective national export controls governing the transfer of conventional weapons which conform to the highest international standards and remains committed to preventing illegal transfer of conventional weapons.

Before I conclude, I would like to note that Pakistan has once again made a number of baseless and unsubstantiated allegations against India which are not borne out of facts. This Committee is aware of India's responsible conduct in abiding by its international obligations. Pakistan has continued to waste the precious time of this Committee, other UN organs and various multilateral forums by raising issues extraneous to their agenda. I will refrain from engaging further on this issue so as not to waste any more time of this Committee.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.