DYB2011-Part-II-web

United Nations Disarmament Yearbook 2011: Part II
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this prohibition to be deferred for up to 12 years. Those opposing responded
that 1980 was an arbitrary deadline and that States needed to take action on all
cluster munitions, which posed a risk regardless of when they were produced.
While some States maintained that these provisions were going to have major
cost and security implications that may necessitate a deferral period, others
responded that this was another example of States not being serious about
addressing the humanitarian impact of cluster munitions and that a deferral on
“use” could not be justified.
Consequently, such divergent views were reflected in the report to the
Review Conference37 that the GGE adopted at its third session. It stated that
the GGE could not reach consensus and that the Chairperson intended to
submit his text for further consideration by the Fourth Review Conference. 38
Fourth Review Conference
The Fourth CCW Review Conference was held in Geneva from 14 to
25 November. Representatives from 95 States parties, 5 signatory States,
23 non-States parties, United Nations entities, international organizations
and non-governmental organizations participated in the Conference. 39
In accordance with the rules of procedure, the Conference appointed 10
Vice-Presidents; 40 Chairpersons and Vice-Chairpersons of the two Main
Committees, Credentials Committee, Drafting Committee; 41 and 3 members of
the Credentials Committee. 42
The Fourth CCW Review Conference was opened on 14 November by
the Director of the Geneva Branch of UNODA. At the outset, Gancho Ganev
(Bulgaria) was confirmed as the President of the Conference. The message43 from the United Nations Secretary-General was delivered by the Director-
General of the United Nations Office at Geneva. The Review Conference
subsequently held a general exchange of views, with 51 States and 6
37 CCW/GGE/2011-III/3.
38 Ibid., para. 18.
39 The list of participants is contained in CCW/CONF.IV/INF.1.
40 Australia, Belarus, China, Cuba, Ecuador, Lithuania, the former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia, Sri Lanka, Switzerland and United States.
41 Credentials Committee Chairperson: Tamar Rahamimoff-Honig (Israel) and Vice-
Chairperson: Amandeep Singh Gill (India); Main Committee I Chairperson: Jesus S.
Domingo (Philippines) and Vice-Chairperson: Robert Jackson (Ireland); Main Committee
II Chairperson: Eric Danon (France) and Vice-Chairperson: Arturas Gailiunas (Lithuania);
Drafting Committee Chairperson: Fedor Rosocha (Slovakia) and Vice-Chairperson: Shen
Jian (China).
42 Cuba, Germany and Romania.
43 Message of the Secretary-General to the Fourth CCW Review Conference, delivered by
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva,
Geneva, 14 November 2011. Available from http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2011/
sgsm13941.doc.htm (accessed 2 June 2012).