Geneva, 14 November 2024

Convention on Prohibition or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons

 Meeting of High Contracting Parties

Thank you Mr. President,

Let me start by congratulating you Ambassador York on assuming the role as the Chair of the 2024 Meeting of the High Contracting Parties to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) and the work guided by you on the conducts of this meeting. We support the inclusion of the observers in the work of the Convention.

Albania aligns itself with the statement to be delivered by European Union and would like to make the following remarks on national capacities.

The Government of Albania has always been ready to play a constructive role and contribute to global peace, welfare, and security. Albania is highly committed to promoting the prohibition or restriction of weapons that cause excessive injury or have indiscriminate effects.

Albania has a long-standing commitment to the CCW Convention and its humanitarian objectives. We are a State Party to all five Protocols as well as to the Amended Protocol II.

In compliance with the International Mine Action Standards and the Amended Protocol II, the Republic of Albania completed the Mine Clearance Programmes in 2009. Currently, the Republic of Albania has no landmine-contaminated areas within its territory. Albania has now embarked on the final challenge of clearing ammunition hotspots contaminated with unexploded ordnance identified throughout Albania.

In accordance with Article 4 of Protocol V, Albana has not made any use of explosive ordinance, and therefore there have been no instances requiring the recording, retention, or transmission of information on the use or abandonment of explosive ordinance.

Annual compliance reports are valuable tools for confidence-building, transparency, cooperation and assistance. Albania regularly delivers its national reports for the Protocols.

In the area of victim assistance, National Action Plan on Persons with Disabilities (2021-2025) foresees measures on the socio-economic inclusion of Persons with Disabilities ant it is fully in line with the principles and definitions of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Mr. Chairman,

We welcome the discussions and the results of the two meetings of the Group of Governmental Experts on emerging technologies in lethal autonomous weapons systems held during this year. The mandate of the GGE should be further strengthened aiming the conclusion of a new legally binding instrument on LAWS in compliance with International Humanitarian Law.

Mr. Chair

Let me stress once again that Albania supports humanitarian aspect of the Convention since we share common aspiration of the entire world community to protect civilians. Bearing in mind the importance of CCW convention we would like to take this opportunity to urge on those States not yet Party to consider accession and ratification of this Convention and its Protocols.

In conclusion, Our delegation is ready for the most active and constructive work within our Convention to reach a consensual outcome of this meeting.

I thank you.