Statement by H.E. Ambassador YAMAZAKI Kazuyuki, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, at the Briefing by Chairs of Subsidiary Bodies of the Security Council

Mr. President,
 
During our term on the Security Council, I have had the privilege to chair three subsidiary bodies. Along with my predecessor Ambassador Kimihiro ISHIKANE, I chaired the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011) concerning Libya and the Committee pursuant to resolution 2713 concerning Al-Shabaab, and this year I also chaired the Informal Working Group on Documentation and other Procedural Questions.
 
I express my sincere appreciation to the former Chairs of these subsidiary bodies, namely, India, Ireland, and Albania for their advice and close cooperation with my team.
 
Please allow me to share some of my thoughts and observations on the activities I have conducted as Chair of these bodies.
 
Let me start with the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011) concerning Libya.
 
I believe this is one of the most work-intensive sanctions committees, with written notes going out almost every working day and the Chair briefing the Council every two months. The vibrant Committee activities reflect the politically complex environment in Libya and within the Committee as well as the dynamic relations of the Member States with Libya. As Chair, I strived to steer the Committee’s dealings in a fair and transparent manner while listening attentively to the perspectives of Committee members and concerned Member States including Libya. During Japan’s chairship, we held 2 informal Committee meetings with the Libyan Investment Authority for them to present their views and concerns to the Committee. This was reflected in resolution 2701 (2023) and the Panel’s final report, which I welcome.
 
Sanctions measures on Libya are unique in the sense that, especially regarding the asset freeze, they are implemented for the future benefit of the people of Libya. In the Committee, we have continuously worked to ensure appropriate application of the asset freeze exemptions. We were able to issue Implementation Assistance Notice number 7 regarding humanitarian exemptions set out by resolution 2664 (2023) in a timely manner. We also lifted the travel ban on 2 family members of the former leader of the country after careful consideration.
 
This does not mean that the sanctions measures, and the work of the Committee, are perfect. The report by the Panel shows that we are far from it in the areas of arms embargo, travel ban, asset freeze, and illicit petroleum exports. All Member States must fulfil and implement their obligations under the relevant Council resolutions and the Committee must continue its effort to rigorously implement the measures decided by the Council.
 
Mr. President,
 
I now turn to the Committee pursuant to resolution 2713 (2023) regarding Al-Shabaab.
 
During the last two years, the Al-Shabaab sanctions regime evolved significantly to assist the state building efforts of Somalia. Japan closely coordinated with Somalia and the United Kingdom, the penholder, in this regard.
 
One of the most significant changes was the lifting of the arms embargo on the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS), through the adoption of resolution 2713 (2023). The Council rightly acknowledged the FGS’s efforts to improve arms and ammunition control and management. Japan hopes that regional governments will also join this effort, as the POE expects.
 
In spite of this improvement, it is regrettable that the Committee continuously receives reporting of the flow of weapons and ammunition to Al-Shabaab in violation of the arms embargo.
 
I also regret that I was not able to convene a joint meeting between the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2140 (2014) on Yemen and this Committee due to a lack of consensus among the Committee members. Given that a part of the Arabian Peninsula is considered to be a regional hub for smuggling weapons and ammunition, I hope for further cooperation between the Panels of the two Committees and that a joint meeting will be held as soon as possible. Holding a Committee meeting with regional Member States will also be helpful to enhance regional cooperation in this regard.
 
Although Ireland, our predecessor’s Chair, encouraged Japan to lead a Chair’s visit to Somalia during the term, such a visit has not yet been realized due to security situation and tight scheduling of the Council.
 
I hope that the next Chair will lead one and that the visit will serve as an opportunity for the FGS to directly explain its efforts to the Committee.
 
I also call on the FGS to allow and facilitate the POE’s smooth and unhindered work so that it can effectively serve the Committee. This will also help to expedite the ongoing one-off disposal of the charcoal stockpile by selling it.
 
Mr. President,
 
Lastly, I would like to share my thoughts on the activities of the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions (IWG) of which we assumed the chairship as of January 2024. This is the fourth time that Japan assumed this position since 2006 and this time we focused on the work of revising the Note by the President in document S/2017/507 (“Note 507”). During 2023, Japan worked closely with Albania, the Chair of the group for 2022-2023, as a Vice Chair. In June 2023, in collaboration with Albania and two previous chairs, Kuwait and Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Japan launched the interactive handbook website on working methods. I believe this joint work contributed to building on the legacy of the IWG.
 
Just an hour ago today, the IWG successfully agreed upon the updated Note 507, after intensive discussion throughout the year.
 
I believe that there are two important aspects:
 
The first is “incorporation & streamlining.”

The work of incorporating all the Presidential Notes concerning the Security Council working methods into one document is a notable action.
 
This is an initiative that Japan started in 2006. Subsequently, it was further updated in 2010 and 2017 under Japan’s chairpersonship of the IWG. We are committed to building on that important tradition.
 
Having one streamlined document should provide easier reference and implementation for Council members and beyond, thereby improving transparency and efficiency in the Council.
 
Once the new Note 507 is issued, the digital version of the handbook, available through the interactive handbook website, will also be updated accordingly by the Secretariat, and Japan is preparing to issue hard-copy handbooks in due course.  These are signature, practical contributions by Japan for the improvement of the working methods of the Security Council.
 
Another important aspect of this project is the collective effort for “codification”.
 
In January, at the first IWG meeting, we encouraged the codification of good practice that will contribute to the implementation of the working methods of the Council, and also announced that we are open to adding new provisions, should there be a consensus. 

We attach high importance to an inclusive approach, therefore we carefully and proactively listened to the views not only from the Council members, but also from the wider UN membership during the Open Debate in March, which was arranged under our Security Council presidency.
 
Let me introduce some of the achievements regarding codification in the new Note 507:
 
- The new Note includes a reference to the value of hearing the perspectives of a variety of briefers, as well as the importance of mitigating the risks and threats of reprisals to ensure the full, safe and meaningful participation of briefers.
 
- On access to documentation, elected members proposed to address the current unequal access to the legacy documents of the Security Council between the permanent members and the elected members, and the group spent substantial time discussing this matter at informal occasions. As a result, the acknowledgment of the principle of full access to relevant documents for all members of the Security Council and the necessary procedure regarding requests for access has been codified.
 
- Regarding the call for improved collaboration by the Security Council with other organs, the new Note in particular refers to the importance of strengthening collaboration with the Peacebuilding Commission including through the latter’s timely advice.
 
- Regarding the annual report of the Security Council, the new Note successfully codifies the inclusion of “special reports on the use of the veto” as one of the contents of Part 1 of the report.
 
The success in codifying these elements in the new Note is a truly collective achievement. I thank all the IWG members for your constructive engagement in the discussion throughout the year.
 
We must stress that the efforts to improve the Council’s working methods do not end with the adoption of the revised version of Note 507. This is an open-ended, ongoing process and a collective endeavour, and what is most important is the implementation into the actual practice of the Security Council.
 
Mr. President,
 
In conclusion, I express my gratitude to the members of the Security Council and the wider UN membership for their cooperation with us as the Chair of these two committees and the working group over the past two years. I am confident that the incoming Chairs will bring their enthusiasm and ideas to further the work.
 
I also extend our appreciation to the two Panels of Experts for their contributions and to the Secretariat, especially the Subsidiary Organs Branch, for their invaluable assistance and depth of knowledge. I convey my best wishes to them and assure them of Japan’s full cooperation from outside the Council.
 
I thank you, Mr. Chair.