[Title] Annex to the G8 Foreign Ministers Meeting Chairman's Statement
The G8 continues its efforts, including through G8 Working Groups, to address a number of topics of worldwide importance. In addition to issues discussed at the Meeting of G8 Foreign Ministers on April 11-12, 2012, this annex, negotiated by G8 governments, briefly highlights the continuing positions and actions of the G8 taken to promote security, safety, health, welfare, and prosperity.
Countering Terrorism and Transnational Organized Crime
The G8 recognizes the cutting edge work of the Roma-Lyon Group (RLG) to counter the cross-cutting threats of terrorism and transnational organized crime, including drug trafficking, particularly through the development of practical tools shared with a broad array of international stakeholders, including the United Nations and regional organizations. We encourage the RLG to continue to play a role in strengthening the implementation of the UN Al-Qaida sanctions regime, and to promote further initiatives of the Committee pursuant to UNSC resolutions 1267/1989. We welcome the outcomes of the Third Ministerial Conference of the Paris Pact Partners on Combating the Illicit Traffic in Opiates Originating in Afghanistan. The G8 endorses the RLG work to enhance cooperation against terrorism; counter improvised explosive devices; combat illicit drug production and trafficking; prevent the sexual exploitation of children; advance cooperation against the wide and fluid range of emerging crimes, including cybercrime; and, maintain the integrity and implementation of the UN drug control and anti-crime legal frameworks. We take note of the RLG Internal Status Report for 2012 and its Transnational Organized Crime Addendum prepared by the RLG, highlighting recent activities of the Group in countering transnational organized crime and terrorism, and we welcome the prospect of further such reports.
Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding
The G8 welcomes the work of the Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding Experts Group on the subject of Protection of Civilians in UN-mandated peacekeeping operations, including child protection and the prevention and remediation of sexual and gender-based violence, including rape as a weapon of war, and violence against women. G8 experts have discussed these issues with a view to promoting the protection of civilians in UN operations as mandated including by building the capacity of the UN and host nations to undertake their respective protection responsibilities. The G8 recognizes that parties to a conflict bear the primary responsibility for the protection of civilians.
We acknowledge the positive results achieved by the relevant peacekeeping training facilities in G8 countries or supported by them in recipient countries. We also reaffirm the need for further steps aimed at implementing the G8 summits decisions on enhancing
peacekeeping/peacebuilding capacities and better correspondence between needs and training.
Nuclear Safety and Security
The G8 welcomes the work of its Nuclear Safety and Security Group. We advocate the strengthening of the international nuclear safety framework, including the emergency preparedness and response system. In this context, the G8 supports the effective, timely and transparent implementation of the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) Action Plan on Nuclear Safety. We recognize that successful implementation of the plan needs a strong commitment at the international level by the Agency, as well as at national levels by each of its Member States. This plan represents an important and comprehensive roadmap for addressing, in the short, medium and long terms the lessons learned and safety concerns arising from the March 11, 2011 accident at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, which highlighted the continuing importance that all nations should place on nuclear safety, and on the promotion of the highest levels of nuclear safety. We recognize the importance of the success of the Extraordinary Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Convention on Nuclear Safety and the Fukushima Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Safety to be held respectively in August and December 2012 for further progress in international nuclear safety. The G8 endorses a strong nuclear safety and security culture in all sectors of the nuclear industry and comprehensive risk and safety assessments. We urge countries that have not yet done so to ratify conventions crucial for the international nuclear safety regime (Convention on Nuclear Safety, Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management, Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident, and Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency). We support robust review of implementation of these conventions and consideration of strengthening them, if necessary, in light of lessons learned from the accident at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station and various international initiatives to this end, in order to ensure robust nuclear safety practices. The G8 reaffirms its support for the completion of the Chornobyl nuclear safety projects in Ukraine in a timely and cost-effective manner.
The G8 supports, and through the 24 member Global Partnership, helps implement the 2012 Seoul and 2010 Washington Nuclear Security Summit's goal of securing vulnerable nuclear material and radioactive sources around the world as well as the information, technology or expertise required to acquire or use nuclear materials for malicious purposes. The G8 promotes universal adherence to the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, which are crucial for the international nuclear security regime, as enunciated in the Seoul Communiqué.
Disarmament and Nonproliferation
The G8 reaffirms its unconditional support for the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and for its universalization. We stress that all NPT Parties have an important stake in the health and vitality of the NPT and we support implementation of the action plan agreed at the 2010 NPT Review Conference to preserve and strengthen the international non- proliferation and disarmament regime. The upcoming 2012 NPT Preparatory Committee is an opportunity to work together to pave the way towards a successful 2015 NPT Review Conference. The G8 reiterates its strong concern about the severe proliferation challenges in the world and its commitment to working to resolve them through diplomatic means. We urge the concerned countries to comply with their international obligations. The G8 reiterates its commitment to the full implementation of UNSCR 1540 by all states and its support to the work of the UNSC 1540 Committee. We urge all countries to comply with their international obligations. We welcome efforts of the states concerned to bring into force the relevant protocols to the existing nuclear-weapon-free zone treaties and support further zones established in accordance with international guidelines, to include an eventual zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery in the Middle East. The G8 stresses the importance of the initiation, within a balanced program of work, without any further delay of negotiations on a treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices, and regrets that the Conference on Disarmament once again has been prevented from doing so. The G8 supports the early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), and calls upon all states that have not yet done so to sign and ratify the CTBT without further delay. The G8 underlines the fundamental importance of an effective IAEA safeguards system and calls on all States to sign and implement an IAEA Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement (CSA) and an Additional Protocol to CSA as soon as possible. The G8 encourages further progress on the ongoing Arms Trade Treaty negotiations.
Space Security and Sustainability
The G8 supports the work of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) towards ensuring the long-term sustainability of outer space activities. We also support the implementation of space-related transparency and confidence-building measures for responsible behavior in space, and related activity of the UN Group of Governmental Experts on Transparency and Confidence Building Measures (TCBM) in Outer Space Activities. The G8 acknowledges the initiative taken by the European Union to develop an International Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities. We reiterate our commitment to carry on activities in the exploration and use of outer space in accordance with applicable international law, including the Charter of the United Nations.
Global Partnership
The G8 commends the Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction as it remains committed to completing priority projects in Russia and takes forward work on the mandate agreed at the Deauville Summit, including in the areas of nuclear and radiological security, biological security, scientist engagement and the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540. Recognizing the significant international threats posed by the potential use of biological weapons or the deliberate spread of disease, the Global Partnership supports efforts to develop comprehensive approaches to promote global biosecurity as an essential element for building secure, and stable nations. Building on the commitments made at the 2010 and 2012 Nuclear Security Summits, the Global Partnership continues to assist nations with nuclear and radiological security, including through nuclear security centers of excellence, promoting international cooperation and a strong nuclear security culture, and advancing information and transportation security. The Global Partnership also continues to pursue the expansion of its membership, as agreed by Leaders in 2011, and welcomes the ongoing participation of relevant international organizations in the global effort to improve coordination of WMD counter-proliferation initiatives.
Continuing Support for Global Health
The G8 supports the call for an AIDS-free generation and efforts to achieve universal access to prevention, treatment, care and support with respect to HIV/AIDS. The G8 renews and recommits to supporting the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria on the tenth anniversary of its establishment and as the Fund adopts a comprehensive reform agenda. The G8 encourages all donors to meet their pledges, calls upon new donors to join our common efforts to support the Fund, and requests that implementing countries redouble their support for shared responsibility through increased leadership and financing in addressing these critical health challenges.
The G8 reaffirms its commitment to implementing the Muskoka Initiative and to global efforts to improve maternal, newborn and child health in developing countries by delivering comprehensive interventions, including at the community level, across the continuum of care. We will also support major international efforts to reduce early childhood deaths and generate the leadership and resources needed to increase access to family planning to enable women to choose whether, when and how many children they have. We urge accountability and action addressing key needs.
The G8 likewise reaffirms its support to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative and calls for the political and financial support to implement the Polio Emergency Action Plan 2012-2013. The G8 urges continued collaboration to accelerate progress on controlling and eliminating neglected tropical diseases. The G8 also reaffirms its resolve to accelerate reductions in preventable childhood deaths by increasing equitable access to routine immunization and life saving vaccines through the GAVI Alliance.
Strengthening health systems on a comprehensive and sustainable basis is crucial for improving global health. We are well aware that our global support has to rely on countries' health systems to become effective – we therefore reiterate our intentions to provide support in line with internationally agreed aid effectiveness principles, including shared and mutual responsibility, aligned to national efforts of health systems strengthening.
G8 nations recognize that the 21st century marks a turning point in the history of global health. Advancements in science and increasing international and multisectoral collaboration have resulted in rapid improvements in disease surveillance and response, and in reducing the risk of outbreaks irrespective of origin or source. We therefore call on all nations to place a priority on implementing the World Health Organization International Health Regulations (IHR 2005). This includes collaborating with others to develop and strengthen core public health capacities to prevent, detect, report, and respond to these public health emergencies of international concern. The cooperation of others on this priority is essential to the sustainable development of nations.