It gives me pleasure to send greetings to the States Parties to Protocol V to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons.

Explosive remnants of war that are left behind as a direct consequence of armed conflict continue to kill and maim for years to come. Protocol V, which provides the legal framework for addressing the humanitarian and developmental impact of ERW, has a critical role to play in achieving our goal of eliminating these weapons.

At last year's conference, States Parties took important decisions aimed at strengthening implementation of the Protocol. This year's conference can solidify those commitments and map out a way forward.

I am encouraged by the fruitful discussions you have had on the implementation of the Plan of Action on Victim Assistance. I urge you to build further on the culture of information sharing you have established, and continue your efforts to find ways to take generic preventive measures aimed at minimizing the impact of incidents involving ERW.

I welcome the eight countries that have become States Parties to Protocol V over the past year, bringing the total number to 69.

I call upon those States that have not yet done so to ratify Protocol V without delay, especially in regions affected by landmines and ERW. I also wish to take this opportunity to remind all States of their responsibility to protect civilian populations, both during and after armed conflicts.

The United Nations stands ready to continue to assist you in your noble efforts. In that spirit of partnership, please accept my best wishes for a successful conference.