There seems to be convergence of views on the importance and the merits, but also limitations of article 36. Weapon reviews constitute a critical national implementation mechanism to establish the legality of weapon, means or method of warfare. Article 36 is very valuable in that respect but to complete the picture we should not forget that it does not really create a common clear standard, because there is this element of the internal review of such activity, the difficulties when it comes to transparency and verifiability. So to conclude and without taking away of the importance of such measures, there are a number of elements which do not have the transparency and are lacking a clear common standard. That is also one of the reasons why we have under this convention the protocols. If everything could be resolved by Article 36 there would be no need for protocols.
Statement by Austria under agenda item 6(d) (13 April 2018)
