AS DELIVERED

The United States agrees that avoiding harm to civilians, including through minimizing military use of civilian infrastructure, is important for preventing missing persons in armed conflict. The United States notes, however, that there is no obligation under international law for states to minimize the military use of civilian infrastructure. Accordingly, we read the language in operative paragraph 4 as referring only to states’ general obligation to act in accordance with applicable international law and not as stating that international law requires states to minimize military use of civilian infrastructure.

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