SECOND MEETING OF STATES PARTIES TO MINE-BAN CONVENTION CONCLUDES SESSION

Press Release
DC/2725

SECOND MEETING OF STATES PARTIES TO MINE-BAN CONVENTION CONCLUDES SESSION

Adopts Declaration Deploring Continued Use of Anti-Personnel Mines, Calls on States to Ratify Convention, Respect Their Commitments

GENEVA, 15 September (UN Information Service) -- The second meeting of States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and Their Destruction this morning concluded its session by adopting a Declaration which expressed deep concern that anti-personnel mines continued to kill, maim and threaten the lives of countless innocent people each day.

The Declaration deplored the continued use of anti-personnel mines and called upon all those who used them to cease now and to join in the task of eradicating those weapons. States that had not formally accepted the obligations of the Convention were called upon to ratify or accede to it promptly. States in the process of formally accepting the obligations of the Convention were called upon to apply its terms provisionally.

Further, the Declaration called on those in a position to do so to provide technical and financial assistance to meet the enormous challenges of mine action, and whenever relevant, to integrate these efforts into development planning and programming.

The meeting adopted its final report which included the Declaration and the President's Action Programme. Over the course of the meeting, other decisions were taken pertaining to revisions to the intersessional work programme and an amendment to the reporting format under article 7. The meeting also recommended the establishment of a Coordinating Committee of Co-Chairs of the Standing Committees of Experts to ensure a high degree of coordination of their work to facilitate the successful implementation of the Convention.

The President's Action Programme summarized concrete initiatives and activities that had taken place in the Standing Committees of Experts which assisted in the process of implementation by identifying practical steps that could be taken.

In his concluding remarks, the President of the second meeting, Ambassador Steffen Kongstad of Norway, noted that there was a tremendous task ahead but what earlier appeared to be unattainable now seemed to be within reach if States worked together.

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The second meeting opened last Monday in a ceremony which was addressed, among others, by Vladimir Petrovsky, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva; Adolf Ogi, President of the Confederation of Switzerland; and Princess Astrid of Belgium. The speakers expressed their commitment to the creation of a world free of mines. Also participating in the ceremony were landmine survivors coming from 13 different countries who talked about their experiences. The motto of the meeting was "Every Minute Counts."

By the end of the meeting, 107 countries had become States parties to the Convention.

The third meeting of the States parties is scheduled to take place from 18 to 21 September 2001 in Managua, Nicaragua.

Declaration

In the Declaration of the second meeting of the States parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and their Destruction, the States parties said they had gathered in Geneva to reaffirm their unwavering commitment both to the total eradication of anti-personnel mines and to addressing the insidious and inhumane effects of these weapons. Taking stock, the Declaration states that more than 100 States had formally accepted the obligations of the Convention; more than 20 States parties had completed destruction of stockpiled anti-personnel mines and a further 24 States parties were in the process of destroying stockpiles. Approximately $250 million had been allocated by donors over the past year to address the global landmine problem.

The Declaration recognized that much work remained. The States parties were pleased their efforts were making a difference. However, they remained deeply concerned that anti-personnel mines continued to kill, maim and threaten the lives of countless innocent people each day. They deplored the continued use of these mines and called on countries which continued to use anti-personnel mines to cease doing so and to join in the task of eradicating those weapons. They also implored States that had declared their commitment to the Convention and that continued to use mines to respect their commitments. The Declaration recognized that achieving the promise of the Convention rested in continuing to be tireless in efforts to end the use of anti-personnel mines, to eradicate stockpiles, to cease development, production and transfers of these weapons, to clear mined areas in order to free land from its deadly bondage, to assist victims to reclaim their lives, and to prevent new victims.

The States parties in their Declaration called on those in a position to do so to provide technical and financial assistance to meet the enormous challenges of mine action, and whenever relevant to integrate these efforts into development planning and programming. The intersessional work programme established at the first meeting of States parties in Maputo had assisted in developing a global picture of priorities consistent with the obligations and time frames contained within the Convention. Interesting parties were invited to continue to participate in the work of the Convention's Standing Committees between now and the next meeting of the States parties which would take place

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from 18 to 21 September 2001 in Managua, Nicaragua. The States parties reconfirmed their conviction to make anti-personnel mines objects of the past; and reconfirmed their obligation to assist those who had fallen victim to this terror, and their shared responsibility to the memories of those lives which had been lost as a result of the use of these weapons.

President's Action Programme

According to the President's Action Programme, Argentina and Canada, in cooperation with the Organization of American States and the United Nations Department of Disarmament Affairs, would host the seminar on stockpile destruction in Buenos Aires on 6 and 7 November 2000. Also, Hungary and Canada would host a seminar in early 2001 on the unique challenges associated with the destruction of PFM mines.

On the general status and operation of the Convention, France and Canada, in cooperation with the Organization of African Unity, would organize a conference on the universalization and implementation of the Conference in Africa, to be hosted by Mali in Bamako on 15 and 16 February 2001. Canada would also host a workshop in Ottawa in November 2000 to prepare detailed recommendations in time for possible review in December 2000 by the Standing Committee on the status and operation of the Convention.

Decisions and Recommendations

The adopted intersessional work programme stated that as opposed to the current six periods of meetings, totalling six weeks in duration, only three periods of meetings would be held annually, including the main meeting of the States parties. Further, in the interest of promoting efficiency, the Standing Committees for mine clearance and technologies and for mine action would be combined into one committee entitled Mine Clearance and Related Technologies.

An amendment was also made to the reporting format of article 7 of the Convention, which states that in order to provide States parties with the opportunity to report voluntarily on matters pertaining to compliance and implementation not covered by the formal reporting requirements contained in article 7, an additional form would be added. It was recommended that States parties consider using the form to report on activities undertaken with respect to article 7, in particular to report on assistance provided for the care, rehabilitation, and social and economic reintegration of mine victims.

The meeting also recommended the establishment of a Coordinating Committee of Co-Chairs of the Standing Committees of Experts to ensure a high degree of coordination of their work to facilitate the successful implementation of the Convention.

Concluding Remarks of the President

STEFFEN KONGSTAD (Norway), President of the second meeting, said the second meeting gave States parties the opportunity to build networks and

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alliances and establish new contacts. It also provided them with inspiration and enthusiasm for their work. There was a tremendous task ahead of them, but what earlier appeared to be unattainable now seemed to be within reach of all who worked together.

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