STATES PARTIES TO CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS CONVENTION CONCLUDE THIRD MEETING; WORK APPROVED FOR 2003

Round-up

STATES PARTIES TO CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS CONVENTION

CONCLUDE THIRD MEETING; WORK APPROVED FOR 2003

GENEVA (UN Information Service), 13 December -- The Third Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects (CCW) concluded today with States parties confirming their commitment to take further action with the aim of strengthening the Convention and agreeing on follow-up work for its Group of Governmental Experts in 2003.  The session adopted the report of the Group of Governmental Experts, which recommends a mandate for two respective working groups, namely on the issue of Explosive Remnants of War (ERW), and the issue of mines other than anti-personnel mines (MOTAPM).

On the issue of ERW, the meeting decided to begin negotiations on a legally binding instrument next year.  The mandate provided contains, in one part, a negotiating mandate on post-conflict remedial measures, and, in another part, a mandate on further exploration of preventive measures.  Meanwhile, on the issue of MOTAPM, the meeting decided to continue to further explore the issue in 2003.  In addition, the meeting decided to continue examination of the issue of compliance with the Convention and its Protocols.  Agreement was also achieved on the consideration of small-calibre weapons and ammunition.  The meeting invited interested States parties to continue informal meetings at the expert level on that issue.

The meeting decided to re-designate Ambassador Rakesh Sood of India as Chairman of the Meeting of the States Parties in 2003, and reappointed Ambassador Chris Sanders of the Netherlands as Coordinator on ERW and Peter Kolarov of Bulgaria as Coordinator on MOTAPM.  The Group of Governmental Experts will hold its first session in 2003 from 10–12 March, its second session from 16–27 June, and its third session from 17–24 November.  The Fifth Annual Conference of States Parties to Amended Protocol II of the Convention was scheduled for 26 November, which will be followed by the Meeting of the States Parties from 27–28 November 2003.

This year's two-day meeting of States parties began Thursday.

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