CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT HEARS OFFER BY KENYA TO HOST 2004 REVIEW CONFERENCE ON CONVENTION PROHIBITING MINES

CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT HEARS OFFER BY KENYA TO HOST 2004 REVIEW CONFERENCE

ON CONVENTION PROHIBITING MINES

Conference Expresses Condolences

Over Assassination of Prime Minister of Serbia and Montenegro

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 13 March (UN Information Service) -- A representative of Kenya spoke before the Conference on Disarmament this morning, announcing the country's offer to host the 2004 First Review Conference of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction.

The Kenyan official also told the brief plenary session that her Government supported the most recent proposal tabled to end the Conference on Disarmament's years-long inability to reach agreement on a programme of work.

Conference President Djisman Kasri opened the meeting by expressing the forum's shock over the assassination Wednesday of Zoran Djindjic, Prime Minister of Serbia and Montenegro, and offered condolences to the Serbian and Montenegrin Government.  A representative of Serbia and Montenegro said the country was grateful for such statements of international sympathy and support.

At the conclusion of his four-week tenure as President of the Conference, Mr. Kasri reported on negotiations to achieve agreement on a programme of work, saying he regretted that no resolution to the stalemate had been found.  He encouraged member States to continue their joint efforts with good will and flexibility so that the Conference could find a compromise as soon as possible and get back to business.

Statements

      AMINA MOHAMED (Kenya) said she was pleased to announce that the Government of Kenya had offered to host in 2004 the First Review Conference of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of
Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction.  This decision to provide a venue for the Conference was partly borne of the country's commitment and determination to contribute to the realization of the noble objectives of the Convention, and partly due to its recognition that its own region, Africa, remained the most heavily mined and mine-affected region.  The decision was a gesture of solidarity

with mine-affected peoples and countries not only in Africa, but all over the world.

            Kenya had signed the Convention soon after it was opened for signature, on
5 December 1997, and ratified it on 23 January 2001; Kenya had since then closely observed and implemented various provisions of the treaty, had submitted its transparency reports on time, and had actively participated in all the annual meetings of States parties, as well as in intersessional meetings; it was a member of the Coordinating Committee for intersessional meetings; in 2002 it was
Co-Rapporteur of the Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education, and Mine Action Technologies; and in 2003 it had become Co-Chair of the same committee.  Kenya looked forward to receiving the support of States parties in hosting this important Conference.

Like many other delegations, the Kenyan delegation expressed its concern at the enduring stalemate and lack of progress in the work of the Conference on Disarmament, Ms. Mohamed said.  Finding consensus was a difficult and extremely complex task; it was regrettable that none of many initiatives to do so had been successful.  As for the Five Ambassadors' initiative, the latest proposal, Kenya had carefully considered the proposal and thought it merited support.  It was comprehensive, flexible and fair and represented the kind of inter-group dialogue that should be featured in the Conference.  Kenya hoped the Conference on Disarmament would be able to build consensus around the Five Ambassadors' proposal.

DJISMAN KASRI (Indonesia), President of the Conference on Disarmament, said that, as the term of Indonesia's Presidency was coming to an end, he would be making some concluding remarks.  At the beginning of his term, he had expressed his intention to continue the work of his predecessor.  Undoubtedly, the most challenging task was fostering an agreement on a programme of work through various consultations and searching for the elusive balance.  This task was even more demanding when it was being carried out in a rapidly changing international situation.  Many ideas had been put forward, but an agreement that could end the long-lasting deadlock was still eluding the Conference.

It was regrettable that he was duty-bound to report that his efforts had not resulted in any significant harmonization of views, Mr. Kasri said.  There were some positive trends that should be noted.  For example, it was encouraging that more and more delegations were expressing their support for the proposal of the "Five Ambassadors".  It was also worth noting that a number of them had already expressed their readiness to accept the proposed programme of work in its current form.

During his consultations, he had heard many concerns over new threats to international security which warranted the attention of the Conference, Mr. Kasri said.  The ability of the Conference to respond to the challenges posed by these threats could be seen as another test of its viability.  He encouraged everyone to continue in their joint efforts with good will and flexibility so that the Conference could find a compromise as soon as possible and get back to business.

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