DC/2807
L/T/4361
18 September 2001
THIRD MINE-BAN CONVENTION MEETING OPENS IN MANAGUA
(Received from a UN Information Officer.)
MANAGUA, 18 September -- The Third Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction (the Ottawa Convention) opened today in Managua, Nicaragua.
The Convention obliges States parties not to use, develop, produce, buy or sell anti-personnel mines, and to destroy, over time, their stockpiles.� States Parties also commit to report on their activities to implement the Convention, and to meet regularly.
Francisco Xavier Aguirre Sacasa, Foreign Minister of Nicaragua, was elected President of the meeting, which will close on Friday, 21 September.� Eight States parties -- Belgium, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Slovakia and Zimbabwe -- were elected Vice Presidents.� Bertha Marina Arguello, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nicaragua, was confirmed as Secretary-General of the Meeting, with Kerry Brinkert of Canada named Deputy Secretary-General.
In his opening address this morning, Mr. Aguirre said that the Convention could take credit for the decrease in the number of victims of anti-personnel mines all over the world.� Fewer countries were now producing anti-personnel mines –- down to 14 from 55 -- and the number of stockpiled mines had decreased, with more than 27 million destroyed in more than 50 States.
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in a message read by Jayantha Dhanapala, Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs, told the meeting that, in the aftermath of the terrible tragedy in the United States last week, there had never been a greater need for unity and purpose against the forces of violence and destruction.� He called on those States that had not joined the treaty to do so.
The President of the Second Meeting of States parties, Steffen Kongstad of Norway, Jody Williams, of the non-governmental organization International Campaign to Ban Land Mines, and the Meeting Executive Secretary, Pericles Gasparini, also spoke this morning.
In an afternoon meeting, States parties held a general exchange of views.� The need to ensure continued international support for demining was stressed, as was the importance of universal accession to the Convention, and the importance of fully implementing it.� Support was expressed for the proposed establishment of a
support unit for implementation of the Convention.� Several States drew attention to the need to investigate allegations that one State party –- Uganda –- and some signatories were not acting in accordance with the treaty.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs of El Salvador, the Minister for National Defence of Mozambique, the Minister of Defence of Nicaragua, and the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Zambia spoke, as did the representatives of Australia, Belgium (on behalf of the European Union and associated States), Brazil, Canada, Croatia, Japan, Norway, Peru, Spain, Switzerland and Thailand.
Yesterday, in the presence of a number of representatives to the meeting, including Under-Secretary-General Dhanapala, Nicaragua conducted what has been termed “practical disarmament", by exploding 20,000 mines from its stockpile.
����� Background
The Convention was opened for signature at Ottawa, Canada, in December 1997.� It entered into force on 1 March 1999, approximately six months after the fortieth State ratified or acceded to it. �The depository for the Convention is the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
States that choose to be party to the Convention are obliged to never, under any circumstances, use anti-personnel mines, and to never develop, produce, buy or sell anti-personnel mines.� They are also charged with destroying or ensuring the destruction of all anti-personnel mines.
Stockpiled anti-personnel landmines far outnumber those actually laid in the ground.� Article 4 of the Convention requires States parties to destroy their stockpiles no later than four years after the treaty enters into force.� It is expected that the first group of States parties will have destroyed their stockpiled anti-personnel landmines by March 2003.
The provisions of the Convention also include a procedure to monitor progress in the achievement of its objectives.� It establishes an annual reporting system of transparency measures, and calls for regular meetings.� The first meeting of the States parties took place in Maputo, Mozambique, from 3 to 7 May 1999.� The second meeting was held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 11 to 15 September 2000.
The United Nations has agreed to assist States parties to facilitate and verify compliance and the procedures laid down in the Convention.
There are currently 111 States parties to the Convention: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Chad, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Niue, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
A further nine States will become parties in the near future, having acceded to the Convention within the last six months.
Statements (AM)
In opening the meeting, the President of the Second Meeting of States parties, STEFFEN KONGSTAD (Norway), said that the meeting must focus on work in the field.� The Ottawa process stood out as a constructive process with a focus on practical results.� There was a slowing of trade in mines and production was decreasing.� Via the Convention, an international law had been established and was working.� However, there should be no divergence in interpretations of key commitments and all non-compliance must be dealt with.� He urged States parties to pursue non-compliance, in a cooperative fashion.� In addition, the procedures must be improved and refined.� He praised the work of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), non-governmental organizations and civil society, and called for continued cooperation with non-State actors.
FRANCISCO XAVIER AGUIRRE SACASA, Foreign Minister of Nicaragua, and President of the Third Meeting, said the Convention showed what could be achieved by cooperation.� Civil society had been essential.� There had been immense progress at the regional level.� Central America could become the first area free of land mines, with international cooperation.� And each day brought the world closer to universal acceptance of the Convention.� Among the achievements that could be credited to the Convention, was the decrease in the number of victims in all parts of the world.� The number of countries producing anti-personnel mines had decreased from 55 to 14.� In practice, there was an embargo on trade.� There had also been an increase in the destruction of stockpiled mines, with more than 27 million destroyed in more than 50 States.
Speaking on behalf of United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, JAYANTHA DHANAPALA, Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs, told the meeting that, in the aftermath of the terrible tragedy in the United States last week, the gathering took on even greater significance.� There had never been a greater need for unity and purpose against the forces of violence and destruction.
He said the United Nations was a proud partner in the effort to draw attention to the threat of anti-personnel landmines, which he described as insidious remnants of war that continued to cause suffering long after the battle had ceased.� The Convention was making a difference in the lives of people around the world and the international community had made significant progress in creating an environment free from landmines.� He called on those States that had not joined the treaty to do so.
JODY WILLIAMS, of the non-governmental organization International Campaign to Ban Land Mines, then addressed the meeting.� She said that she could not imagine speaking of forms of terror, without speaking about the terror that had struck her country, the United States, this week.� Terrorism had many faces.� She had worried that the meeting might not happen, in the wake of that terrorism, and she commended the Government of Nicaragua and those attending the meeting for carrying on.� It was important to continue the critical work that took place at the annual meetings of States parties, because land mines were a less visible example of terrorism.
The meeting was to examine what transpired in the last year, to assess progress, and to make an honest assessment of problems that still faced the world in eradicating this weapon, she said.� Issues of compliance must be looked at long and hard.� The treaty should not be beautiful words on paper, but a symbol of how to move international law forward.� The meeting gave a signal to the world about the necessity of the rule of law, and a signal about the achievements possible if States and people worked together.
����� Statements (PM)
During a general exchange of views the Minister of Defence and Chairman of the National Commission of Mine Action of Nicaragua said the fight in Nicaragua against landmines had not been easy, nor without incidents.� Given the events in the United States last week, he believed that it was more important than ever to say yes to peace, by proceeding with this meeting, and Managua was pleased to become the world capital of peace for a few days.� He hoped that the meeting would include a fruitful exchange of information among countries afflicted by mines.� The Conference must adopt a broad approach and not merely focus on technical aspects.� Not covering related subjects could reduce effectiveness, and the horizon should not be limited to action that could be taken without effort.� He then outlined the Nicaraguan programme of action against landmines, and the reasons why such efforts, nationally and internationally, must be undertaken.� The support of the international community was essential, he said.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs of El Salvador said that, to achieve the objectives of the Convention, international cooperation was essential as a complement to work by States afflicted by anti-personnel mines.� She then described demining activities in El Salvador, by the Government and the international community, which resulted in El Salvador becoming the first country in Central America to be declared free of anti-personnel mines.� Continuous rehabilitation, however, required continued international support.� She called for effort to reduce production of mines until it stopped completely, and for the establishment of a trust fund for victims of anti-personnel mines.
The Ambassador for Mine Action of Canada said that, by again holding the Ottawa Convention meeting in a country that was mine afflicted, States parties reminded themselves of the importance of their work, its impact, and of the need to keep working.� When it was opened for signing, it would have seemed a dream that a majority of States would join this Convention, yet they had.� Thanks to the Land Mine Monitor initiative, States parties knew they had made progress.� For many, the four-year deadline for destruction of stockpiles was approaching, and it was important that the commitment be met.� He described the support provided by Canada to States to help them meet this commitment.� Clarity on implementation of the Convention was necessary.� He noted questions raised about joint military activities with non-signatories, and other questions of interpretation of articles of the Convention, and called for diligence in implementation.� He expressed concern about allegations of use of anti-personnel mines by Uganda and others.� He also drew attention to the partnership of States with mine victims, and emphasized the need to continue to work with and support these victims.
The representative of Switzerland said that, despite last week, the meeting was going ahead and thereby the humanitarian cause was being advanced.� The Ottawa Convention was the instrument par excellence to meet the aim to free the world of the scourge of anti-personnel mines.� Accession was almost universal, but there were still too many States that had not joined.� He called on those States to join, and States that were not party to act in accordance with the Convention.� Switzerland supported the establishment of an implementation support unit for the Convention in Geneva.� He outlined Swiss initiatives in support of demining and other activities.
The representative of Belgium, speaking on behalf of the European Union and associated States, said in view of the accession of a large number of countries to the Convention, there was no doubt that an international standard had been established.� The Union would press for its swift and worldwide application.� But success was not just measured by numbers of States parties.� The production of mines and the number of victims had fallen, and assistance for demining had risen.� Assistance must continue and should come from across the international community.� He welcomed the impending decision to approve a guide to transparency measures pursuant to article 7 of the Convention.� No case to date had given rise to procedures under article 8, which covers compliance, but arrangements must be discussed.� He outlined European Union actions for, and contributions to, the fight against anti-personnel mines.� Total elimination of anti-personnel mine stockpiles was the only true guarantee that new minefields would not be laid, and he welcomed efforts to achieve that.
The representative of Norway said important work must be done this week.� Effort must be made to ensure compliance with the Convention, and there were encouraging developments.� But, anti-personnel mines continued to cause suffering and still represented a humanitarian crisis.� They were currently used in 23 conflicts and were being deployed even as the meeting was held.� Their continued use was unacceptable, and allegations that a State party might be violating the Convention were disturbing and must be examined.� The continuation of funding for demining was a key issue.� It was increasing, but could not be taken for granted and must be used effectively.� Norway encouraged the development of local support networks for victims.� A support function for the Convention was essential, and the establishment of a support unit within the Geneva Centre for Humanitarian Demining was a good idea. Norway would contribute to it.
The President of the Joint Commission of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defence of Peru said that Peru suffered as a consequence of mines, and was among the first to sign the Convention.� It had recently fully destroyed its stockpile, with 321,368 anti-personnel mines destroyed, under international observation, this year, and had therefore discharged its obligations.� He thanked those States that had provided technical and financial support.� Arms control was possible where there was political will, as Peru had proven.� He welcomed progress in the battle against mines, but deplored their continued use by some.� Peru called on all States to sign the Convention, or at least abide by its provisions.� It also welcomed the proposed development of an implementation support unit in Geneva.
The representative of Australia said it was now more than two years since the Convention entered into force, and there were 13 new States parties since the second meeting last year.� He was in favour of the establishment of an implementation support unit, and advised that Australia would provide financial support.� He described Australian activities in support of demining, notably in South-East Asia.� He congratulated Peru, Ecuador and Honduras on the completion of the destruction of their stockpiles.� He then outlined Australian efforts to make the Convention universal.� Noting the Land Mine Monitor mentioned by one State party and a number of signatories, he called on those States to clarify their positions.� He also called for efforts to bring particularly the major producer States into the Convention regime.
The representative of Croatia said he welcomed the increasing number of States joining the Convention, and called on those that had not joined, particularly its European neighbours, to do so.� Anti-personnel mines were no longer needed to ensure national defence, and States should understand this.� Croatia welcomed the development by the Geneva Centre of new standards for demining, and Croatian teams were currently translating those standards for regional application.� The Croatian Mine Action Centre had also set up a field test to determine the effectiveness of demining tools and methodologies, he advised, and he described other Croatian activities to implement its national demining programme.
The representative of Japan said the number of States parties had increased, but that, to succeed in prohibiting anti-personnel land mines, it was crucial that all States become parties.� There had been hesitancy in Japan, but it had been overcome.� Japan was concerned that some States, which might otherwise accede to the Convention, might hesitate if its application became stricter, and universality was a high priority.� Japan had commenced destruction of its stockpile in January 2000 and had destroyed some 260,000 mines by that December.� She described the assistance provided by Japan to support demining and related activities.� The Ottawa Convention had come to represent an international hope to eliminate suffering, and Ottawa process cooperation with non-governmental organizations symbolized the new politics of the twenty-first century.
The representative of Thailand said the current global atmosphere of insecurity made the role of the Ottawa signatories to make a safer world more important. �There were two tasks before those at the meeting -- to achieve universal accession, and to implement the treaty.� Universality was held by some to be unrealistic, as they believed mines were essential to national security.� But they were wrong and must be proven wrong.� Thailand was working, especially in South-East Asia, to achieve universal accession.� It was also making progress in implementing the Convention, and he described its efforts, including the destruction of more than 100,000 stockpiled anti-personnel mines.
The Minister for National Defence of Mozambique said Mozambique was committed to reporting, as it was required to under article 7 of the Convention, and would complete its report as soon as possible.� By 2003 it should have concluded the destruction of all is stockpiled mines.� The identification, disposal and ultimate destruction of anti-personnel mines was a priority.� He described actions Mozambique had undertaken to alleviate the suffering of victims and to remove the threat of mines. �However, a recent mine attack by the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola against a train reminded him that mines
