SECRETARY-GENERAL, IN MESSAGE TO MINE-BAN CONVENTION PARTIES,
EVOKES ‘ENORMOUS’ CHALLENGES STILL AHEAD
Following is the text of the message from Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the Third Meeting of the States Parties to the Mine-Ban Convention.� The message was delivered in Managua on the Secretary-General’s behalf today by Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs, Jayantha Dhanapala:
I am pleased to convey my greetings to all the participants at this meeting of the States Parties to the Mine-Ban Convention.� Let me thank the Government of Nicaragua, a country and people that know at first hand the ravages of conflict and the challenges of post-conflict restoration, for hosting this important event.
As you meet in the aftermath of the terrible tragedy that occurred in the United States a week ago today, this gathering takes on even greater significance. Never has there been a greater need for the world to show unity and purpose against the forces of violence and destruction.
The United Nations is proud to be a partner in this effort to keep drawing the world’s attention to the threat of anti-personnel landmines – this insidious remnant of war which continues to cause suffering long after the actual battle has ceased.� The Mine-Ban Convention is making a difference in the lives of people around the world, as the international community has made significant progress towards creating an environment free from the threat of landmines.� One hundred and twenty States have now ratified the Convention, or are in the process of doing so.� I call upon those that have not yet joined the treaty to do so as soon as possible.� There has been a dramatic decline in the production, transfer, stockpiling and use of landmines.� More mines have been cleared, more victims assisted, more stockpiles destroyed, and more effective technologies for mine action have been developed.� More men, women and especially children have been made aware of dangerous landmine zones.
There are still enormous challenges ahead – from more effective coordination and mobilization of resources at the international level, to building better capacity for mine action programmes at the national and local levels.� In response to those challenges, the United Nations is developing a five-year mine action strategy identifying goals to be achieved, including an international instrument addressing unexploded ordnances, which were not originally a part of the Convention.
In our partnership to eradicate landmines from the face of the earth, the United Nations will continue to play its part to the full.� I wish you a most productive meeting.
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