At the invitation of the Government of Nicaragua, the Deputy Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Nicaragua, Costa Rica and El Salvador and the representatives of Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras and Peru took part in the Conference on Progress of Demining in the Americas on 27 and 28 August 2002 to discuss and share information on experience and achievements of and obstacles to the Demining Programme and the implementation of the agreements adopted at 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 (Ottawa Convention), held in Managua, Nicaragua, from 18 to 21 September 2001.
The countries which are taking part in this Conference and which are affected by the problem of mines and UXOs thus consider that, despite the great progress made in the demining process taking place in the Americas, anti-personnel mines continue to be a serious threat to peace and the security of persons and an obvious obstacle to the socio-economic development of large productive areas of our countries.
We know from our own experience that demining and other related work are expensive, but essentially humanitarian and therefore necessary to guarantee and protect the physical integrity of persons who live in these endangered areas. Hence the need for the total eradication of the imminent danger that anti-personnel mines and UXOs represent as a result of the painful armed conflicts the American continent has lived through.
In carrying out this task and as a result of the success achieved, we acknowledge the valuable support which has been provided by the donor community and which is essential if we are to be able to declare the western hemisphere an “anti-personnel-landmine-free zone” in the near future.
We also recognize the important and valuable contribution that the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (OAS) has been making to demining efforts in the American hemisphere through the Organization of American States Comprehensive Action against Antipersonnel Mines (AICMA/OAS) assistance programme and the Unit for the Promotion of Democracy.
In the spirit of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction, whose preamble states:
“Determined to put an and to the suffering and casualties caused by anti-personnel mines, that kill or maim hundreds of people every week, mostly innocent and defenceless civilians and especially children, obstruct economic development and reconstruction, inhibit the repatriation of refugees and internally displaced persons, and have other severe consequences for years after emplacement,
Believing it necessary to do their utmost to contribute in an efficient and coordinated manner to face the challenge of removing anti-personnel mines placed throughout the world, and to assure their destruction,
Wishing to do their utmost in providing assistance for the care and rehabilitation, including the social and economic reintegration, of mine victims,”
Taking account of the provisions of article 6 (Cooperation and international assistance), paragraphs 1, 3, 4, 7 and 8, of the Ottawa Convention, the countries and international organizations participating in the Conference on Progress of Demining in the Americas:
Hereby agree to sign the “The Managua Appeal” Declaration in order to:
1. Reaffirm our Governments’ commitment to humanitarian demining and their determination to fulfil the obligations under the Ottawa Convention;
2. Also reaffirm our Governments’ willingness to continue contributing to the process of the implementation of the Ottawa Convention and, in this regard, congratulate the Government of Nicaragua on the work it has done, as the country occupying the Presidency of the Third Meeting of States Parties, to refocus efforts on the core humanitarian objectives of the Convention and the issue of international assistance and cooperation;
3. Make an urgent appeal to friendly countries which are part of the community of donors to humanitarian demining, especially those which are parties to the Ottawa Convention, not to halt or suspend the earmarking of resources for the countries of the Americas which have still not concluded their demining or comprehensive mine action programmes;
4. Welcome the initiative by the Government of the Republic of Nicaragua to convene, through the Organization of American States (OAS), a donors’ meeting to be held in October in Washington D.C. (USA) to examine the issue of cooperation in the light of the objectives achieved and the American countries’ technical and financial requirements; and reiterate our position that cooperation and assistance for mine action activities should be intended mainly for those which have renounced the use of these weapons by acceding to the Ottawa Convention and agreeing to implement and fulfil its provisions, as decided in the Declaration of the Third Meeting of States Parties.
5. Make a fervent appeal to all Governments in the world to join us in taking up the great challenges we face as a result of the need to ensure comprehensive care for the victims who have survived mine accidents with a view to providing technical and financial assistance to the programmes established for this purpose.
6. Strongly support the need for all American countries to convert the western hemisphere into an anti-personnel-landmine-free zone, an aim stated in the Declaration of the Third Meeting of States Parties to the Ottawa Convention, with a view to making this goal an example to the whole world and an inspiration for other regions of the world affected by mines.
7. Make an appeal for the universalization of the Ottawa Convention, especially to the countries of our region which have not yet become States parties to the Convention, so that they may do so as soon as possible.
8. Request the Secretary-General of the Organization of American States (OAS) to continue providing support to all countries which are part of the Comprehensive Action against Antipersonnel Mines (AICMA-OAS) assistance programme, especially those countries which face internal armed conflicts.
9. Thank the donor community for the solidarity and valuable support provided to the American countries in their efforts to eradicate the scourge of anti-personnel mines and UXOs.
10. Requests the Republic of Nicaragua, as the country occupying the Presidency of the Third Meeting of States parties to the Ottawa Convention, to submit the “Managua Appeal” to the Fourth Meeting so that the States parties will welcome and support it.
11. Congratulate and thank the Government of the Republic of Nicaragua and the Comprehensive Action against Antipersonnel Mines (AICMA-OAS) assistance programme for the organization and support offered during the Conference on Progress of Demining in the Americas.
Signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 28 August 2002:
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