States Parties 161 States Not Party 36
At the end of 2006, in the course of discussions on targets and priorities for universalization activities in the run-up to the Second Review Conference, the ICBL set its universalization target at 165 countries by 2009. This target was later shared with and “adopted” by the Universalization Contact Group.
2007 saw the ratification of one of the last outstanding signatories (Indonesia) and accessions by Montenegro, Kuwait, Iraq and Palau, bringing the total number of States parties to 156.
The focus brought on the Middle East by the fact that the 8th Meeting of States Parties was hosted by Jordan resulted not only in accessions by Kuwait and Iraq but also in very encouraging signs from other members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, especially Bahrain and Oman.
In December 2007, 19 states not Parties voted in favour of the annual UNGA resolution on universalization of the MBT. These included Kazakhstan and Laos, who voted yes for the first time ever, and Somalia who had been absent from the vote in 2006. Of the remaining 20, 18 abstained (including North Korea who has been absent on previous votes) and two (Saudi Arabia and Tuvalu) were absent.
The Review Conference “165” target list includes:
ASIA: Nepal (possible openings as a result of the peace process); Mongolia (has set itself a 2008 accession deadline), Laos (is showing increasing interest in the MBT, and in 2007 attended the MSP with a high level delegation from capital and voted in favour of the UNGA resolution on universalization).
MIDDLE EAST: Bahrain; Oman; UAE.
PACIFIC: Marshall Islands (a signatory); Micronesia; Tonga; Tuvalu. Palau’s accession in 2007 should serve as an examples for other countries in the region which have similar security arrangements with the USA.
EUROPE: Poland (subsequent to the government change there appears to be a possibility to re-open the issue of ratification)
Work to secure accession/ratification by these countries will be complemented by efforts to promote advances and interim steps in countries that are still further from the treaty but present special challenges (mine users, large stockpilers, mine affected), critical situations (countries in conflict – internal or international – or in situations of regional/border tension), are key players at regional level and/or offer opportunities for positive movement.
ICBL universalization efforts in 2008 will continue and build up on the work done in 2007 and previous years with a special emphasis on regions with low adherence to the MBT: Asia-Pacific, the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Middle East.
Middle East - Building on the work done in 2007 in the run-up to the MSP in Jordan, efforts will continue in the Gulf Cooperation Council area to try and secure accession by at least two countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council area (Bahrain and Oman) and positive movement in the UAE. The peace negotiations between the Moroccan government and Polisario, and the invitation extended to the ICBL by Morocco to visit the country could provide a good opportunity to advocate for inclusion of the mine issue and humanitarian mine action in the peace talks agenda. Elsewhere in the region, engaging with countries like Israel and Iran is seen not only as important in itself (although no major results can be expected) but also as a pre-condition to obtain credibility and access in dialogue with other governments in the region. .
Asia – The Bali workshop on implementation and universalization of the Mine Ban Treaty in February will provide an opportunity to follow up with countries in South East Asia (especially Laos and Vietnam) and in the broader Asia region. The ICBL will monitor developments in Nepal and will follow up on the autumn 2007 mission as appropriate. Mongolia will also be the focus of attention, given that they had indicated 2008 as their target date for accession. Finally, work with China will focus on obtaining a more accurate estimate of the country’s stockpile (this was indicated as a realistic target during meetings with the Chinese delegation at the 8MSP, while the submission of a voluntary art.7 report appears less likely in the near future).
Europe - The recent change in government in Poland and the presence of a strong campaigning capacity in the country mean that this year we could work to revert Poland’s recent position. Plans include a mission to Warsaw and a programme of awareness-raising activities around 1 March and beyond.
CIS – The region does not appear to offer much hope for short term success, but engagement needs to continue to promote positive movement and is likely to focus especially on a twin-track approach to Armenia and Azerbaijan (focusing on the submission of article 7 reports) and on Georgia.
Efforts will also continue to persuade States not Parties to take interim steps towards accession with special emphasis on moratoria on use and production where appropriate, destruction of stockpiles and promoting a favourable vote in the UNGA resolution on universalization of the MBT. Based on this year’s experience, we could repeat the lobbying initiative at the first committee to secure support for the resolution.
