Sescond hemispheric conference on banning landmines - Americas

Co-Chairs Conclusions

Three Challenges were issued to this Hemisphere as we get ready for the Third Meeting of States Parties in Nicaragua

1. The Co-Chairs issued a challenge to all remaining signatories to join the 27 states of the Americas that have completed the ratification process, and to do so in time for the Third Meeting of the States Parties (TMSP) in September 2001 in Managua, Nicaragua.

2. All states to have their Article 7 reports prepared in time for Managua.

3. All States to arrive in Managua with their stockpiles destroyed.

New initiatives

1. Teams of experts should be coordinated for the purpose of providing technical expertise in a timely fashion to countries in the region on a case by case basis. The OAS has offered to be a focal point for this activity.

2. In order to facilitate the efforts of States Parties to meet their obligations to submit Article 7 Reports to the UN Secretary-General, Canada has agreed to coordinate tools to assist states in this regard, including the provision of teams which would work closely with states to complete the necessary reports.

3. The Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD), in collaboration with key partners, such as the UNDP, will prepare a template to help countries develop a national plan on stockpile destruction. This will assist countries in identifying issues that must be addressed in preparation for the destruction of their stockpiles.

4. A proposal to examine the possibility of the creation of tools for training purposes, including courses which could take place in a variety of settings, was also extended by the GICHD.

5. The Organisation of American States emphasized its commitment to continue its efforts in action as a liaison between states requiring assistance with stockpile destruction and donor countries with expertise in the area. These efforts will be enhance and formalized with the aim of ensuring that states are able to complete their stockpile destruction by the upcoming TMSP.

6. A request to donor will be issued at the upcoming Standing Committee on Stockpile Destruction to provide necessary resources to the Americas to assist states in meeting the Managua Challenge.

7. Conclusions and materials resulting from this Seminar will be made available on the UN’s forthcoming Stockpile Destruction Resource Site.

8. Sub-regional meetings should be coordinated where necessary in order to facilitate implementation of the Ottawa convention in a local context.

9. Argentina and Canada are committed to reporting on the successes of this seminar, as well as follow-up initiatives which emerged from the seminar at the upcoming OAS Hemispheric Security Committee Meeting and at the next Standing Committee Meeting on Stockpile Destruction in Geneva.

10. In keeping with the commitments of our leaders in hemisphere, mine action will be a central theme of the Summit of the Americas in Quebec, Canada in April 2001. States are encouraged to be in a position to report progress at that time, towards the collective goal of a Mine Free Americas.