"New Steps for a Mine-Free Future"

Final Statement of the ICBL Moscow Conference

"New Steps for a Mine-Free Future"

1st International Conference on Landmines in Russia and the CIS 27-28 May, 1998 Moscow, Russia

FINAL STATEMENT

IPPNW/ICBL First International Conference on Landmines in Russia and the CIS

From 27-28 May 1998, the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) and the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) hosted an international conference aimed at promoting a comprehensive ban on antipersonnel mines by the Russian Federation and Commonwealth of Independent States nations.

The conference was attended by more than 160 participants from non-governmental organizations in 21 countries. Numerous governmental representatives attended the conference, including diplomatic representatives of governments which have signed the
Mine Ban Treaty such as Austria, Canada, Hungary, Norway, Moldova, the Netherlands and South Africa. Diplomatic representatives posted to the Russian Federation from over 25 Mine Ban Treaty signatory governments attended parts of the conference. Support for the conference was also given by pro-ban diplomatic representatives unable to attend. Of CIS nations, Moldova and Turkmenistan have signed the Mine Ban Treaty, and Turkmenistan was the fourth government to ratify.

The opening plenary featured remarks from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, 1997 Nobel Laureate and ICBL Ambassador Jody Williams, written statements by the Russian Orthodox Church Patriach, Alexy II, and the Office of the President of Russia.

At the opening plenary representatives of the Foreign Affairs Ministry and Defence Ministry of the Russian Federation announced that by the end of the year, Russia will no longer produce 'blast' antipersonnel landmines. The IPPNW and ICBL welcome this permanent production ban on this type of antipersonnel landmine. However, Russiansential for war-fighting,
border defense, stopping terrorists, drug traffickers and arms traffickers, and protection of nuclear facilities. Russian officials indicated that while it is formal policy to sign the Mine Ban Treaty at some unspecified time in the future, it could not do so until alternatives were developed, and other countries such as the U.S. and China signed. One official indicated that no money for alternatives was in the current military budget and that no plans existed for putting it in future budgets.

The conference included presentations, panels, videos and slide shows on a wide range of mine-related issues, including the Mine Ban Treaty, humanitarian demining, mine victim assistance programs, and case studies on the impact of mines in Abkhazia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Chechnya, Dagestan, Georgia, Moldova, Nagorny Karabakh, and the Russian Federation.

Members of the ICBL and IPPNW call on:

· Russia and CIS governments to sign the Mine Ban Treaty now. The Mine Ban Treaty provides the best framework for the total elimination of antipersonnel mines;

· Russia, if it refuses to sign the treaty now, to take interim steps such as a permanent ban on production of all antipersonnel landmines, a permanent ban on the export of all antipersonnel landmines; and the establishment of a timetable for the destruction of stockpiles of all antipersonnel landmines.

· Russia and CIS nations to make public detailed information on production, stockpiles, and exports of antipersonnel landmines, as well as mine incidents, mine clearance and mine victim assistance initiatives throughout the region;

· Parties to any possible conflicts in the region, such as Dagestan, not to use antipersonnel landmines.

As a result of the conference the ICBL is hopeful that more coordinated NGO action against landmines will take place between NGOs within the Russia and the CIS. NGOs broke into two groups - one for Russia and the other for Caucasus nations -- to develop an action plan for the future.

Major elements of the plans include:

Russia Working Group Plan of Action

1) IPPNW intends to take the lead in building a coalition campaign in Russia and throughout the region;

2) IPPNW will produce a report of the Moscow Conference and will distribute it to participants and members of IPPNW and the ICBL;

3) IPPNW will research and disseminate information on production, stockpiling and export of antipersonnel landmines by Russia and CIS governments;

4) Participants will encourage education at professional, public and decision-maker levels to increase awareness of the effects and consequences of the use of antipersonnel land mines and of steps which might be taken to address the problems caused by antipersonnel land mines.

5) Participants will advertise the urgent need for effective demining efforts within the borders of the CIS and beyond, and will seek to raise funds from within Russia and from the international community to promote this activity.

Caucasus Working Group Plan of Action

Participants from Abkasia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Chechnya, Dagestan, Georgia, Nagorny Karabakh, Russia attending the First International Conference on Landmines in Russia and the CIS undertook these follow up actions:

1) Participants will inform colleagues in their own and other organizations about the Moscow conference, particularly women's organizations, youth organizations, humanitarian and cultural organizations, medical professionals and educators.

2) Participants, including those from Chechnya, Abkhasia and Armenia, will inform their media about the conference and give interviews on tv/radio upon returning home, as well as show the videos received here and request their tv stations to broadcast them and conduct other public awareness raising activities.

3) Some participants will hold roundtables with NGO colleagues and government representatives, notably in Armenia in June and in Georgia soon. Chechen participants will organize seminars with youth.

4) Some participants will forward resolutions and results of this conference to their leaders and heads of relevant governments.

5) Some participants will collect data and information on the landmines situation in their regions and share this information.

6) Participants will call for urgent demining, mine awareness and victim assistance workand seek funds for these activities.

7) Some participants expressed the necessity to create a network of medical experts dealing with rehabilitation issues in the Caucasus and to exchange information and experience with other medical bodies in the world.

8) Participants expressed the need to coordinate the work of organizations in the Caucasus region on mines related issues. This included holding the following events:

- local conferences in each region/republic of the Caucasus simultaneously for one day in October.
- An international conference in the Caucasus in the Spring of 1999.

At these meetings experiences will be shared and future activities planned.

9) Participants agreed that a film should be made in Russian and English languages on the consequences of landmines used in the region to raise awareness within and outside the region.

10) Educational programmes will be developed and initiated in schools and colleges to raise awareness on landmines issues.

11) Participants called on the ICBL and other international organizations which support local efforts on mine action and awareness to provide assistance in finding funds to carry out this work locally.

12) Participants volunteered to be contact points for each republic. For the moment the international contact point is Chris Hunter, tel +7 096 901 8346, email:
peacecentre@glasnet.ru

In addition, in September the Albania Campaign (Anti-Mining Friends Committee) will undertake a week of action on landmines for between 31 August, one year since when Princess Diana died, and the following week, when Albanian-born Mother Theresa died.
In Albania, a postage stamp depicting the call for a ban is currently being produced.