ICBL Daily Update #1 from the 4MSP

Author/Origin: Liz Bernstein banemnow@icbl.org

(Tuesday 17 September 2002 Geneva, Switzerland) A summary of the ICBL as well as the official events of the first two days of the Fourth Meeting of States Parties taking place in Geneva 16-20 September.

ICBL Press conference, government and UNIDIR representatives with Jody Williams and Steve Goose from ICBL

Yesterday, 16 September, the ICBL held a media briefing which featured Steve Goose, Head of ICBL Delegation to the Fourth Meeting of States Parties (4MSP), and Jody Williams, ICBL Ambassador. They were joined by representatives of the incoming and outgoing Presidents of the Meeting of State Parties, Councillor Cecilia Sanchez Reyes of Nicaragua and Ambassador Jean Lint of Belgium. All addressed their hopes and expectations for the Meeting. The ICBL media statement can be seen here.

Jody Williams with Lizzie outside the simulated minefield at the UN

The briefing was followed by a demining demonstration and photo opportunity with Jody Williams and mine detection dogs Golda and Lizzie. Golda, a German Shepherd, is a working mine detection dog that was given to Jody Williams when she won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997. Williams in turn donated her to the Norwegian People's Aid, who have used her in their work in the minefields of Kosovo and Bosnia. 13 September in Oslo, Norway, Jody Williams and the ICBL launched a new program Sponsor a Mine-Detection Dog, which will provide support to its member organizations that work to remove landmines around the world.

The opening of the 4MSP was preceded by a ceremony that featured addresses by the President of the Swiss Confederation, Kaspar Villiger, and Her Highness, Princess Astrid of Belgium. This ceremony also included an interpretative dance

Dance performance at opening session.

piece performed by Nomads. In addition, landmine survivors Felicidade Maria de Jesus of Angola and Marick Ngueradjim of Chad, participating in Raising the Voices training project spoke about their experiences and the hopes of landmine survivors, worldwide from this important meeting and process. To view the statements, visit the site of the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining.

The Fourth Meeting was officially opened by Vice-President of the Republic of Nicaragua, Mr. Jose Rizo, on behalf of the Nicaraguan Presidency of the Third Meeting of the States Parties. Delegates elected and welcomed Ambassador Jean Lint of Belgium as President of the Fourth Meeting. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Sergio De Mello delivered a message on behalf of the United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan. Read their statements here.

Then Jody Williams, Nobel Peace Prize Co-Laureate, and Ambassador of the ICBL delivered an inspiring address.

The President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Jakob Kellenberger gave an address. The eight countries which have served as Co-Chairs during the past year of the four Standing Committees established by the States Parties: Australia, Canada, Croatia, Germany, Honduras, Norway, Thailand and Yemen were elected as Vice-Presidents.
States Parties confirmed the appointment of Ambassador Christian Faessler of Switzerland as Secretary General of the Fourth Meeting. They also confirmed the appointment of Mr. Enrique Roman-Morey (Director of the United Nations Department for Disarmament Affairs Branch in Geneva) as Executive Secretary of the Fourth Meeting, and Mr. Kerry Brinkert (Manager of the Implementation Support Unit) as the President’s Executive Coordinator. States Parties also confirmed adoption of the agenda, programme, rules of procedure and cost estimates for the Fourth Meeting.

States Parties Mozambique, Norway and Thailand made statements during the General Exchange of Views. Norway re-iterated its pledge made in Oslo last week during the celebrations of the 5th Anniversary of the Treaty Negotiations that they would maintain mine action funding at the present level for the next five years. The second day, today 17 September, began with an ICBL meeting of campaigners present to organize lobbying strategies and priorities for the week. The General Exchange of Views continued and the following States Parties made statements:

Canada, Denmark, European Commission, Argentina, South Africa, Belgium, Mexico, Malaysia, Nicaragua, Honduras, Brazil, Japan, Chile, Slovenia, Bangladesh, Czech Republic, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Romania, UNDP, New Zealand, El Salvador, Australia, Colombia, Italy, Ecuador, Tunisia, Slovakia, Croatia, Germany, Peru, Holy See, Kenya, Algeria, Benin, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Zambia, Guatemala, Tajikistan, Republic of Moldova, Senegal, Afghanistan and Yemen.

Dr. Abdul Rahem Sherzoy, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs was welcomed for having recently deposited their instrument of accession 11 September. He noted “I dream of a time when children will not experience the effects of landmines. We need the support of international donors to make this dream possible.”

There were also two side events today. A roundtable event was organized by the ICBL Non State Actors Working Group and Geneva Call and focused on non state actors and the landmine ban. Panelists included representatives of the government of the Philippines, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the Sudanese government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) and the European Parliament. In addition, the ICBL hosted an information session on implementing legislation (Article 9).