Daily Update #1: Official Opening; General exchange of views, 28 November 2005

ICBL Presentation

Nobel Peace Prize co-laureate Jody Williams reminded the states attending the 6th Meeting of the States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty of how the diplomatic community and the ban landmines movement have made this particular arms control effort work. It has been looked upon as one of the models of an arms control system that has actually succeeded in eliminating an actively used weapon from three-quarters of the world's arsenals. She further stressed the much greater challenge of addressing the landmine survivors' needs, noting that it is not just enough to give them limbs, we have to find the means to fulfill all of their needs.

Time ran out before Steve Goose, head of the ICBL delegation, could make his general statement. It was given the following morning.

Highlights for ICBL

• Ambassador Wolfgang Petritsch, President of the Review Conference, reported that in the UN General Assembly's First Committee this October, five states not party to the treaty voted for the first time in favour of
  

  Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan. For the first time, Azerbaijan voted this year in favour of the UN Resolution on the implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty.

  the annual resolution on the implementation of the Convention: Azerbaijan, China, Kuwait, Lebanon and Micronesia. He also noted that this year Bangladesh, Uruguay, Mauritania, Guinea Bissau and Algeria have indicated that they have completed their stockpile destruction.
• Senegal announced that it has adopted national legal implementation measures.
• Morocco announced that it planned on submitting its first voluntary report.
• Cameroon indicated that it has completed its stockpile destruction (destroying 9179 antipersonnel mines), and is retaining 3018 mines under Article 3 for training. It stated that it would like to have access to alternative means of training and research in order to be able to destroy these mines as well.
• India, which is not party to the treaty, made its first statement as an observer to the MSP.

Concerns for ICBL

• 

  Morocco announced that this year it will submit its first voluntary reports. While supportive of the treaty, Morocco continues to state its rational for not joining.

  China, Morocco, India, Egypt, and Azerbaijan, although affirming their support for the ideals and goals of the treaty, continued to explain why they would remain outside the treaty.
• 47 states still remain outside of the Convention, including some that continue to use, produce, develop or maintain large stockpiles of antipersonnel mines.

Quotes of the Day

'The signing of the Mine Ban Treaty years ago marked the beginning of a long journey towards a mine free world.' (Jody Williams, Nobel Peace Prize Co-laureate)

'There is an exciting untold story behind every mine cleared and destroyed: the story of a child playing freely and securely, the story of a woman… returning home to feed her family.

For every mine survivor cared for and reintegrated into society, there is the story of a life carried on with mobility and restored dignity.' (Dr Jacques Forster,Vice-President, ICRC)

Link(s) to more information: The Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining