Daily Update #2: General exchange of views, Universalization, Stockpile destruction, Mine action and clearing mined areas

ICBL Presentations:

Steve Goose, head of the ICBL delegation, made a statement during the segment on general exchange of views describing ICBL’s priorities and concerns on treaty implementation and universalization and giving an overview of the Landmine Monitor 2005 Report’s key findings. He also made a statement on stockpile destruction, reporting on the current status of SD among States Parties and encouraging States Parties to finish before their deadlines. He called on States Parties to include the number of APMs seized from

Sylvie Brigot: ICBL Advocacy Director

or surrendered by Non-State Actors in their Article 7 Reports and to destroy them as soon as possible. He also stated that more transparency is needed on measures taken by State Parties to prevent command detonated mines such as claymore mines being used in a victim activated mode. Finally, he reminded states that AVMs with sensitive fuses that can detonate with the presence of a person are considered APMs by the ICBL.

Sylvie Brigot (ICBL) made a statement during the universalisation session expressing disappointment with the low level of new States Parties, taking special note of the lack of movement by the 7 remaining signatory states towards ratification. She said the absence of progress by these countries may be a sign that the spirit of the convention has waned

Highlights for ICBL

• Canada speaking on behalf of the Universalization Contact Group said that Indonesia will soon ratify the treaty, Palau and
  

  A delegate from Indonesia. Indonesia is expected to soon ratify the Treaty.

  Micronesia will accede to the Treaty in the near future, and China and Mongolia are considering voluntary Article 7 reports
• Haiti has completed its domestic legislation and said that there is no doubt that it will ratify by the end of the year
• GICHD asked States Parties to stigmatize the three states (all states not parties) using mines last year
• Destruction of stockpiles completed before deadlines- Algeria, Guinea Bissau and Nigeria
• Afghanistan and Latvia declared their ability to destroy stockpiles within their deadlinesThe delegation of Hungry stated that all mines retained for training under Article 3 of MBT were destroyed on 14 October 2005.
• Nicaragua destroyed 8,000 APMs retained under Article 3 for training.
• Norway submitted a non-paper calling for clarification on the process for submitting and accepting extensions for Article 5 deadlines

Concerns for ICBL

• Brunei did not including ratification in its parliamentary agenda this year
• APMs were used by three states in the last year
• Only three countries (Burundi, Sudan, and Turkey) have reported in their Article 7 reports on APMs seized from NSA and the destruction of these mines
• Germany stated that, given other global priorities and humanitarian concerns such as HIV, funding for Mine Action is not likely to increase substantially in the future. Despite efforts to develop new technology for mine action a way has yet to be found to make demining cheaper and faster. Therefore Mine Action Projects should be encouraged to utilize existing means in a more cost effective way in order to speed up mine clearance

Quote of the Day

Nigeria, on mines retained for training: “if you are really convinced about a mine free world, what would you need mines to train for?”

ICBL Statements

Statement delivered by Stephen Goose, Head of ICBL Delegation, on the 6MSP General Exchange of Views, 29 November 2005

Statement delivered by Sylvie Brigot, ICBL Advocacy Director, on Universalization, 29 November 2005

Statement delivered by Stephen Goose, on the Status of Stockpile Destruction, 29 November 2005

Other Statements