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Site Admin <webmaster2@icbl.org> .
Thursday 01 November 2007
A strong call for the government of Bahrain to submit to parliament draft legislation for accession to the Mine Ban Treaty was the main recommendation formulated at the end of a workshop organized today by the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) for members of the Bahraini House of Representatives.
Members of the Bahraini House of Representatives and Kuwaiti MP Dr Waleed AlTabtotoba’ay at the workshop. Photo: B. Srour
The workshop was held under the auspices of the Speaker of the House of Representatives H.E. Khalifa Al-Dhaharny and was attended by members of the majority and opposition. The two main sessions were presided over by the First Vice Speaker H.E. Ghanem Al-Buainain and the Chairman of the Legislative Committee Khalil Almarzooq. The workshop included presentations from the ICBL, ICRC, UNDP and Kuwaiti MP Dr Waleed AlTabtoba’ay.
Vice Speaker Al-Buainain said that a parliamentary question will be submitted to ask the Minister of Foreign Affairs to report on progress towards accession.
Attending MPs confirmed their support to the humanitarian goals of the treaty and assured that a bill for accession to the treaty would encounter no opposition in Parliament. They also recommended that a trust fund should be created within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide international assistance and cooperation on humanitarian issues including mine action.
“We are extremely encouraged by the response of Bahraini MPs and their willingness to pursue the issue of accession with the government,” said Ayman Sorour, member of the ICBL’s Management Committee.
“The strong support of the Bahraini legislative to the Mine Ban Treaty makes us optimistic that the country could soon become state party number 156, following the positive example of neighbouring countries Kuwait and Iraq which recently joined,” added Simona Beltrami, ICBL Advocacy Director.
The ICBL also welcomed the news that Bahrain is planning to attend the 8th Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty which will be held in Jordan from 18 to 22 November.
During their visit to Bahrain – the second since March 2007 – ICBL delegates also met with representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In May 2007, H.E. Khalid bin Abdallah Al-Khalifa, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Court replied to a letter from ICBL Ambassador and 1997 Nobel Peace Laureate Jody Williams, assuring that His Highness the Prime Minister and his government are tackling the issue of the Mine Ban Treaty with sincere concern and full commitment.
* For the Arabic translation of this article please click on the pdf icon next to the title.
Bahrain never produced, exported or used antipersonnel mines and is not mine-affected.
