Standing Committee Meetings Update 3

ICBL

Steve Goose, chair of the Treaty Working Group, presented a detailed overview briefing on the status of stockpile destruction. He identified 69 States Parties having completed stockpile destruction, 57 States Parties never having possessed stockpiles, 13 States Parties in the process of destruction, and five States Parties needing to declare their stockpile status (two of which are believed to stockpile AP mines).
Steve also addressed lingering concerns (especially related to Guyana and Cameroon), continuing issues (especially stockpiles discovered after completion of destruction programs), and emerging matters (especially related to destruction of ADAM mines with depleted uranium and the status of multipurpose firing devices which can turn munitions in victim-activated devices).
Steve also urged States Parties to invite civil society and the media to destruction events to ensure full transparency and build confidence. He ended the presentation by challenging Algeria, Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Cyprus, Guinea-Bissau, and Guyana to finish destruction of their stockpiles before the Sixth Meeting of States Parties.

Issues of Concern

• Angola stated that while it planned to meet its destruction deadline of 1 January 2007, if it encountered difficulties, it would ask for an extension; however, the Mine Ban Treaty has no provision for extending the stockpile destruction deadline.
• While Ethiopia and Sudan were scheduled to speak, neither made a statement.

Highlights

• Bangladesh, Colombia, Mauritania, Tanzania, and Uruguay confirmed that they have completed their stockpile destruction programs.
• Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Belarus, Burundi, Guinea-Bissau, and Serbia and Montenegro provided updates on the status of their destruction programs.
• Representatives of the transitional government of Somalia and the NGO Geneva Call made presentations on stockpiles held by armed non-state actors in Somalia.
• A NATO partnership for Peace Trust Fund project commenced to destroy the 1.3 million antipersonnel mines stockpiled by Serbia and Montenegro.
• The European Commission announced that tenders have been sent to industry to destroy the six million PFM antipersonnel mines stockpiled by treaty signatory Ukraine.

Quote of the Day

“Thanks to all friends of Afghanistan for assistance to rid ourselves of these nasties.”

Dr M. Haider Reza

Deputy Foreign Minister of Afghanistan

More Information:

• Intervention by Steve Goose, Human Rights Watch