5MSP Daily Update 5

(Monday 22 September 2003 Bangkok, Thailand) Friday 19 September: Mine action, mine risk education and related technologies (continued from previous day); Stockpile destruction; First Review Conference and Adoption of final documents.

Full reports and statements:

• Official report on today’s proceedings

Key discussions of the day:

• Mine action, mine risk education and related technologies (continued from previous day);
• Stockpile destruction;
• First Review Conference;
• Adoption of final documents;
• Joint press conference: with speakers from ICBL and ICRC and the governments of Thailand (host of meeting, President), Kenya (host of Review Conference in 2004) and Austria (President of Review Conference).

Highlights for the ICBL:

• A delegate from non-State Party, China, addressed the conference (a continuation of the General Exchange of Views from earlier in the week). In his speech Mr Fu Cong said that China endorses and supports the objectives of the Mine Ban Treaty, but retains the weapon for its defensive purposes.
• Updates from States Parties that recently completed their stockpile destruction (including: Chile, Congo Brazzaville, Japan, Kenya, Mozambique and Uganda), from those where destruction of their stocks is currently underway (including: Afghanistan, Argentina, Tanzania and Ukraine) and from donor countries (including: Canada, European Commission, Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining, Organization of American States, NATO).
• Adoption of proposals for the Review Conference: it was confirmed that it will be held in Nairobi, November 29 – December 3, 2004.
• All the speakers at the closing press conference gave a positive evaluation of the Fifth Meeting of States Parties and underlined the importance of partnership with civil society and the role of landmine survivors.

Quote of the day:

“This was one of the most successful Meetings of States Parties, if not THE most successful…” Stephen Goose, head of ICBL delegation to the Fifth Meeting of States Parties.