Nairobi Summit on a Mine-Free World Daily Update #5

ICBL presentations

Stephen Goose, head of the ICBL delegation made a presentation highlighting the record numbers of participants to this meeting – the highest since the signing ceremony in 1997. He described the five-year review document and action plan as excellent, while expressing disappointment at the unwillingness of the majority of State parties to consider any changes to strengthen these documents. He said that the Treaty will not succeed unless we continue to work together, match the needs of survivors, increase resources and engage non-state actors in the mine ban. A sign of success of the Treaty is that even countries that have not joined it have endorsed the goal of elimination of anti-personnel mines. He also stressed that civil society will not allow the Treaty to fail.

In the Closing Ceremony Cornelio Sommaruga and ICBL ambassador Jody Williams spoke. She highlighted some of the points from Steve Goose’s statement, noting that the action plan must be followed and implemented. The full text of both speeches will be available soon.

Youth and survivor representatives also took the stage and handed in youth and survivors’ summit declarations to the President of the Summit. President Petritsch then handed over the Nairobi Declarations, copies of which were signed by each Head of Delegation, to ICBL Ambassadors Tun Channareth and Song Kosal – so that civil society can keep the governments accountable to fulfilling the Nairobi Declaration.

Highlights for the ICBL

• China, not a State party, declared its endorsement of the purposes and objectives of the Convention and expressed the wish to see the early eradication of casualties and of the damage inflicted by landmines. China said it follows the Ottawa process closely and is ready to expand cooperation with States party to the Convention.
• Poland is ready to start the ratification process.
• Kyrgyzstan declared it is following a step-by-step approach towards a mine-free world.
• Kofi Annan intervened by videolink to stress the importance of the Summit.

Concerns for the ICBL

None – the summit ended on a positive note.

Quote of the day

“The only way to be safe is to be mine-free” (Deputy Foreign Minister of Croatia)