10MSP Summary - Universalizing the Treaty (2 December)

Despite the apparent standstill on the universalization front, which was mentioned as a regrettable fact by a number of States Parties and other actors, a good number of states not party, including the Russian Federation and the US, as well as States Parties, spoke during this session.

Canada as Coordinator of the Universalization Contact Group underlined that the norm was not enough and that the work to fully universalize the treaty was not yet done. It reminded that every State Party has the responsibility to promote and universalize the treaty. Prince Mired of Jordan, the President's Special Envoy on Universalization, reported on his advocacy missions undertaken in 2010 in Lao PDR, the US, Mongolia and Bahrain, as well as attempts to carry out a mission to Nepal. He thanked all who had supported his efforts, including the ICBL and its members. He called on States Parties to take every opportunity to engage on universalization, and in particular to urge the US to join the treaty, in light of the ongoing US landmine policy review. He also informed that he would continue as the Special Envoy next year upon the invitation of the President of the 10 MSP.

Six states not party took the floor. Mongolia outlined its plans for stockpile destruction, informed it had drafted a plan of action according to which it would accede to the treaty in the near future, and called on States Parties for assistance in this process. The US confirmed the policy review was still ongoing and that there was no specific date set by which the review was to be concluded. It provided an update on the character and scope of the consultations carried out so far, which included States Parties, international organizations, civil society and former military personnel. It confirmed that until the review was complete the current US policy would remain in place. Poland reiterated its intention to ratify in 2012 and indicated the relevant documents were being prepared and would next be submitted to the parliament. Lao PDR reiterated its support for the spirit and humanitarian objectives of the treaty, and recalled that preparations to meet the treaty's obligations with a view to joining it were underway since 2004. It said a voluntary transparency report was being prepared. Nepal reported that the high-level task force reviewing accession was expected to submit its report soon, but that at the moment its work was stalled due to the political situation. Nepal confirmed it remains committed to the humanitarian objectives of the treaty, and that it implements some of the core obligations such as clearance (to be completed in 2011), MRE, and victim assistance. Speaking for the first time at a Mine Ban Treaty annual meeting, the Russian Federation said it recognized the humanitarian impact of landmines and did not exclude the possibility of joining the treaty in the future, also stating that security concerns would need to be addressed first and that joining required a step-by-step approach. It reported it had stopped the production of blast mines and destroyed 10 million mines, including antipersonnel mines. It underlined it was open to work with civil society and NGOs on the mine issue, giving as an example the Deputy Foreign Minister's letter delivered to the ICBL at the beginning of the week.

Four States Parties took the floor. Japan said it was extremely disturbed that there was still new mine use, which it continues to condemn. Japan reported it had been approaching all of the 16 states not party in the Asia-Pacific region to discuss joining the treaty. It mentioned its work as a Friend of the Chair of the Convention on Cluster Munitions and said that regional fora such as ASEAN should include the MBT and CCM on their agendas. It called on other States Parties to step up their efforts. Palau informed it was planning to organize a regional universalization workshop on the CCM and MBT together with Fiji in the Pacific next year, and asked the international community for help in carrying it out. Australia urged all States Parties for more action on universalization, and stated it remains committed to universalization and would continue among others supporting the work of the Monitor and the ICBL in the Pacific. France also stated it was committed to universalization and urged states remaining outside of the treaty to come on board.

The ICRC said it would reinforce its efforts in 2011 in the Gulf and in Asia, with the 11 MSP taking place in Cambodia. The ICBL provided an update on its universalization efforts carried out since the Cartagena Summit, with major focus on actions related to the US landmine policy review process. The ICBL called on States Parties to communicate with the US at the highest possible level about the importance, desirability, and feasibility of the US joining the treaty. We also gave a brief overview of our priorities and focus for universalization work next year, and called on all States Parties to keep up the energy to fully universalize the treaty.