Update 1 - Opening of the Meeting, General Exchange of Views, 18 Sept. 2006

MAIN POINTS OF DISCUSSION

Opening of the Meeting, General Exchange of Views

ICBL PRESENTATION(S)

• ICBL Ambassador Margaret Arach Orech spoke on the urgent need for States Parties to take the treaty from words to reality.
• ICBL’s Head of Delegation Steve Goose presented challenges for the coming year and findings from the 2006 Landmine Monitor Report.

HIGHLIGHTS FOR ICBL

• The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia announced that it finished its Article 5 obligations as of 15 September and that it had destroyed all AP mines retained under Article 3 in July.
• Albania stated that it planned to finish Article 5 implementation in 2009.
• Colombia stated that it will destroy some of the mines retained under Article 3.
• Brunei took the floor for the first time as a State Party at an MSP. It announced that it had drafted an order to prohibit activities banned by the Mine Ban Treaty and to impose penalties for their violation.
• Moldova presented its view on Article 1, which is that its military may not plan, engage in, or train for joint operations where AP mines would be used or a direct military benefit would be gained from them. It is also asking for immediate removal and destruction of Russian stockpiles on its territory.
• Chile spoke in favor of the proposed Article 5 extension request process
• Thailand said that after new surveys of suspected mined areas, the area could be reduced up to 80% of the current figure.
• Sri Lanka – second voluntary Article 7 report
• China and Morocco spoke, noting their interest in eventually joining the treaty

CONCERNS FOR ICBL

Argentina criticized the proposed Article 5 extension request process as being potentially “intrusive.”

MORE INFORMATION

ICBL Address - Opening Ceremony (delivered by ICBL Ambassador Margaret Arach Orech)

ICBL Statement - General Exchange of Views (delivered by ICBL's Head of Delegation, Steve Goose)