Letter to Greek Minister of Health

Mr Nikitas Kaklamanis

Minister of Health

Greece

Via Fax : 003-210-5235749

22 April 2004

Dear Minister Kaklamanis,

I am writing to you today on behalf of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, the Nobel Peace Prize Winner coalition of more than 1400 non-governmental organisations around the world.

Since 1992 the ICBL has engaged in a sustained and systematic global effort to establish the ban on antipersonnel landmine. On 1 March 1999, the Convention banning this indiscriminate weapon entered into force for the first 40 states who signed it in December 1997, including Greece. Since then, the ICBL has relentlessly promoted its full universalization and effective implementation. Through the Landmine Monitor, we are monitoring compliance with the Convention and the norm that is rapidly being established against the antipersonnel mine.

The suffering of all survivors was the core reason of the NGOs original commitment against anti-personnel mines in 1992. This is also what brought so many states and organisations to work together to ensure that a proper response would be given to the victims of this indiscriminate weapon. This is the reason why I respectfully write to you today, and take this opportunity to congratulate you for your recent appointment as Minister of Health, in Greece.

New mine casualties were registered last year in 65 countries, including Greece. In a letter sent to the Greek Government last February and to you personally recently, Louisa O’ Brien, the Landmine Monitor researcher for Greece, stated “At a conservative estimate there have been at least 15 severely injured since 2001, there are 12 registered on the Greek Council for Refugees, the Implementing Partner of UNHCR in Greece”. The list was attached. “We must assume there to be more landmine survivors unaccounted for. There is no system to support these people, and no funds for extra medical care, operations, properly-fitting prostheses, and chances to learn the language and skills in order to become independent and integrated into the host society.”

With this letter, Mrs O’ Brien was requesting a meeting with you to discuss any step that you could undertake to provide the necessary assistance to these survivors in Greece. This is our understanding that a conference on “Humanitarian intervention for Antipersonnel Landmine Victims” will take place in two days on 24 April 2004 in Greece, and that Mrs O’Brien indicated that any discussion or steps that could be decided or taken prior to the conference to help survivors in Greece would strongly indicate how seriously Greece takes its commitment under the Mine Ban Convention.

Indeed, in the light of the 2004 Nairobi Summit on a Mine Free World, the first Review Conference of the Convention, which will take place in Nairobi, Kenya on 29 November-3 December, ICBL urges all States Parties to raise Victim Assistance higher on their agenda, to develop and/or implement a plan of action to address the needs and rights of mine survivors, and to develop and/or fully implement legislation to protect the rights of all persons with disabilities, including mine survivors.

We are fully confident that Greece will review its obligations under the Convention banning antipersonnel mines and ensure compliance with all of them, including providng proper and adequate assistance to all survivors on its territory.

Louisa O’Brian and I are at your entire disposal, should you wish more information,

I remain,

Sincerely yours,

Sylvie Brigot

Government Relations Officer

Cc: Mrs Louisa O’Brien, Landmine Monitor Researcher for Greece