Letter to the Nepali Prime Minister

Right Hon. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal
Office of the Prime Minister
Singh Darbar
Kathmandu
NEPAL
FAX: + 977 1 4211 086
E-mail: info[at]opmcm.gov.np

1 March 2009

Your Excellency,

Please receive the expression of my highest consideration.

On 1 March 2009, the world celebrates the 10th anniversary of the entry into force of the treaty banning antipersonnel landmines. On this occasion, I wish to respectfully urge you to take immediate steps for Nepal to join it as soon as possible.

In these past 10 years, under the Mine Ban Treaty's guidance States Parties have cleared and returned to productive use large tracts of land; educated mine-affected communities about the risk of antipersonnel mines and other unexploded ordnance; provided support to and protected the rights of landmine survivors; and destroyed millions of stockpiled antipersonnel mines, ensuring they can never be planted in the earth again. Use of antipersonnel mines is now the exception rather than the rule, and the trade in these weapons has virtually stopped. Thanks to the advance of mine clearance and risk education programs, the number of new landmine casualties has steadily decreased.

Today 156 countries, 80% of the world's states are party to the Mine Ban Treaty, and most of those still remaining outside are de facto complying with most of its provisions.

Nepal has experienced first-hand the human suffering and misery caused by these weapons, and is still facing the consequences of their use. As such, it would be particularly significant if it added its name to the list of countries renouncing these weapons forever. This would be consistent with the repeated statements of support to the Treaty made by the country's main political stakeholders in recent years. Moreover, it would surely contribute to the confidence building process in the country and would certainly improve access to international cooperation and assistance necessary to tackle the problem in the field.

Nepal's accession in 2009 would be particularly significant as this is also the year of the Mine Ban Treaty's Second Review Conference, an international high-level summit, which will be held in Cartagena, Colombia, in the month of December and will provide an opportunity to reaffirm the international community's commitment to achieving the humanitarian goals of the treaty.

While we are calling on Nepal to join the treaty without delay, we realize that accession might take some time. There are however a number of interim steps which Nepal could take to signal it is moving in the right direction, including expressing support for the annual UN General Assembly resolution on implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty, as well as participating in the treaty's Second Review Conference to announce its imminent accession.

I look forward to welcoming Nepal in the Mine Ban Treaty very soon.

Sincerely,
[Signature and Name]

CC: Hon. Mr. Upendra Yadav, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nepal

Hon. Mr. Janardan Sharma, Minister of Peace and Reconstruction, Coordinator of the National Mine Action Steering Committee