Author/Origin: Liz Bernstein banemnowSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERicbl.org

(Friday 09 August 2002 Kabul, Afghanistan) At Afghanistan’s first international conference on antipersonnel landmines, Karzai and his Government declared their firm commitment to accede to the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty. In a signing ceremony 30 July, Foreign Minister Abdullah signed the documents and was congratulated by Jody Williams and ACBL's Fazel Karim Fazel. Read all articles on the Kabul conference here.

Final Declaration

The Kabul conference “Building a Peaceful Future for Afghanistan: A Total Ban on Anti-Personnel Mines” concluded yesterday, 31 July, adopting the following declaration. The conference was well-attended for the final morning of lively deliberations on the topic of victim assistance, followed by the closing ceremony. The previous day, 30 July, included discussions on Explosive Remnants of War followed by full sessions on mine action in the country. At 11:15 Foreign Minister Abdullah joined the conference for a brief signing ceremony announcing the Council of Ministers meeting at which the Cabinet unanimously approved commitment to the Mine Ban Treaty. “I, Dr. Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs, declare that the Transitional Islamic Government of Afghanistan, having considered the [Convention] signed the instrument of accession today, 30 July 2002,” announced Dr. Abdullah. He then signed the document and applause erupted throughout the room.

Fazel Karim Fazel, co-chair of the Afghan CBL, congratulated the government on behalf of all campaigners, and noted that challenges still remain, particularly those of stockpiles, “and we hope they will be brought under control of the central government and destroyed.”

Ms. Rohafza, a landmine survivor now working as a physiotherapist at the ICRC clinic in Kabul, also congratulated the government, noting “On behalf of landmine survivors in Afghanistan and all over the world we thank President Karzai for leading Afghanistan on the road of peace…I hope no more children in Afghanistan will suffer the way I did.”

ICBL Ambassador Jody Williams, co-recipient with the ICBL of the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize, also congratulated Dr. Abdullah and the Afghan government. “I apologize for my informal attire, but I believe it is fitting and appropriate that I have just come from the minefield, watching the incredibly skilled Afghan deminers. It is wonderful to come from the minefields and see the historic and courageous step by this young government. We will be with you until the battle is over.”

Later in the day President Karzai and his vice-president received Jody Williams, Shohab Hakimi, co-chair of ACBL, Ms. Rohafza and Liz Bernstein, ICBL coordinator. All congratulated President Karzai for the courageous move of the young government. Hakimi thanked him for support and urged continued support of the Afghan mine action program and spoke of the importance of the destruction of stockpiles. Rohafza told him of her experiences and urged inclusion of women and landmine survivors in all areas, and then presented him with a letter signed by numerous landmine survivors. President Karzai noted that as a country so affected by landmines, it was appropriate that joining the treaty be one of the first things they do. He said, “We are a poor country, but we will do whatever we can to support this issue in Afghanistan and all over the world.”

The text of the Declaration follows:

Declaration

Building a Peaceful Future for Afghanistan A Total Ban on Anti-Personnel Mines Kabul, Afghanistan 27-31 July 2002

Determined to put an end to the suffering and casualties caused by anti-personnel mines, that kill or maim hundreds of people every week, mostly innocent and defenceless civilians and especially children, obstruct economic development and reconstruction, inhibit the repatriation of refugees and internally displaced persons, and have other severe consequences for years after emplacement,

Believing it is necessary to do our utmost to contribute in an efficient and coordinated manner to face the challenge of remaining anti-personnel mines placed through the world, and to assure their destruction,

Recognizing the scale and severity of the mine and unexploded ordnance problem in Afghanistan and the urgency of tackling this as an essential element of humanitarian reconstruction and development, and building a peaceful future for Afghanistan,

Recognizing further the efforts already undertaken in the fields of humanitarian mine action and victim assistance by the Afghan authorities, Afghan mine action agencies and humanitarian organizations as well as the contribution of community and international organizations,

We, the Conference on Building a Peace Future for Afghanistan through a total ban on anti-personnel mines:

Welcome the signing on 30 July 2002 of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production, and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and On Their Destruction by the Transitional Islamic Government of Afghanistan,

State our Appreciation for the continued commitment and endeavour of the Afghan Transitional Government, Afghan mine action agencies and humanitarian agencies and humanitarian organizations,

Urge enhanced commitment and support by the United Nations, other international institutions, the international donor community and civil society and NGOs to Afghan humanitarian mine action and victim assistance programmes, and

Express our Conviction that Afghanistan should become mine-impact free within seven years.