Declaration of Istanbul

(Tuesday 29 April 2003 Istanbul, Turkey) Declaration from the first conference on landmines held in Turkey, "Antipersonnel Landmines in Turkey and Worldwide" held 26 April 2003

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 removing remaining anti-personnel mines placed throughout the world, and to assure their destruction,

Recognizing the efforts already undertaken by the Turkish authorities, and humanitarian organizations to deal with the mine and unexploded ordnance problem in Turkey,

Recognizing further the importance of the Turkish-Greek Agreement of 6 April 2001, to ratify and to accede simultaneously to the “Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production, and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and On Their Destruction” and believing firmly that such a common act contributes to peace and stability in the region.

We, the participants in the Conference “Antipersonnel Landmines in Turkey and Worldwide”,

Welcome the approval of the law of “The Accession to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production, and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and On Their Destruction” on 12 March 2003, by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and the signing of the legislation by the President of the Republic on 14 March 2003.

State our appreciation for the continued commitment and endeavours of the Turkish authorities and Turkish civil society in their fight against the scourge of antipersonnel landmines.

Commend the Turkish and Greek governments for having completed all necessary steps required nationally to respectively accede and ratify to the Convention; and

Urge the Turkish and Greek governments to jointly deposit their respective accession and ratification instruments with the United Nations Secretary General as soon as possible and before the Fifth Meeting of States Parties to be held in Bangkok, Thailand from 15 - 19 September 2003.