Letter to Kofi Annan re: CCW meeting

hello. as you may know, there is concern about the timing of an upcoming prepcomm meeting for the CCW. A meeting has apparently been called for late April/early May or late Nov/early Dec. Many have expressed concern that if the CCW is held during the time of the Maputo First Meeting of States Parties in May, or just before, that it will interfere and potentially undermine the First Meeting of States Parties. ICBL Ambassador Jody Williams faxed this letter to Kofi Annan. you might wish to consider similar actions.

6 January 1999

Mr. Kofi Annan
Secretary General of the United Nations
New York, NY 10017
Via fax: 212-963-3511

Dear Mr. Secretary General:

I hope this letter finds you well and having had a chance for some celebration during the holiday season. Who would believe that we are already in the final year of this century! Hopefully, this year will prove less chaotic than last!
Not surprisingly, this letter arises out of an issue of concern. I am writing to add my voice to those who have been expressing an opinion as to the timing of the first meeting to consider the next CCW review conference vis-a-vis the already scheduled first meeting of states parties of the Mine Ban Treaty. I trust you will bear with me as I outline a bit the concern that many of us are feeling.
Few would doubt the unprecedented early success of the Mine Ban Treaty and the tremendous continued momentum of the international community to both firmly establish this new international norm and eradicate landmines once and for all. Probably few would have imagined that the states parties would so quickly come together after the Treaty enters into force to meet in early May in Maputo. Yet, as you certainly know, plans are well underway for that critically important first meeting.
We are aware that decisions will soon be made as well as to the timing of the first experts meeting for the CCW review, scheduled for 20001. As I understand it, there are opportunities to hold this meeting in the fall of the year, yet some would have it occur before the Maputo meeting.
While we support the continued strengthening of the CCW and many view it as an important vehicle for dealing with other weapons of concern, it does not seem so pressing that the experts meeting should be held before the Maputo meeting, when the review conference itself is still over two years away. There is concern that to hold the meetings essentially back-to-back could cause many problems.
The primary concern would be some sense of undercutting the Maputo meeting. We fear that to hold the CCW meeting first could cause much confusion to states. Additionally, governments with limited resources might well have to choose between the meetings, coming so close together, and that would indeed be unfortunate, as each has its place.
Mr. Secretary General, I hate to burden you with more issues when you have so many critical things facing you in today’s world. But, as you also certainly know, we are deeply committed to the success of the Treaty and the model that helped bring it about and hope that you will weigh our point of view about this as we all work to develop and strengthen this important new norm.
Thank you and best wishes for the new year.
Sincerely,

Jody Williams
Campaign Ambassador