Summit of Heads of State of the Organization of African Unity
Summit of Heads of State of the Organization of African Unity.
Author/Origin: Sylvie Brigot (sylviebrigotHI-at-compuserve-com)
(6 July) Between the 10th and 12th of July in Togo the Summit of the Organization of African Unity will bring together for two days Heads of State and governement, members of the OAU.
For this occasion, the ICBL proposes that an informative letter (a copy which you will be able to use to motivate your Heads of State is attached), which would contain background information as well as a status report, be sent to the Heads of State and governement gathered in Togo. ICBL asks State parties to act in favor of the implementation of the Treaty, asks the Signatories to ratify the Treaty and calls upon the non signatories to acced to the Treaty, before the Conference of State parties which will take place in Geneva from the 11th to the 15 th of september. In addition, ICBL calls upon the member states of the OAU to include this question in the final declaration of the Summit of Heads of State of the OAU.
We invite you to contact your Head of State of governement who will be in Togo in July. Since the mine question is not officially registered as a topic that will be discussed in Togo, it is essential that the Heads of State come down in favour of the Mine Ban Treaty and discuss the current situation in Africa regarding antipersonnel landmines.
The last intervertion of the OAU dates back to april 1998, when the Secretary General adressed a letter to all member states Foreign Affairs Ministers again requesting that non participants sign and ratify the Ban Treaty. Today, the Treaty has entered into force but the work is far from finished. On the eve of the Second Meeting of State Parties, it is of the utmost importance that the OAU recognizes the antipersonnel landmine issue in Togo and urge African countries to act against landmines.
We've sent a copy of our letters and hope you will do the same.
Our sincerest thanks to everyone for your invaluable help.
Sylvie Brigot (sylviebrigotHI0-at-compuserve-com) and Karine Gavand
Copies of the letters are available as Word Documents below:
English:
Français:
