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International conference in Kabul to build a mine-free Afghanistan

Author/Origin: Sue Wixley mediaSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERicbl.org

(Wednesday 10 July 2002 )

Media Alert

WHAT: an international meeting, "Building a Peaceful Future for Afghanistan: A Total Ban on Anti-Personnel Mines"
WHO: the Government of Afghanistan is hosting the conference and the event is being organised in co-operation with the Afghan Campaign to Ban Landmines (ACBL), the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), and the United Nations' Mine Action Centre for Afghanistan (MACA)
WHEN: Sunday 28 - Wednesday 31 July 2002
WHERE: Intercontinental Hotel, Kabul, Afghanistan.

HIGHLIGHTS:

President Hamid Karzai will open the meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, sharing the platform with special guests Jody Williams (co-recipient with the ICBL of the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize) and UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Afghanistan Lakhdar Brahimi. Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan, ardent advocate on the landmine issue and Patron and Honorary Chair of the Landmine Survivors Network (LSN), will also give an address.

It is hoped that the Government of Afghanistan will announce plans to accede shortly to the 1997 Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction (or Mine Ban Treaty). The conference also promises to boost mine action activities in Afghanistan, which is still one of the most mine-contaminated places on earth. This is the first international diplomatic conference after so many years of war, and is an important step in its reconstruction and recovery.

There will be approximately 100 participants from Afghanistan and abroad: including experts on the Treaty, deminers, landmine survivors and representatives from several Government Ministries and Departments, the United Nations, international organisations, donor countries and States Parties to the Treaty.

Photo opportunities with the special guests and visits to mine action projects (including to a clearance site, a mine detection dog training centre and a mine awareness class) will be arranged. The media are invited to the opening day, Sunday 28 July 2002:
- 10h00: Opening ceremony;
- 11h00: Press conference;
- 13h30: Visits to field sites, including Mine Dog Detection Center (MDC); OMAR and Afghan CBL museum.

The ICBL will be arranging media interviews with Jody Williams, campaigners and deminers. For assistance with this or additional information, write to SPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERicbl.org> mediaSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERicbl.org or contact:

Sue Wixley, ICBL Advocacy and Communications Officer, Kabul until 31 July, tel +882 162 113 0965 or +93 702 80759 (from outside North America);

Liz Bernstein, ICBL Coordinator, Washington, DC: tel +1 202 547 2667;

Mary Daly, LSN, to arrange interviews for Her Majesty Queen Noor: tel +1 212 787 1399 or email: SPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERaol.com>maredalySPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERaol.com

For media accreditation for the conference please contact Sheida Sheikhi, Public Information Officer, UNAMA, tel: +39 0831 24 6121, email: SPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERun.org>sheikhiSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERun.org

See the ICBL Action Alert for Universalization regarding Afghanistan.