Letter to states parties urging participation to 3MSP

(Friday 06 July 2001 ) Sent to all the states that have signed or ratified urging their participation in the Third Meeting of States Parties (3MSP) next September, in Managua, Nicaragua.

Title, First Name, Last Name
Position
Address 1
Address 2

Dear Title, First Name, Last Name,

I am writing on behalf of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines to urge your participation in the Third Meeting of States Parties to the 1997 Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and On Their Destruction, (also known as the Mine Ban Treaty) to be held in Managua, Nicaragua from 18-21 September 2001.

[this para for signatories only] [We urge you to follow through on your government's strong commitment to the ban on antipersonnel mines by ratifying the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty. XXX signed this important treaty but has not yet ratified. Please do all you can to ensure the ratification of the Mine Ban Treaty by your government BEFORE the historic Third Meeting of States Parties (3MSP) in Managua this September. If there is anything we can do to assist with your ratification process, please let us know.

The ICBL is pleased that the decision was taken to hold the Third Meeting in Managua. The ICBL believes it is indeed appropriate and beneficial to meet in a mine-affected country. The First Meeting of States Parties in Maputo, Mozambique, and the Second in Geneva, Switzerland, both proved to be significant steps in the movement to ban antipersonnel landmines and in the process of treaty implementation. Your country's presence is necessary at this Third Meeting of States Parties in Managua to ensure systematic and effective implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty, while highlighting to the international community problems faced by a mine-affected country and region as well as the progress made thus far in confronting this humanitarian crisis.

While the Intersessional Work Programme has clearly demonstrated progress, and numerous concrete recommendations have been made at the end of this second year, the Meeting of States Parties is crucial in firmly cementing those steps and identifying the future work programme to fully and effectively implement the Mine Ban Treaty.

For those who have not yet done so, this Meeting is also an important occasion by which requisite Article 7 reports could be submitted and Article 9 domestic implementation measures enacted. The ICRC has recently published a handbook on domestic implementation legislation, including several sample pieces of legislation, available in French, English and Spanish. In addition, a guide to writing Article 7 reports has also been produced. If either of these documents would be useful to you in assisting you to fulfill these commitments, please let us know and we would be happy to forward copies to the appropriate representatives. Both guides were recently presented to the Standing Committee on General Status and Operation of the Treaty in its May meeting. The Meeting of States Parties is also an important opportunity for states parties to destroy stockpiles or provide details on their plans to do so.

We urge you to participate fully and meaningfully in this important meeting, and to bring information on the positive steps your government has undertaken to implement its commitments which will further our common goal of consolidating the Mine Ban Treaty. We look forward to continued cooperation in Managua, and beyond, as we work together towards a mine-free world.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth R Bernstein
Coordinator, ICBL

CC: Permanent Mission to the UN, Geneva
Permanent Mission to the UN, New York
Mission to Nicaragua