We, experts and representatives of the Horn of Africa and Gulf of Aden
countries: Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda and Yemen,
having met in Djibouti from 16 to 18 November 2000 on the occasion of the
Conference of the Horn of Africa and Gulf of Aden Countries on antipersonnel
landmines.
Express our appreciation and gratitude to the Republic of Djibouti
for having taken the initiative of organizing this regional Conference on
the issue of Antipersonnel Landmines;
Reiterate the urgency
and the necessity of regional cooperation as
part of collective action and of concerted policies against antipersonnel
landmines.
Agree to recommend
our governments the creation of a regional center
for research and training of antipersonnel landmines, to promote collective
actions and concerted regional policies, and to develop InterAfrican
cooperation in the field of mine clearance and mine victim assistance as
called for by the OAU Kempton Park Plan of Action and other relevant decisions.
Accept
the proposal by the Republic of Djibouti, host country of this
first regional conference on antipersonnel landmines, to initiate an action
plan for the creation of such a center, taking into account that Djibouti is
the Headquarters of IGAD.
Noting with deep concern
that programs financing assistance for
victims and survivors are not meeting the needs of the whole region, and, that
the handicapped and amputees, victims of mines, are in extremely difficult
situations in many poor communities of the region;
Call on
the International Community to bring all necessary assistance
to the countries of the region, in order to enable them to establish mine
action and victim assistance programs, as well as mine awareness programs for
the general population, understanding that help should be based on
humanitarian grounds;
Being seriously alarmed
by the fact that millions of antipersonnel
mines have been laid in our region, and are killing and maiming innocent
civilian and are terrorizing many communities;
Recognising
that the continued use of antipersonnel mines by the
countries of the region will exacerbate already existing problems, and would
jeopardise future programs destined to eradicate antipersonnel landmines, call
on all parties to immediately cease and never to use AP mines;
Considering
that peace, stability and security are essential for a
lasting development of the region;
Request that
the countries of the region, who do not yet have national
disability laws, promulgate national laws for the protection and well being of
the handicapped persons;
Knowing
that only three countries of the region have ratified the
landmines ban treaty, committing themselves to all the obligations of the
Ottawa Convention (including non-use of mines, destruction of stockpiles
within 4 years, enactment of national legislations and submission of annual
reports);
Recommend
the countries of the region who have not yet ratified the
treaty on antipersonnel landmines to do it, and for those who not yet signed
the treaty, to accede to it, in accordance with the appeals made by various
International Organizations, including the OAU and OIF.
Se the homepage of Institute for Practical Research and Training
for more information on the conference: http://www.iprt.org/