SPEAKERS AT CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT COMMEMORATE SIXTH ANNIVERSARY OF OTTAWA CONVENTION

The Conference on Disarmament today heard 13 speakers commemorate the sixth anniversary of the entry into force of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction.

The speakers underlined the progress made so far, with 144 States parties to the Ottawa Convention and the destruction of millions of stockpiled anti-personnel landmines. The importance of ensuring the universalization of the Convention was stressed, as was the fact that much more still had to be done.

The need to provide countries with resources and technical help for destroying the stockpiles of landmines, demining, and providing care to victims of anti-personnel landmines and ensuring their rehabilitation were also underscored as important issues which were necessary for the success of the process.

Austria, Canada, Kenya, Algeria, Australia, Switzerland, Argentina, Belgium, Croatia, Norway, the United States, Italy and Venezuela took the floor during the meeting. A number of speakers noted that the Conference had failed to take action on the issue of landmines, which had prompted States to take the process outside; this process had culminated in the Ottawa Convention. They stressed that the continued stalemate in the work of the Conference could not continue.

Ambassador Tim Caughley of New Zealand, President of the Conference, presented a progress report on his consultations, saying that his initial impressions based on his bilateral consultations were that there was an overwhelming concern among Member States to get down to real work on one or more of the four core topics, coupled with a widespread readiness to be flexible on a mutually reciprocal basis. He was greatly encouraged by the level of support for the directions pursued by the previous President and himself in the interest of breaking the impasse on the work programme as soon as possible this year. He would complete his bilateral discussions on Friday, 11 March. In the meantime, he continued to encourage the regional coordinators to consult their groups as they thought appropriate.

The next plenary of the Conference will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 10 March 2005.


Statements

WOLFGANG PETRITSCH (Austria) noted that on Tuesday, 1 March, the world had celebrated the sixth anniversary of the entry into force of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction. At the Convention’s First Review Conference, the Nairobi Summit on a Mine-Free World, which was held from 29 November to 3 December 2004 and which he had had the privilege of presiding over, the international community had gathered at a high political level to examine the humanitarian problems caused by anti-personnel mines and what was being done to address them. The Nairobi Summit had accomplished two objectives: taking stock of what had been achieved so far and defining a forward-looking plan. Considerable progress had been made. However, much still needed to be done.

To overcome the remaining challenges, the States parties to the Convention had adopted what was the centre-piece of the Nairobi Summit – the Nairobi Action Plan 2005 to 2009. The participants had agreed on 70 concrete actions, including making universal adherence to the Convention an important priority as 50 States, including 22 members of the Conference, had not yet formally joined the Convention. Also, the participants had acknowledged that the most significant challenge for the next five years would be to make sure that States parties met the 10-year mine-clearance deadlines for clearing mined areas. In many instances, mine action needed to be identified as a priority in development plans, poverty reduction strategy papers, and United Nations development assistance frameworks.

In conclusion, Ambassador Petritsch said that he hoped that the Conference on Disarmament, which had been in abeyance for too long, would soon start to also profit from a cooperative spirit in order to move forward the important work that needed to be done on the issues of the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty, nuclear disarmament, prevention of an arms race in outer space, and negative security assurances.

PAUL MEYER (Canada) said that the sixth anniversary of the entry into force of the Ottawa Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction was being celebrated throughout Canada during Landmine Awareness Week. It represented an ideal opportunity to celebrate the tremendous success and accomplishments of the Convention following the first Review Conference in December in Nairobi. In only six short years since the Convention entered into force, remarkable progress had been made towards achieving a truly global ban on the use of these indiscriminate weapons and towards redressing the human and socio-economic toll they had taken. Canada had renewed the Canadian Landmine Fund through 2008, bringing its financial commitment to more than $ 200 million since the signing of the ceremony in Ottawa.

Ambassador Meyer said that the goal remained universality of the Convention and Canada as the chair of the Universalization Contact Group would continue to work towards this objective. States which felt that they were not yet in a position to join the Convention should take steps to further emphasise their commitment to its humanitarian objectives, through issuing on a national basis moratoria not to produce or transfer anti-personnel landmines, initiating stockpile destruction programmes, funding mine action initiatives, or by submitting voluntary transparency reports.

In conclusion, Ambassador Meyer said that at a time when the Conference on Disarmament continued to be unable to agree upon a programme of work to address pressing issues affecting collective and national security, it was reassuring that so many members of the international community were addressing a vital issue of human security, which was making a real improvement in the lives of so many people, communities and nations. Canada hoped that this positive spirit might also inspire the Conference to meet the challenges that the world was facing together.

PHILIP OWADI (Kenya) said he wished to join the speakers in marking the sixth anniversary of the entry into force of the Ottawa Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction and looked forward to overcoming the challenges that remained. Kenya was one of 49 African States with a dual responsibility on the question of the eradication of landmines: they must implement the Nairobi Action Plan, and they must persistently apply the Common African Position on Anti-Personnel Mines which was adopted by African Ministers of Foreign Affairs on 23 September 2004. The two plans were complementary. A number of concrete steps needed to be taken, including universalization of the Convention in Africa and assisting African States parties in fulfilling their obligations to destroy stockpiles within their four-year deadlines and to develop and implement national demining programmes. Kenya was confident that African States would seize their responsibilities and would implement their plans.

In conclusion, he wished to address again the important question of the universalization of the Convention. He reminded States that were still outside the Convention that their concerns could be addressed within the Convention and appealed to them to embrace its noble principles and to take courage to join the Convention. With the necessary goodwill and in the spirit of multilateralism, their concerns could be addressed without sacrificing the fundamental principles that the States parties had agreed upon.

IDRISS JAZAIRY (Algeria) said the sixth anniversary of the entry into force of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction had been commemorated two days ago. This was the first anniversary since the First Review Conference of the Convention which had been hosted by Kenya last year. He wanted to concentrate in his statement on the important elements associated with this sixth anniversary as his colleagues had done. The Convention had provided a platform in order to prohibit totally anti-personnel landmines which affected civilians and which hampered sustainable development. For Algeria, the Ottawa Convention remained the main reference that enabled the world to address the problems of anti-personnel landmines in a comprehensive and conclusive manner.

Ambassador Jazairy said the Nairobi Review Conference had led to focusing and concentrating on all the gains made in the past few years. Participants had activated more assistance to the destruction of the stockpiles and the help provided to the victims of landmines and some countries had committed themselves to that. A great deal of work and effort was still required. The Work Plan which had been adopted in Nairobi for 2005 to 2009 concerned the framework of the steps that had to be taken in order to spare mankind from the threats posed by landmines. Algeria hoped that Member States would deploy all efforts to give substance to the recommendations in the plan and to the commitments made within their time frames. Algeria also hoped that international cooperation would be strengthened and that developing Member States would receive resources to enable them to fulfil their commitments.

In conclusion, Ambassador Jazairy said that Algeria's position on complete and comprehensive disarmament was known. Algeria had ratified the Convention in 2001 and was determined to carry out all of its commitments. In November 2004, along with a wide range of activities, Algeria had destroyed 3,037 anti-personnel landmines as a first step to the destruction of all its stockpiles which would be concluded in 2006. The presence of the President of Algeria at the ceremony testified to the priority which Algeria gave to the Convention. The conclusion of the Ottawa Convention outside the Conference on Disarmament reminded Algeria that the Conference had not been able to discharge it role. This had impelled Algeria to make efforts in order to stop the fragmentation of the mandate of the Conference.

MIKE SMITH (Australia) said Australia welcomed the commemoration of the sixth anniversary of the entry into force of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction. The Convention had been an overwhelming success, both as an arms control and as a humanitarian treaty. In the past five years, the Ottawa Treaty had produced significant results. One hundred and forty-four States parties had ratified the treaty, some 62 million stockpiled landmines had been destroyed and more than 1,100 square kilometres of land had been cleared. Yet despite the evident achievements, the Ottawa Treaty still faced the challenge of bringing on board key target States and in engaging non-State actors responsible for ongoing landmine use.

For its part, Australia had worked hard to implement the treaty in full and to assist regional partners to clear mines, destroy stocks and assist mine victims. Australia would spend $ 16 million on mine action in the next 18 months, exceeding by some $ 10 million the Government's commitment to spend $ 100 million in the decade ending 2005. It had also taken an active role in the intersessional work programme.

In conclusion, Ambassador Smith said that one of the striking features of the Ottawa Treaty was how it was negotiated, outside of the United Nations system and in partnership with civil society. Governments, organizations and individuals of goodwill took direct action to remedy what was revealing itself as a horrific humanitarian tragedy. The negotiation on landmines had had to be taken out of the Conference in order to produce real results that had impacted positively on millions of people's lives. Frankly, the situation in the Conference had not improved since that had happened six years ago. The Conference seemed to have lost the ability to react and respond to new challenges in the arms control/disarmament field, or indeed to the old challenges. Drawing this comparison served to highlight the serious problems facing the Conference, and Conference Member States should be clear that the status quo could not continue.

ROMAN HUNGER (Switzerland) said that announcing no new victims of landmines had been a dream for a long time, but six years after the entry into force of the Ottawa Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction, the dream had become a realistic goal in 144 countries and among many non-governmental and international organizations. The world had gotten closer to the goal, but it was still a long way off as long as there were still landmines planted near fields, hospitals and water holes which would bring down victims. Switzerland would continue to help affected countries to prevent accidents and to relieve suffering. This humanitarian aim would require a lot on the part of Governments. The universalization of the Convention needed a lot of effort and was a key goal for success. Following the Review Conference, sufficient resources needed to be allocated and to be used in a focused way. Countries also had to focus on the deadlines for eliminating landmines and clearing fields. At the same time, victims needed medical and psycho-social assistance and their socio-economic inclusion into society had to be ensured. Switzerland would make every effort in that regard. Recalling the work carried out by the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining in the context of the Convention, he noted that 18 countries now shared financing from it which was testimony to the quality of its work. Switzerland would continue to support the Centre and the international support unit both politically and financially.

MARCELO VALLE (Argentina) said that Argentina associated itself with the commemoration of the sixth anniversary of the entry into force of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction. Argentina welcomed the convergence between Governments and civil society which had been achieved to reach the goal and it hoped that that convergence would continue. The Latin American experience showed how the process of consolidation of peace had cut down on the use of landmines. He hoped that other regions would also work towards a world free of anti-personnel landmines.

ALAIN VAN GUCHT (Belgium) said he would be very brief. Today, the Conference was commemorating the sixth anniversary of the entry into force of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction. Belgium’s position had been well known from the outset. Belgium had fought for a mine-free world and it was firmly resolved to contribute to fulfil this goal. He echoed the sentiments in the statements just made, especially that made by Austria.

GORDAN MARKOTIC (Croatia) congratulated the 144 States parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction on the sixth anniversary of its entry into force. To date, this Convention had proved to be extraordinary. Croatia strongly urged any country currently using anti-personnel mines to immediately cease doing so due to their devastating humanitarian consequences, which far outweighed any limited military value. Croatia strongly believed that the Convention represented the only comprehensive and effective solution to deal with the issue of anti-personnel mines and their disastrous humanitarian and socio-economic effects.

A lot of effort was still needed to achieve the final goals of the Convention, Ambassador Markotic said. The task required strong political will, enormous efforts and unprecedented cooperation between donors and mine-affected countries if the world was to rid itself of this contemporary scourge within the deadlines set by the Convention. States parties would focus on achieving concrete and practical results on the ground for the next five years, making a life-saving difference in dozens of mine affected countries. The important role of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining as partners in the Ottawa process could not be overstated. No less important was the care and socio-economic reintegration of mine victims into society.

In conclusion, Ambassador Markotic said that the Review Conference had entrusted Croatia with the honour and responsibility of hosting the sixth meeting of the States parties to the Convention from 28 November to 2 December. For Croatia, this meeting offered a chance to serve in a unique role, both as a donor and a recipient country, in continuing efforts to build a solid bridge between mine affected States and those in a position to provide the help most needed.

KJETIL PAULSEN (Norway) said that it was needless to say that Norway would continue to be strongly committed to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction. In the context of the meeting today, he recalled that more than a decade ago, numerous efforts had been made to bring the landmine issue to the Conference on Disarmament, but these efforts had failed. The landmine problem had been ripe for negotiation and the issue had taken its own course outside of the Conference in a process that had succeeded in very many ways, unlike any such success in the Conference. He asked if something like this could happen again on other issues which were also ripe for negotiation. He said he would limit himself to asking the question.

THOMAS CYNKIN (United States) said that he had not intended to speak but had been gratified by the attention that the Conference was paying to the important issue of landmines. He felt that the seriousness and sincerity of a number of the statements made deserved few comments. He shared some of the sentiments expressed by Ambassador Meyer of Canada who had said, among other things, that States which felt that they were not yet in a position to join the Convention should take steps to further emphasize their commitment to its humanitarian objectives, and that he hoped that the Conference would meet the challenges that the world was facing together. Others had expressed their concern about the inability of the Conference to take up the issue of landmines in the past. It was for this reason that the United States had been prompted to propose a ban on the sale or export of persistent landmines. This was meant to be a complementary measure to the steps undertaken under the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects and he hoped that the Conference would give serious attention to the proposal of the United States.

CARLO TREZZA (Italy) said that Italy was fully committed to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction. Italy had destroyed the largest amount of landmines in accordance to the Convention. He shared what had been said by many speakers during the meeting and Italy pursued the goal of the universalization of the Convention which was not an easy goal to achieve. Italy believed that it had to achieved gradually. The major challenge today was the demining process.

Ambassador Trezza said that he had heard a number of speakers, including Australia, lamenting about the lack of progress in the Conference. So in a constructive spirit and in the sense of openness and flexibility, he said that Italy would have no objection to discussing conventional disarmament within the Conference, including wider indications on landmines, as long as they were consistent with the Ottawa Convention.

TIM CAUGHLEY (New Zealand), President of the Conference, thanked all his colleagues who had spoken about the sixth anniversary of the coming into force of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction and associated the delegation of New Zealand with the commemoration of this important occasion.

BERNABE CARRERO CUBEROS (Venezuela) said that he was pleased to join in the work of the Conference and was prepared to work with everyone towards achieving progress. Venezuela was historically a peace loving country and had not participated in hostilities since 300 years of bloodshed had ended in 1823. The Latin American and Caribbean countries had created the first nuclear free zone in the world, and encouraged other such nuclear weapon free zones. Also, along with the Andean countries, Venezuela was free of chemical weapons. Venezuela recognized that peace and security were essential goals which would help the development of the Andean sub-region. Venezuela was a party to the majority of the disarmament agreements.

He wished to seize this opportunity to join those who had spoken before him in welcoming the sixth anniversary of the coming into force of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction. In compliance with its obligations under the Convention, Venezuela had destroyed 47,000 anti-personnel landmines and had kept only a small number for training. Venezuela was also one of several countries in the region which had received technical assistance for demining.

In conclusion, he hoped that the Conference, with a little bit more good will, would be able to agree on a balanced programme of work. The Five Ambassadors proposal was a solid basis to begin substantive work and he urged delegations which had not yet spoken in favour of it to do so, and those who had doubts about it to speak about them so that solutions could be found. He hoped that this year, the Conference would be able to take further steps forward in the common endeavour of its Member States.

TIM CAUGHLEY (New Zealand), President of the Conference, said he wished to present a progress report on his consultations. He had continued to conduct a serious of bilateral consultations with all the Members of the Conference who were willing to meet with him. As he had indicated last week, the focus of his consultations remained the "food for thought" non-paper put forward by the previous President, Ambassador Chris Sanders of the Netherlands. At this point, the non-paper was providing him with a convenient and useful vehicle for testing the level of flexibility of the Conference. He had so far met with representatives of 22 countries, and regional coordinators had reported back to him yesterday on the outcome of group discussions. While it was too early for him to draw conclusions, his initial impressions based on his bilateral consultations were that there was an overwhelming concern to get down to real work on one or more of the four core topics, coupled with a widespread readiness to be flexible on a mutually reciprocal basis.

Ambassador Caughley said there was also widespread regret that it was not possible to appoint four Special Coordinators as identified by the previous President. There was widespread support for his efforts to enhance transparency, and there was widespread recognition that progress in the Conference would have a bearing on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference. He was greatly encouraged by the level of support for the directions pursued by the previous President and himself in the interest of breaking the impasse on the work programme as soon as possible this year. He would complete his bilateral discussions on Friday, 11 March. In the meantime, he continued to encourage the regional coordinators to consult their groups as they thought appropriate.


For use of the information media; not an official record

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