FOREIGN MINISTER OF ESTONIA, PRESIDENT OF MEETING OF STATES PARTIES TO THE MINE BAN CONVENTION ADDRESS CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT

The Conference on Disarmament held a plenary meeting this afternoon, hearing addresses from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia and the President of the Eleventh Meeting of the States Parties to the Anti-personnel Mine Ban Convention.

Urmas Paet, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, said that to date 38 States had shown interest in becoming members of the Conference on Disarmament, and Estonia encouraged the Conference to engage in the debate about expansion. Given the universal nature of the United Nations, Estonia did not see any reason or moral justification why an interested State should not be allowed to participate fully and equally in disarmament discussions. Participation in negotiations on nuclear issues, space security and other questions with universal impact, should not be limited to only 65 countries. Estonia called on Members to appoint a Special Coordinator on the expansion of membership, and requested broader participation of civil society, including non-governmental organizations and research institutions, to add value to the work of the Conference.

Prak Sokhonn, President of the Eleventh Meeting of the States Parties to the Anti-personnel Mine Ban Convention, said that 13 years after its entry into force, it was heartening to be able to stand before the Conference on Disarmament to proclaim that the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention had been an unprecedented success. The Convention was born from the human tragedy caused by mines in Cambodia as well as in so many other locations around the world. Mr. Sokhonn welcomed the accession of Tuvalu, South Sudan and Finland to the Convention, and urged all members of the Conference who have not yet done so to also accede. He reported that together, States parties had now destroyed over 44.5 million stockpiled mines. While Governments could not turn their backs on the financial realities that weighed heavily on the minds of many, they must not default on obligations to support survivors and free mined land from its deadly bondage. Disarmament had a human face. It was the face of the innocent women, girl, boys and men who now lived with a disability as a result of landmines and other explosive remnants of war. Together the international community must rid their beautiful world of those hideous weapons of mass disability and destruction.


The next meeting of the Conference will be held on Tuesday, 6 March at 10 a.m



Statements

URMAS PAET, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, said it was most regrettable to learn about the core disarmament conference only in history books and dictionaries, where it was used to define the word ‘impasse’. The Conference had a clear purpose and Estonia was sure it could fulfil those tasks for which it was created – to negotiate international treaties on disarmament. A continued stalemate led States to consider alternative venues for negotiating disarmament treaties. However, working within the Conference on Disarmament offered to best prospect for reaching durable and comprehensive agreements.

To date 38 States had shown interest in becoming members of the Conference on Disarmament. Estonia encouraged the Conference to engage in the debate about expansion, and asked for its support. Participation in negotiations on nuclear issues, space security and other questions with universal impact, should not be limited to only 65 countries. Given the universal nature of the United Nations, Estonia did not see any reason or moral justification why an interested State should not be allowed to participate fully and equally in disarmament discussions. Estonia supported the proposals made by the Secretary-General of the Conference, Mr. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and called on Members to appoint in 2012 a Special Coordinator on the expansion of membership and in line with Resolution A66/59 on the Report of 2011’s session. Estonia also requested broader participation of civil society, including non-governmental organizations and research institutions, to add value to the work of the Conference.

PRAK SOKHONN, President of the Eleventh Meeting of the States Parties to the Anti-personnel Mine Ban Convention, Government Minister and Vice President of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority, said it was an honour to address the Conference on Disarmament in his capacity as President of the Eleventh Meeting of the States Parties to the Anti-personnel Mine Ban Convention, and on the eve of the thirteenth anniversary of the entry into force of that landmark humanitarian and disarmament instrument. The Convention was born from the human tragedy caused by mines in Cambodia as well as in so many other locations around the world. The Eleventh Meeting of States Parties had issued a strong appeal for the international community to honour its promises to landmine survivors and mine-affected communities. Tuvalu and South Sudan had taken their seats as the Convention’s newest adherents, and the announcement that Finland’s accession made it the 159th State to join the movement was welcomed. Mr. Sokhonn urged all members of the Conference who had not yet done so to also accede to the Convention. Other noteworthy news from the Eleventh Meeting of the States Parties was Turkey’s report that it had destroyed all stockpiled anti-personnel mines, numbering approximately three million. Together, States parties had now destroyed over 44.5 million stockpiled mines. Further, Burundi and Nigeria declared completion of their mine clearance obligations, and Guinea Bissau reported complete clearance of all known mine areas soon afterwards.

Thirteen years after its entry into force, it was heartening to be able to stand before the Conference on Disarmament to proclaim that the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention had been an unprecedented success. However, it was clear that it would take many more years to ensure the Convention fulfilled its promise to end the suffering and casualties caused by anti-personnel mines. While Governments could not turn their backs on the financial realities and economic challenges that weighed heavily on the minds of many, they must not default on obligations to support survivors and free mined land from its deadly bondage. Disarmament had a human face. It was the face of the innocent women, girl, boys and men who now lived with a disability as a result of landmines and other explosive remnants of war. Mr. Sokhonn urged the distinguished diplomats in the room to ensure that together they rid their beautiful world of those hideous weapons of mass disability and destruction.


For use of the information media; not an official record

DC12/009E