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Stockpile Destruction: Summary and Statements

Thursday 24 June

1. Opening of the meeting by the Co-Chairs

The meeting was opened by its Co-Chairs, Ambassador Carlo Trezza of Italy and Mr. Carlos Arroyave-Prera of Guatemala, with the support of its Co-Rapporteurs Ms. Rabab Fatima of Bangladesh and Mr. John MacBride of Canada.

2. Overview of the status of stockpile destruction

The Co-Chairs provided an overview of the general status of implementation of Article 4 of the Convention and called upon the Manager of the Implementation Support Unit to introduce a overview document prepared by the ISU. As well, the ICBL presented its views on progress made in destroying stockpiles.

  • Timelines for the Implementation of Article 4 PDF 62KB
  • Presentation of the ICBL on the state of implementation PDF 228KB

3. Updates from relevant States Parties on the status of implementation

The Co-Chairs informed the Standing Committee that they had sent letters to relevant States Parties to invite them to present information on their national stockpile destruction programmes.

Presentations were made by the following States Parties which have completed destruction programmes:

The following States Parties which are in the process of destroying stockpiled antipersonnel mines provided updates:

  • Afghanistan
  • Algeria
  • Angola PDF 390KB 
  • Bangladesh
  • Belarus
  • Burundi
  • Colombia Spanish PDF 717KB 
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Greece PDF 198KB
  • Guinea Bissau
  • Mauritania
  • Serbia and Montenegro PDF 70KB
  • Tanzania
  • Zambia

Nigeria noted that earlier in the week it had provided its initial Article 7 report in which it reported that it had no stockpiled antipersonnel mines. As well, the Organization of American States reported on its efforts to assist some States Parties in the Western Hemisphere in furnishing initial Article 7 reports.

  • Nigeria
  • OAS

In addition to updates by States Parties, one State not party - Ukraine - provided an update as did the European Commission.

4. Update on assistance and cooperation

The Co-Chairs reminded the Standing Committee that in advance of the meeting a Food-for-thought paper entitled "Getting the Job Done" had been distributed.

  • Article Six and Stockpile Destruction: "Getting the Job Done"

5. Matters of a thematic nature related to stockpile destruction

One State Party spoke on the topic of best practices in destroying stockpiled mines discovered after the end of destruction deadlines.

  • Canada