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Day 1 | Monday 29 November

Opening Ceremony

A ceremony preceded the official opening of the 10MSP, which was presided over by Ambassador Jürg Lauber of Switerland. The opening ceremony featured the following Albanian musicians performing compositions from the Kukes region of Albania – historically the most mine affected region of the country: Desar Sulejmani, Isak Shehu, Pjeter Guralumi and Ramona Tullumani.

 In addition, addresses were delivered by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Switzerland, Micheline Calmy-Rey, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Albania, Selim Belortaja, and the President of the International Committee on the Red Cross, Jakob Kellenberger.

  • Statement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland
  • Statement by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Albania PDF 267KB
  • Statement by the President of the ICRC PDF 202KB | French PDF 35KB | Spanish PDF 33KB

The opening ceremony also featured a presentation of video produced by Handicap International which depicted the daily reality faced by landmine survivors in Albania and elsewhere and efforts that are being undertaken to assist survivors.

1.    Official Opening of the 10MSP

The 10MSP was officially opened by the President of the Second Review Conference, Ambassador Susan Eckey of Norway. In her closing remarks, which closed her term as the Convention’s President, Ambassador Eckey noted the importance at the Second Review Conference and since in refocusing attention on “the humanitarian essence of the Convention” and on emphasising that “compliance makes a difference”.

  • Statement by the President of the Second Review Conference

2.    Election of the President of the 10MSP

Ambassador Eckey presided over the election of the President of the 10MSP, H.E. Gazmend Turdiu, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania. In his opening statement as President, Gazmend Turdiu noted that since the 2009 Cartagena Summit, the Convention is “continuing to head in the right direction” but that the States Parties “must not become complacent”.

  • Gazmend Turdiu (biography) PDF 64KB
  • Statement by the President of the 10MSP

3.    Addresses by UN, ICBL, ICRC, GICHD

In keeping with past practice, messages were delivered by or on behalf of the UN Secretary-General (delivered by Sergei Ordzhonikidze, Director General of the UN Office at Geneva), the Nobel Peace Prize Co-Laureates Jody Williams the ICBL (delivered by Per Nergaard of Norwegian Peoples Aid), and, the President of the Council of Foundation of the GICHD, Barbara Haering. The President noted that the President of the ICRC, who traditionally is called upon to deliver a message, spoke during the opening ceremony.

  • Message from the UN Secretary General PDF 91KB
  • Message from the ICBL PDF 253KB
  • Message from the President of Council of Foundation of the GICHD PDF 91KB

4.    Adoption of the Agenda

The 10MSP adopted its agenda.

  • 10MSP Agenda

5.    Election of Vice Presidents

In keeping with tradition, the Co-Chairs of the Standing Committees were elected Vice Presidents of the 10MSP, namely: Bulgaria, Ecuador, Greece, Indonesia, Nigeria, Peru, Slovenia and Turkey.

6.    Confirmation of the Secretary General

The meeting confirmed the designation of Ambassador Jürg Lauber as the Secretary-General of the 10MSP. In addition, the President informed that meeting that Peter Kolarov of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs had been appointed Executive Secretary of the 10MSP and that Kerry Brinkert, Director of the Implementation Support Unit, would support the President in all facets of his work as the 10MSP President’s Executive Coordinator.

7.    Organisation of Work

The meeting adopted its programme of work.

8.    General Exchange of Views

The following States Parties delivered general statements:

The following observer delegations delivered general statements or provided written statements:

It was noted that Finland indicated that a bill to accede to the Convention will be presented to Finland’s parliament in the spring or summer of 2011 in order for accession to take place in 2012.

In addition during the general exchange of views, Turkey exercised its right of reply.

Finally, during the general exchange of views, the President provided an opportunity for 11 year-old Israeli landmine survivor, Daniel Yuval, to address the meeting. Daniel, who as injured by a landmine in the Golan Heights, stated that “we in the Middle East have a big problem, but we know it can be done. My neighbour Jordan joined the Mine Ban Treaty and is almost finished clearing all its minefields.  I hope Israel will be next. I hope soon all the world will be free from landmines”.

9.    Presentation of Article 5 Mine Clearance Requests

The President of the Second Review Conference presented a report on the work of the States Parties that were mandated to analyse requests on mine clearance deadlines submitted under Article 5 of the Convention. Following the presentation by the President of the Second Review Conference, the ICBL offered general remarks on the Article 5 extension process in 2010.

Colombia presented is request for a ten year extension, until 1 March 2021. The President of the Second Review presented the analysis of Colombia’s request. Following these presentations, the following delegations offered their views: Australia, the ICRC and the ICBL.

  • Colombia’s extension request executive summary 
  • Analysis of Colombia’s request
  • Australia PDF 57KB
  • ICRC PDF 10KB
  • ICBL PDF 196KB

Denmark presented is request for an eighteen month extension, until 1 July 2012. The President of the Second Review presented the analysis of Denmark’s request. Following these presentations, the following delegations offered their views: the ICBL and Jordan

  • Denmark’s extension request executive summary PDF 36KB
  • Analysis of Denmark’s request PDF 64KB
  • ICBL
  • Jordan

Guinea Bissau presented is request for a two month extension, until 1 January 2021. The President of the Second Review presented the analysis of Guinea Bissau’s request. Following these presentations, the following delegations offered their views: the ICBL, Angola, Portugal, Senegal and Gambia

  • Guinea Bissau’s extension request executive summary PDF 42KB
  • Analysis of Guinea Bissau’s request PDF 113KB
  • ICBL PDF 142KB
  • Angola
  • Portugal
  • Senegal
  • Gambia

Mauritania presented is request for a five year extension, until 1 January 2016. The President of the Second Review presented the analysis of Mauritania’s request. Following these presentations, the following delegations offered their views: Australia, the ICBL, Chad, Jordan, Senegal, Algeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

  • Mauritania’s extension request executive summary PDF 35KB
  • Analysis of Mauritania’s request PDF 111KB
  • Australia PDF 56KB
  • ICBL PDF 145KB
  • Chad
  • Jordan
  • Senegal
  • Algeria
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Angola
  • Tunisia

Zimbabwe presented is request for a two year extension, until 1 January 2013. The President of the Second Review presented the analysis of Zimbabwe’s request. Following these presentations, the following delegations offered their views: the ICBL, Mozambique, Botswana, South Africa, Angola and Algeria.

  • Zimbabwe’s extension request executive summary PDF 65KB
  • Analysis of Zimbabwe’s request PDF 61KB
  • ICBL PDF 186KB
  • Mozambique
  • Botswana
  • South Africa
  • Angola
  • Algeria