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1. Opening ceremonyThe meeting was officially opened by the Fifteenth Meeting of the States Parties (15MSP) President, H.E. Heraldo Muñoz, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Chile. A high level opening ceremony featured an address by the President of Chile, H.E. Michelle Bachelet and messages delivered on behalf of organisations that historically played a role in the Convention:
In addition, an address was delivered by the Convention’s Special Envoy, HRH Mired Bin Raad Bin Zeid Al Hussein of Jordan. 7. Comprehensive Mine Action and Peace: Cooperating Towards a Mine-Free World The panel on Comprehensive Mine Action and Peace: Cooperating towards a Mine-Free World discussed the importance of a comprehensive mine action programme in Colombia’s peace process and the importance of cooperation and assistance in support of these efforts. The panel also learnt about the Global Demining Initiative co-led by Norway and the United States and discussed how this initiative could be replicated by other States Parties. The panel was chaired by Julio Bravo, Director of International and Human Security at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chile and featured presentations from:
Following the presentations of the panellists, the following delegations took the floor: Argentina, Mexico and the ICBL. 2. Official opening of the meeting The 15MSP was officially opened by the 15MSP President, H.E. Heraldo Muñoz, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Chile.
3. Adoption of the agenda The States Parties adopted the agenda for the 15MSP.
4. Election of the Vice-Presidents of the meeting and other officersIn keeping with past practice, those eight outgoing members of the Committees were elected as Vice-Presidents of the 15MSP, namely: Algeria, Canada, Ecuador, Ireland, Mexico, Senegal, Switzerland and Thailand. 5. Confirmation of the Secretary-General of the meetingMr. Julio Bravo, Director of International and Human Security at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile was confirmed as the Secretary-General of the 15MSP. 6. Organisation of workThe States Parties adopted the programme of work for the 15MSP.
8. General exchange of viewsThe following States Parties took the floor to deliver general statements: Switzerland, Mexico, Zambia, New Zealand, Japan, Belgium, Costa Rica, Cambodia, Poland, El Salvador, Guatemala, Slovenia on behalf of the Human Security Netwok, Slovenia, Slovakia, Canada, Australia, Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Congo, Holy See, Italy, Ecuador, Uganda, Ireland and Ukraine. The following States Parties provided their general statements in written form: Spain and South Africa. The following organisation delivered a general statement: the European Union. 9. Informal presentation of requests submitted under Article 5The following two States Parties which had submitted requests for extensions of their Article 5 mine clearance deadlines presented their requests: Niger and Peru. The Chair of the Committee on Article 5, introduced the analyses that had been prepared with respect to these requests. The following delegations shared views with respect to the request submitted by Niger: France and the ICBL and the following delegation shared views with respect to the request submitted by Peru: Argentina and the ICBL. During the meeting a third State Party delivered a statement indicating that due to unforeseen circumstances it would need to present a request for extension of its Article 5 mine clearance deadline during the 15MSP and it submitted its request to the Chair of the Committee on Article 5 Implementation: Ecuador. The Chair of the Committee on Article 5 made some brief observations with respect to this request. |