 |  |
Opening ceremonyThe 7MSP was preceded by an opening ceremony which commenced with a performance by the traditional afghan group Ensemble Kaboul featuring Khaled Arman playing afghan lutes and Faisal Salimi on percussion. High level addresses were delivered by Switzerland’s Under-State Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland and by Teresa Gambaro, Australia's Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Special Representative on Mine Action.
A video produced by the Landmine Survivors Network, featuring landmine survivors at work in carrying out advocacy, was screened for the first time.
Landmine survivor Song Kosal addressed delegates. At the age of six, Song Kosal’s life was changed forever when she stepped on a landmine while working in a rice patty along the Thai-Cambodian border. She has since campaigned vigorously for a world without anti-personnel mines, particularly raising issues of concern to children and youth.
The opening ceremony concluded with Swiss double-amputee athlete Armin Köhli commencing with a bicycle tour of Switzerland. Köhli is best known for being the first athlete with a disability to participate in the “Tour d’Afrique” – a bike race covering 11,500 km over 100 days from Cairo to Capetown in 2004. Agenda Item #1: Official opening of the meetingThe 7MSP was officially opened by Ms. Dijana Plestina of Croatia on behalf of the President of the Sixth Meeting of the States Parties, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Croatia Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović.
Agenda Item #2: Election of the PresidentThe meeting acclaimed Ambassador Caroline Millar, Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations in Geneva, as President of the 7MSP.
Agenda Item #3: Brief messages delivered by or on behalf of …In keeping with past practices brief messages were delivered or statements made, this year by the following:
Agenda Item #4: Adoption of the AgendaThe meeting adopted the agenda for the 7MSP: Agenda Item #5: Adoption of the Rules of ProcedureThe meeting adopted the rules of procedure for the 7MSP. Agenda Item #6: Adoption of the BudgetThe meeting adopted costs estimates for the 7MSP Agenda Item #7: Election of the Vice Presidents of the 7MSPIn keeping with past practice, the eight outgoing Co-Chairs of the Standing Committees were elected Vice-Presidents of the 7MSP: Afghanistan, Belgium, Guatemala, Japan, Jordan, Slovenia, Switzerland and Tanzania. Agenda Item #8: Confirmation of the Secretary-General of the 7MSPIn keeping with tradition which sees when Meetings of the States Parties are held in Geneva Switzerland designates a Secretary-General to coordinate arrangements for the meeting’s opening ceremony and side events as well as other efforts in support of the meeting, the meeting confirmed Ambassador Jürg Streuli of Switzerland as the Secretary-General of the 7MSP. Agenda Item #9: Organization of workThe meeting adopted its programme of work. Agenda Item #10: General exchange of viewsThe President announced that delegations may distribute written statements rather than delivering oral statements. The following distributed such written general statements:
In addition, the following delivered oral statements: States Parties
States that have ratified the Convention but for which the Convention has not yet entered into force
Other observer StatesObserver organizationsAgenda Item #11.a: Consideration of the general status and operation of the Convention: clearing mined areasThe Co-Chairs of the Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies delivered a statement on the status of implementation of Article 5.
The State Party which most recently fulfilled its Article 5 obligations provided an overview of its efforts. The following States Parties which are in the process of fulfilling Article 5 obligations provided updates: |