Agenda Item #1: Official Opening of MeetingThe 8MSP was officially opened by Her Excellency, Ambassador Caroline Millar of Australia, President of the 7MSP.
Agenda Item #2: Election of the PresidentThe meeting acclaimed His Royal Highness Prince Mired Bin Raad Zeid Al-Hussein of Jordan as President of the 8MSP.
Following his election as President, His Royal Highness Prince Mired Bin Raad Zeid Al-Hussein of Jordan called upon Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid of Belgium who delivered a statement.
Agenda Item #3: Brief messages delivered to the 8MSPIn keeping with past practices brief messages or statements were delivered or statements made by the following; the Secretary General of the United Nations, delivered by Sergio Duarte, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, United Nations Office of Disarmament Affairs; Vice President of the International Committee of the Red Cross Olivier Vodoz, on behalf of the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross; Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jody Williams; and, President of the Council of the Foundation of the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) Cornelio Sommaruga.
Agenda Item #4: Adoption of the AgendaThe meeting adopted the agenda for the 8MSP. Agenda Item #5: Adoption of the Rules of ProcedureThe meeting adopted the rules of procedure for Meetings of the States Parties rather than simply the rules for the Eighth Meeting of the States Parties. Agenda Item #6: Adoption of the BudgetThe meeting adopted costs estimates for the 8MSP. Agenda Item #7: Election of the Vice-Presidents of the Meeting and of other OfficersIn keeping with past practice, the eight outgoing Co-Chairs of the Standing Committees were elected Vice-Presidents of the 8MSP: Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Chile, Estonia, Italy, Norway and Sudan. Agenda Item #8: Confirmation of the Secretary General of the MeetingMr Ayman Al-Amery, Director of International Relations and Organisations at the Foreign Ministry of Jordan, was confirmed as Secretary General of the 8MSP. Agenda Item #9: Organization of WorkThe Meeting adopted its programme of work. Agenda Item #10: General Exchange of ViewsThe Minister of State of the Republic of Palau commenced the general exchange of views by announcing that Palau had acceded to the AP Mine Ban Convention, thereby becoming the 156th State to ratify or accede to the Convention.
The following delegations delivered oral statements or made written statements of a general nature available: States Parties
Observer delegations
Agenda Item # 11(a): Consideration of the general status and operation of the Convention: Universalising the ConventionThe Coordinator of the Universalisation Contact Group opened the session.
The following States not parties provided updates on their efforts to accede to the Convention The following other States Parties and observer delegations took the floor under this agenda item: |