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Day 1 | Sunday 18 November

Agenda Item #1:  Official Opening of Meeting

The 8MSP was officially opened by Her Excellency, Ambassador Caroline Millar of Australia, President of the 7MSP.

  • Statement by the President of the 7MSP, Ambassador Caroline Millar of Australia PDF 230KB

Agenda Item #2:  Election of the President

The meeting acclaimed His Royal Highness Prince Mired Bin Raad Zeid Al-Hussein of Jordan as President of the 8MSP.

  • Statement by His Royal Highness Prince Mired Bin Raad Zeid Al-Hussein of Jordan, President of the 8MSP PDF 65KB
  • Biography of His Royal Highness Prince Mired Bin Raad Zeid Al-Hussein of Jordan PDF 11KB

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.

  • Statement by Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid of Belgium PDF 474KB

Agenda Item #3:  Brief messages delivered to the 8MSP

In 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.

  • Statement by the Secretary General of United Nations PDF 20KB
  • Statement by Vice President of the International Committee of the Red Cross Olivier Vodoz Arabic PDF 148KB | English PDF 29KB
  • Statement by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jody Williams
  • Statement by the President of the Council of the Foundation of the GICHD Cornelio Sommaruga PDF 100KB

Agenda Item #4:  Adoption of the Agenda

The meeting adopted the agenda for the 8MSP.

Agenda Item #5:  Adoption of the Rules of Procedure

The 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 Budget

The meeting adopted costs estimates for the 8MSP.

Agenda Item #7:  Election of the Vice-Presidents of the Meeting and of other Officers

In 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 Meeting

Mr 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 Work

The Meeting adopted its programme of work.

Agenda Item #10:  General Exchange of Views

The 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.

  • Statement by the Minister of State of Palau Mr. Temmy L. Shmull PDF 150KB
  • Instrument of accession of the Republic of Palau PDF 403KB

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 Convention

The Coordinator of the Universalisation Contact Group opened the session.

  • Canada, Coordinator of the Universalisation Contact Group PDF 293KB

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: