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General Status: Summary and Statements

Monday 9 February

1. Opening of the meeting

The meeting was opened by its Co-Chairs, Ambassador Chris Sanders of the Netherlands and Ms. Socorro Rovirosa of Mexico, and, with the support of its Co-Rapporteurs Ms. Hine-Wai Loose of New Zealand and Ms. Nontombi Makupula of South Africa.

2. General status of implementation

Ambassador Chaiyong Satijpanon of Thailand, on behalf of the President of the Fifth Meeting of the States Parties (5MSP), provided an overview of the general status of implementation, referring in particular to progress in applying the 5MSP President's Action Programme.

  • Statement by Ambassador Chaiyong Satijpanon of Thailand, on behalf of the Dr. Surakiart Sathirathai, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and President of the Fifth Meeting of the States Parties PDF 26KB

In addition, Romania and Burkina Faso provided updates on recent regional workshops and the United Nations provided an update on the implementation of and revisions to the UN Mine Action Strategy.

  • Statement by Ambassador Doru Costea of Romania PDF 19KB
  • Reay Group Workshop: Chair's Summary PDF 41KB
  • Statement by Burkina Faso
  • Atelier sur la mise en œuvre de la Convention de Ottawa sur les mines antipersonnel en afrique de l'ouest
  • Statement by Mr. Martin Barber, Director of UNMAS PDF 21KB 
  • Revised UN Mine Action Strategy

Finally, Lithuania provided an update on its initiative to host a regional seminar to advance the principles of the Convention in Northern and Eastern Europe.

  • Statement by Ambassador Algimantas Rimkunas of Lithuania

3. General status of universalization

The Coordinator of the Universalization Contact Group, Ms. Shannon Smith of Canada, provided an update universalization efforts and the work of the Contact Group.

  • Statement by Ms. Shannon Smith of Canada PDF 13KB

The following States not Parties provided updates on steps taken to proceed with ratification of or accession to:

In addition, the following States Parties or organizations provided views or updates in the context of the topic of universalization.

  • Belarus
  • Japan
  • Italy PDF 11KB
  • Turkey
  • Colombia Spanish PDF 1.4MB 
  • Thailand
  • Bangladesh
  • Senegal
  • Rwanda
  • ICBL
  • ICRC
  • Serbia and Montenegro

4. Resource mobilization

The Coordinator of the Resource Mobilisation Contact Group, Ms. Merete Lundemo of Norway, provided an update on efforts to mobilize resources to achieve the Convention's aims. In addition, Ms. Lundemo introduced a representative of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), who provided an overview of the ADB's efforts if this area.

  • Statement by Ms. Merete Lundemo of Norway
  • Presentation by the Asian Development Bank PDF 338KB

The following States Parties or organizations provided view or updates in the context of the topic of resource mobilisation.

5. Update on Article 7 reporting

The Coordinator of the Article 7 Contact Group, Mr. Paul Huynen of Belgium, provided an update on efforts to promote timely reporting in accordance with the Article.

  • Presentation by Mr. Paul Huynen of Belgium PDF 622KB

In addition, the following States Parties or organizations provided views or updates in the context of the topic of article 7 reporting .

  • UNDDA
  • Sierra Leone
  • ICBL
  • Greece
  • OAS

6. Experiences in implementing Article 1

Ambassador Chris Sanders of the Netherlands, Co-Chair of the Standing Committee, introduced a non-paper on the matter of coming to a common understanding on matters pertaining to Article 1 of the Convention, particularly with respect to States Parties' views on the word "assist" in the Article.

  • "Assistance" Art. 1
    Non-Paper presented by the Netherlands

The following shared views on Article 1:

  • Japan
  • Kenya
  • ICBL

7. Experiences in implementing Article 2

The following shared views on Article 2:

In addition, the ICRC presented a paper on the positions and practices of States Parties with respect to anti-vehicle mines with sensitive fuses.

  • "Anti-vehicle" mines with sensitive fuses: Positions and relevant practice of States Parties on Article 2 of the Ottawa Convention Paper presented by the ICRC

8. Experiences in implementing Article 3

The ICRC presented a discussion paper on elements for a common understanding on Article 3.

  • Elements for a common understanding on Article 3 ICRC discussion paper

In addition, the following shared views on Article 3:

  • Jordan
  • South Africa
  • France
  • Algeria
  • Japan
  • ICBL

General comments related to all three Articles were presented by the following:

  • Norway
  • Mexico

9. Matters pertaining to the Convention's compliance mechanisms

The ICRC provided an update on measures taken by the States Parties in accordance with Article 9 and presented a document containing a compilation of the measures which States Parties have reported on in their Article 7 reports.

  • ICRC Presentation PDF 133KB
  • Table of National Implementation Measures as reported by the States Parties under Article 7
    Paper presented by the ICRC

In addition, the following shared updates and views on this matter:

  • Slovenia
  • Afghanistan
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo French PDF 26KB
  • Chile
  • Zambia

Canada was called upon to provide an update on the work it has done with interested parties on a dialogue on means to facilitate the clarification of concerns about compliance. In addition, the ICBL took the floor on the matter of compliance concerns and responding to them.

10. Coordinating Committee

The Chair of the Coordinating Committee, Ambassador Chaiyong Satijpanon of Thailand, provided an update on the activities of the Coordinating Committee since the 5MSP

  • Statement by Ambassador Chaiyong Satijpanon of Thailand PDF 13KB

11. Implementation Support Unit

The Director of the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining, Ambassador Martin Dahinden, and, the Manager of the Implementation Support Unit (ISU), Mr. Kerry Brinkert, provided an update on the ISU.

  • Statement by Ambassador Martin Dahinden, Director, GICHD PDF 113KB
  • Statement by Mr. Kerry Brinkert, Manager of the ISU PDF 11KB 

The following States Parties made statements regarding their intentions to provide contributions to the ISU Trust Fund

  • Australia
  • Croatia

12. Sponsorship Programme

The Coordinator of the Sponsorship Programme, Mr. John Wattam of the United Kingdom, provided an update on the operations of the programme.

  • Statement by Mr. John Wattam of the United Kingdom PDF 14KB

13. Other matters

Croatia took the floor to reiterate its offer to host a subsequent Meetings of the States Parties.