• Technologies

Co-chairs : Cambodia Mr. Ieng MOULY, President, C-MAC
 France Mr. Samuel de BEAUVAIS, Ambassador, Mine Action
Rapporteurs : Germany Mr. Ernst Joachim DÖRING, Auswärtiges Amt, Berlin
Yemen Major Mansour AL AZZI

I. General aspects

1.1. Introduction

The aim is to identify realistic and sustainable formulas which shall best contribute to the realisation of the objectives of the Ottawa Convention, in particular through the implementation of the mandate given, in the course of the first meeting of States-Parties at Maputo in May 1999, to the committees entrusted with intersessional work.

1.2. Participation

Participation is open to the international demining community: States-Parties to the Convention, States signatories, States concerned by demining, international and regional organisations, NGOs, Research and Development entities, actors in the field of demining, qualified personalities.

1.3. Mandate of the SCE on technologies for mine action

The very traditional nature of equipments commonly used, the frequently insufficient safety of deminers, the extremely slow pace of demining operations, demand a simultaneous quest for rapid progress, in terms of performance and cost of demining equipment, and for strengthened reliability of detection techniques.

The SCE shall therefore carry out a comparative survey of the needs of endusers and of the technologies available or in project. The SCE shall also exhaustively and critically analyse the various fields of research currently explored. Finally, the SCE shall ponder the methods to be used in translating on the industrial plane technological improvement and progress.

1.4. Agenda of the first meeting of the SCE

In conformity with the guidelines adopted at Maputo, the SCE shall endeavour to analyse the needs expressed by the endusers, and to draw practical conclusions in terms of priorities. Having recorded these needs, the SCE shall analyse them according to perceived constraints:

  • of environment (human, geographical, climatic)
  • of a technical nature (types of mines employed)
  • pertaining to the political and economic context

The SCE shall conclude with the definition of short, medium and long-term priorities.

1.5. Practical points

The GICHD will forward this draft agenda at an early date, so that interested parties may accordingly prepare for the meeting and determine their participation.

 

II. Agenda (* = To be confirmed)

 Monday 13 December 1999
09.00-11.00 Introductory remarks :
  • Co-Chairs: SCE’s link to the Ottawa Convention; Maputo mandate; APLM and UXO.
  • UNMAS
  • GICHD
 Expression of the needs of endusers :
  • Asia (CMAC, Afghanistan MAP*);
  • Africa (Mozambique IND, Chad NHCD);
  • Latin America (Nicaragua Demining authority);
  • Europe (CROMAC, ITF, Sarajevo MAC*, Pristina MACC*);
  • Comments (UNOPS)
11.00-11.15 Coffee Break
11.15-13.00 Analysis of the needs of endusers :
  • Presentation of Cranfield University’s project (objectives, methodology, first results, first conclusions)
  • Discussion (UNMAS/GICHD/James TREVELYAN/JMU)
 Operational conclusions
13.00-15.00 Lunch - WMO Building; Restaurant l'ATTIQUE, 9th floor (A)
15.00-16.30 Analysis of constraints:
  • Technical constraints: mines typology; general and specific problems linked to this category of weapons; (British, German* and French MODs; CMAC, Sarajevo MAC*; GICHD; JRC; MINETECH ; Sayed Aqa)
  • Constraints due to human, geographical, climatic environment ;
    organisational constraints (HI, MAG, UNDP, UNOPS;)
16.30-16.45 Coffee Break
16.45-18.00 Analysis of constraints:
  • Information available and its use in the field ; problems and prospects pertaining to the use of software (UNMAS/GICHD/JRC;CROMAC*;Sarajevo MAC*; JMU)
 Operational conclusions
18.30 Reception hosted by the Director of the GICHD
Restaurant Vieux-Bois, Av. de la Paix 12. Geneva
 Tuesday 14 December 1999
09.00-10.45 Constraints pertaining to the political and economic context :
  • Research and development: military reearch/”humanitarian” research, scientific research/industrial research (HI, MAG; Mr. NIVELLE, Mr. Acheroy*, Mr. Daniels*, Mr. R.D. Suart; JRC).
10.45-11.00 Coffee Break
11.00-13.00 Constraints pertaining to the political and economic context : Financing and purchasing capacities (CMAC, JRC, UNMAS, UNDP)
 Operational conclusions
13.00-14.30 Lunch - WMO Building ; Restaurant l'ATTIQUE, 9th floor (A)
14.30-15.45 Priorities
- in term of objectives:
  • cost
  • safety
  • reliability
  • speed
(CROMAC, Mozambique IND , Halo Trust*, MINETECH, MECHEM*)
15.45-16.00 Coffee Break
16.00-19.00 Priorities
- in terms of methods:
  • A closer relationship between providers and endusers; endusers’ association to field tests of new technologies (NPA, GICHD, JRC, Sayed Aqa)
  • co-ordination (UNMAS)
 Operational conclusions
 End of the SCE’s first meeting: general conclusions; mandate and prospects of the second meeting, in May 2000.