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GS: Summary and Statements

Monday 23 April & Friday 27 April

1.     Opening of the meeting

The meeting was opened by its Co-Chairs, Marcelo Valle Fonrouge of Argentina and Andrea Romussi of Italy.

In opening the meeting, the Co-Chairs reminded delegations on the process they will facilitate with a view to identifying a draft list of nominees to serve as Co-Rapporteurs following the Eighth Meeting of the States Parties.

  • Statement by the Co-Chairs on the selection of Co-Rapporteurs for the period 2007-2008 PDF 11KB

2.    General status of implementation

Ambassador Caroline Millar of Australia, President of the Seventh Meeting of the States Parties, provided an overview of the progress made in pursuit of the Nairobi Action Plan and the priorities contained in the Geneva Progress Report as well as on the work Australia has done through the President’s Action Plan to Universalise and Implement the Convention.

  • Statement by Ambassador Caroline Millar of Australia, 7MSP President

3.     General status of universalization

The Coordinator of the Universalization Contact Group, Lieutenant Colonel (Retd.) John MacBride of Canada, provided an update universalization efforts and the work of the Contact Group.

  • Statement by Lieutenant Colonel (Retd.) John MacBride of Canada, Coordinator of the Universalization Contact Group

The following State which recently ratified the Convention made a statement.

The following States not parties made statements on their efforts to proceed with ratification of or accession to the Convention.

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

As well, the following States Parties or organizations responded to statements made by other delegations.

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.

  • Statement by Ms. Merete Lundemo of Norway, Coordinator of the Resource Mobilisation Contact Group

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

  • ICBL PDF 12KB
  • European Commission
  • United Nations Mine Action Team
  • Thailand
  • Canada PDF 19KB

5.     Update on Article 7 reporting

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

  • Presentation by Mr. Michel Peetermans of Belgium, Coordinator of the Article 7 Contact Group French PDF 24KB 

The following States Parties and organizations provided updates shared views with respect to Article 7 reporting.

  • United Nations Mine Action Team
  • ICBL PDF 16KB

6.     Updates on Article 3

The following States Parties and organizations shared views or provided updates on plans for and use of mines retained for the development of and training in mine detection, mine clearance, or mine destruction techniques in accordance with Article 3.

7.     Updates on Article 9

The ICRC provided an update on steps taken by the States Parties to establish legislation in accordance with Article 9 of the Convention

  • ICRC PDF 122KB
  • Table of Article 9 Implementation Measures as reported by States Parties under Article 7 - presented by ICRC PDF 208KB

In addition, the following States Parties provided updates on the establishment of legislation or on administrative and other measures taken in compliance with Article 9:

  • Argentina Spanish PDF 123KB 
  • Germany
  • Chile Spanish PDF 44KB 
  • Philippines
  • Democractic Republic of the Congo PDF 63KB 
  • San Marino

In addition, the following shared views on these matters:

8.     The practical implementation of the various other provisions of the Convention

The Co-Chairs provided an opportunity for States Parties and others to exchange views and share experiences in a cooperative manner on the practical implementation of various provisions of the Convention. The following took advantage of this opportunity:

  • ICBL PDF 15KB
  • ICRC PDF 12KB
  • "Anti-vehicle" mines with sensitive fuses: Positions and relevant practice of States Parties on Article 2 of the Ottawa Convention - presented by the ICRC PDF 74KB
  • Moldova
  • Venezuela
  • Netherlands
  • Canada

9.     Updates on the activities of the Contact Groups

The Co-Chairs provided an opportunity for Coordinators of the Contact Groups to provide updates on activities undertaken during the course of the week of meetings of the Standing Committees:

  • Update by the Coordinator of the Linking Mine Action and Development Contact Group Coordinator (Canada) PDF 20KB
  • Update by the Coordinator of the Resource Mobilisation Contact Group Coordinator (Norway)
  • Canada, Coordinator of the Universalization Contact Group
  • Belgium, Coordinator of the Article 7 Contact Group French PDF 26KB

In addition, the following shared their views in response to the updates:

10.     Preparations for the Eighth Meeting of the States Parties

The President-Designate of the Eighth Meeting of the States Parties (8MSP) presented his initial ideas and draft agenda and programme for the 8MSP. 

  • Initial ideas concerning, and suggested agenda and programme for, the Eighth Meeting of the States Parties PDF 56KB 

The Executive Secretary of the 8MSP presented draft cost estimates for the 8MSP.

  • Cost estimates for the Eighth Meeting of the States Parties PDF 13KB 

In addition, the 8MSP host country provided an overview of organizational matters and distributed a document containing important administrative information. 

The following contributed to discussions concerning preparations for the 8MSP:

  • Canada
  • Netherlands

11.     Matters pertaining to the General Operations of the Convention

Updates were provided by the Director of the GICHD and the Manager of the Implementation Support Unit (ISU) on the operations of the ISU.

  • Director of the GICHD
  • Manager of the Implementation Support Unit

An update was provided by the Chair of the Coordinating Committee on the activities of the Coordinating Committee.

  • Chair of the Coordinating Committee, Ambassador Caroline Millar of Australia

An update was provided by the Coordinator of the Sponsorship Programme on the activities of the Sponsorship Programme.

  • Coordinator of the Sponsorship Programme, Guy Pollard of the United Kingdom

The following engaged in discussion which followed these updates:

  • Canada

12.     Closing remarks by the Co-Chairs