Nairobi Summit on a Mine-Free
World Daily Update #5
ICBL, Nairobi, Kenya, Friday 03
December 2004
ICBL presentations
Stephen Goose, head of the ICBL delegation made a presentation highlighting
the record numbers of participants to this meeting ? the highest since the
signing ceremony in 1997. He described the five-year review document and action
plan as excellent, while expressing disappointment at the unwillingness of the
majority of State parties to consider any changes to strengthen these
documents. He said that the Treaty will not succeed unless we continue to work
together, match the needs of survivors, increase resources and engage non-state
actors in the mine ban. A sign of success of the Treaty is that even countries
that have not joined it have endorsed the goal of elimination of anti-personnel
mines. He also stressed that civil society will not allow the Treaty to fail.
In the Closing Ceremony Cornelio Sommaruga and ICBL ambassador Jody
Williams spoke. She highlighted some of the points from Steve Goose’s
statement, noting that the action plan must be followed and implemented. The
full text of both speeches will be available soon.
Youth and survivor representatives also took the stage and handed in youth
and survivors’ summit declarations to the President of the Summit. President
Petritsch then handed over the Nairobi Declarations, copies of which were
signed by each Head of Delegation, to ICBL Ambassadors Tun Channareth and Song
Kosal ? so that civil society can keep the governments accountable to
fulfilling the Nairobi Declaration.
Highlights for the ICBL
・
China, not a State party, declared
its endorsement of the purposes and objectives of the Convention and expressed
the wish to see the early eradication of casualties and of the damage inflicted
by landmines. China said it follows the Ottawa process closely and is ready to
expand cooperation with States party to the Convention.
・
Poland is ready to start the
ratification process.
・
Kyrgyzstan declared it is following
a step-by-step approach towards a mine-free world.
・
Kofi Annan intervened by videolink
to stress the importance of the Summit.
Concerns for the ICBL
None ? the summit ended on a positive note.
Quote of the day
“The only way to be safe is to be mine-free” (Deputy Foreign Minister of
Croatia)
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