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Note: This document is from the archive of the Africa Policy E-Journal, published
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Africa: Landmine Treaty Ratification
Africa: Landmine Treaty Ratification
Date distributed (ymd): 000205
Document reposted by APIC
+++++++++++++++++++++Document Profile+++++++++++++++++++++
Region: Continent-Wide
Issue Areas: security/peace
Summary Contents:
This posting contains a suggested action from the
International Campaign to Ban Landmines, to encourage
additional countries to ratify the International Treaty to Ban
Landmines which they have signed. Letters are particularly
suggested at this time to 21 African states which have signed
the treay, to encourage them to complete the ratification
process by March 1 the first anniversary of the treaty of the
treaty's entry into force. The campaign is also focusing on
encouraging Nigeria -- which did not sign during the period
before the treaty entered into force -- to move quickly to
accede to the treaty.
For more background on the treaty and related issues,see the
ICBL web site (http://www.icbl.org), as well as other
resources cited on the Africa Policy web site
(http://www.africapolicy.org/action/lmine.htm).
+++++++++++++++++end profile++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Liz Bernstein, Coordinator
International Campaign to Ban Landmines
110 Maryland Ave NE Box 6, Suite 504
Washington, DC 20002 USA
Tel: +1 202 547 2667
Fax: +1 202 547 2687
E-mail: banemnow@icbl.org
Web: http://www.icbl.org
Please Note New Address for ICBL Coordinator!
Dear all,
As you may know, 1 March 2000 is the first anniversary of the
entry into force of the treaty banning landmines. We at the
International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) as well as our
colleagues at UNICEF and ICRC are launching a campaign to
encourage maximum ratification by signatory states by 1 March
2000. We are undertaking and urge all of you to participate
in:
- a coordinated letter writing campaign, each sending letters
to the Foreign Ministers and/or Heads of State of all
governments which have signed but not yet ratified the treaty
to encourage them to do so by 1 March. Go to
http://www.icbl.org/action/1march2000.html to edit your letter
online.
- visits to embassies of these states in various capitals
- encouraging all government partners (states parties) to
conduct demarches and other means in various fora to encourage
all signatories to ratify by 1 March 2000.
In addition to the impetus of the anniversary date, it is also
important to mention that those who ratify or accede by 1
March 2000 will be able to participate at the Second Meeting
of States Parties in Geneva in September 2000 as full states
parties.
In order to target our efforts, we've drawn up a list of some
priorities, although of course it is important to get ALL 47
signatories to ratify.
Below is a list suggesting some priorities in AFRICA. We urge
you to write all of them, or at least those in your region, to
select a few of those you deem important, perhaps neighboring
countries or those sharing a language or special relationship
with your country, and visit their embassy, call the embassy,
call your government leaders and encourage them to urge these
countries to ratify.
For AFRICA:
21 states have not yet ratified. We will focus on 16 of those
before 1 March -- Botswana, Cape Verde, Cote D'Ivoire, Gabon,
Gambia, Ghana, Mauritania, Sao Tome, Seychelles, Togo,
Cameroon, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Tanzania, and Zambia.
Cameroon, Gambia and Togo have apparently completed domestic
steps and need simply to forward the ratification instruments
to the UN in New York by 1 March, and Cote d'Ivoire has nearly
done so. Urge them to do so ASAP!
For universalization, we'll focus on Nigeria [which has not
yet signed the treaty]. During an event and trip by Jody
Williams last September, they indicated 'the wheels were in
motion for accession' and now is the time to ensure those
wheels are moving, and complete accession. We will visit
Nigerian embassies in London, Paris and Washington, among
others.
Below is the sample letter, also on line, followed by
addresses. Thanks for your ACTION!
Liz Bernstein
Foreign Minister
Title
Street
Capital X
Country Y
26 January 2000
Dear Foreign Minister:
The first of March marks the first anniversary of the entry
into force of the 1997 Convention on the Prohibition of the
Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel
Mines and on Their Destruction (Mine Ban Treaty). As you
certainly know, governments have signed and ratified this
Treaty more quickly than any other of its kind in history --
and we in the International Campaign to Ban Landmines
congratulate all those who have been part of this historic
movement to eradicate this indiscriminate weapon.
But our work is far from over and we must remain vigilant to
maintain the momentum of the ban movement. Thus, the ICBL set
a target of at least 100 ratifications by 1 March. We have
been strongly encouraging treaty signatories to ratify by 1
March as a demonstration of their commitment to completely
eliminate antipersonnel mines. Up to and on this day, ICBL
members will hold activities worldwide to promote urgent
ratification, as well as universalization and effective
implementation of the treaty, and increased funding for mine
action and victim assistance.
Our goal is within reach as we now stand at 90 ratifications!
As a treaty signatory, your government has been among the
leaders in the ban effort -- but it remains among the 47
governments that have not yet ratified. We are writing now to
encourage you to work for the ratification of the Mine Ban
Treaty by 1 March. Not only does this mark an important date
in the ban movement, but signatory states that ratify on or
before 1 March 2000 will be able to participate in the Second
Meeting of States Parties in Geneva 11-15 September 2000 as
full states parties.
Signing the Treaty is obviously an important step -- but
ratification by all signatory states is critical. We ask that
you join the other 90 countries that have already done so and
undertake the necessary domestic steps to ensure the letter as
well as the spirit of the treaty are respected and enshrined
through ratification. By undertaking your full legal
obligations, you will help to solidify the international norm
against any possession or use of antipersonnel mines, and will
leave no doubts about your government's commitment to
abolishing antipersonnel mines urgently and as a top priority.
The true test of success of the Mine Ban Treaty will be when
it is universalized and makes a difference for those affected
by landmines, and when survivors are assisted and land safely
restored to the people who depend on it. This can only happen
when each country takes responsibility for full and effective
implementation of the treaty, including immediate
ratification.
If there is anything we can do to assist with your
ratification process, please let us know. We would appreciate
any information you can provide to us on the status of
ratification in your country. We look forward to continued
cooperation in our common struggle to eradicate antipersonnel
mines forever.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
Elizabeth Bernstein
Coordinator
110 Maryland Ave NE, Suite 504
Washington, DC 20002 USA
CC: ICBL Country Campaign Contacts
List of Addresses of African Foreign Ministers of signatories
who have not yet ratified:
Mr. Yousef Yousfi
Ministere des Affairs Etrangeres
6, rue Ibn Badran
El-Mouradia, Algiers 16050 ALGERIA
Joao Bernardo de Miranda
Ministerio das Relacoes Externas
Avenida Commandante Gika
Luanda ANGOLA
Hon. Mompati Merahfe, Lt. Gen. (Ret)
Minister of External Affairs
Private Mail Bag 00368
Gaberone BOTSWANA
Hon. Severin Ntahomvukiye
Ministere des Affairs Etrangeres
Boite Postale 1.840
Bujumbura BURUNDI
Hon. Augustin Kontchou Kouomegni
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Yaounde CAMEROON
Hon. Jose Luis Jesus
Ministerio das Relacoes Externas
Praca Doctor Lorena
Praia CAPE VERDE
Hon. Amara Essy
Ministere des Affaires Etrangeres
Boite Postale V-109
Abjidan COTE D'IVOIRE
Hon. Seyoum Mesfin
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Post Office Box 393
Addis Ababa ETHIOPIA
Hon. Jean Ping
Ministere des Affairs Etrangeres
Boite Postale 2.245
Libreville GABON
Dr. Momodou Lamin Sedat
Jobe Minister of External Affairs
4, Marina Parade
Banjul GAMBIA
Hon. James Victor Gbeho
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Post Office Box M-53
Accra GHANA
Mr. Jose Pereira Baptista
Ministerio das Relacoes Externas
Caixa Postal
Bissau GUINEA-BISSAU
M. Bonaya A. Godana
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Post Office Box 30551
Nairobi KENYA
M. Ahmed Ould Sid Ahmed
Ministere des Affaires Etrangeres et du Cooperation
Boite Postale 230
Nouakchott MAURITANIA
Hon. Augustin Iyamuremye
Ministere des Affairs Etrangeres
Boite Postale 179
Kigali RWANDA
Hon. Paulo Jorge Rodrigues Do Espirito Santo
Ministerio das Relacoes Externas
Caixa Postal 111
Sao Tome SAO TOME E PRINCIPE
Hon. Jeremie Bonnelame
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Post Office Box 656
Mont Fleuri SEYCHELLES
Dr. Sama S. Banya
Minister of External Relations
Glouchester Street
Freetown SIERRA LEONE
Mr. Mustafa Osman Ismail
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Post Office Box 873
Khartoum SUDAN
M. Jakaya Kikwete
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation
Post Office Box 9000
Dar Es Salaam TANZANIA
Mr. Joseph Kokou Koffigoh
Ministere des Affairs Etrangeres et Cooperation
Boite Postale 900
Lome TOGO
Mr. Sipakeli Walubita
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Post Office Box RW-50069
Lusaka ZAMBIA
and NIGERIA to accede to the treaty:
Mr. Sule Lamido
Minister of External Relations
Private Mail Bag 130
Abuja NIGERIA
Sign & Ratify the Treaty * Clear Mines * Help Survivors
This material is being reposted for wider distribution by the
Africa Policy Information Center (APIC). APIC's primary
objective is to widen international policy debates around
African issues, by concentrating on providing accessible
policy-relevant information and analysis usable by a wide
range of groups and individuals.
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