From the Palace of Nations in Geneva (Switzerland), the Vice-President of Colombia, Francisco Santos Calderón, reiterated the need to guarantee the attendance of all countries to the high level segment of the ‘Cartagena Summit on a Mine-free World’, to be held in Cartagena de Indias from November 29th to December 4th.
“The high level segment is the appropriate scenario for all Countries to show their political commitment in advancing towards the adoption of concrete measures focused on actions that favour victims, the Convention’s universalization, mine removal and destruction of stockpiles; tasks that require the strengthening of international cooperation and assistance for its full implementation”, the Vice-President pointed out.
He made this statement during his visit to the European country on September 3rd and 4th for the second preparatory review of the summit. “This is not only the wish of Colombia as host country, the President-Designate and the Conference’s organizers, but basically that of thousands of victims in the entire world, including boys and girls whose present and future depends on the decisions and commitments we adopt in this Cartagena Summit at the highest level”, highlighted Santos.
During the two days of work the delegates of the State Parties of the Mine Ban Convention were summoned for a first discussion of the documents to be approved in Cartagena. This is with the purpose of guaranteeing that the Convention’s commitments continue to be valid over the next few years and that the decisions made in Cartagena translate into concrete actions in benefit of the affected populations.
Among the documents submitted for consideration, the review of the Convention’s status for the 2005 - 2009 term was presented, as well as the action plan that will guide the State Parties over the next five years, under the coordination of the President-Delegate of the Second Review Conference, Norwegian Ambassador Susan Eckey.
During the plenary session, the Head of the Presidential Program for Mine Action (Paicma), Andrés Dávila Ladrón de Guevara, highlighted the need to expand and include a differential approach to victims’ assistance that goes beyond gender and age orientation; the shared commitment to condemn the use of anti-personnel mines by any actor, including Illegal Armed Groups; and, consequently, the urgency to include actions that allow the State Parties to face the challenges entailed in the new methods of use and production of anti-personnel mines.
Finally, Dávila informed the delegates about the logistic aspects that will guide the Summit, including: the launch of the Conference’s webpage (www.cartagenasummit.gov.co); the explanation of the registration and accreditation process; the presentation of the different events offered by the National Government and the Colombian social organizations during the Summit’s development; and the mention of a few useful information points for the delegates in terms of visas, transportation, accommodation and available services in Cartagena.
