This was stated by the Colombian president during his intervention before the United Nations General Assembly last Wednesday, September 23rd in New York City, United States of America.
Before the United Nations General Assembly that met on late September, Colombian president Alvaro Uribe Velez reminded that as a signee of the Mine Ban Treaty, Colombia has made significant progress on the fight against this calamity, especially in matters of destruction of these artifacts.
The president also rendered a brief explanation of the progress made by the country on mine risk education and mine action, and explained the responsibility of the illegal armed groups on systematically and indiscriminately planting these artifacts.
“Colombia has voluntarily submitted to the United Nations human rights exam. In addition, despite the suffering generated by the anti-personnel mines planted by the terrorist groups, the State destroyed those that the Public Armed Forces held for learning purposes”, explained the President.
The progress made and difficulties experienced in mine action will be analyzed next November, when Cartagena becomes the venue to the Second Revision Conference, an event that will summon delegates of the 156 State Parties and the Organizations related to this subject matter, from November 29th to December 4th, 2009.
Read the complete version of the Colombian President’s - Alvaro Uribe Velez - speech before the 64th General Assembly of the United Nations:
