PHNOM PENH POINTS

GOOD NEWS

* A seminar for building a co-operative future for mine action for S.E Asia was opened today in Phnom Penh by Prime Minister Hun Sen
* Delegates came from all ASEAN countries, according to H.E. Sam Sotha, and from Mozambique, Sri Lanka, East Timor, China, Australia, Japan, Europe, Canada, and the U.S.A.
* Prime Minister Hun Sen promised that Cambodia would contribute actively to the 2004 Review Conference on the Ottawa Treaty, and recognized that mine action was essential to poverty reduction and to solving serious social, economic and environmental problems.
* Kofi Annan's message emphasized the contribution of local knowledge and social capital as well as funding to mine action and societal transformation.
* Ambassador Jean Lindt had lots of good news:
- 131 countries are States Parties to the Treaty. 0000000000000000000 - 41 out of 55 countries formerly producing land-mines have stopped. - 30 million stockpiled mines have been destroyed, including 7 million from Italy. 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 - Norway and Canada have announced new long-term commitments to mine action.000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 - Costa Rica is the first formerly mine-affected country to be completely mine-free. 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 - Cambodia is obliged by the Treaty to clear all its mines by 2010. 000 - He also called on all countries to respect the international norm against the use of anti-personnel mines.

* Enrique Roman-Morey, from Conference for Disarmament, conveyed that global efforts for commitment to international norms for arms control and the place of civil society in protecting and upholding these norms are crucial for the world's future.

MORE GOOD NEWS THAT WE HOPE FOR!

* We hope to hear Vietnam, Singapore, Laos, and Myanmar join other ASEAN nations in making a mine-free ASEAN and joining the Ottawa Treaty.
* We hope our guests from Sri Lanka and China will be at the meeting of States Parties in Bangkok In September, and soon join the Treaty.
* That Papua New Guinea's accession documents have arrived!
* That European countries, Japan, U.S.A. and Australia will renew their commitment to funding mine clearance and victim assistance.
March 26, 2003

More info contact CCBL: Ny NHAR / Sr. Denise Coghlan: 23 880 139 E-mail: jrscam@forum.org.kh or camban@online.com.kh