Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining
Geneva
12 May 2003
 

Minutes of the Reay Group Working Session

  1. On 12 May 2003, in the margins of the Intersessional Meeting of the Ottawa Convention Standing Committees a meeting of the Reay Group on Mine Action was convened at the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD). The following delegations were present: Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, FYROM, Netherlands, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia and Switherland as well as the Stability Pact (Working Table III), GICHD, International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) and Landmine Monitor (the list of participants is attached as Annex 1).
  2. The draft agenda was submitted and approved by the participants (Annex 2).
  3. The Minutes of the Reay Group previous meeting, held on 3 February 2003 in the margins of the Intersessional Meeting of the Ottawa Convention Standing Committees had been distributed to the participants in advance and was approved as submitted (Annex 3).
  4. The meeting took note of the Briefing Paper submitted by the Chairman-in-Office (CiO) on the International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims Assistance (ITF) Board of Advisors Meeting and on the Conference on Regional Cooperation in Mine Action held in the margins of the meeting in Ljubljana on 24 March 2003 (Annex 4).

    The CiO presented additional information on the ITF meeting concerning bilateral contacts with participants. Then, the ITF Director suggested that a further regional meeting of the Reay Group be held in one of the countries in the area for a one day seminar, involving also other organizations and donor countries. Following preliminary contacts with US representatives it was deemed appropriate to seek further inputs from the American side considering the fact that the Reay Group operates under the aegis of the Stability Pact of which US is also a member. The Chairman-in-Office welcomed the ratification by Greece and Turkey of the Ottawa Convention and future participation of these countries in Reay Group activities. The completion of stockpile destruction process by FYROM and Slovenia was noted with satisfaction. The CiO noted the progress made in outlining the institutional identity of the Reay Group by emphasizing these activities which do not overlaps with the work of other institutions and organisations. He appreciated the additional inputs received from members, in particular Canada, the Stability Pact (SP) Secretariat and International Support Unit (ISU) and invited further contributions for ideas and suggestions on the way forward.
  5. On Item three of the Agenda participating delegates presented briefings on the current status of mine action activities as follows:

    FYR of Macedonia     reported the completion of stockpile destruction on 20 February 2003. Continued the mine clearance activity performed by national teams with support from Handicap International and UNMAS. The action is planned to be completed by the end of 2003.

    Serbia and Montenegro    : The appropriate draft law was prepared for submission to the Council of Ministers for approval prior to the ratification by Parliament. The need for additional financing and technical assistance from donors for stockpile destruction was emphasized. An even higher priority is dealing with the large number of unexploded ordnance (UXOs) including 60 heavy caliber unexploded air bombs, 6 of them in central Belgrade. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with ITF to provide training for 50 demining and bomb disposal personnel.

    Representative of the Stability Pact Secretariat     stressed the importance of the regional meeting of the Stability Pact Working Table III to be held on 26 May 2003 in Cavtat, Croatia, as an opportunity to present current Reay Group activities and envisaged following action in anticipation of the Review Conference of the Ottawa Convention in November 2004.

    Representative of GICHD     presented the activities of the Centre in support of mine action programs in South Eastern Europe in particular the use of mechanized demining devices (80% of demining in Croatia was performed mechanically, the highest percentage worldwide); licensing and accreditation of specialist companies, external review and evaluation; in-depth research on specific subjects (e.g. on the involvement of the military in mine action); comparative analysis of relevant national legislation; development of mine action standards; mine action exchange programs with UNDP (fully funded by UN).

    Slovenia     reported completion of stockpile destruction on 24 March 2003; the process was slowed down due to difficulties related to destruction facilities and shortage of operating staff.

    The Director of the International Support Unit     introduced his Food for Thought Paper on future Reay Group activities (Annex 5). He stressed the importance of building up momentum in preparation for the Review Conference. One such event could be a regional meeting of the Reay Group as suggested by the CiO following consultations with the ITF Director to be held in a country of South-East Europe (SEE). Canada supported the Food for Thought Paper presented by the ISU indicating that it could become an agenda for the future activities of the Reay Group. Ambassador Hynes mentioned also that the Government of Canada would be prepared to support financially alongside other interested donors, a regional meeting of the Reay Group and other organizations involved in mine action in SEE.

    Bosnia and Herzegovina     indicated that the landmine problem was still a serious one in that country, with eight people killed since the beginning of 2003 and an estimated 4.2% of the national territory contaminated with landmines. The actions taken so far in cooperation with SEEMAC and UNDP as well as the US-supported regional project for training dogs used at demining were presented. The need for additional donor support to mine action at a total estimated cost of US $ 300 mil. was also stressed.

    Romania     informed on the current status on its stockpile destruction process and reiterated the commitment to complete it by March 2004, more than one year ahead of the deadline set by the Ottawa Convention.
  6. On Item four on the Agenda the CiO sought the advice and consent of the Group for his participation in the Working Table III of the Stability Pact meeting to be held in Cavtat, Croatia, on 26 May 2003. Following debate it was agreed that a brief presentation of the Reay Group activities and envisaged future actions should be presented at the meeting. Canada suggested that members of the Group should transmit to the CiO additional input for the preparation of that presentation.
  7. On Item five of the Agenda, on behalf of Landmine Monitor, Ms. Baily made a preliminary presentation of the study on the assistance for anti-personnel landmines victims in the affected South Eastern European countries, to be completed prior to the 5th Conference of the States Parties to the Ottawa Convention (Bangkok, 15-19 September 2003). During the following debate it emerged that the experience and expertise acquired in SEE may be relevant and useful for further activities, particularly in the CIS area, especially in the South Caucasus region.
  8. On Item six of the Agenda Romania emphasized that, apart from activities related to stockpile destruction and mine clearance, which have a limited scope in time as defined by the Convention deadlines, victim assistance is a continuing long-term humanitarian objective to be stretched well beyond 2009. It was also suggested that the structures and special expertise developed in the Mine Action Centres could be usefully employed over medium and long term in support of more comprehensive programs on sustainable development in the context of globalization.