November 18, 2000
We, experts and representatives of the Horn of Africa and Gulf of Aden
countries: Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda and
Yemen, having met in Djibouti from 16 to 18 November 2000 on the occasion
of the Conference of the Horn of Africa and Gulf of Aden Countries on
antipersonnel landmines.
1) Express our appreciation and gratitude to the Republic of
Djibouti for having taken the initiative of organizing this regional
Conference on the issue of Antipersonnel Landmines;
2) Reiterate the urgency and the necessity of regional
cooperation as part of collective actions and of concerted policies
against antipersonnel landmines.
3) Agree to recommend to our governments the creation of a
regional center for research and training on antipersonnel landrnines, to
promote collective actions and concerted regional policies, and to develop
lnter-African cooperation in the field of mine clearance and mine victim
assistance as called for by the OAU Kempton Park Plan of Action and other
relevant decisions.
4) Accept the proposal by the Republic of Djibouti, host country
of this first regional conference on antipersonnel landmines, to initiate
an action plan for the creation of such a center, taking into account that
Djibouti is the Headquarters of IGAD.
5) Noting with deep concern that programs financing assistance
for victims and survivors are not meeting the needs of the whole region,
and, that the handicapped and amputees, victims of mines, are in extremely
difficult situations in many poor communities of the region;
6) Call on the International Community to bring all necessary
assistance to the countries of the region, in order to enable them to
establish mine action and victim assistance programs, as well as mine
awareness programs for the general population, understanding that help
should be based on humanitarian grounds;
7) Being seriously alarmed by the fact that millions of
antipersonnel mines have been laid in our region, and are killing and
maiming innocent civilians and are terrorizing many communities;
8) Recognizing that the continued use of antipersonnel mines by
the countries of the region will exacerbate already existing problems, and
would jeopardize future programs destined to eradicate antipersonnel
landmines, call on all parties to immediately cease and never to use AP
mines;
9) Considering that peace, stability and security are essential
for a lasting development of the region;
10)
Request that the
countries of the region, who do not yet have national disability laws,
promulgate national laws for the protection and well being of the
handicapped persons;
11) Knowing that only three
countries of the region have ratified the landmines ban treaty, committing
themselves to all the obligations of the Ottawa Convention (including
non-use of mines, destruction of stockpiles within 4 years, enactment of
national legislations and submission of annual reports);
12) Recommend the countries of the region who have not yet
ratified the treaty on antipersonnel landmines to do it, and for those who
have not yet signed the treaty, to accede to it, in accordance with the
appeals made by various International Organizations, including the OAU and
OIF.
