The official opening of the Third Review Conference was preceded by a ceremony that featured statements by the President of the Republic of Mozambique, Armando Guebuza, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Republic of Mozambique, Henrique Banze, Nobel Peace Prize co-laureate Jody Williams, the Governor of Maputo Province and two landmine survivors from Mozambique
The Third Review Conference was opened by Ambassador Mohamed Lamine Laabas of Algeria, on behalf of the President of the Thirteenth Meeting of the States Parties (13MSP), His Excellency Boudjemâa Delmi, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Algeria to the United Nations (Geneva).
Ambassador Mohamed Lamine Laabas of Algeria presided over the election of His Excellency Henrique Banze, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Mozambique, as President of the Third Review Conference.
The Conference adopted its agenda, which was recommended at the Second Preparatory Meeting on 10 April 2014.
In keeping with past practice, the Conference elected the Co-Chairs of the Standing Committees as Vice-Presidents of the Third Review Conference: Austria, Belgium, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, Norway and Poland.
In keeping with past practice, the Conference confirmed a host country nominee as the Secretary-General of the Third Review Conference, with this individual responsible for ensuring that logistical preparations are undertaken and for generally providing support that the States Parties may require.
The Conference adopted its programme of work, which was recommended at the Second Preparatory Meeting on 10 April 2014.
The Coordinator of the informal Universalization Contact Group, Belgium provided an update on activities since the 13MSP. In addition, the following delegations commented on the universalization aspects of the proposed outcome documents or otherwise shared views on the pursuit of the universalization of the Convention: Jordan, the European Union, France, the ICBL, Palestine, UNMAS, Ecuador, Mexico, the Netherlands, Australia, Brazil, the ICRC, Slovenia, Japan, Mozambique, Germany, Lebanon, and New Zealand.
The 13MSP President presented a report on the process of analysing the requests for extended mine clearance deadlines which have been submitted for consideration at the Third Review Conference.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) presented its request for an extended demining deadline and the 13MSP Presidency presented the analysis of the request.
The following delegations shared views with respect to the DRC’s request: the ICBL and the ICRC.
The Eritrea presented its request for an extended demining deadline and the 13MSP Presidency presented the analysis of the request.
The following delegation shared views with respect to the Eritrea’s request: the ICBL.
Yemen presented its request for an extended demining deadline and the 13MSP Presidency presented the analysis of the request.
The following delegations shared views with respect to the Yemen’s request: the ICBL.
Zimbabwe presented its request for an extended demining deadline and the 13MSP Presidency presented the analysis of the request.
The following delegations shared views with respect to the Zimbabwe’s request: the ICBL and the ICRC.