Tajikistan Mine Action News
Tajikistan’s Request for a 10 year
extension of demining deadlines was supported by the
member states of the Ottawa convention at the
Cartagena Summit titled “A Mine-Free World”.
Cartagena Summit on a Mine-Free World
or the Second Review conference on consideration the
Ottawa Convention on prohibition of antipersonnel
mines was held in Cartagena, Columbia on Nov.
29-Dec. 4, 2009 by which it became an important
event in the history of this Convention.
Next to the historical signing of the
Convention in Ottawa (Canada) on December 1997 the
Cartagena Summit is the most significant summit of
the various countries of the world that was
dedicated to resolving a global issue of common
concern.
Tajikistan’s visiting delegation
headed by Minister of Justice Republic of Tajikistan
Mr. Khudoyorov Bakhtior Tabarovich along with
representatives from the Ministries of Foreign
Affairs, Defense and the Mine Action Center of
Tajikistan attended the Cartagena Summit.
The Deputy President of Columbia, the
Princess of Belgium, the Prince of Jordan, ministers
and deputy ministers and other high ranking
officials of the member states of the Ottawa
Convention took part at the summit at the highest
level on Dec 3-4, 2009.
On behalf of the Tajik government,
the Minister of Justice Republic of Tajikistan, Mr.
Khudoyorov B.T. made a speech at the summit and
attached importance to the progress, achieved by
Tajikistan on implementing Ottawa Convention during
the past years and noted that Republic of Tajikistan
continues to implement its Convention obligations
and make contributions for universalization of
Ottawa convention and expressed Tajikistan’s support
for the action plan of Cartagena Summit for
2010-2014.
In his speech, Minister of Justice of
Tajikistan drew attention of participants of the
Cartagena Second Review Conference to the mine
threats on the Tajik-Uzbek border and reiterated
that the mines laid by the Uzbek side on border
areas have caused huge damage to the population and
to the national economy of border areas of
Tajikistan. Since 1999 till now in border areas of
the Tajik-Uzbek border 161 Tajik citizens totally
have suffered, from whom 87 got wounded and 74 other
lost their lives. Among them 14 children received
injury and 15 died and in addition to this 6 women
got wounded and 4 died.
Antipersonnel mines till now make
real threat to inhabitants of the border areas. It
is to be regretted that cases of mine explosions
incidents proceed till today. Last year on the
Tajik-Uzbek border 2 people lost their lives by mine
explosions.
The Minister of justice Republic of
Tajikistan called the world community not to be
indifferent to Tajikistan’s problems regarding the
existence of mine fields along its borders and to
the mine threats face the inhabitants of Central
Asia. Let each mine explosion on border of the
states of the region which is carrying away lives of
innocent people, sound an alarm in all states
adhering to the principles of humanism.
In particular it was marked, that
Republic of Uzbekistan, being the participant of all
international documents on human rights and a member
of set of universal, regional and international
organizations, has confirmed the adherence to basic
principles of human rights which basis the
inalienable law of the human - makes the right for a
life. And it should impose the certain obligations
on maintenance of peace and civilized coexistence.
Tajik minister added that Tajikistan
seeks a Mine Free Central Asia. In this regard, we
call the states of the Central Asia to join to the
Ottawa Convention; to take joint practical measures
on clearance of the mine affected areas and mine
related challenges.
After his official speech the
Minister of justice Republic of Tajikistan signed on
behalf of the Tajik Government the Cartagena Action
Plan 2009 « Shared Commitment on a World free of
Mine » whereby the adherence of the member states of
Ottawa convention to achieve a world free of mine
and to terminate the sufferings affected by
antipersonnel mines proves to be true.
At the end of the Cartagena
discussions, Tajikistan asked for a 10-year
extension to clear all landmines on its territory.
Tajikistan’s request was maintained by the member
states of the Ottawa Convention at the summit.
At the final statement the action
plan of Cartagena for 2010-2014 was approved and
accepted, and a number of other important decisions
were adopted.
Results of the Cartagena Summit are
extremely important and have undoubtedly great value
for all mankind. It has shown determination of all
progressive forces of the planet to mobilize the
forces and to struggle for disposal of the world of
mines until this deadly weapon will not cease to
threaten the life of people worldwide.
