RACVIAC workshop on “Enhancing implementation of Articles 3 & 4 of the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) in South East Europe: the country coalition concept”.
The workshop, held in Rakitje, Croatia, on 12-13 June 2017, was the initiative of the Permanent Representation of Germany to the Conference on Disarmament in its role as President of the 7th Meeting of States Parties (7MSP) to the CCM. The meeting was jointly organized by the Regional Centre for Security Cooperation (RACVIAC) and the German Presidency of the CCM with the support of the Implementation Support Unit of the Convention on Cluster Munitions (ISU-CCM).
The workshop was attended by representatives of 3 States from South-East Europe: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia, along with representatives of other regions: Cuba and Peru. These delegates presented on the risks, threats and progress made in the implementation of the CCM in their respective States. Other speakers in this workshop were the President of the 7MSP to the CCM, the Director of RACVIAC, the Director of the ISU-CCM, the First Secretary/Legal Adviser of the Australian Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva, the Regional Director for Southeast Europe of Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA), the Government Liaison and Policy Manager of the Cluster Munitions Coalition (CMC), and the Acting Director of the Office of Mine Action of Croatia. Also participating were the Project Manager of the Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Country Director of the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the staff of RACVIAC. The workshop was fully funded by the Federal Republic of Germany.
Eight of the participants were States not Party (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Mongolia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Vietnam). Presentations and discussions were held to inform them on the key provisions under the Convention, the accession process, available resources, and the experience of States Parties in joining and implementing the CCM. The States not Party provided updates on plans to accede to the Convention and participated in exchanges on challenges and possible solutions to the accession and implementation of the CCM.
The South-East Europe region is the location of the heaviest cluster munition contamination in Europe. The purpose of this workshop was to discuss future developments impacting the implementation of the CCM, by focusing on the concept of establishing “country coalitions” (i.e. with a country specific focus) as a means to enhance international cooperation and ownership by all countries which are States Parties to the CCM and thus support the implementation of specific aspects of the Convention in South-East Europe. A coordinated approach concerning destruction and clearance (including mapping and securing of contaminated areas) of cluster munitions and assisting victims, involving donor states and operators would support States Parties to fulfil their commitments under the Convention. Furthermore, it envisioned that a country specific approach is required to help ensure progress in implementation of the CCM.
Click here for the final report.
RACVIAC Director’s welcome address
CCM President’s welcome address
Session 1: Overview of the implementation of the CCM
CCM overview
Albania’s presentation
Bosnia & Herzegovina’s presentation
Croatia’s presentation
Cuba’s presentation
Peru’s presentation
Session 2: Cooperation and assistance by introducing the country coalition
CCM President’s statement
CMC’s statement
Session 3: The connection between affected countries and donor countries and explore the practical implications of the country coalition concept on the challenge of Articles 3 & 4 obligations
Albania’s statement
Australia’s presentation
Bosnia & Herzegovina’s presentation
NPA’s presentation