The First Review Conference of the States Parties to the Ottawa Convention
(Summary and Evaluation)

December 3, 2004

The first Review Conference of the States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction (Ottawa Convention) was convened from November 28 to December 3 in Nairobi, Republic of Kenya, to review the achievements made since its entry into force in 1999 and to discuss a plan of action for the coming five years regarding remaining issues. A summary and evaluation of the meeting are as follows.

1. Summary

(1) Participation

Participation was gained from 110 countries out of 144 States Parties to the Convention, 26 international organizations as well as 13 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) including the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL). In addition, China, India, Israel, Sri Lanka among other non-states parties took part in the meeting as observers. (The United States, Russia and the Republic of Korea were not in attendance as observers.)

(2) Outcome documents

As a result of the discussion at the Review Conference, three documents were adopted: (1) "Review," which summarizes the achievements and further issues of the measures taken in the past five years in the effort to eliminate anti-personnel landmines, (2) "Action Plan," which shall serve as the guideline for the actions to be taken in the coming five years regarding the remaining issues, and (3) "2004 Nairobi Declaration," which incorporates the political commitment on the goal to eliminate anti-personnel landmines.

(3) Japan's Actions

Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Katsuyuki Kawai attended the meeting on behalf of the Government of Japan and announced Japan's new policy against landmines for the next five years until 2009. This policy proclaims that Japan will continue to provide mine action assistance on a similar scale as before with emphasis on Asia, the Middle East and Africa according to the following three principles: (1) contribution to "consolidation of peace," (2) valuing the perspective of "human security," and (3) close coordination between government, NGO's, industry, the private sector and academia including supports for research and development of New Technologies as part of this coordination.

Japan also won the attention of many attendees by proactively conducting side events (distribution of English pamphlets, exhibition and lectures) on Japan's action against landmines, with the main focus being on research and development of new landmine detection and clearance technologies.

2. Evaluation

(1) Announcement of Japan's proactive stance on the elimination of landmines

With the announcement on Japan's new policy against landmines by Parliamentary Secretary Kawai, serving as the representative of the Government of Japan, Japan was able to strongly appeal to the world that it will maintain its proactive stance in order to resolve the anti-personnel landmine issue.

(2) Appeal on research and development of new landmine detection and clearance technologies

Japan actively introduced new landmine detection and clearance technologies that had not been fully known by States Parties to the Ottawa Convention and NGOs, thus gaining further understandings on its measures to develop such technologies among participants from other countries and organizations. This appeal was made possible through the cooperation of all Japanese relevant actors such as the ministries (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education, Culture Sports Science and Technology and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) and experts from related organizations and private sector.

(3) Identification of priority issues toward the resolution of the anti-personnel landmine issue

The specific priority issues to be worked on by the States Parties for the resolution of the anti-personnel landmine issue were identified, through the adoption of the "Action Plan" by consensus at a meeting participated not only by States Parties but also many non-States Parties and NGOs.