Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile

Under Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Edgardo Riveros gave closure to the 15th Reunion of the State Parties of the "Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention" or "Ottawa Convention" held in Santiago between November 28 and December 1st.

In the occasion, the Under Secretary highlighted the responsibility of Chile in chairing this reunion and the work done by the Convention during this year. "We have done that labor with a vocation for peace, multilateralism, and cooperation. It has been days of positive work. We see once again that the protagonists of the tasks at the Convention are not only States but multiple and heterogeneous actors which generate a community preoccupied with protecting people", Riveros affirmed.In this sense, he remembered part of the greeting sent by President of the Republic, Michelle Bachelet, to the attendants: "My country has adopted the protection of people as one of the conducting axes of its multilateral foreign policy". Riveros added that "Chile is proud of trying to reflect visions that could generate a better coordination in the different chapters of the Convention, reinforcing the always necessary and important gender focus, learning with the experience of fellow countries such as Colombia in its efforts, along with the possibility to replicate in other affected countries with the support of the international community".

In this sense, he remembered part of the greeting sent by President of the Republic, Michelle Bachelet, to the attendants: "My country has adopted the protection of people as one of the conducting axes of its multilateral foreign policy". Riveros added that "Chile is proud of trying to reflect visions that could generate a better coordination in the different chapters of the Convention, reinforcing the always necessary and important gender focus, learning with the experience of fellow countries such as Colombia in its efforts, along with the possibility to replicate in other affected countries with the support of the international community".The Under Secretary highlighted the advances since the coming into effect of the Convention. "The States here present reiterate our commitment to protect people and achieve a world free of anti-personnel mines in 2025. This goal is an attainable aspiration. Our responsibilities as States do not extinguish after 2025, we must keep on working to reintegrate the innocent victims of this indiscriminate weapons to our society" Riveros emphasized.

The Under Secretary highlighted the advances since the coming into effect of the Convention. "The States here present reiterate our commitment to protect people and achieve a world free of anti-personnel mines in 2025. This goal is an attainable aspiration. Our responsibilities as States do not extinguish after 2025, we must keep on working to reintegrate the innocent victims of this indiscriminate weapons to our society" Riveros emphasized.In the view of the obligations of this Convention to the participant States, the National authority stated that Chile "will be in its way, relentlessly, to demine the national territory, despite the extreme weather conditions that prevail in the mined areas, and with the imperative of preserving the security of deminers. We will continue promoting the cooperation and assistance, aiding the establishment of associations, coordinating with other international instruments and sharing current information about available assistance (financial aid, equipment, technical intelligence, and experience) to help the participant States in the accomplishment of the obligations under the Convention".

In the view of the obligations of this Convention to the participant States, the National authority stated that Chile "will be in its way, relentlessly, to demine the national territory, despite the extreme weather conditions that prevail in the mined areas, and with the imperative of preserving the security of deminers. We will continue promoting the cooperation and assistance, aiding the establishment of associations, coordinating with other international instruments and sharing current information about available assistance (financial aid, equipment, technical intelligence, and experience) to help the participant States in the accomplishment of the obligations under the Convention".Finally, Under Secretary Riveros thanked the representatives of participant States, civil society organizations, the non-participant States, and the observers for their contribution, work, and deliberation in an interest of building a world free of anti-personnel mines.

Finally, Under Secretary Riveros thanked the representatives of participant States, civil society organizations, the non-participant States, and the observers for their contribution, work, and deliberation in an interest of building a world free of anti-personnel mines.