The government, speaking to all Lao people yesterday through the media, confirmed Laos' readiness to host the First Meeting of States Party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions in Vientiane on November 9-12.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Thongloun Sisoulith said the meeting aims to set directions and measures as well as mechanisms for implementing the Oslo Convention, which came into force on August 1 this year.
Almost 1,000 delegates from more than 100 countries and over 50 international organisations and NGOs are expected to attend the international meeting.
As president of the national organising committee, Dr Thongloun said Lao President Choummaly Sayasone will be honoured to open the meeting on November 9.
During the event, there will be a number of activities aiming to implement the Oslo Convention, which bans the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of cluster munitions.
The delegations will also have an opportunity to go on field visits to Xieng Khuang province, one of the provinces in Laos that is worst affected by UXO. The delegates will see a demonstration of UXO clearance and demolition as well as learning about how Lao people have been affected by the bombs for decades.
Those at the four-day meeting will discuss various issues related to the implementation of obligations stipulated in the Oslo Convention such as UXO clearance, victim assistance, bomb demolition and international cooperation.
The meeting expects to adopt four important documents including the Vientiane declaration, Vientiane plan of action, a work plan for 2011 and an agreement on reporting formats under the convention.
Dr Thongloun will be elected as the chair of the cluster munitions conference in parallel with the four deputy chairs from Europe, America, Asia and Africa.
Laos will hold the position of chair until the second meeting, when a new chair will be elected.
Acting as the host and the chair of the meeting is a heavy responsibility for Laos but the government considers it an honour to assume the task which will also contribute to enhancing the country's role and reputation in the international arena, Dr Thongloun said.
The meeting in Laos will provide an opportunity for the international community to learn about the consequences of war and the impact of the use of cluster munitions on the Lao people over the past four decades.
During the meeting, the Lao government will mobilise financial assistance from the international community to clear the bombs from the country so Lao farmers can expand their farmland and rise out of poverty.
Hosting the meeting will reflect Laos' capability to fulfill its obligations in the international arena, Dr Thongloun said.
He reiterated that as a s tate party to the convention, the Lao government attaches great importance to hosting the meeting, and has set up a national organising committee and eight sub-committees to prepare for the event.
He urged Lao people of all ethnic groups to actively contribute by being good hosts as they have for international events in recent years, and to ensure order during the meeting.
The deputy PM said the Lao people should take the opportunity presented by the meeting to demonstrate their fine culture, hospitality, friendly spirit, courtesy and determination to develop the nation in line with the policies of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and the government.
By Somsack Phongkhao
(Latest Update October 22 , 2010)
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