The meeting brought together the three North Pacific nations of the FSM, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau for discussions on how the sub-region can contribute to and take the lead in the Pacific in promoting ongoing humanitarian efforts under the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention.
The Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, also known as the Landmine Treaty or the Ottawa Convention, addresses humanitarian issues of pain, suffering and the loss of lives from landmines.
As Palau is already a party to the convention, the hope is for the other two countries to follow suit in the accession process.
The FSM delegation to the Workshop, comprised of Jackson Soram, deputy assistant secretary for multilateral affairs, Department of Foreign Affairs, and Alik Jackson, staff attorney for the FSM Congress, reported that efforts are underway to becoming a party to the convention with a resolution pending for congressional ratification.
While there are currently no known landmines in the FSM, the threat of ordnance and scattered remnants of World War II artillery throughout the four FSM states was highlighted, stressing the need to gain information from lessons learned in addressing landmines.
In addressing the official closing function for the workshop, Soram said that the efforts to advance the Landmine Treaty and contribute to international peace is consistent with the principles of the FSM Constitution as reflected in the its preamble.
He went on to say that it is also fitting, given their history, that the three countries collaborate to further promote the humanitarian cause.
