Decision on the “First Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction”

AHG/Dec.135 (XXXV) Decision on the “First Meeting of States Parties to the

Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction”

The Assembly:

1. TAKES NOTE of the relevant information contained in the Report of the Secretary- General on the "First Meeting of States Parties of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on their Destruction", held in Maputo, Mozambique, from 3 - 7 May, 1999;

2. RECOGNIZES that the issue of antipersonnel mines constitutes a major public health threat and a source of concern in the international political agenda, requiring a global approach in order to address the negative effects of these deadly devices;

3. COMMENDS the rapid entry-into-force of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti -personnel Mines and on their Destruction;

4. FURTHER RECOGNIZES that the proliferation of anti-personnel mines constitutes an issue of insecurity which affects free circulation of people and goods in affected countries;

5. EXPRESSES ITS DEEP CONCERN for the devastating effects of anti-Personnel mines on human lives and their negative impact on the country's economic development;

6. COMMENDS all States Parties to the Convention;

7. CALLS UPON all countries which have not done so to sign and ratify the Convention;

8. EXPRESSES ITS APPRECIATION for the outcome of the Maputo meeting;