FEATURE/First International Conference to Be Held in Kabul to Build a Mine-Free Afghanistan;...

News Editors

KABUL, Afghanistan--(BUSINESS WIRE FEATURES)--July 22, 2002

On Sunday, July 28th, the Government of Afghanistan will host "Building A Peaceful Future For Afghanistan: A Total Ban On Anti-Personnel Mines." The four (4) day conference and the event is being

organized in cooperation with the Afghan Campaign to Ban Landmines (ACBL), the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), and the United Nations Mine Action Centre for Afghanistan (MACA). Some of the highlights of the conference will include an opening ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with President Hamid Karzai. Sharing the platform will be special guests Jody Williams (co-recipient with the ICBL of the Nobel Peace Prize) and UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Afghanistan Lakhdar Brahimi. Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan, ardent advocate on the landmine issue and Patron and Honorary Chair of Landmine Survivors Network (LSN) will also give an address.

It is hoped that the Government of Afghanistan will announce plans to accede shortly to the 1997 Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and Their Destruction (or Mine Ban Treaty). The conference also promises to boost mine action activities in Afghanistan, which is still one of the most contaminated places on earth. This is the first international diplomatic conference after so many years of war, and is an important step in its reconstruction and recovery.

There will be approximately 100 participants from Afghanistan and abroad, including experts on the treaty, deminers, landmine survivors and representatives from several Government Ministries and Departments, the United Nations, international organizations, donor countries and State Parties to the Treaty. Photo opportunities with special guests and visits to mine action projects (including to a clearance site, a mine detection dog training center and a mine awareness class) will be arranged.

The ICBL will be arranging media interviews with Jody Williams, campaigners and deminers. For additional information, write to media@icbl.org or contact:

-- Liz Bernstein, ICBL Coordinator, Washington, D.C.: tel +1 202 547 2667

-- Mary Daly, LSN, to arrange interviews for Her Majesty Queen Noor: tel +1 212 787 1399 or email: maredaly@aol.com.

-- Sue Wixley, ICBL Advocacy and Communications Officer, Kabul from 13 July, tel +46 73004 4386