РНБОУ National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine

Mykhailo Koval took part in the Fourteenth Meeting of States-Parties to the Ottawa Convention

First Deputy to the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Mykhailo Koval headed the Ukrainian delegation at the Fourteenth Meetings of States - Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction (Ottawa Convention), which takes place November 30 - December 4 in Geneva.

The meeting is dedicated to the issues of universalization and execution of the Convention at the national level, in particular, of those its provisions that cover the destruction of anti-personnel mines stockpiles, clearing of mined territories and assistance to victims of the specified weapons. Conference participants hear reports of relevant committees of the Convention Secretariat and exchange up-to-date information on progress in achieving the objectives, outlined in "Maputo Plan of Action" from 27.06.2014.

First Deputy to the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Mykhailo Koval in his speech during the high-level segment has informed about the measures undertaken by Ukraine on implementation of the Convention, accentuated the attention on the problem of the use by Russia supported illegal armed groups of anti-personnel mines in the south-eastern Ukraine and urged the international community to immediately influence the aggressor in order to make Russia abandon to support terrorist activities and aggression against Ukraine.

In addition, Mykhailo Koval held a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium Didier Reynders.

The solemn opening of the meeting was attended by Princess Astrid of Belgium, Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium Didier Reynders, Director-General of the UN Office at Geneva Michael Møller, Vice-President of the International Committee of the Red Cross Christine Beerli, Director of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines Megan Burke as well as President of the Council of Foundation of Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining Barbara Haering.