Geneva International Meetings

The LMAC attended three International meetings in Geneva, Switzerland that gathered foreign and Arab Directors of Mine Action Programs and officers. The meetings were respectively the following: The Seventeenth International meeting of Mine Action National Programs Directors (1-3 April 2014), the Intersessional meeting on the implementation of the Convention on Cluster Munitions (7-9 April 2014) (CCM) and the Intersessional meeting on AP Mine Ban Convention (9-11 April 2014).

During CCM Meeting, the LMAC Director expressed his deep appreciation to the donors, the international NGOs and the private sector contributors and noted with great concern that "Lebanon at present will be unable to meet its 2016 timeline due to shortages in funding for clearance operations" thus urging the States Parties’ support to increase the LMAC's resources in order for Lebanon to meet its CCM obligations and other obligations under international conventions.

In addition, LMAC Director highlighted Lebanon's very active role within the Arabic outreach program and its highly effective role in sharing good practices, skills, expertise and experience with other affected states and especially with the neighboring Arab Countries. It is currently establishing the first regional school for humanitarian demining in the MENA region, in cooperation with the French Army and under the supervision of the Lebanon Mine Action Center. The school will serve the region and train army as well as NGO personnel.

At the end of the meetings, attendees unanimously decided to consider Lebanon as a regional center for the IMSMANG training in Arabic that will include, along with the training, workshops on QAQC, AOP and other related workshops.

It is important to note that during the meetings, Lebanon stood as a hard working country that has gained the necessary knowledge in tackling the humanitarian mine action problem.