Thank you for the opportunity to make closing remarks, Madame Ambassador.
We must begin by expressing our deep appreciation and admiration to the government of Lebanon for the excellent organization and execution of this Meeting of States Parties. Clearly, a tremendous amount of work went into both substantive and logistical preparations, and it yielded tremendous results. Also, the renowned hospitality of the Lebanese people more than lived up to its billing.
We are especially appreciative of the close collaboration that we in the CMC have had with you, Ambassador Assaker, and with Ahmad Arafa in Geneva. Your leadership, skills and determination have been crucial to the successful outcomes, and we thank both of you most sincerely, as we do the Executive Coordinator Sara Sekkenes, whose work has been invaluable and nothing less than outstanding.
We indeed believe that the Meeting has been a great success. We have heard of impressive progress on nearly every front, with more nations joining or about to join the Convention, with good news on stockpiled cluster munitions destroyed and contaminated land cleared, and with repeated pledges to do more on victim assistance.
We have a strong political declaration that calls for condemnation of any future use of cluster munitions by any actor. We have a solid Beirut Progress Report that demonstrates the commitment of States Parties and signatories to take urgent and comprehensive action to eliminate cluster munitions and their harmful effects. You have put into place structures and mechanisms to ensure the future success of the Convention.
We are also extremely pleased with the decision that Norway will host the Third Meeting of States Parties in Oslo, and especially that the President-Designate is Ambassador Steffen Kongstad, the individual who as much or more than any other was responsible for the Convention on Cluster Munitions coming into being.
Finally, it is important to reflect on the bigger ramifications of our collective efforts, and recognize that this Meeting of States Parties was also a great success because it has reaffirmed that humanitarian disarmament works, that innovative diplomacy based on a partnership of governments and civil society works. The Meeting has again demonstrated that a treaty steeped in a culture of cooperation and shared aims, with a strong sense of community, makes possible great strides in humanitarian affairs and international humanitarian law.
Let us strive to carry this forward all year round, for many years to come. Thank you.
