It gives me pleasure to send greetings to the Tenth Annual Conference of the High Contracting Parties to Amended Protocol II of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons. I congratulate you on the tenth anniversary of the entry into force of this important legal instrument.

For the past decade, this Protocol has gained ground as an essential element of global efforts aimed at liberating the earth from the scourge of landmines, booby-traps and other explosive devices. Together with the Convention's Protocol V, the Mine Ban Convention and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, this Protocol has been an integral part of the international legal framework for mine action.

But more action is needed. There has been undeniable success in alleviating the horrendous impact of landmines and other explosive devices. However, these weapons, silent and well-hidden, continue to kill and maim.

I urge you to strengthen your efforts. You must consider in particular how to make the Protocol even more effective, and in particular how to enhance the Protocol's implementation mechanism.

The Protocol's universalization is also of vital importance. I congratulate the [92] States that have consented to be bound by the Protocol. More efforts are needed to expand the membership, especially among the developing countries and States affected by landmines or States in conflict.

I urge those countries that have not yet done so, to consider expressing their consent as soon as possible to be bound by Amended Protocol II.

I also take this opportunity to call upon all States that have not yet done so to ratify the other international treaties which form the legal framework for mine action and which are in force, namely the CCW Protocol V, the Mine Ban Convention and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Thank you again for this important contribution to the maintenance of international peace and security. In that spirit, I wish you every success in your deliberations.