Mr. President,  Thank you for convening this important discussion.  The world faces its gravest test since the founding of this Organization.    

 Decades ago, millions of landmines were buried in countries across the world. From Cambodia to Mozambique, in Angola and in Afghanistan, thousands of lives were lost, with others altered forever because of one unlucky step.

I want to start by thanking the Presidents of the General Assembly, Security Council and the ECOSOC for their solidarity and for their determination and patience with which they have been facing the enormous practical and technical difficulties in the wo