UPDATE/REMINDER Geneva, 28-30 April, Mayors Delegation/Conference

REGARDING:  “Cities Are Not Targets!” Delegation / Conference of European-Mediterranean Area Mayors, Geneva, 28-30 April

HOW CAN MAYORS PROTECT THEIR CITES FROM THE SCOURGE OF WAR?

Dear Member,

On February 3rd you were sent an invitation from the Mayors of Geneva, Hiroshima, and Ypres to participate in a 2020 Vision Campaign activities in conjunction with an intergovernmental conference on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).  I have just completed an advance trip to Geneva and would like to report to you on a number of important developments relating to our Delegation/Conference.  This message is also meant as a reminder that we still need to hear from you and that you need to give a number of practical matters urgent attention or risk making your participation more complicated than necessary. 

But first I would like to highlight two points that may not have been evident in the initial invitation.

THIS SESSION IS THE LAST EVENT IN EUROPE OF THE 2010 N.P.T. REVIEW CYCLE AND THE ONLY EUROPEAN-WIDE EVENT PLANNED FOR PHASE THREE OF THE 2020 VISION CAMPAIGN (2008-2010).  (Other regional/international Campaign activities will be in the United States and Japan.)

WHILE IT IS BEST IF YOUR CITY IS REPRESENTED BY YOU, IF THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE, IT IS BETTER THAT IT BE REPRESENTED BY SOMEONE WORKING WITH YOU AND YOUR CITY ON CAMPAIGN RELATED ACTIVITIES, THAN NOT AT ALL.  (At the 2005 NPT Conference, of the 100 cities represented, 39 were by someone other than the Mayor.)

REPORT (reference also the Provisional Itinerary):

The City of Geneva is rolling out the red carpet for us.  From our first breakfast, to a gala reception, to the final Campaign Board meeting (which all participants are invited to observe), the City of Geneva has made first-rate arrangements.   The Red Cross is also pitching in wonderfully.  The International Committee of the Red Cross has helped us secure one of the world top experts on the protection of noncombatants, Dr. Marco Sassoli, and their own expert on the impact of explosive force in populated areas, Dr. Robin Coupland, M.D.  And the International Red Cross Museum is provide free of charge their excellent auditorium and will be hosting a special reception in connection with the ‘Nuclear Dilemma’ exhibition currently on display.  The Office of Disarmament Affairs and Reaching Critical Will have been graciously accommodating our needs for dates and venues during the three days, including our participation in the NGO Presentation to the inter-governmental meeting.   Finally, we have reached an agreement with the Middle Powers Initiative to co-organize the central encounter between us and the diplomats, the Conference lunchtime event on 28 April.  ‘MPI’ has been holding a very thorough series of consultations with diplomats in what they call the ‘Article VI Forum’ (named after the article which obliges the nuclear-weapon states to negotiate nuclear disarmament).  I have served on MPI’s steering committee, and can say with confident that our co-organization of this event will help to attract broad participation. 

We have also secured the cooperation of the Mexican Mission in Geneva to secure the reservation of the main conference hall for this event.  This reflects the general interest I found in our work and the next phase of the 2020 Vision Campaign in my meetings with seven other ambassadors and several other disarmament diplomats.  There is widespread appreciation that there is tremendous ferment in the nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation arena, with potential both for good and bad.  Our call to prepare for a decisive decade for nuclear disarmament strikes a strong chord in those who are determined that the world not slip into nuclear chaos.  The participation of your city and others will help to carry forward the work that I was only able ‘lift the corner of the curtain on’ during my trip.

Work is also proceeding apace on the Hiroshima-Nagasaki Protocol (complementary to the NPT) which we will be unveiling in Geneva.  A wide-ranging round of consultations with civil society advisers has resulted in a draft that is now before the 2020 Vision Campaign Board.  As soon as we have taken the Board’s suggestions and comments into account, we will forward it to you on a confidential basis.

REMINDER (refer also to Practical Matters):

Final the reminder about practical considerations: unless you act soon, problems could arise:

n      If you need to have a visa, you must begin the application process very soon or your visa may not be issued in time.  (The City of Geneva stands ready to help you now.)

n      If you do not make hotel reservations soon, you may not be able to take advantage of the discount rates arranged for us by the City of Geneva and may have to stay in a hotel that is not conveniently located.  (See Practical Matters for hotels.)

n      If you do not make early plane reservations (purchasing can be done later), you could end up paying premium prices for flight to do not arrive and depart at the best time for you.  (This is entirely your responsibility.  See below the list of airline companies that have service into Geneva; this may help you to find inexpensive connecting flights.)

n      If you do not register with the NPT conference services in advance, they may exercise their authority to refuse to register you.  (In the past we have avoided this problem, but we cannot guarantee to register latecomers.)

You can initiate all of the preceding actions at little or no cost.  If worst comes to worst, and you cannot join the Delegation, then, as long as you remember to cancel your hotel reservation, there should be no further costs.

Hoping to see you in Geneva!

In peace,

Aaron Tovish

 

International Director

2020 Vision Campaign

Mayors for Peace

+43 2243 30639

Skype: aaron.tovish

 

 

Airlines that fly into Geneva (note: some are charter flights for skiers)