Kathmandu, December 17:

Nepali government, in cooperation with the European Union and the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, today organised a two-day regional seminar to promote accessibility to the Convention on the Prohibition and Restriction on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) by countries that are yet to ratify the convention.

The convention aims at minimising the effects of armed conflict on both the civilian population, as well as the combatants.

“We believe that national implementation is not only the result of a political will but also requires legal and technical expertise,”

said French Ambassador Gilles-Henry Garault.

He further added that the the views and experiences of China and Australia, already party to the Certain Conventional Weapons, on the convention were vital.

The seminar is the last of the six regional seminars on implementing the Certain Conventional Weapons and its annexed protocols, organised by UNODA, EU through its Joint Action which

started in July 2007.

Representatives from 24 countries participated in the seminar.