ICRC holds seminar on humanitarian law

JAKARTA (JP): The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will hold a two-day seminar to help disseminate the importance of and foster an understanding of International Humanitarian Law.

The seminar will begin on Wednesday and will be opened by Indonesia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas.

Participants will include law experts, senior government officials and representatives from the seven members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations -- Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam -- along with Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Papua New Guinea.

Also taking part will be observers from Australia, Britain, China, Russia, North Korea, South Korea, Japan, New Zealand and the United States.

A statement from the foreign ministry said that included in the topics to be discussed are the place of international humanitarian law in international relations and the implementations of international humanitarian law along with the challenges and priorities of International Red Cross operations.

The seminar is also seen as a follow-up to the 26th International Red Cross and Red Crescent Conference held in Geneva in December 1995.

During that conference several important resolutions were issued, including the use of land mines, the protection of civilians in armed conflict and cooperation between the ICRC and the United Nations. (mds)