Intersessional Daily Update 4

(Thursday 06 February 2003 Geneva, Switzerland) Standing Committee on Stockpile Destruction

The Standing Committee on Stockpile Destruction met on 6 February 2003 in Geneva. Co-Chairs Romania and Switzerland organized the agenda of the meeting with particular attention toward the upcoming deadlines for States Parties to fulfill their Article 4 obligation to destroy their stockpiles of antipersonnel mines within four years of entry into force of the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty for them.

Steve Goose of the ICBL presented an overview briefing on the status of stockpile destruction at the beginning of the session. He noted that 28.5 million antipersonnel mines have been destroyed so far by States Parties, 39 States Parties have completed the destruction of their stockpiles, and that 41 States Parties have officially declared in their Article 7 report that they do not have antipersonnel mine stockpiles. Another 18 States Parties are believed not to have stockpiles, according to Landmine Monitor information. The most recent States Parties to complete destruction include Chad, Croatia, Italy, Moldova, and the Netherlands. He also suggested that States Parties begin to discuss how they will respond to a missed Article 4 deadline by a State Party. Another point mentioned was that States Parties need to consider how to dispose of and report the destruction of antipersonnel mines discovered after the completion of the national stockpile destruction program.

A representative of the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) then demonstrated the newly revised stockpile destruction resource section of their website (www.mineaction.org). He demonstrated they types of information included in the databases on the website, including a contacts page and links to documents.

After this presentation, the Co-Chairs an opportunity for States Parties that recently completed stockpile destruction to make presentations. Croatia reported that it completed the destruction of 199,003 antipersonnel mines in October 2002. The cost of their program totaled €110,831. Italy also announced that the destruction of its stockpile of 7,122,811 antipersonnel mines was completed in October 2002. The Netherlands reported that the destruction of its final batch of antipersonnel mines (Gator mines) was destroyed in December 2002. Chad announced that it completed the destruction of its declared stockpile in January 2003 and included in this destruction previously undeclared antipersonnel mines it subsequently discovered at abandoned storage sites. Chad also announced that it would not retain any antipersonnel mines for training and development under Article 3. Moldova announced that it completed the destruction of its stockpile in November 2002 with the assistance of the Netherlands, Switzerland, and NATO. It could not however provide any information on any antipersonnel mine stockpiles possessed by Russian forces in the breakaway Transdniestrian (Pridnestrovie) region, but these forces are scheduled to be withdrawn at the end of 2003.

The Co-Chairs then provided an opportunity for States Parties with a stockpile destruction deadline in 2003 to make a presentation on their efforts. Djibouti plans to destroy its stockpile of 1,188 antipersonnel mines on 27 February 2003 and is receiving assistance from France. Japan will complete the destruction of its stockpile on 8 February 2003 at a ceremony attended by the prime minister. Mozambique is planning to destroy the remaining 16,500 antipersonnel mines in its stockpile between 14 and 28 February 2003. It is receiving assistance from Canada. Macedonia FYR reports it destroyed 22,800 antipersonnel mines during the first phase of its destruction program on 6 October 2002. It is planning to destroy the remaining 16,071 mines on 20 February 2003. Macedonia FYR also announced that it would retain 4,000 antipersonnel mines under Article 3, which is an increase from the 50 it declared to be retaining in its initial Article 7 report. Slovenia reports that plans to destroy the 200 mines remaining in their stockpile on 18 March 2003. It also reported destroying 168,698 mines at of cost of $2 per mine, a total that includes the salaries of the military personnel conducting the destruction. Jordan reported that it would complete the destruction of its remaining stockpile of 15,790 antipersonnel mines during events in February and April 2003. Thailand also announced that the destruction of its remaining 51,480 antipersonnel mines would be completed by the end of April 2003. Portugal reported that the destruction of its stockpile of 231,781 antipersonnel mines would be completed by the end of February 2003. Uganda announced that its stockpile of antipersonnel mines to be destroyed has increased to over 7,000 mines because of stocks captured from rebel forces. Uganda requested assistance from other States Parties in mobilizing resources for stockpile destruction and its deadline is 1 August 2003. Brazil and Venezuela are scheduled to make presentations on their stockpile destruction programs at the next standing committee meeting in May 2003.

The Co-Chairs then provided an opportunity for States Parties that have not submitted an Article 7 report, but have a deadline in 2003 to make any comments regarding whether they stockpile antipersonnel mines. Malawi reported that it does not have a stockpile of antipersonnel mines, and only retains 19 inert mines for training purposes. A representative of the Organization of American States (OAS), while noting a number of member states are among this group, promised to contact them and offer to provide assistance in completing their transparency measures report.

The Co-Chairs then provided an opportunity for States Parties with stockpile destruction deadlines beyond 2003 to make a report on their progress. Argentina provided details on its efforts and recognized the assistance provided to it by Canada. Chile announced that its stockpile of 192,420 antipersonnel mines would be destroyed between April and August 2003, well ahead of its March 2006 deadline. It also announced a decision to reduce the number of mines retained under Article 3 by 10,000 mines and will constantly reassess the need to retain the remaining 18,656 mines. Romania reports that 716,148 antipersonnel mines have been destroyed by January 2003. Tunisia reports that the remaining stockpile of 7,000 mines is scheduled to be complete by September 2003. Tajikistan noted that it recently declared a stockpile of 3,029 antipersonnel mines controlled by its forces and other foreign forces store 18,200 mines in Tajikistan. Bilateral negotiations between Tajikistan and Russia to dispose of these mines are underway. Tajikistan also requested donor assistance because it lacks the resources, equipment, and experience to destroy its stockpile. Bangladesh reported that their national stockpile destruction plan is being finalized and requested donor assistance. It also noted that it is reassessing the number of mines (15,000) it declared to be retaining under Article 3. Guinea Bissau reports that its destruction program started on 12 September 2002 with 1,000 antipersonnel mines being destroyed so far. It is planning to destroy the remaining 3,997 mines between January and March 2003.

After the conclusion of reports from States Parties, Canada and the NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency (NAMSA) provided detailed overviews of their stockpile destruction assistance programs. The European Commission and the UNDP also made presentations of their roles in providing assistance and mobilizing resources for stockpile destruction. A representative of the GICHD gave a short presentation on the technical characteristics of the PFM-1 antipersonnel mine. Representatives from the Ukraine and Belarus also provided an update on the status of the PFM destruction project being proposed and planned in these countries.