Intersessional Update 3: Standing Committee on Stockpile Destruction

(Thursday 31 January 2002 ) Co-chairs: Australia and Croatia, Co-rapporteurs: Romania and Switzerland

The Standing Committee (SC) kicked off with welcoming remarks by the co-chairs and a review of achievements by the former co-chair.

Stephen Goose gave a presentation on behalf of the ICBL’s Treaty Working Group in which he gave an overview of stockpile destruction processes:

• between 225 and 240 million antipersonnel mines are stockpiled by at least 100 countries;
• a total of 40 million ap mines have been destroyed in recent years by more than 50 nations, including States Parties (SPs) and others;
• signatories to the Mine Ban Treaty hold an estimated 8 to 10 million ap mines in stock and non-signatories have between 210 and 220 million ap mines stockpiled;
• many rebel groups also have stockpiles of ap mines.

The ICBL is particularly concerned that certain States Parties (SPs) do not appear to have begun the process of stockpile destruction and may even miss the deadline for doing so. Many SPs are due to complete destruction within 13 months, for example Turkmenistan’s deadline is 1 March 2003 and they have asked for an extension for this deadline (although there is no provision in the treaty for this). (See Landmine Monitor fact sheet: Antipersonnel Mine Stockpile Destruction, Article 4)

Romania, Peru and Ecuador gave presentations on stockpile destruction and then over 20 other SPs reported on the status of their destruction. Both Peru and Ecuador highlighted the transparent nature of their stockpile destruction processes, which included participation of the diplomatic community, media, IOs and NGOs. Sweden reported that it became the most recent SP to complete their destruction process in December 2001. Italy reported that it has come a long way in destroying its stockpile of some 7.1 million mines, and now has a remaining half a million to destroy. Brazil reported on its destruction activities and said that it plans to destroy all of its stocks by July 2002.

Inputs were then made on regional meetings and workshops including: an upcoming course in Switzerland, the Managua Challenge, a Tunis Workshop (January 2002), the Kuala Lumpur Regional meeting (August 2001) and the Athens Workshop (October 2001).

The afternoon session concentrated on future action needed. Two key issues were: regional efforts to destroy mines and presentations were made by North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Partnership for Peace Program and the Organization of American States (OAS) on this issue and their respective projects related to stockpile destruction. Also an input was made by Canada on follow up regarding the issue of PFM mine destruction particularly regarding the Ukraine project - as these mines present a particular technical challenge in the destruction process.

The ICBL intervened in the concluding part of the session, encouraging SPs to be as proactive as possible in targeting other SPs that need assistance in completing their stock destruction in order to meet the legal deadline.