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Key developments since May 2000: Denmark nearly doubled its mine action funding in 2000, to about US$13.4 million. The number of antipersonnel mines retained for training and development has been reduced from nearly 5,000 to just over 2,000.
Denmark signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 4 December 1997, ratified it on 8 June 1998, and the treaty entered into force for Denmark on 1 March 1999. No additional legal or administrative measures were deemed necessary for national implementation, on the basis that existing weapons legislation and penal codes cover the requirements of Article 9 of the Mine Ban Treaty.[1]
Denmark participated in the Second Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty in September 2000, but did not attend the Intersessional Standing Committee meetings in December 2000 and May 2001.
Three transparency reports required by Article 7 of the Mine Ban Treaty have been submitted to the United Nations: in August 1999, August 2000, and on 30 April 2001.[2]
Denmark voted for the November 2000 UN General Assembly resolution promoting the Mine Ban Treaty. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that universal adherence to the Mine Ban Treaty remains a Danish foreign policy goal, which is pursued bilaterally as well as together with like-minded states.[3]
With regard to joint military operations conducted with countries that are not States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty, the Ministry of Defense has stated that “in the participation in joint military operations, Denmark does not involve itself in activities that are related to the laying of antipersonnel mines.”[4]
Denmark is a State Party to Amended Protocol II of the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW), and attended the Second Annual Conference in December 2000. During the April 2001 preparatory meeting for the CCW Review Conference in December 2001, Denmark joined the United States in proposing changes to CCW Amended Protocol II with respect to antivehicle mines. Denmark has also co-sponsored a proposal to consider ways of dealing with “explosive remnants of war.” Denmark submitted its annual report required by Article 13 of CCW Amended Protocol II on 10 November 2000.
Denmark has not produced antipersonnel mines since the 1950s. It has never exported antipersonnel mines. In the past it imported antipersonnel mines from the United States, Germany and perhaps other nations.[5]
Denmark previously reported completion of destruction of its stockpile of 266,517 antipersonnel mines in December 1999. Denmark had reported in August 1999 that it would retain 4,991 mines for training and development purposes, but subsequently reported in August 2000 that the Defence Command Denmark had decided to reduce the number to 2000.[6] The most recent Article 7 report of April 2001 indicated an additional 2,834 mines (type M/58) were to be destroyed in 2001, leaving 2,106 (60 type M/56 and 2,046 type M/58) in stockpile for training and development purposes. This number was to be further reduced to 2,046 by April/May 2001.[7]
The cost to destroy the additional mines was estimated as DKr80,000 (approximately US$10,000). The destruction was due to be carried out at the Ammunition Arsenal, Elling, and at Entsorgungs-Betriebsgesellschaft Vogelsang GmbH, Leipzig, Germany, by disassembling, burning and chemical destruction, in accordance with national, NATO and European Union safety and environmental standards.[8]
Denmark’s Article 7 report does not include M18A1 Claymore mines and FFV013 Claymore-type mines previously acknowledged to be in stock.[9] The Ministry of Defense states that these mines have all been modified to command-detonated mode, and are now treated and used only as an “area defense weapon.” The Danish Army uses the M18A1 mines, and the Air Force uses the FFV013 mines in defense of Air Force bases.[10] Denmark did not attend the consultation on antivehicle mines with antihandling devices or sensitive fuzes convened by the International Committee of the Red Cross in March 2001.
Denmark is mine-affected only in the Skallingen peninsula, which was heavily contaminated in World War II. The area is marked, and there are no reports of mine incidents in recent years. There are no specific plans for clearance of Skallingen, which is now a protected natural reserve, largely owned by the government.[11]
Funding of mine action is the responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Funding allocation focuses on the areas of greatest need, regardless of a country or region’s political, religious or social situation. It aims for a development perspective and geographical concentration that will allow maximum synergy between other activities in areas where the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) is already involved. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs intends to publish a policy paper on humanitarian mine action in June 2001.[12]
Mine action funding totaled DKr106,668,860 (US$13.4 million) in 2000. This represents an increase of DKr51,748,860 – 94 percent -- from 1999. From 1996 to 1999 mine action funding totaled DKr189,836,797 (US$24 million).[13] DANIDA indicated last year that mine action would continue to receive high priority in the years to come.
Mine Action Funding in calendar year 2000[14]
|
Agency
|
Country
|
Activity
|
Amount (DKK)
|
US$
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Danish Demining Group
|
Somalia
|
Mine clearance program, etc
|
9,053,200
|
1,135,055
|
|
UNDP
|
Somalia
|
Aid to Somalia Civil Protection Program (SCPP)
|
1,400,000
|
175,526
|
|
IND/NPA/ADP/
UNDP |
Mozambique
|
Mine clearance program, etc
|
15,000,000
|
1,880,524
|
|
DanChurchAid
|
Kosovo
|
Mine clearance program, etc
|
7,000,000
|
877,578
|
|
Slovenian Trust Fund (Demining activities)
|
Bosnia and Herzegovina
|
Contribution to International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims
Assistance
|
800,000
|
100,295
|
|
UNOCHA
|
Afghanistan
|
Mine clearance program, etc
|
2,500,000
|
313,421
|
|
Danish Demining Group
|
Afghanistan
|
Mine clearance program
|
6,000,000
|
752,210
|
|
UNMAS
|
Mozambique
|
Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Action in Mozambique
|
1,000,000
|
125,368
|
|
UNMAS
|
Kosovo
|
Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Action in Kosovo
|
5,000,000
|
626,841
|
|
DFH/ASF
|
Chechnya
|
Mine awareness
|
300,000
|
37,610
|
|
IPPNW
|
General
|
Support to mine campaigns
|
1,000,000
|
125,368
|
|
ICBL
|
International
|
Aid to ICBL’s Landmine Monitor Initiative
|
350,000
|
43,879
|
|
DanChurchAid
|
Kosovo
|
Mine clearance program (second installment of total grant 1999: DKr17.4
million)
|
5,500,000
|
689,525
|
|
DanChurchAid & ACT
|
Kosovo
|
Mine clearance program, etc
|
7,000,000
|
877,578
|
|
DanChurchAid
|
Chechnya
|
Mine clearance program in Chechnya (third installment of DKr9.3
million)
|
2,300,000
|
288,347
|
|
UNDP
|
Laos
|
Bomb clearance program (total grant 1998-2000)
|
19,500,000
|
2,444,681
|
|
Nicaraguan Government
|
Nicaragua
|
Mine clearance program
|
2,992,960
|
375,222
|
|
OAS
|
Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica
|
Mine clearance program (total grant 1998-2000)
|
15,000,000
|
1,880,524
|
|
IND/UNOPS
|
Mozambique
|
Technical Assistance to National Demining Institute
|
2,972,700
|
372,682
|
|
DANDEC
|
General
|
Grant to education in mine clearance
|
2,000,000
|
250,737
|
|
2000 in total
|
106,668,860
|
13,373,728
|
||
Known Mine Action Funding in 2001
|
Agency
|
Country
|
Activity
|
Amount (DKK)
|
US$
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
DanChurchAid
|
Kosovo
|
Mine clearance programs, etc
|
10,000,000
|
1,253,761
|
|
UNMAS
|
Eritrea/Ethiopia
|
|
2,000,000
|
250,689
|
|
Danish Demining Group
|
Somaliland
|
Mine clearance
|
2,200,000
|
275,827
|
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not the sole source of funding for Danish NGOs working in humanitarian mine action. Danmark Mod Landminer was founded on 15 June 2000 with the purpose of raising public awareness of landmines and raising money for mine clearance, concentrating this year on the work of the Danish Demining Group in Somaliland.[15] Additionally, some funds are obtained from the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and other Danish foundations, campaigns and mine clearance organizations.
Dandec (the Danish Demining Center), a new training center for non-governmental organizations, held its first course in 25 April 2000, with sixteen participants. Ten deminers from the course are currently employed by Danish NGOs.[16] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will support this type of training provided that ongoing evaluation indicates a continued need for deminers with the skills provided.[17]
A sub-group of the Humanitarian Contact Group in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is being set up, on the recommendation of an inter-ministerial working group, to strengthen coordination between government and NGOs working in international emergencies. The sub-group will focus on mine-related activities, with the participation of mine clearance NGOs. [18] The first meeting took place on 8 March 2001.
Denmark chairs the inter-Nordic working group for mine clearance equipment, participates in the NATO engineer working party, and cooperates with UNMAS on technical issues.[19] The main R&D initiative remains the Nordic Demining Research Forum.[20]
Oersted DTU and Informatics and Mathematical Modeling at the Technical University of Denmark have a number of ongoing research activities in advanced mine detection systems based on fuzed signals from sensors such as ground penetrating radar, infrared and metal detectors. Currently these projects focus on inverse scattering methods for ground penetrating radar systems and non-linear adaptive signal/image processing techniques for multisensor-based systems.[21] The Danish Defense Research Establishment has ongoing research on thermal signatures of mines and the use of stimulation for enhancing signatures. It also conducts research on the detection of tripwires using polarimetric methods.[22] PL Brake, a private company, is involved in the development of a sensor system for the detection of mines.[23]
Between 1992 and 1996, eighteen Danish peacekeeping personnel were involved in mine incidents, all of which occurred prior to 1997 (one in 1992, seven in 1993, three with one death in 1996, and seven in 1996).[24] Denmark has all modern medical and rehabilitation facilities.
In June and October 2000, DanChurchAid had two mine incidents involving local staff in its program in Kosovo. The injured men received treatment in Kosovo and were later fitted with prostheses in Copenhagen. The Danish Demining Group has experienced a number of mine incidents, but there have been no injuries.[25] Mine incidents that do not result in physical injuries are not officially recorded in Denmark.
Greenland and the Faroe Islands are autonomous parts of Denmark. Home rule was granted to Greenland in 1953 and to the Faroe Islands in 1948. Foreign and defense policies remain joint affairs of state, formally governed from Denmark.[26] Greenland and the Faroe Islands are bound by the Mine Ban Treaty through their constitutional affiliation to Denmark.[27]
A bilateral Defense Agreement between Denmark and the US, signed on 27 April 1951, permits the US presence at Thule Air Base in Greenland.[28] It has not been possible to obtain information on the possible use or storage of antipersonnel mines at Thule Air Base.[29] The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not consider the issue relevant; in response to questions about the possible transportation of antipersonnel mines through the territorial waters of Greenland and the Faroe Islands, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs referred to commitments made to Article 8 of the Mine Ban Treaty.[30]
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[1] Letter from Mr. Rikke Ladefoged, Ministry of Justice, 24 January 2001. The relevant weapons laws are: ”Bekendtgørelse Af Lov Om Våben Og Eksplosivstoffer” (Government Order on the Law on Weapons and Explosives); ”Bekendtgørelse Om Våben Og Ammunition M.V” (Government Order on Weapons and Ammunition, etc.); and ”Cirkulære Om Våben Og Ammunition M.V.” (Government Circular on Weapons and Ammunition, etc).
[2] Article 7 Report, Form A, submitted 30 April 2001, for the period 1 January 2000-31 December 2000.
[3] Letter from K.-A. Eliasen, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 22 January 2001.
[4] Letter from Ministry of Defence, 15 January 2001 stating “Ved deltagelse i fælles militære operationer involverer Danmark sig ikke i aktiviteter, der relaterer sig til udlægning af personelminer.” Also letter from K.-A. Eliasen, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 22 January 2001.
[5] Landmine Monitor Report 1999, pp. 581-582.
[6] Article 7 report, Form D, submitted 27 August 1999; Article 7 Report, Form D, submitted 7 August 2000.
[7] Article 7 report, Forms D and G, submitted 30 April 2001, for the period 1 January-31 December 2000. The report indicates that the M/58 mines are for training in mine detection and the M/56 are for trials by the Danish Defense Research Establishment.
[8] Letter from Ministry of Defense, 15 January 2001.
[9] Landmine Monitor Report 1999, p. 583.
[10] Telephone interview with Major P. Lyse Rasmussen, Ministry of Defense, 22 January 2001.
[11] Landmine Monitor Report 2000, p. 631. The August 2000 and April 2001 Article 7 reports did not include a plan or date for when Skallingen will be cleared of mines.
[12] Letter from Ole Neustrup, Deputy Head, Department For Humanitarian Assistance, 18 December 2000.
[13] Data supplied by Ministry of Foreign Affairs. An additional DKr5 million (US$585,500) was allocated in 1998-2000 for the UNDP/CMAC mine clearance program in Cambodia but not yet disbursed, due to Danish dissatisfaction with management of the Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC). Denmark will not transfer the funds until adequate guarantees of changes at CMAC are received. Telephone interview with Mikael H. Winther, S.6, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 3 January 2001.
[14] Data supplied by Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Conversion to U.S. dollars by Landmine Monitor researcher using the rate US$1:DKr7.976. Abbreviations – UNOCHA (UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance); ADP (Accelerated Demining Program); UNDP (UN Development Program); OAS (Organization of American States); NPA (Norwegian People’s Aid); IPPNW (International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War); UNMAS (UN Mine Action Service); IND (National Demining Institute, Mozambique); UNOPS (UN Office for Project Services); DFH (Dansk Flygtningehjælp); ASF (Dansk Folkehjælp); DANDEC (Danish Demining Centre).
[15] Letter from Knud Bagger, Danmark Mod Landminer, 15 January 2001.
[16] Letter from Niels Kamp, Dandec, 15 January 2001.
[17] Letter from Ole Neustrup, Department for Humanitarian Assistance, 18 December 2000.
[18] Ibid.
[19] CCW Amended Protocol II Article 13 report, 10 November 2000, Form E.
[20] For further details see report on Norway in this edition.
[21] Letter from Ole Nymann, Nordic Demining Research Forum, 15 January 2001.
[22] Ibid.
[23] Letter from Lars Christensen, PL Brake, 15 January 2001.
[24] Letter from Ministry of Defense, 15 January 2001.
[25] Interview with Arne Vågen, Danish Demining Group, 14 January 2001.
[26] Royal Danish Embassy, Washington DC, <www.denmarkemb.org/greenland.htm>.
[27] Interview with Joachim K. Jensen, Legal Service, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 21 March 2001.
[28] The agreement falls under NATO auspices. Rapport fra den dansk-grønlandske arbejdsgruppe til identification af de udenrigs-og sikkerhedspolitiske sagsområder, hvor Grønland har interesse. Annoraaq-udvalgets rapport juli 1999. 6: varetagelse af Grønlands udenrigs-og sikkerhedspolitiske interesser på enkelt områder, Ataguden, 9 Sept 1999.
[29] The Landmine Monitor researcher’s request for information reached Capt. Brenda L. Campbell, 21st Space Wings Public Affairs, Colorado Springs, who forwarded this to International Affairs, Pentagon, on 29 January 2001.
[30] Letter from K.-A Eliasen, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 22 January 2001.
