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Key developments since May 2001: In July 2002, Lithuania submitted, on a voluntary basis, an Article 7 transparency report as an indication of the government’s commitment to meet the obligations of the Mine Ban Treaty. Lithuania has reported a stockpile of 8,091 antipersonnel mines, for training purposes.
The Republic of Lithuania signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 22 February 1999. Since then, delay in ratification has been attributed to the need to review defense plans, find alternatives to antipersonnel mines and secure funding, including international assistance. On 2 July 2002, Lithuania voluntarily submitted to the United Nations an Article 7 Report even though it is not a party to the Mine Ban Treaty.[1] The report gives no date for future ratification, but provides legislative details of the export moratorium on antipersonnel mines and for the first time gives details of the antipersonnel mines stockpiled by Lithuania.
Lithuania attended, as an observer, the Third Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty in September 2001 in Managua, Nicaragua. It was represented by Dainius Baublys, Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York. Lithuania associated itself with the statement made on behalf of the European Union, which called for “worldwide application of the Convention.”
On 29 November 2001, Lithuania cosponsored and voted in favor of United Nations General Assembly resolution 56/24M, which calls on signatory States to ratify the Mine Ban Treaty without delay. Lithuania has voted for similar resolutions in previous years.
Lithuania attended the intersessional Standing Committee meetings of the Mine Ban Treaty in January and May 2002.[2] On 20 February 2002, a Canadian delegation visited Lithuania to discuss aspects of the Mine Ban Treaty with the head of the Lithuanian armed forces and other officials.[3]
On 28 March 2002, the Baltic International Center of Human Education wrote to the Lithuanian Minister of National Defense encouraging Lithuania to accede to the Mine Ban Treaty immediately after joining NATO.[4] The Minister replied on 25 April 2002 stating that:
I fully share your view that landmines remain archaic and barbaric weapon, thus, Lithuania observes the spirit of the Ottawa Convention and does not produce, export or use anti-personnel mines. The debate in Lithuania is not whether to ratify the Convention, but when is the most appropriate time for such ratification. The reasons of not ratifying are focused on several aspects: a need for replacement for landmines; Lithuania’s neighbors have not ratified the Mine Ban Treaty yet; a need to review national defense plans.
As you may well know, Lithuania is positively considering a possibility of a submitting, on a voluntary basis, its transparency measures report under Article 7 of the Convention which well indicate a government’s commitment to meet the obligations of the Mine Ban Treaty. In addition to this, it is worth noticing that Lithuania may reconsider its position after receiving international security guarantee under the NATO...[5]
Lithuania is a party to Amended Protocol II of the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW), and submitted its report under Article 13 of the protocol on 15 December 2001. It attended the Third Annual Conference of States Parties to Amended Protocol II and the Second CCW Review Conference in December 2001. Lithuania associated itself with the statement delivered by Belgium on behalf of the European Union.
Lithuania submitted its annual report on landmines to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe on 15 December 2001.[6]
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in January 2000 that no licenses have been issued for the production or import/export of antipersonnel mines since 1990. Two-year export moratoria have existed since September 1998.[7] When the current moratorium expires in September 2002 it will be renewed, therefore “harmonizing Lithuania’s position with that of the European Union,” according to the Ministry of Defense.[8]
The Article 7 Report declares a total stockpile of 8,091 antipersonnel mines, consisting of four types: 3,975 PMN blast mines, 4 MON-50 directional fragmentation mines, 409 MON-100 directional fragmentation mines, and 3,703 OZM-72 bounding fragmentation mines. The origin of the mines is noted as the former Soviet Union. The Report indicates the mines are for training purposes.[9] The Report states that there are no antipersonnel mine production facilities, no stockpile destruction programs, and no mined areas.[10]
Unexploded ordnance (UXO) from World War II continues to be found in Lithuania. The Amended Protocol II Article 13 report of 14 November 2001 states that there are no mine clearance programs in Lithuania, and no rehabilitation programs for landmine/UXO victims. However, according to the Ministry of Defense spokesperson, a mine clearance program is currently being developed.[11]
There are four military units for explosive ordnance disposal operations, which during 2001 have destroyed the following numbers of mines and UXO: Juozas Vitkus engineering battalion – 80 items; Iron Wolf motorized infantry brigade – 1,267 items; Zemaitija motorized infantry brigade – 710 items; and Jaeger battalion – 101 items.[12]
Lithuania’s international cooperation on mine clearance, the assistance which it has received from other countries, and its research into mine detection and clearance have been reported previously by Landmine Monitor.[13]
The Ministry of Defense was unaware of any casualties from mine incidents in 2001 or 2002.[14]
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[1] Article 7 Report, submitted on 2 July 2002, for calendar year 2001.
[2] In January it was represented by Erikas Petrikas, Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva, and in May by Erikas Petrikas, Captain Nikolajus Polocevas and Lieutenant Arunas Janusonis, Engineer Officers, Ministry of Defense.
[3] Email from Lt.-Col. John-Eric MacBride, Military Advisor, Mine Action Team, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Canada, 28 March 2002.
[4] It is expected that Lithuania and other East European States will join NATO in November 2002.
[5] Letter to Igors Tipans from Linas Linkevicius, Minister of the National Defense, Republic of Lithuania, 25 April 2002.
[6] Email from Grazvydas Jasutis, Senior Executive Officer, International Law Division, Ministry of Defense, 18 February 2002; a copy of the report could not be supplied.
[7] See Landmine Monitor Report 2001, pp. 771-772.
[8] Email from Grazvydas Jasutis, Ministry of Defense, 18 February 2002.
[9] Article 7 Report, 2 July 2002, for calendar year 2001. The mines are not recorded on Form B (stockpiled antipersonnel mines), but on Form D (mines retained for development and training under Article 3).
[10] Article 7 Report, 2 July 2002, for calendar year 2001.
[11] Email from Grazvydas Jasutis, Ministry of Defense, 18 March 2002.
[12] Ibid.
[13] These activities were reviewed in Landmine Monitor Report 2000, pp. 772-773. They are included in Lithuania’s Amended Protocol II Article 13 Report, Forms B, E, G, 14 November 2001, and earlier Article 13 reports.
[14] Email from Grazvydas Jasutis, Ministry of Defense, 22 May 2002.
