Demining Conference Opens
Demining Conference Opens
The Edmonton Journal
VIENNA (AP) - Military representatives of 33 countries as well as non-governmental organizations opened a four-day conference Tuesday aimed at eliminating land mines throughout Europe.
The conference, organized by the Austrian defence
ministry, the Italian armed forces and the West European Union, is
to improve co-operation in mine detection and destruction.
"The seminar is a sign of a new era in co-operation
in the fields of disarmament and humanitarian assistance," Austrian
Gen. Karl Majecen told the conference during opening
ceremonies.
Austrian mine clearing experts are working with their
counterparts from other countries in detecting and destroying
landmines in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Golan Heights between
Syria and Israel.
The conference is expected to include discussions on
ways to compile information and databanks on non-standard
landmines, making them easier to disarm safely.
Majecen said it was time for European countries to
co-ordinate their activities and share information in landmine
technology and ways to detect and disarm them
During his speech, Italian Defence Minister Massimo
Brutti praised efforts by Europe and international organizations to
remove "these instruments of death."
Canada, specifically Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd
Axworthy was instrumental in the making of an international pact
banning landmines which was signed in Ottawa. Last December 123
countries signed the treaty to eliminate the use, production, sale and
stockpiling of anti-personnel landmines.Brutti said Italy had
already taken steps to comply with the 1997 Ottawa Treaty.
As a tribute to the Princess of Wales, British Prime
Minister Tony Blair announced last Wednesday- which would have been
Diana's 37th birthday- that a bill to ratify the international treaty will be
published this week. Diana espoused the cause of eradicating landmines and visited victims in Angola and Bosnia.
The U.S. refused to sign the treaty because it wants
to maintain landmines in the demilitarized zone separating North
and South Korea. The Pentagon also wants to exempt
anti-personnel mines designed to deter tampering with larger anti-tank
mines not covered by the treaty.
Washington is lobbying NATO countries to allow the
stockpiling of anti-personnel mines until the year 2003. Critics
accuse the Americans of trying to undermine the treaty among
their European allies.
