Ratification Update #7

Ratifications update #7 10 July 1998

This is the seventh in the series of updates on ratification and
signature of the Mine Ban Treaty.

SUMMARY

We have one new signatory -- Chad -- for a total of 127.

We have 2 new official ratifications -- Norway and Andorra -- for a total of 24.

24 Official Ratifications deposited at the United Nations: Canada,
Ireland, Mauritius, Turkmenistan, Holy See, San Marino,
Switzerland, Hungary, Niue, Belize, Trinidad&Tobago, Djibouti,
Croatia, Mali, Denmark, Bolivia, Mexico, Fiji, Peru, Zimbabwe, South
Africa, Austria, Andorra, Norway.

9 others that have apparently already passed ratification legislation,
but not yet deposited it at the UN: Bosnia, Botswana, France, Germany, Guinea, Italy, Mozambique, Spain, Yemen.

Among those expected to pass ratification legislation soon are
Belgium, Colombia, Sweden, United Kingdom.

ANDORRA

Andorra deposited its ratification at the UN on June 29, becoming
number 23.

BELGIUM

On July 9, the Belgian Senate voted for ratification of the Mine Ban Treaty and of Protocol 2 of the CCW. Now the Chamber of Representatives must vote,
probably next week -- after the 17th it will be parliamentarian holidays.
The ratification document must also be signed by the king.
[Anne Cappelle, Handicap International -- 7/10/98]

CHAD

Chad signed the treaty on July 7, becoming number 127.

GERMANY

The German Parliament already passed the ratification law at the
beginning of May. It seems that only the signature of the President is
missing.
[Thomas Gebauer, medico -- 7/5/98]

NAMIBIA

The Namibian Government is moving towards ratifying the ban treaty,
according to Peya Mushelenga, Cabinet Liaison Officer in Foreign
Affairs. He said Namibia had no problem with the ratification of the
Convention but that a number of procedures had to be followed first.
"We are still in the process of drawing up a Cabinet memorandum for
approval.Just give us more time," said the Foreign Affairs
official. However, he could not say when the Convention would be
ratified. "It depends on how much time the Cabinet will take to approve it," he added.
[The Namibian, June 30, 1998]

NEW ZEALAND

On July 1 the NZ Parliament completed the Second Reading of the
Anti-Personnel Mines Prohibition Bill, and referred it to the Foreign
Affairs and Defence Select Committee for further consideration.
Minister Don McKinnon introduced the Bill and he and subsequent
speakers paid tribute to the NGOs which had done the initial work in
the Campaign, with particular mention of Phil Twyford of Oxfam, and
John Head of CALM. The next stage of the legislative process is
consideration of the Bill by the Select Committee, then it is referred
back to Parliament for the Third Reading.
[Neil Mander, CALM New Zealand -- 7/1/98]

NORWAY

Norway deposited its ratification at the UN on July 9, becoming number 24.

UNITED KINGDOM

Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Wednesday July 1 that a bill to
ratify the ban treaty will be introduced next week. "If legislation is
completed in July, as we wish it to be, then we will be amongst the
first 40 nations to ratify as we promised to do," Blair told the House
of Commons.
[AP Wire:International -- 07/01/98]
Blair also said 450,000 mines, almost half the UK stockpile, had been
destroyed.
[Irish Times -- 7/2/98]

The UKWGLM has strongly criticized the Landmines Bill proposed by the government, stating that it contains major loopholes which will make
the total landmine ban a partial and therefore ineffective ban which
may even prevent the U.K.'s ratification of the treaty. The proposed
legislation would permit British military personnel in international
military operations to possess, transport and transfer antipersonnel
mines and to assist, encourage and induce others in laying the mines.
This contradicts the treaty's prohibition "under all circumstances" of
such activities relating to antipersonnel mines and amounts to an
exemption or reservation to the treaty. The treaty's article 19 allows
no reservations. The UKWGLM believes that the bill as drafted cannot be used to ratify the treaty and urges the government to redraft it. The
UKWGLM urges members of the ICBL to urgently send faxes to Prime Minister Blair expressing concern.

On June 10, the House of Commons passed the Landmine Bill. It will
now be taken up by the House of Lords.