Landmine Monitor 2004

Key Developments Since 1999

 

Afghanistan

Afghanistan acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty on 11 September 2002 and the treaty entered into force on 1 March 2003. Since the war and dramatic political and military changes in late 2001 and early 2002, mine action activities have expanded. From 1989 through December 2003, about 298 million square meters of mined land and 538 million square meters of battle areas were cleared. Approximately 288,830 antipersonnel mines, 18,421 antivehicle mines, and 4,366,890 UXO and cluster bomblets were destroyed. During the past five years, from 1999 to 2003, a total of about 132 million square meters of mined land was cleared, as well as 373 million square meters of battlefield areas. From 1999 to 2003, two NGOs surveyed 136 million square meters of mined land and 383 million square meters of battle areas. The Afghan government reports that mine risk education has been provided to 10.6 million people since 1990.

MAPA experienced a severe shortage of funds in 2000 and had to lay-off mine action teams; another funding shortfall prior to 11 September 2001 had threatened to again curtail mine action operations. Mine action operations were virtually brought to a halt following 11 September 2001. The mine action infrastructure suffered greatly during the subsequent military conflict, and military operations created additional threats to the population, especially unexploded US cluster bomblets and ammunition scattered from storage depots hit by air strikes. By March 2002, mine action had returned to earlier levels. Mine action funding has increased from $14 million in 2001, to $66 million in 2002, to $75 million in 2003.

The Northern Alliance used landmines throughout the period since 1999. The Taliban, which had declared a ban on mines in 1998, began using them again in 2001, and continued up to the present. Coalition forces are not known to have used mines.

The estimated number of new mine casualties has declined from 150 to 300 people a month in 2000 to 100 people a month in 2004. Since 1999, mine/UXO casualties have been reported in 33 of the 34 provinces in Afghanistan. As of July 2004, UNMACA had collected data on 13,874 mine/UXO casualties since 1988, but stressed that this was not a comprehensive figure. The ICRC recorded 7,197 new mine/UXO casualties between 1999 and June 2004. In 2002, the Transitional Islamic Government of Afghanistan approved the establishment of a National Disability Commission. Since 1999, the ICRC opened two new orthopedic centers; and several local and international NGOs have opened or expanded programs that assist mine survivors and other persons with disabilities.

Albania

Albania ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 29 February 2000, and became a State Party on 1 August 2000. Specific legislation to implement the treaty has yet to be adopted. Albania’s stockpile of 1,683,860 antipersonnel mines was destroyed by 4 April 2002, well in advance of the treaty deadline of 1 August 2004. Albania has opted not to retain any antipersonnel mines for training purposes. The northeast of the country was heavily contaminated with landmines and unexploded ordnance from the Kosovo crisis in 1999. The Albanian Mine Action Committee and the Albanian Mine Action Executive were formed in October 1999, and strengthened in subsequent years with assistance from UNDP. A national mine action strategy was produced in June 2002 with the goal of freeing Albania from the effect of mines and UXO by 2005. A new mine action plan was announced in June 2004, which postponed the deadline for clearance of medium and high priority areas from December 2005 to December 2006, and clearance of low impact areas from December 2006 to December 2008. From 2000 to 2003, some $10.4 million was donated to mine action in Albania. The amount of financial assistance has been steadily increasing each year. From 2000 to 2003, a total of 10.1 million square meters of land was cleared or reduced through survey. From 1999 to July 2004, the AMAE database records 269 mine/UXO casualties in northeast Albania.

Algeria

Algeria ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 9 October 2001 and it entered into force on 1 April 2002. Algeria issued a presidential decree in May 2002 to establish an interministerial committee to oversee implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty, but it still did not exist as of mid-2004. Algeria submitted its initial Article 7 report, due September 2002, on 1 May 2003, for the first time declaring a stockpile of 165,080 antipersonnel mines. Algeria intends to retain 15,030 mines, one of the highest totals for any State Party. Algeria has served as co-rapporteur of the Standing Committee on Mine Clearance since September 2003. Algeria has accused “terrorists” of continuing to use improvised mines.

Andorra

Andorra became a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty on 1 March 1999. It has submitted only one Article 7 transparency report. Andorra declares that it has never possessed antipersonnel mines and is not mine-affected.

Angola

Angola signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 4 December 1997, but continued to use landmines until the peace agreement signed with UNITA forces in April 2002. Angola ratified the treaty on 5 July 2002, and it entered into force on 1 January 2003. In 2001, the government created the Inter-Sectoral Commission on Demining and Humanitarian Assistance (CNIDAH) to be responsible for policy-making, coordination of mine action and victim assistance, and the design of a new National Mine Action Plan. Trouble-plagued INAROEE, the national demining institution, was restructured in 2003, and renamed the National Institute for Demining (INAD). A Landmine Impact Survey started in December 2002 was ongoing as of September 2004. Landmine Monitor estimates that more than 20 million square meters of land were cleared from 1999-2003. Up to 20 different agencies have conducted mine risk education in Angola since 1999. From 1999 to 2003, 2.35 million people reportedly took part in MRE activities. From 1999 to 2003, there were at least 2,912 new mine/UXO casualties reported in Angola. In 2001, the Ministry of Health launched the National Program for Physical and Sensorial Rehabilitation 2001-2005.

Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda became a State Party on 1 November 1999.

Argentina

Argentina ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 21 July 1999 and it entered into force on 1 March 2000. Argentina has not enacted domestic implementation legislation. Argentina completed destruction of its stockpile of more than 90,000 antipersonnel mines on 4 December 2003. Argentina reported in July 2002 that it would retain 13,025 mines; the number was decreased to 1,000 in 2002 with the decision to make 12,025 of them inert “exercise mines.” In 2004 the number was adjusted again to 1,772 mines retained. Argentina co-hosted a regional seminar on stockpile destruction in November 2000. In 2000, a Working Group composed of representatives of the Ministry of Defense and the armed forces was created to oversee Mine Ban Treaty implementation, and an Office for Humanitarian Demining was established.

Australia

The Mine Ban Treaty entered into force for Australia on 1 July 1999. Australia has spent A$96.6 million (US$60 million) on mine action over the past nine years, and is poised to exceed its ten-year commitment of A$100 million next year. Australia destroyed its stockpile of 128,161 antipersonnel mines in five days in September/October 1999, and another 6,460 previously unrecorded mines in October/November 2000. In May 2001, Australia reported that it had decided to reduce the number of antipersonnel mines retained for training purposes from a total of 10,000 to 7,845; by the end of 2003, Australia had consumed 380 of those mines.

Australia has been a very active participant in the Mine Ban Treaty intersessional work program. Australia served as co-rapporteur and then co-chair of the Standing Committee on Stockpile Destruction from September 2000 to September 2002, and of the Standing Committee on Victim Assistance from September 2002 to December 2004. Australia’s Ambassador was President of the Review Conference of the CCW in 2001. Since 2000, the Australian government and the Australian Network of the ICBL have had a collaborative program to encourage universalization of the Mine Ban Treaty in the Southeast Asia region. The last two Australian landmine casualties occurred in 2002 in Afghanistan.

Austria

Austria became a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty on 1 March 1999. It completed stockpile destruction and adopted national legislation prohibiting antipersonnel mines prior to entry into force of the Mine Ban Treaty. Since 1999, Austria has continuously played a key role in the Mine Ban Treaty intersessional work program and in promoting universalization and full implementation of the treaty. It developed the reporting format for Article 7 reports. It served as co-rapporteur then co-chair of the Standing Committee on General Status and Operation of the Convention from September 2001 to September 2003. In September 2003, Ambassador Petritsch of Austria was designated as the President of the First Review Conference of the Mine Ban Treaty. Austria decided not to retain any antipersonnel mines for training and development. From 1999 to 2003, Austria provided about $6.67 million in mine action funding.

Bahamas

The Bahamas became a State Party on 1 March 1999.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh became the first South Asian country to ratify the Mine Ban Treaty on 6 September 2000, and it entered into force on 1 March 2001. Bangladesh established a National Committee on implementation of the treaty in August 2001. In its first Article 7 report, submitted one year late in August 2002, Bangladesh for the first time reported a stockpile of 204,227 antipersonnel mines. It plans to keep 15,000 mines for training, the fourth highest total of all States Parties. Bangladesh became co-rapporteur of the Standing Committee on Stockpile Destruction in September 2003. Bangladesh soldiers have been engaged in mine clearance in Kuwait and with the UN Mission in Eritrea and Ethiopia. In 2001, the Parliament adopted Bangladesh’s first comprehensive disability legislation. Since 1993, 64 people have been killed and 131 injured in reported landmine incidents. No new mine casualties have been reported since 2001.

Barbados

Barbados became a State Party on 1 July 1999.

Belarus

Belarus acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty on 3 September 2003 and the treaty entered into force on 1 March 2004. Even as a non-signatory, Belarus attended every annual Meeting of States Parties and intersessional meeting since September 2000. It has participated in numerous regional landmine meetings, and hosted landmine workshops in Minsk in March 2000 and December 2003. In January 2003, Belarus extended its export moratorium (in place since 1995) for five years. On 28 July 2003, Belarus completed the domestic steps necessary to accede to the Mine Ban Treaty with the approval of Presidential Decree 330. Belarus has destroyed some 300,000 antipersonnel mines since 1992. On 7 July 2004, Belarus and NAMSA signed a Memorandum of Understanding on stockpile destruction. In 2000, the UN Mine Action Service conducted an assessment of mine and UXO contamination in Belarus. From 1999-2003, Belarus cleared 4,732 mines and 46,227 UXO.

Belgium

Belgium was the first country to adopt a national prohibition on antipersonnel mines in 1995, and it became a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty on 1 March 1999. National implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty in Belgium was achieved by amending the 1995 legislation in 1999. Stockpile destruction was completed in September 1997, before entry into force of the Mine Ban Treaty; an estimated 440,000 antipersonnel mines were destroyed. From 1999 to 2003, Belgium provided an estimated $17 million in mine action funding, plus another $5.6 million for research projects. This includes about $3.29 million in funding for victim assistance.

Belgium has played a leadership role in the Mine Ban Treaty work program and in promoting universalization and full implementation of the treaty. Belgium served as co-rapporteur then co-chair of the Standing Committee on General Status and Operation of the Convention from May 1999 to September 2001. It served as co-rapporteur then co-chair of the Standing Committee on Mine Clearance from September 2001 to September 2003. Belgian Ambassador Jean Lint served as President of the Fourth Meeting of States Parties in September 2002 and chair of the Coordinating Committee until September 2003; he carried out extensive preparations for the first Review Conference in 2004. Belgium initiated and has coordinated the Article 7 Contact Group. In 2001–2002, Belgium chaired the donors’ Mine Action Support Group. No mine or UXO casualties have been reported in Belgium since 2000, when one person was killed and five others were injured by UXO.

Belize

Belize became a State Party on 1 March 1999. Belize did not submit required annual Article 7 reports from 2000-2003. Belize has formally declared that it is not mine-affected and that it has no stocks of antipersonnel mines. Belize’s national implementation legislation was published in the National Gazette on 10 January 2004.

Benin

Benin became a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty on 1 March 1999. In 2002, it created a national commission to oversee implementation of the treaty. It has not adopted national legal measures to implement the treaty. On 25 April 2002, it opened a regional demining training center, built with the assistance of France, for ECOWAS member states. In 2003, the center carried out five demining training courses for 80 military from 16 West African countries.

Bolivia

Bolivia became a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty on 1 March 1999. Bolivia submitted its initial Article 7 transparency report in November 1999, but has not issued any of the required annual updated reports. Bolivia has not enacted any legal implementation measures, as required by Article 9. In March 2001, Bolivia provided detailed information to Landmine Monitor on Chilean minefields near its border. In 2003, there were numerous incidents involving the use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).

Bosnia And Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina became a State Party on 1 March 1999. National legislation to implement the treaty has been delayed by political changes. BiH announced completion of destruction of its stockpile of 460,727 antipersonnel mines in November 1999. However, in 2003 SFOR found several hundred thousand antipersonnel mines among old munitions at military storage sites. Occasional use of antipersonnel mines has occurred in criminal or terrorist activities, and illegal stores of mines and other weaponry continue to be discovered. From 1998, when “Operation Harvest” began, through February 2004, 32,907 antipersonnel mines and large quantities of other munitions have been collected and destroyed by the SFOR.

BHMAC reported that from 1996, when official mine clearance started, through 2003, 45 square kilometers of land were cleared, including 32 square kilometers since 1999. From 1998 to 2003, general survey was conducted on 365 square kilometers of land. A national Landmine Impact Survey was carried out from October 2002 to December 2003. The mine incident rate has fallen from an average of 52 casualties per month in 1996, to eight per month in 1999, to 4.5 per month in 2003, to three per month in the first half of 2004. Since 1999, 435 new mine/UXO casualties were recorded.

Botswana

Botswana ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 1 March 2000 and became a State Party on 1 September 2000. It has not adopted national legal measures to implement the treaty. Botswana submitted an initial Article 7 report on 28 September 2001, but has not provided required annual updates since then.

Brazil

Brazil ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 30 April 1999 and it entered into force on 1 October 1999. On 31 October 2001, Brazil enacted national implementation legislation, Law 10.300. Brazil completed destruction of its stockpiled mines in January 2003, ahead of the October 2003 deadline. It is retaining 16,545 antipersonnel mines for training, the highest number of any State Party. Brazil has made important interpretive statements on antivehicle mines with sensitive fuzes and antihandling devices, joint military operations with non-States Parties, and foreign stockpiling and transit of antipersonnel mines. Brazil has participated in international humanitarian mine action efforts on a bilateral and multilateral basis; 60 percent of military officers serving with the MARMINCA demining program in Central America between 1994 and 2003 were Brazilian.

Bulgaria

Bulgaria became a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty on 1 March 1999. Sanctions for violations of the treaty were included in the penal code. Bulgaria completed destruction of a stockpile of 885,872 antipersonnel mines in December 2000, far in advance of the treaty deadline. Production ceased in 1998 and in April 2002, production facilities were reported to have been permanently decommissioned. Bulgaria originally intended to retain 10,446 antipersonnel mines, but later reduced this to 4,000. Bulgaria reported having one type of antivehicle mine capable of having an antihandling device and in February 2003, stated that production had been discontinued and that existing stocks were being destroyed. Bulgaria reported that there were 72 minefields on its territory, which had been laid during the Cold War. Clearance of all antipersonnel mines in mined areas was completed by 31 October 1999.

Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso was the fortieth country to ratify the Mine Ban Treaty, triggering its entry into force on 1 March 1999. The country adopted national implementation legislation in 2001, including penal sanctions. In January 2004, Burkina Faso organized a regional Mine Ban Treaty meeting as part of a series of events leading up to the 2004 Nairobi Summit.

Burundi

Burundi ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 22 October 2003 and the treaty entered into force for Burundi on 1 April 2004. There have been credible, though not confirmed, allegations of antipersonnel landmine use by government forces throughout the period. The government has strongly denied the charges. CNDD-FDD rebel forces have acknowledged using mines until December 2002. On 2 December 2002, the transitional government of Burundi and the CNDD-FDD signed a cease-fire agreement that prohibits all laying of mines by either party. It also contains obligations for marking and mapping of minefields, as well as mine clearance, but it did not appear that either side had begun this process by mid-2004. Burundi has declared a stockpile of 1,200 antipersonnel mines for training purposes only, but states that CNDD-FDD stocks will now have to be considered.

Cambodia

Cambodia ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 28 July 1999 and it entered into force on 1 January 2000. Treaty implementation legislation took effect 28 May 1999; the new law created the National Demining Regulatory Authority to coordinate activities related to the mine problem. In September 2000, a new coordinating body, the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority, was established. Although Cambodia declared in 1999 that it had destroyed all of its 71,991 stockpiled antipersonnel mines, thousands of stockpiled mines are newly discovered and destroyed each year.

Cambodia served as co-chair of the Standing Committee of Experts on Technologies for Mine Clearance from May 1999 to September 2001, and as co-rapporteur and then co-chair of the Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies from September 2002 to December 2004. Cambodia hosted a regional seminar “Building a Co-operative Future for Mine Action in South East Asia” in March 2003.

The Cambodia Landmine Impact Survey was completed in April 2002 and revealed that nearly half of all villages are either known or suspected to be contaminated by mines or UXO. Nearly 252 million square meters of land were cleared from 1992 to 2003, and more than 146 million square meters from 1999 to 2003. The Land Use Planning Unit was established in May 1999. The Cambodian Mine Action Center faced a funding crisis that resulted in the lay-off of most CMAC employees and the temporary closure of the bulk of demining operations in October 2000. Between 1999 and 2002, about 2.1 million people attended Mine Risk Education sessions.

Since 1999, more than 28,000 prostheses were produced and fitted—the majority for mine survivors. New programs to address the socio-economic reintegration of mine survivors and their families have been implemented. However, the number of physical rehabilitation centers declined from 15 in 1999 to eleven in 2004. Between 1999 and August 2004, 5,128 new mine/UXO casualties have been recorded in Cambodia. The mine/UXO casualty rate declined from an average of 12 new casualties a day in 1996, to three a day in 1999, to two a day from 2000 through 2003. However, in the first eight months of 2004 the rate increased again to an average of almost three casualties a day.

Cameroon

Cameroon ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 19 September 2002 and became a State Party on 1 March 2003. Before becoming a State Party, Cameroon submitted a voluntary Article 7 report on 14 March 2001. Cameroon destroyed 9,187 stockpiled antipersonnel mines in April 2003.

Canada

Canada was the first government to sign and ratify the Mine Ban Treaty. Since the Mine Ban Treaty was opened for signature in Ottawa on 3 December 1997, Canada has played a critical leadership role in promoting universalization and effective implementation of the treaty. It has been key to the development and execution of Mine Ban Treaty structures and processes. Canada served as the first co-chair of the Standing Committee on General Status and Operation of the Convention from May 1999 to September 2000, as co-rapporteur then co-chair of the Standing Committee on Victim Assistance and Socio-Economic Reintegration from September 2000 to September 2002, and as co-rapporteur of the Standing Committee on Stockpile Destruction since September 2003. It has devoted more time and resources to bringing additional countries on board the treaty than any other State Party, including by establishing and coordinating the Universalization Contact Group. It has sponsored regional meetings to promote the Mine Ban Treaty in Afghanistan, Armenia, Croatia, Malaysia, Mali, Mongolia, Poland, Thailand, Tunisia, Ukraine, and elsewhere. Canada has also taken the lead in facilitating discussions regarding compliance matters. It has provided assistance for stockpile destruction in numerous countries. Canada has championed the government-NGO partnership that has characterized the Ottawa Process and Mine Ban Treaty work program. Canada provided about C$134 million (US$90.7 million) to mine action from 1999-2003. In November 2002, the Canadian Landmine Fund was renewed with a five-year funding commitment.

Cape Verde

Cape Verde ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 14 May 2001 and it entered into force on 1 November 2001. Cape Verde has not submitted its initial Article 7 transparency report, due by 30 April 2002.

Central African Republic

The Central African Republic acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty on 8 November 2002 and became a State Party on 1 May 2003. Antivehicle landmines were reportedly used in October 2002 by opposition forces during an attempted military coup. Those opposition forces subsequently seized power in March 2003. The new government denies use of mines and has reaffirmed its adherence to the Mine Ban Treaty.

Chad

Chad became a State Party on 1 November 1999. It has no domestic implementation legislation in place. Chad destroyed its stockpile of 4,490 mines between October 2002 and January 2003, and retained none for training purposes. It destroyed another 207 newly discovered stockpiled mines in August 2003. A Landmine Impact Survey was conducted in 1999-2001. The High Committee for National Demining was created in 1998 and restructured in 2003. In June 2002, Chad developed a “National Strategic Plan to Fight Mines and UXO: 2002-2015.” According to the HCND, from September 2000 to March 2004, 1,069,402 square meters of mined land and 1,890,681 square meters of battle areas were cleared, destroying 4,902 antipersonnel mines, 3,753 antivehicle mines, and 59,423 pieces of UXO. Until 2004, mine risk education was only conducted occasionally with clearance activities. Chad has no systematic casualty data collection system and has no concrete survivor assistance programs.

Chile

Chile ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 10 September 2001, becoming a State Party on 1 March 2002. Chile completed destruction of its stockpile of 299,219 antipersonnel mines in August 2003, more than two and a half years before its deadline. It revised downward the number of antipersonnel mines retained for training from 28,647 to 6,245 mines. The National Demining Commission, officially constituted on 19 August 2002, issued a National Demining Plan on 10 January 2003. Humanitarian demining commenced in August 2004. Landmine Monitor fieldwork has produced new information on mined areas and revealed problems with inadequate fencing and warning signs in some areas. Since 1999, there have been at least 13 new mine/UXO casualties in Chile.

Colombia

Colombia ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 6 September 2000, becoming a State Party on 1 March 2001. National implementation legislation, Law 759, came into effect on 25 July 2002. In November 1999, Colombia’s antipersonnel mine production facilities were destroyed. Colombia began destroying its stockpile of 20,312 landmines in June 2003. Colombia served as co-rapporteur then co-chair of the Standing Committee on Victim Assistance and Socioeconomic Reintegration from September 2001 to September 2003. On 8 October 2001, the government established a commission (CINAMA) to coordinate mine action and oversee implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty. The government’s Antipersonnel Mine Observatory became operational in 2001. A National Mine Action Plan was approved on 27 February 2003. In March 2003, Colombia and the Organization of American States signed an Agreement on Cooperation and Technical Assistance for mine action. There is no systematic humanitarian demining underway, but mine risk education activities have expanded. Guerrilla groups, most notably the FARC, have used antipersonnel mines throughout the period; the government reports significant increases in use in 2003 and 2004. The number of mine-affected municipalities increased from 125 in 1999 to 422 in 2003. Between 1999 and 2003, the Observatory registered 1,753 new mine casualties. The number of reported new casualties has increased significantly since 1999, with 235 percent more casualties reported in 2002 than 2001.

Comoros

Comoros acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty on 19 September 2002, and became a State Party on 1 March 2003. It reports that it is not mine-affected, and that it has never produced, transferred, or used antipersonnel mines, and has no stockpile of the weapon, including for training.

Democratic Republic Of Congo

There was widespread use of antipersonnel mines until 2001. DRC government forces and rebel RCD forces have acknowledged past use of antipersonnel mines, and Landmine Monitor has cited credible allegations of use of antipersonnel mines in the DRC by the forces of the governments of Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, as well as at least seven rebel groups. Smaller-scale use has continued by rebel groups in 2002, 2003 and 2004. Landmine Monitor has not received any allegations of mine use by government forces in the past three years.

The DRC acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty on 2 May 2002. A National Commission to Fight Antipersonnel Mines was created on 6 May 2002. A domestic implementation law has been drafted. As of mid-2004, there was no stockpile destruction plan, no national mine action plan, and no mine risk education plan.

The UN Mine Action Coordination Center was established in February 2002. It has registered 366 dangerous areas. In 2002 and 2003, Handicap International reported destroying 1,660 antipersonnel mines and 119 antivehicle mines from rebel stockpiles. HI conducted a series of landmine impact surveys in various parts of the country in 2002 and 2003. Between 1999 and 2003, about 106,000 people attended mine risk education sessions. In 2002, UNMACC began collecting data on mine/UXO casualties for entry into an IMSMA database. UNMACC has recorded 780 new mine/UXO casualties since 1999. In 2002, HI started a three-year project to strengthen the capacity of the Rehabilitation Center for the Physically Handicapped (CRHP) and improve the quality of treatment.

Republic of Congo

The Republic of Congo acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty on 4 May 2001 and became a State Party on 1 November 2001. Implementation legislation was reportedly drafted in 2002, but is still not in place. In September 2003, the Republic of Congo destroyed its stockpile of 5,136 antipersonnel mines, retaining 372 for training purposes. It hosted a workshop on implementation of the treaty and mine action in Brazzaville in May 2003.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 17 March 1999 and it entered into force on 1 September 1999. Costa Rica was declared mine-free on 10 December 2002, nearly seven years prior to its treaty deadline. Costa Rican deminers destroyed a total of 341 landmines and UXO and cleared 131,903 square meters of land between 1996 and December 2002, according to the IADB. National implementation legislation, “Prohibition of Antipersonnel Mines,” took effect on 17 April 2002. Costa Rica submitted its initial Article 7 report in September 2001, more than one and a half years late, and has not submitted annual updates in 2003 or 2004. The initial report confirmed that Costa Rica has no stockpile of antipersonnel mines.

Côte D'ivoire

Côte d'Ivoire ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 30 June 2000, and became a State Party on 1 December 2000. It submitted its initial Article 7 report three years late on 27 May 2004. It has not enacted national legal measures to implement the treaty. In August 2001, Côte d'Ivoire hosted a national seminar on the Mine Ban Treaty and the ECOWAS moratorium on small arms.

Croatia

Croatia became a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty in March 1999. Croatia has played an active role in the global effort to ban antipersonnel mines for many years, hosting regional landmine conferences in Zagreb in June 1999 and Dubrovnik in October 2002. Croatia completed destruction of its stockpile of almost 200,000 antipersonnel mines in October 2002, well in advance of the treaty deadline of 1 March 2003. Stockpile destruction has included 20,000 mines collected from civilians under the “Farewell to Arms” program. Initially, Croatia announced that it would retain 17,500 antipersonnel mines, but in December 2000 reduced this to approximately 7,000. Croatia served as co-rapporteur then co-chair of the Standing Committee on Stockpile Destruction from September 2000 to September 2002. It has served as co-rapporteur then co-chair of the Standing Committee on Victim Assistance and Socio-Economic Reintegration from September 2002 until December 2004. National legislation implementing the Mine Ban Treaty, in preparation since late 2000, has still not been adopted, although penal sanctions for violations already exist in Croatian law. Antipersonnel mines have occasionally been used in criminal activities in Croatia. Croatia became a party to CCW Amended Protocol II in October 2002.

Since 1999, approximately 444 square kilometers of mine-affected and mine-suspected land has been released to the community through survey reduction (about 70 percent) and clearance (about 30 percent). Since 1999, approximately $160 million has been expended on mine action by CROMAC. CROMAC recorded 160 new mine/UXO casualties between 1999 and July 2004. In October 2001, the Croatian Mine Victims Association was established.

Cyprus

Cyprus ratified the Mine Ban Treaty in January 2003 and became a State Party on 1 July 2003. In 2002, the National Guard completed the clearance of two minefields outside the buffer zone, in the area of Pyla, totaling 36,000 square meters. It was reported in 2003 that in the last two years, the National Guard had destroyed 11,000 mines of various types in minefields. In June 2002, the UN Mine Action Service carried out an assessment of the mine situation in Cyprus.

Czech Republic

The Czech Republic ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 26 October 1999 and became a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty on 1 April 2000. National implementation legislation entered into force on 3 December 1999 and the criminal code was amended to provide penal sanctions for treaty violations. Destruction of the stockpile of 324,412 mines was completed on 15 June 2001, far in advance of the treaty deadline of 1 April 2004. Clearance of the former military area at Ralsko was completed in March 2004, and of the Mlada area in June 2000. In May 2003 and May 2001, Czech PD-Mi-PK antivehicle mines in tripwire-activation mode were offered for sale at an international arms fair, in possible violation of the Mine Ban Treaty. The Czech Republic stockpiles antivehicle mines with tilt rod fuzes, which the ICBL believes are prohibited by the Mine Ban Treaty.

Denmark

Denmark became a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty on 1 March 1999. No additional legal or administrative measures were deemed necessary for national implementation of the treaty beyond ratification. Stockpile destruction of 266,517 mines was completed in December 1999, well in advance of the treaty deadline of 1 March 2003. At the end of 2003, Denmark retained 2,058 antipersonnel mines for training purposes, less than half the amount originally planned. From 1999 to 2003, Denmark provided more than DKK338 million (about $57 million) in mine action funding. Mine action funding dropped 34 percent from 2001 to 2003.

Djibouti

Djibouti became a State Party on 1 March 1999. It declared itself "mine-safe" on 29 January 2004, after a total of 40,081 square meters of land had been cleared. The Djibouti Mine Action Center, a unit of the Djiboutian military, was inaugurated in February 2001. Djibouti submitted its initial Article 7 transparency report in January 2003, nearly three and one-half years late. Djibouti destroyed its stockpile of 1,118 antipersonnel mines on 2 March 2003, one day after its treaty-mandated deadline, keeping 2,996 mines for training purposes. In March 2004, Djibouti stated that it has drafted domestic implementation legislation. Djibouti has been active regionally, and hosted landmine meetings in November 2000 and February 2004, but has not attended any of the Meetings of States Parties, and few of the intersessional meetings.

Dominica

Dominica became a State Party on 1 September 1999.

Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic became a State Party on 1 December 2000.

Ecuador

Ecuador ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 29 April 1999 and became a State Party on 1 October 1999. Ecuador has not yet enacted national implementation legislation. It completed the destruction of its stockpile of 258,844 antipersonnel mines in January 2002, far in advance of the 1 October 2003 deadline. The number of mines retained for training purposes has been revised downwards from 16,000 to 4,000, and then to 2,000. In September 1999, Ecuador established a National Demining Center. In 2001, Ecuador and the Organization of American States signed a Framework Agreement for an Integrated Mine Action Program in Ecuador. A National Mine Clearance Plan for 2003-2004 was approved on 17 December 2002. Impact surveys and technical studies have been carried out since 2002 in a number of provinces. At the end of 2003, a total of 83,790 square meters of land had been cleared, destroying 4,342 antipersonnel mines and 59 antivehicle mines. Ecuador’s reporting on mined areas laid from 1995-1998 indicates that the country used antipersonnel mines after signing the Mine Ban Treaty in 1997.

El Salvador

El Salvador ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 27 January 1999 and the treaty entered into force on 1 July 1999. El Salvador has not enacted national legislative measures to implement the treaty. El Salvador submitted its initial Article 7 transparency report, due on 27 December 1999, on 31 August 2001. On 20 February 2003, El Salvador completed destruction of its stockpiled antipersonnel mines, ahead of its treaty-mandated deadline of 1 July 2003. In November 2001, an interagency committee on the Mine Ban Treaty was established, with responsibility for liaising with national and international organizations on demining and mine survivor rehabilitation. Although El Salvador has declared itself mine-free, during field research in September 2002, the International Demining Group identified 33 sites suspected of being affected by unexploded ordnance.

Equatorial Guinea

Equatorial Guinea became a State Party on 1 March 1999. It has not enacted national implementation measures. It has not submitted its initial Article 7 transparency report, due on 28 August 1999. It has not officially informed States Parties if it has complied with its obligation to have destroyed any stockpiled mines by 1 March 2003.

Eritrea

Eritrea acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty on 27 August 2001 and it entered into force on 1 February 2002. It has not enacted implementing legislation. Eritrea submitted its initial Article 7 report in September 2003 and declared it has no stockpiled landmines. During the 1998–2000 border conflict, Eritrean forces laid an estimated 240,000 mines, and Ethiopian forces laid an estimated 150,000 to 200,000 mines.

The United Nations Mission on Eritrea and Ethiopia Mine Action Coordination Center was established in August 2000, following the cessation of hostilities. It supported the development of the Eritrean Mine Action Program, as the coordinating body to oversee mine action, and the creation of a national demining NGO. Mine clearance and mine risk education activities increased greatly. In July 2002, the government unexpectedly re-structured mine action in Eritrea, replacing EMAP with the Eritrean Demining Authority, creating Eritrean Demining Operations as the national demining implementing agency, and expelling most international mine action groups. This resulted in a temporary cessation of mine action activities.

A national Landmine Impact Survey began in May 2002, and fieldwork was completed in June 2004. United Nations demining support for the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission began in late 2002. The EDO began demining operations in December 2003. From 2001 to 28 September 2004, UNMEE MACC coordinated the clearance of 47 million square meters of land and 3,946 kilometers of roads, including the destruction of 7,225 mines and 54,620 pieces of unexploded ordnance in the TSZ and adjacent areas.

In April 2003, the Ministry of Labor and Human Welfare endorsed the victim assistance strategic plan for 2002-2006. As of 28 September 2004, UNMEE MAC had recorded 257 mine incidents resulting in 402 casualties (111 people killed and 291 injured) since 2000.

Estonia

Estonia acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty on 12 May 2004. Estonia has stated on several occasions that it has not produced or exported antipersonnel mines and that it does not possess significant quantities in stockpiles. Export and transit of antipersonnel mines have been banned since 1999. The Estonian Rescue Board estimates that hundreds of thousands of landmines and items of UXO remain in Estonia from the World Wars I and II. From 1999 to 2003, a total of 10,494 items of unexploded ordnance have been found and destroyed in Estonia. Mine/UXO risk education is a compulsory part of the school curriculum. Estonian EOD teams were in Afghanistan from July 2002 to December 2003. From 1999 to 2003, 77 mine and UXO casualties were reported in Estonia.

Fiji

Fiji became a State Party on 1 March 1999.

France

France became a State Party on 1 March 1999. National implementing legislation, which includes penal sanctions, was previously enacted on 8 July 1998. France completed destruction of its stockpile of 1.4 million antipersonnel mines on 20 December 1999. In January 1999, France created the position of Ambassador for Mine Action, and CNEMA, the National Commission for the Elimination of Antipersonnel Mines, became operational in June 1999. France has played a prominent role in promoting universalization and implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty, with a special focus on compliance issues. It has been actively involved in the intersessional process. From May 1999 to September 2000, it was co-chair of the Standing Committee on Technologies for Mine Clearance. It served as co-rapporteur and then co-chair of the Standing Committee on Victim Assistance and Socio-Economic Reintegration from September 2001 to September 2003. It has promoted multilingualism in the intersessional process. France has been prominent among the States Parties opposed to the effort to reach a common understanding on Article 2 and antivehicle mines with sensitive fuzes. From 1999 to 2002, France provided about $10.9 million in mine action funding, excluding expenditures on research and development. This total included about $650,000 in funding for mine victim assistance.

Gabon

Gabon ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 8 September 2000 and became a State Party on 1 March 2001. Gabon reported that it destroyed its stockpile of 1,082 antipersonnel mines before the Mine Ban Treaty entered into force for the country. Gabon submitted its initial Article 7 transparency report more than one year late in September 2002, and has not provided required annual updates in 2003 and 2004.

The Gambia

The Gambia ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 23 September 2002 and the treaty entered into force for the country on 1 March 2003. Although the Gambia submitted a voluntary Article 7 report in August 2002, it has not submitted its initial transparency report since becoming a State Party, due 27 August 2003.

Germany

Germany became a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty on 1 March 1999. Prior to that, Germany completed destruction of its stockpile of 1.7 million antipersonnel mines by December 1997, and enacted national legislation implementing the Mine Ban Treaty in July 1998. Germany served as co-rapporteur of the Standing Committee on Mine Action Technologies from May 1999 to September 2000, as co-rapporteur of the Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education, and Related Technologies from September 2000 to September 2001, and co-chair of that committee from September 2001 to September 2002. Germany has been prominent among the States Parties opposed to the effort to reach a common understanding on Article 2 and antivehicle mines with sensitive fuzes; yet, in June 2003 Germany stated that tripwires, breakwires and tilt rods cannot be recommended as methods of detonation for antivehicle mines. The US has more than 112,000 antipersonnel mines stockpiled in Germany, which Germany has declared are not under its jurisdiction or control. From 1999 to 2003, Germany provided governmental funding for mine action of approximately $80 million, including nearly $10 million in support for victim assistance.

Ghana

Ghana ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 30 June 2000 and became a State Party on 1 December 2000. It submitted its initial Article 7 report more than one year late in July 2002, and declared that it is not mine-affected and has no stockpile of mines, even for training.

Greece

Greece ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 25 September 2003, the same day as Turkey in accordance with an April 2001 agreement between the two countries. From 2000–2002, Greece cleared 3.7 million square meters of mined land. Greece completed clearance of its border with Bulgaria in December 2001. Greece intends to maintain defensive minefields on the border with Turkey, so it is removing antipersonnel mines from the existing mixed minefields, and replacing them with antivehicle mines. In 1999–2003, Greece provided more than $7.3 million in mine action funding. Since 1999, at least 67 foreign nationals have been killed or injured by landmines in Greece. In 2003, 12 new landmine casualties (ten killed and two injured) were reported.

Grenada

Grenada became a State Party on 1 March 1999.

Guatemala

Guatemala ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 26 March 1999 and it entered into force on 1 September 1999. A domestic ban had already been enacted in 1997, and Guatemala declared it never stockpiled antipersonnel mines. Guatemala submitted its initial Article 7 transparency report, due by 27 February 2000, on 2 March 2001. Guatemala served as co-rapporteur of the Standing Committee on Stockpile Destruction from September 2002 to September 2003 and as co-chair since then. Clearance operations were reported completed in the departments of Quetzaltenango, Retalhuleu and Totonicapán in October 2003, in the San Marcos department in December 2002, in El Quiché department in June 2001, and in Ixcán in January 2000. Between 1998 and March 2004, a total of 4,011 mines and UXO were cleared and destroyed. From 2000-2003, mine risk education was provided to more than 300,800 people.

Guinea

Guinea became a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty on 1 April 1999. Guinea failed to meet its stockpile destruction deadline of 1 April 2003, destroying its 3,174 antipersonnel mines from September-November 2003. Guinea submitted its initial Article 7 report nearly five years late.

Guinea-Bissau

Guinea-Bissau ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 22 May 2001 and it entered into force on 1 November 2001. From June 2000 to July 2004, some 720,000 square meters of land were cleared of 2,527 antipersonnel mines, 60 antivehicle mines and 28,000 UXO. Mine risk education has been provided to some 24,000 people outside the capital and 55,000 in Bissau. The National Mine Action Coordination Center (CAAMI) was established in March 2001, and the National Commission for Humanitarian Demining in September 2001. A National Mine Action Plan 2001/2004 (PAAMI) was developed. The Education Program to Prevent Accidents involving Mines (PEPAM) was established in November 2000 to provide mine risk education and victim assistance. The NGO HUMAID began mine clearance in June 2000 and a second NGO, LUTCAM, began demining in February 2003. Guinea-Bissau destroyed 4,711 stockpiled antipersonnel mines in February 1998, and another 1,000 in September 2002, leaving nearly 4,000 to be destroyed before November 2005. A countrywide survey on mine/UXO casualties was launched in 2002, and has identified 665 mine/UXO survivors as of July 2004.

Guyana

Guyana ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 5 August 2003 and it entered into force on 1 February 2004. Guyana attended its first Meeting of States Parties in September 2003 and its first intersessional meetings in June 2004.

Holy See

The Holy See became a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty on 1 March 1999.

Honduras

Honduras became a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty on 1 March 1999. National implementation legislation took effect on 29 June 2000. On 2 November 2000, Honduras destroyed its stockpile of 7,441 antipersonnel mines, except for 826 mines retained for training purposes. Honduras served as co-rapporteur then co-chair of the Standing Committee on Victim Assistance and Socio-Economic Reintegration from September 2000 to September 2002. Honduras completed mine clearance throughout the country in June 2004. Honduras reported that a total of approximately 447,000 square meters of affected land had been cleared since 1995. An estimated 65,000 Honduran families have benefited from the mine clearance program, which has returned some 1,500 square kilometers to agricultural productivity.

Hungary

Hungary became a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty on 1 March 1999. Previously, national legislation implementing the Mine Ban Treaty entered into force on 7 March 1998. In June 1999, Hungary completed destruction of its antipersonnel mine stockpile. Hungary has withdrawn from service its 400,000 UKA-63 antivehicle mines, which have tilt-rod fuzes allowing them to function like an antipersonnel mine. By the end of 2003, 40,000 had been destroyed. Hungary served as co-chair of the Standing Committee on Stockpile Destruction from May 1999 to September 2000.

Iceland

Iceland ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 5 May 1999 and became a State Party on 1 November 1999. National implementation legislation was enacted on 7 May 2001. Iceland has never produced, stockpiled or used antipersonnel mines, and is not mine-affected. Iceland has provided funding and other assistance for mine survivors in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Ireland

Ireland became a State Party in March 1999. Ireland has taken national measures to implement the treaty, but has not adopted penal sanctions for treaty violations in military operations. From 1999 to 2003, Ireland provided about $8.5 million in mine action funding; this included about $2.1 million in funding for mine victim assistance.

Italy

Italy became a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty on 1 October 1999. Parliament had already approved a national law banning antipersonnel mines in October 1997. Italy possessed a stockpile of 7.1 million antipersonnel mines, substantially larger than any other EU member. The destruction program began in February 1999 and was completed in November 2002. Italy served as co-rapporteur then co-chair of the Standing Committee on Stockpile Destruction from September 2002 to December 2004. Italian funding of mine action from 1999–2003 totaled about €27.1 million ($26.3 million); of this, victim assistance projects received about $4.5 million. Italy established a Trust Fund for Humanitarian Demining in 2001.

Jamaica

Jamaica became a State Party on 1 March 1999.

Japan

Japan became a State Party on 1 March 1999. Japan exceeded its five-year mine action funding pledge, contributing ¥10.48 billion (US$92.6 million) from 1998-2002. In February 2003, Japan completed destruction of 985,089 stockpiled antipersonnel mines. It decided to retain 15,000 antipersonnel mines for training and research purposes, one of the highest number of mines retained by any State Party. Between 1999 and the end of 2003, Japan consumed 6,641 of these mines. Japan served as co-rapporteur and then co-chair of the Standing Committee on Victim Assistance from May 1999 to September 2001, and of the Standing Committee on Mine Clearance from September 2002 to December 2004. Japan has been prominent among the States Parties opposed to the efforts to reach common understandings on Articles 1, 2, and 3.

Jordan

Jordan became a State Party on 1 May 1999. Jordan began destruction of its stockpile of 92,342 antipersonnel mines in September 1999 and concluded in April 2003. A National Demining and Rehabilitation Committee was established by royal decree in 2000. Between 1993 and June 2004, demining operations cleared 11.81 million square meters of land, destroying 59,461 antipersonnel mines and 42,099 antivehicle mines from 183 minefields. Deminers from the Royal Engineering Corps deployed to Afghanistan in December 2002. Since 1999, there have been at least 57 new mine/UXO casualties in Jordan. As of June 2004, there had been at least 529 mine casualties in Jordan. The Landmine Survivors Network started a program in Jordan in April 1999.

Kenya

Kenya ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 23 January 2001 and the treaty entered into force on 1 July 2001. Kenya submitted its initial Article 7 transparency report on 27 December 2001. Kenya served as co-rapporteur and then co-chair of the Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies from September 2001 to September 2003. Kenya completed destruction of its stockpile of antipersonnel mines in August 2003, well in advance of its deadline. It has drafted national implementation legislation. Kenya has been active regionally on the landmine issue. In response to demands from the local population, the Kenyan military in 2002 began some risk education in areas contaminated with unexploded ordnance. The British Army and Kenyan military carried out joint UXO clearance operations in 2001 and 2002. Kenya will host the First Review Conference of the Mine Ban Treaty in November/December 2004.

Kiribati

Kiribati acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty on 7 September 2000 and became a State Party on 1 March 2001.

Lesotho

Lesotho became a State Party on 1 June 1999. It has declared that it is not mine-affected and has no stock of antipersonnel mines. It has not submitted required annual updated Article 7 reports, including in 2004.

Liberia

Liberia acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty on 23 December 1999 and it entered into force on 1 June 2000. Liberia has not adopted national measures to implement the treaty, as required by Article 9, nor has it submitted annual transparency reports, as required by Article 7. Liberia’s deadline under Article 4 for destruction of all stockpiled mines was 1 June 2004, but Liberia has not formally notified States Parties of its compliance with this requirement. It appears that antipersonnel mines were not used in Liberia's second civil war (1999-August 2003). No systematic humanitarian mine clearance or mine risk education has been carried out in Liberia. Landmine Monitor has identified no reports of landmine casualties in Liberia since 2000.

Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 5 October 1999 and became a State Party to on 1 April 2000. National implementation legislation was passed by Parliament on 9 September 1999. Liechtenstein declares that it has never produced, stockpiled or used antipersonnel mines, and is not mine-affected. Liechtenstein has reported that its contributions to mine action from 1996-2001 totaled more than $250,000.

Lithuania

Lithuania ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 12 May 2003 and became a State Party on 1 November 2003. It completed stockpile destruction in June 2004, after initially indicating it would retain all of its stocks for training purposes. In 2002, Lithuania voluntarily submitted an Article 7 transparency report. Since 1992, 181,000 items of UXO have been destroyed. Planned clearance of UXO-contaminated areas started in 2002, and on average, 250,000 square meters have been checked and cleared each year.

Luxembourg

Luxembourg ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 14 June 1999 and became a State Party on 1 December 1999. National legislation implementing the Mine Ban Treaty entered into force on 1 December 1999. Prior to ratification, Luxembourg destroyed its stockpile of 9,600 antipersonnel mines from April 1996 to August 1997. From 1999 to 2003, Luxembourg provided more than $3.8 million in mine action funding, including more than $750,000 in funding for mine victim assistance. Another $2.2 million has been donated to Handicap International Luxembourg for projects that include assistance to mine victims.

Macedonia (Former Yugoslav Republic Of)

FYR Macedonia became a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty on 1 March 1999. The government has stated that actions in violation of the treaty are covered by existing criminal law. Stockpile destruction was completed on 20 February 2003, just before the treaty deadline. A total of 38,921 antipersonnel mines were destroyed. FYR Macedonia has decided to retain 4,000 mines, instead of the 50 it originally declared. Ethnic Albanian insurgents used mines in the 2001 conflict in the region bordering Kosovo. Article 7 reports submitted by FYR Macedonia have provided no data on the location of mined areas or on mine clearance programs. The United Nations established a Mine Action Office in September 2001. The UN originally planned to complete mine/UXO clearance in all affected areas in 2002, but clearance operations continued in 2004. From September 2001 through December 2003, approximately 6.7 million square meters of suspected mine/UXO-affected land in northwest FYR Macedonia were cleared. From January 2001 to December 2002, 42 mine/UXO casualties were recorded in the UNMAO database, of whom 15 were killed. The majority of reported incidents are attributed to antivehicle mines.

Madagascar

Madagascar ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 16 September 1999 and became a State Party on 1 March 2000. It submitted its initial Article 7 report, due by 28 August 2000, on 20 June 2001, and has not provided required annual updates since. It declared that it does not have a stockpile of antipersonnel mines.

Malawi

Malawi became a State Party on 1 March 1999. Malawi has not enacted legal measures to implement the treaty, but stated in 2004 that national legislation is under consideration. Malawi submitted its initial Article 7 Report, due on 28 August 1999, on 9 April 2003. It stated that Malawi has no stockpile of live antipersonnel mines, even for training purposes. It acknowledged suspected mined areas along the border with Mozambique. Malawi states it has the capacity but not the resources to conduct mine clearance. Limited mine risk education has been carried out in affected parts of the country. From 1986 to 2003, landmines killed at least 41 people and injured around 1,000 others.

Malaysia

Malaysia ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 22 April 1999 and the treaty entered into force on 1 October 1999. Malaysia’s domestic mine ban legislation, the Anti-Personnel Mines Convention Implementation Act (Act 603), took effect on 25 June 2000. Malaysia destroyed its stockpile of 94,721 antipersonnel mines from 15-23 January 2001, and has chosen not to retain any mines for training purposes. Malaysia has been very active in promoting universalization and full implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty, especially in Southeast Asia. It served as co-rapporteur and then co-chair of the Standing Committee on Stockpile Destruction from May 1999 to September 2001. Malaysia hosted a regional seminar on stockpile destruction in August 2001. In 2004, Malaysia is serving as one of the “Friends of the President” for the President-designate of the First Review Conference. The Malaysian Armed Forces have conducted a number of surveys since 2001 and found no mines in formerly affected areas on the Thai border.

Maldives

Maldives ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 7 September 2000 and became a State Party on 1 March 2001. Maldives has not reported the adoption of any national implementation measures.

Mali

Mali became a State Party on 1 March 1999. It destroyed its stockpiled antipersonnel mines in 1998, even before the Mine Ban Treaty entered into force. Mali adopted national implementation measures in 2000. Mali hosted an Africa-wide regional conference on the Mine Ban Treaty in Bamako in February 2001. An inter-ministerial commission was created in June 2002 to take responsibility for the mine issue.

Malta

Malta ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 7 May 2001 and became a State Party on 1 November 2001. Malta has declared that it has never produced, stockpiled or used antipersonnel mines, and is not mine-affected. Legislation to implement the treaty in Malta was enacted on 27 April 2001. Malta joined CCW Amended Protocol II on 24 September 2004.

Mauritania

Mauritania ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 21 July 2001 and became a State Party on 1 January 2001. Domestic implementation legislation was drafted in 2001, but has not been enacted. In 2001-2002, Mauritania destroyed 16,168 stockpiled mines. Instead of keeping its remaining 5,728 mines for training, Mauritania decided to destroy all but 728. The National Humanitarian Demining Office has been operational since April 2000, but was officially created in June 2002. A National Commission in charge of the mine issue and implementation of the treaty was created in July 2002. The Mines Advisory Group carried out an assessment mission in December 2001, and UNMAS in 2002. HAMAP-Deminers conducted a survey in Nouadhibou in February-March 2003. Minefield and battle area clearance reportedly freed 1.41 million square meters of land in 1999-2000. At least ten people were killed and nine injured in reported landmine incidents since 1999. In 1999, the Federation of the Specific National Associations of Disabled People was established to represent persons with disabilities.

Mauritius

Mauritius became a State Party in March 1999. It enacted domestic implementation legislation in April 2001. It submitted its initial Article 7 report in May 2002, nearly three years late. It destroyed its stockpile of 93 antipersonnel mines in November 2003.

México

México became a State Party on 1 March 1999. México has played an important role in the development of the Mine Ban Treaty work program, and in promoting full and effective implementation of the treaty. México served as the first co-chair of the Standing Committee on Victim Assistance from May 1999 to September 2000. It has served as co-rapporteur, then co-chair of the Standing Committee on the General Status and Operation of the Convention since September 2002. It hosted, with Canada, the region’s first seminar on antipersonnel landmines in January 1999 in México City. México, along with Canada and the Pan American Health Organization, implemented the tripartite Victim Assistance in Central America program between 1999 and 2003.

Moldova

Moldova ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 8 September 2000 and it entered into force on 1 March 2001. In November 2002, Moldova completed the destruction of its stockpile of 12,892 antipersonnel mines, far ahead of the March 2005 deadline. Moldova has declared that, for the purposes of the Mine Ban Treaty, it is not mine-affected. It reports that it completed destruction of all antipersonnel mines in mined areas under its jurisdiction or control in August 2000. Between May and August 2000, 850,000 square meters of land were cleared. This followed humanitarian demining training from the US in 1999 and 2000. However, Moldova is still affected by mines and unexploded ordnance left over from World War II and from the Transdniester conflict of 1992.

Monaco

Monaco became a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty on 1 May 1999. Monaco has declared that it has never produced, stockpiled or used antipersonnel mines, and is not mine-affected. National legislation implementing the Mine Ban Treaty was passed on 30 August 1999.

Mozambique

Mozambique ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 25 August 1998 and the treaty entered into force on 1 March 1999. Mozambique hosted the First Meeting of States Parties in May 1999. It served as co-chair of the first Standing Committee of Experts on Mine Clearance in 1999 and 2000. The National Demining Institute (IND) was established in 1999 to coordinate all mine action in Mozambique, succeeding a troubled National Demining Commission. In November 2001, the IND produced its first Five Year National Mine Action Plan for 2002-2006, which sets the goal of a “mine-impact free” Mozambique within ten years.

A national Landmine Impact Survey (LIS) was carried out from March 2000 to August 2001. The survey identified 1,374 suspected mined areas in all ten provinces, covering an estimated 558 square kilometers, in 791 communities with a combined population of nearly 1.5 million. In April 2003, the IND reported it had re-evaluated information from the Landmine Impact Survey and decided to reduce its estimate of mined areas by 38 percent, to 346 million square meters. In 2003, HALO Trust reported that it re-surveyed 433 of the suspected mined areas covered by the LIS in the four northern provinces and found that the LIS overestimated the landmine impact for much of northern Mozambique, but that is had failed to identify many mined areas.

According to the IND, between 1997 and 2003, a total of 35.6 million square meters of land was cleared, destroying 29,158 antipersonnel mines, 68 antivehicle mines, and 4,514 UXO. Mozambique completed destruction of its stockpile of 37,818 antipersonnel mines on 28 February 2003. It is retaining 1,470 mines for training purposes, instead of zero as it previously reported. Since 1999, 254 new landmine casualties were reported, dropping to a low of 14 in 2003, but increasing significantly to 24 in the first seven months of 2004.

Namibia

Namibia became a State Party on 1 March 1999. It has not enacted domestic implementation legislation, but reported in 2004 that it plans to do so. Namibia submitted its initial Article 7 transparency report nearly five years late, in July 2004. Namibia’s treaty-mandated deadline for stockpile destruction was 1 March 1999; it did not inform States Parties that it had met this obligation (in 1998) until 2004. Angolan UNITA rebels and Angolan government troops used landmines inside Namibia, prior to the peace accords of 2002. Allegations of use by Namibian forces were not substantiated. The ICBL expressed concerns that Namibia could have been “assisting“ Angolan government troops with mine use during their joint military operations, which is a treaty violation, but Namibia denied such actions.

Upon completion of its work in Namibia in February 2001, the US commercial demining firm RONCO declared Namibia free of mines, except the area of conflict on the Angola border in the Kavango Region. The US reported that ten known minefields, 410 electric pylons and more than one million square meters of land had been cleared, and more than 5,000 mines and 1,300 UXO destroyed. The ICRC and partners initiated a new mine risk education project in Namibia in 2002. Since 1999, there has been a significant decrease in the number of reported mine/UXO casualties from 140 mine/UXO casualties in 2000, to 50 casualties in 2001, 19 in 2002, and 12 in 2003.

Nauru

Nauru became a State Party on 12 February 2001. It submitted its initial transparency report on 23 July 2004, confirming that it possesses no stockpiles and is not mine-affected.

The Netherlands

The Netherlands became a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty on 1 October 1999. As of April 2004, amendments to national legislation to implement the Mine Ban Treaty still were not finalized. Destruction of the stockpile of nearly 265,000 antipersonnel mines, which started in 1996, was completed by the end of 2002, well in advance of the treaty deadline. The Netherlands has played a leadership role in promoting universalization and full implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty. It served as co-rapporteur then co-chair of the Standing Committee on Mine Clearance from May 1999 to September 2001, as chair of the Mine Action Support Group in 2000-2001, and as co-rapporteur then co-chair of the Standing Committee on General Status and Operation of the Convention from September 2002 to December 2004. Ambassador Sanders of the Netherlands coordinated work in the CCW that resulted in agreement in November 2003 on a new protocol on explosive remnants of war. Since 1999, the Netherlands has contributed mine action funding totaling about $65 million, including about $5.8 million in funding for mine victim assistance.

New Zealand

The Mine Ban Treaty entered into force for New Zealand on 1 July 1999. New Zealand has been a highly active participant in the Mine Ban Treaty intersessional work program. It has also carried out significant international advocacy in support of the Mine Ban Treaty, particularly in promoting universalization in the Pacific region. New Zealand has taken a strong position that there is no need to retain antipersonnel mines for training purposes. New Zealand provided NZ$8 million to mine action from 1999 to 2003, with both financial and in-kind contributions.

Nicaragua

The Mine Ban Treaty entered into force for Nicaragua on 1 May 1999. National implementation legislation was signed into law on 7 December 1999. Nicaragua destroyed its stockpile of 133,435 antipersonnel mines between April 1999 and August 2002, finishing well in advance of its treaty-mandated deadline of May 2003. Nicaragua hosted and was President of the Third Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty in September 2001 and served as Chair of the Coordinating Committee in 2001-2002. Nicaragua served as co-rapporteur then co-chair of the Standing Committee on Victim Assistance and Socio-Economic Reintegration from May 1999 to September 2001. It assumed the role of co-rapporteur of that committee again in September 2003.

Nicaragua completed clearance of its border with Costa Rica in September 2002. In March 2003, Nicaragua reported the completion of mine clearance in the departments of Boaco, Chinandega, Chontales and Región Autónoma del Atlántico Sur. From 1990 to May 2004, a total of 3,800,928 square meters of land was cleared, destroying 107,556 mines and 555,339 UXO. Nicaragua has concluded mine clearance operations in fifty-eight municipalities, benefiting 1,979,675 inhabitants. In June 2004, Nicaragua reported that donors have contributed more than $30 million to the national demining plan, as well as significant in-kind support. The OAS reports that from 2001 to June 2004, 91,293 people received mine risk education in Nicaragua. As of June 2004, the OAS had registered 753 landmine/UXO casualties in the country since 1980, of which 73 people were killed and 680 injured.

Niger

Niger ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 23 March 1999 and became a State Party on 1 September 1999. Niger has not enacted national legal implementation measures. Niger submitted its initial Article 7 transparency report in September 2002, more than two and one-half years late. In April 2003, Niger reported that it had destroyed a stock of 48 antipersonnel mines; it previously indicated it had no stockpile.

Nigeria

Nigeria acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty on 27 September 2001 and it entered into force on 1 March 2002. It has been more active regionally and internationally on the issue since that time. Nigeria submitted its initial Article 7 report almost two years late, on 22 June 2004. It has not yet adopted any legal national implementation measures. After initially indicating it had no antipersonnel mines, even for training purposes, Nigeria declared a stock of 3,364 mines, all of which will be retained. A massive explosion at an ammunition transit depot in Lagos in January 2002 created a significant UXO problem.

Niue

Niue became a State Party on 1 March 1999.

Norway

Norway hosted the Mine Ban Treaty negotiating conference in 1997 and became a State Party on 1 March 1999. National legislation implementing the Mine Ban Treaty had already entered into force on 22 May 1998. Norway has played a crucial leadership role in developing the Mine Ban Treaty structures and processes, and in promoting full implementation of the treaty. Norway took the lead in the conception and establishment of the intersessional work program in 1999, and the creation of the Coordinating Committee in 2000. Norway served as President of the Second Meeting of States Parties in September 2000 and presided over the intersessional program throughout the subsequent year. Norway served as co-rapporteur and then co-chair of the Standing Committee on General Status and Operation of the Convention from September 2000 to September 2002. Norway was instrumental in setting up the Implementation Support Unit in 2001. At Norway’s initiative, a contact group on resource mobilization was established at the Fourth Meeting of States Parties in September 2002; Norway continues to chair the group. Norway became co-rapporteur of the Standing Committee on Victim Assistance in September 2003.

Norway destroyed its stockpiled antipersonnel mines in 1996, except for Claymore-type mines, which were modified by December 1999 to ensure command-detonation only. Norway finds no need to retain any mines for training and development. Norway reported that US antipersonnel mines stored in Norway were transported out in 2002.

From 1999 to 2003, Norway allocated about $115 million to mine action funding. Landmine Monitor estimates that Norway allocated nearly $19 million to victim assistance in 1999–2003. In 2002, Norway’s five-year commitment of $120 million to mine action activities came to an end, but officials have given assurances that the same level of support would be upheld in the future.

Panamá

Panamá became a State Party on 1 April 1999. Panamá has formally declared that it has never produced or exported antipersonnel mines, that it holds no stockpile, and that it is not mine-affected. Systematic clearance of the unexploded ordnance problem resulting from US military exercises and weapons testing conducted in Canal Zone military ranges until 1997 has not yet begun. According to UNICEF Panamá, over 1,700 children have received UXO risk education.

Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty on 28 June 2004. It apparently possesses a small stockpile of Claymore-type mines for training purposes.

Paraguay

Paraguay became a State Party on 1 May 1999. It submitted its initial Article 7 transparency report more than two and a-half years late, and has not provided required annual updates in 2003 or 2004. It has declared that it is not mine-affected and has no stockpiles of antipersonnel mines.

Perú

Perú became a State Party on 1 March 1999. An inter-ministerial Working Group on Antipersonnel Mines was formalized in September 1999 to oversee implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty. No specific implementation legislation has been enacted. In December 2001, Perú completed destruction of its 338,356 stockpiled antipersonnel mines, far in advance of its March 2003 deadline. It has reduced the number of mines initially retained for training from 9,526 to 4,024. Perú has played a leadership role in the Mine Ban Treaty intersessional work program. Perú served as co-rapporteur then co-chair of the Standing Committee on Mine Clearance from May 1999 to September 2001, and as co-rapporteur then co-chair of the Standing Committee on General Status and Operation of the Convention from September 2001 to September 2003.

In May 2001, Perú and the Organization of American States signed an agreement to support integrated mine action in the country. On 13 December 2002, Perú officially created the Peruvian Center for Mine Action, “Contraminas,” responsible for mine action planning and policy-making. Perú reported that humanitarian clearance in the departments of Piura and Tumbes was completed in December 2003. In 2002, the Army completed mine clearance of the Zarumilla Canal, its source at La Palma, and the area leading to the international bridge at Aguas Verdes. Since 1999, there have been at least 55 mine/UXO casualties in Perú. In early 2003, the Association of Victims and Survivors of Landmines (AVISCAM) was created.

Philippines

The Philippines ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 15 February 2000 and it entered into force on 1 August 2000. Three landmine ban bills were tabled in the House from 2000-2003, but none were acted on. Three rebel groups have used antipersonnel mines or improvised explosive devices: New People’s Army, Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and Abu Sayyaf Group. Use by the MILF violated its written commitments to a mine ban in March 2000 and April 2002. Three rebel groups (MILF, the Revolutionary Workers Party of the Philippines/Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade, and the Revolutionary Workers Party of Mindanao/Revolutionary People’s Army) have signed the Geneva Call Deed of Commitment banning antipersonnel mines.

Portugal

Portugal became a State Party on 1 August 1999. In February 2002, Portugal stated that domestic implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty, including penal sanctions, is already accomplished by existing legislation. Stockpile destruction started in February 2002 after a number of delays. Destruction of 271,967 antipersonnel mines was completed in March 2003. The total stockpile number was revised twice in Portugal’s Article 7 reports, downward in 2002 and upward in 2003. Portugal reported in 2002 that it would retain 1,115 mines instead of the 3,523 mines it originally planned to keep. Portugal has provided few details on its mine action funding over the last five years.

Qatar

The Mine Ban Treaty entered into force for Qatar on 1 April 1999. Qatar has taken no national legal measures to implement the treaty. Qatar submitted its initial Article 7 transparency report, due by 27 September 1999, on 3 August 2002. It confirmed that Qatar is not mine-affected, has never used, produced or exported antipersonnel mines, and has no stockpile of live mines. Qatar has not formally stated if any US mines stored in the country fall under Qatar’s jurisdiction or control.

Romania

Romania ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 30 November 2000 and became a State Party on 1 May 2001. Implementing legislation was published on 4 December 2002; penal sanctions for treaty violations are said to be covered by the existing criminal law. Romania served as co-rapporteur then co-chair of the Standing Committee on Stockpile Destruction from September 2001 to September 2003. Romania completed destruction of more than one million stockpiled mines on 25 March 2004.

Rwanda

Rwanda became a State Party on 1 December 2000. It has not yet enacted domestic implementation legislation, although a government committee was created in July 2002 to draft such legislation. Rwanda submitted its first Article 7 transparency report, due by 30 May 2001, on 4 September 2001, indicating that it has no stockpile of antipersonnel mines. There were serious and credible allegations of Rwandan use of antipersonnel mines in the fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo, especially in the June 2000 battle for Kisangani. Rwanda denies any use. There have also been allegations that Rwanda has supplied antipersonnel mines and other types of assistance to RCD-Goma and UPC rebel forces in the DRC, who have admitted ongoing mine use.

An NDO assessment carried out from October 2002 to January 2003 determined that since 1995, 46 percent of Rwanda’s mined areas had been cleared. According to the NDO, from 1995 through 2003, a total 477,576 square meters of land was cleared. Mine risk education was carried out between 1995 and 2001, but there have been no MRE activities since, due largely to a lack of funding. From 1990 to June 2004, 659 mine/UXO casualties were recorded, including 275 people killed and 384 injured.

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Saint Kitts and Nevis became a State Party on 1 June 1999.

Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia became a State Party on 1 October 1999.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines became a State Party on 1 February 2002.

Samoa

Samoa became a State Party on 1 March 1999.

San Marino

San Marino became a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty on 1 March 1999.

São Tomé E Príncipe

São Tomé e Príncipe became a State Party on 1 September 2003, having ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 31 March 2003. It has not submitted its initial Article 7 transparency report, which was due on 28 February 2004.

Senegal

Senegal became a State Party on 1 March 1999. It has stated that the existing penal code provides sanctions for violations of the Mine Ban Treaty, but also indicated in June 2004 that new implementation legislation will be prepared. Senegal reported that it has no stockpile of antipersonnel mines, even for training purposes. In August 1999, a National Commission was created to oversee implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty. In 1999 and 2000, there were allegations that MFDC rebels were using antipersonnel mines in Casamance Province. Systematic mine clearance operations by the Army began in 2003. From the beginning of Handicap International’s mine risk education program in 1999 until July 2003, a total of 19,821 village mine risk education sessions took place, in 899 out of 1,272 villages. Handicap International maintains a database of mine and UXO casualties in Casamance, recording 651 mine/UXO casualties since 1996.

Serbia And Montenegro (Formerly Federal Republic Of Yugoslavia)

Serbia and Montenegro became a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty on 1 March 2004. In the conflict in Kosovo in 1999, Yugoslav forces reportedly laid at least 620 minefields and an estimated 50,000 mines; the KLA also used mines. Following the change of regime, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia announced its intention to accede to the Mine Ban Treaty, and on 20 June 2003, the Parliament passed legislation to accede. The delay was due in part to the constitutional restructuring of the country from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia into the new state of Serbia and Montenegro. The Mine Action Center for Serbia and Montenegro, formed in March 2002, has estimated that 39 million square meters of Serbia and Montenegro may be contaminated by mines, cluster submunitions and UXO. In January 2003, the Ministry of Defense disclosed that Serbia and Montenegro holds a stockpile of just over 1.3 million antipersonnel mines; Yugoslav military authorities also claimed that no antipersonnel mines have been produced, imported or exported since 1992. Since 2000, there have been mine incidents each year in southern Serbia, but it has been unclear if these represent new use by irregular anti-Serb forces.

Seychelles

Seychelles ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 2 June 2000, becoming a State Party on 1 December 2000. It submitted its initial Article 7 transparency report, due May 2001, on 14 April 2003. National implementation legislation was approved in March 2004.

Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 25 April 2001 and became a State Party on 1 October 2001. Sierra Leone destroyed its stockpile of 959 antipersonnel mines in February 2003. It submitted its initial Article 7 transparency report on 9 February 2004, nearly two years late. Sierra Leone has not reported the enactment of any national implementation measures, as required by Article 9. An UNMAS mission in 2000 concluded that there was only a small landmine problem in Sierra Leone, and that UXO presented a greater threat.

Slovakia

Slovakia became a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty on 1 August 1999. The government believes that existing penal codes provide sanctions for any violations of the treaty. Slovakia served as co-rapporteur then co-chair of the Standing Committee on Stockpile Destruction from May 1999 to September 2001. Slovakia started destruction of its stockpile of 187,060 antipersonnel mines in August 1999, and completed in 2000, well in advance of the treaty deadline. At the end of 2003, Slovakia retained 1,481 antipersonnel mines, a significant decrease from the 7,000 it originally intended to retain. In March 2000, Slovakia reported the voluntary destruction of its stocks of the PT-Mi-K antivehicle mine with an anti-lift firing mechanism. It is also destroying its antivehicle mines with tilt rods, and has banned antivehicle mines with tripwires and the Ro-3 antihandling device. Slovakia ratified CCW Amended Protocol II in November 1999.

Slovenia

Slovenia became a State Party on 1 April 1999. National implementation was achieved by administrative measures in December 1998 and April 1999, with penal sanctions provided by the existing penal code. Slovenia completed destruction of its stockpile of nearly 170,000 antipersonnel mines on 25 March 2003. Slovenia initially announced it would retain 7,000 antipersonnel mines, but later reduced this to 3,000. Slovenia has acknowledged possessing mines with tilt rods; the ICBL believes these are banned. In 1998, Slovenia set up the International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims Assistance to support mine action in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and later extended it to other mine-affected countries in South East Europe. The government has donated $3 million to the ITF. The ITF had raised more than $127 million from various sources and spent $111 million by end 2003, including $8 million to support victim assistance. Slovenia hosted the Third Regional Conference on Landmines in June 2000. Slovenia ratified Amended Protocol II of CCW in December 2002.

Solomon Islands

The Solomon Islands became a State Party on 1 July 1999. It submitted its initial transparency measures report on 11 February 2004.

South Africa

South Africa ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 26 June 1998 and the treaty entered into force on 1 March 1999. South Africa has played a leading role in the intersessional work program of the Mine Ban Treaty and in promoting universalization and full implementation of the treaty, especially in Africa. South Africa served as co-chair of the Standing Committee on the General Status and Operation of the Convention from May 1999 to September 2000, and as co-rapporteur of the same committee since September 2003. South Africa completed destruction of its stockpile of mines in October 1997. National implementation legislation was promulgated in December 2003. South African firms have been involved in mine clearance operations around the world, and in developing demining technology and equipment.

Spain

Spain became a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty on 1 July 1999. Legislation prohibiting antipersonnel mines was passed earlier in October 1998. Spain’s completed destruction of its stockpile of some 850,000 antipersonnel mines on 3 October 2000. Spain initially intended to retain 10,000 mines, but announced in May 2000 that this would be reduced to 4,000. In February 2000, the Ministry of Defense said that US antipersonnel mines stockpiled in Rota had been withdrawn. From 1999 to 2003, Spain contributed approximately $4.7 million to mine action. In September 2001, the International Demining Training Center was established, and it has expanded its activities since then.

Sudan

Sudan ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 13 October 2003 and the treaty entered into force on 1 April 2004. Every year since 1999 Landmine Monitor has reported serious allegations about use of antipersonnel mines by government forces, the SPLM/A and other rebel groups. The government has consistently denied any use, while SPLM/A has acknowledged some use. In October 2001, the SPLM/A signed the Geneva Call “Deed of Commitment” banning antipersonnel mines. Cease-fire agreements signed in January and October 2002 prohibit the use of landmines. Sudan ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 13 October 2003. The Nuba Mountains cease-fire agreement has been considered a model of cross-line mine action in Sudan. The Sudan Landmine Information and Response Initiative was formed in 2001. The UN established a National Mine Action Center in Khartoum in September 2002 and a Southern Sudan Mine Action Coordination Office in Rumbek in February 2003. Mine clearance and mine risk education activities expanded in 2002 and 2003, in the wake of the cease-fire agreements. A number of surveys and assessments have been carried out in both government and rebel areas. According to donor information, funding for mine action in Sudan has increased from a few hundred thousand dollars in 1999 and 2000, to $2.2 million in 2001, $5.1 million in 2002, and $9.5 million in 2003. In April 2003, the NMAO recruited a Victim Assistance Associate to develop a plan of action for victim assistance. NMAO has received incident reports on more than 2,667 mine/UXO casualties.

Suriname

Suriname ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 23 May 2002 and the treaty entered into force on 1 November 2002. On 9 May 2002 a seminar on implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty was held in Paramaribo. In March 2003, the Minister of Defense established an inter-ministerial Commission on Antipersonnel Mines. Suriname destroyed 146 antipersonnel mines on 25 February 2004 and intends to retain the remaining 150 antipersonnel mines for training purposes.

Swaziland

The Mine Ban Treaty entered into force for Swaziland on 1 June 1999. Swaziland has not provided any annual updated Article 7 reports. Clearance of Swaziland’s small minefield has not begun.

Sweden

Sweden became a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty on 1 May 1999 and domestic legislation to implement the treaty entered into force on the same day. Sweden began destruction of its stockpile of 3,365,000 antipersonnel mines in 1996, and completed it in December 2001, well in advance of its deadline of 1 May 2003. Sweden reconstructed its Claymore-type antipersonnel mines to prevent victim-activation. Sweden has retained the second largest number of mines for training and development purposes (15,706 at the end of 2003); in 2002 it was discovered that the Bofors company held 3,069 more mines than previously known. In September 2003, Sweden became co-rapporteur of the Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies. In March 2004, Sweden appointed an ambassador for mines and small arms/light weapons.

From 1999 to 2003, Sweden donated SEK 466 million (about $48 million) to mine action in at least 17 countries and regions. It has also provided considerable technical expertise to mine action programs, particularly through SRSA and SWEDEC. Sweden announced a new strategy on mine action in May 2002, with an emphasis on integrating mine action into long-term development assistance. Sweden has invested significantly in research and development on mine detection and clearance technologies.

Switzerland

Switzerland became a State Party on 1 March 1999, after playing a leading role in supporting a ban on antipersonnel mines. Switzerland’s 1996 law banning antipersonnel mines has served as implementation legislation, and has been amended several times to conform with the treaty. Switzerland completed destruction of its stockpile of 3.85 million antipersonnel mines in the weeks following entry into force of the treaty. Switzerland has been very active in the Mine Ban Treaty work program. Switzerland served as co-chair of the Standing Committee on Victim Assistance from May 1999 to September 2000. It served as co-rapporteur and then co-chair of the Standing Committee on Stockpile Destruction from September 2001 to September 2003. The Second and Fourth Meetings of States Parties were held in Geneva in September of 2000 and 2002. Switzerland set up the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining in December 1997; the GICHD has hosted the intersessional meetings and housed the Mine Ban Treaty’s Implementation Support Unit since it began operations in January 2002. From 1999 to 2003, Switzerland provided about $41 million to mine action.

Tajikistan

Tajikistan acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty on 12 October 1999 and the treaty entered into force on 1 April 2000. Until September 2002, there were serious concerns about Tajikistan’s commitment to the Mine Ban Treaty and its failure to take steps to implement the treaty. Since that time, it has engaged extensively in the treaty processes and has striven to meet all of its obligations. It destroyed its stockpile of antipersonnel mines by the treaty-mandated deadline, has submitted required transparency reports, and has begun to clear mined areas. However, in 2002 and 2003, Tajikistan was the only State Party to abstain from voting on the UN General Assembly resolutions promoting the Mine Ban Treaty. During 1999-2001, Russian Border Forces laid antipersonnel mines inside Tajikistan along the Afghan border, and Uzbekistan laid antipersonnel mines on its border with Tajikistan, including some inside Tajik territory.

Tanzania

Tanzania ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 13 November 2000 and became a State Party on 1 May 2001. It completed destruction of its stockpile of 22,841 antipersonnel mines in July 2004. Its initial Article 7 report, due by 28 October 2001, was submitted on 5 February 2003. Numerous landmine survivors from Burundi and DR Congo arrived in refugee camps in Tanzania from 1999-2002.

Thailand

The Mine Ban Treaty entered into force for Thailand on 1 May 1999. A nationwide Landmine Impact Survey was conducted from May 2000 to May 2001that identified 531 mine-affected communities in 27 provinces. The Thailand Mine Action Center was established in January 1999. Three military Humanitarian Mine Action Units were created in 1999 and 2000, and a fourth in 2002; a civilian demining team was also created in 2002. Humanitarian demining operations began in 2000 and a total of 1,162,236 square meters of land had been cleared at the end of 2003. More than 370,000 people received mine risk education from 2000 to 2003. Thailand completed destruction of its 337,725 stockpiled antipersonnel mines in April 2003. Thailand hosted and served as President of the Fifth Meeting of States Parties in September 2003, and also hosted regional landmine conferences in 2001 and 2002. Thailand served as co-chair of the Standing Committee of the General Status and Operation of the Convention from September 2001 to September 2002 and as co-rapporteur the previous year.

Timor-Leste

Timor-Leste acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty on 7 May 2003 and the treaty entered into force on 1 November 2003. Timor-Leste submitted its initial Article 7 transparency report in June 2004, confirming that it is mine-free and that it possesses no stocks of antipersonnel mines.

Togo

Togo ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 9 March 2000, becoming a State Party on 1 September 2000. Togo submitted its initial Article 7 transparency report in April 2003, more than two years late. It declared a stockpile of 436 antipersonnel mines, all of which are retained for training purposes.

Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago became a State Party on 1 March 1999. It was the first Caribbean state to adopt domestic implementation legislation in June 2000.

Tunisia

Tunisia ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 9 July 1999 and it entered into force on 1 January 2000. Tunisia submitted its initial Article 7 transparency report in July 2000, providing details on its stockpile of antipersonnel mines and five mined areas for the first time. In January 2002, the government hosted a regional seminar on the Mine Ban Treaty in North Africa. MAG and UNMAS conducted assessment missions in December 2002 and January 2003 to examine Tunisia’s mine clearance needs. In June 2003, an inter-ministerial committee to coordinate implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty was established. Tunisia completed destruction of its stockpile of 18,259 antipersonnel mines in September 2003.

Turkey

Turkey acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty on 25 September 2003, on the same day Greece ratified. Turkey claims that existing domestic legislation gives effect to the treaty obligations. Previously, production of antipersonnel mines ceased in January 1996. A 1996 export moratorium was renewed in 1999 and made permanent in March 2002. Use of antipersonnel mines was banned in 1998. Turkey first stated its intention to accede in the near future in May 1999, and participated in Mine Ban Treaty meetings regularly ever since. Agreements to demine borders with Bulgaria and Georgia were made in 1999 and 2001. Turkey completed clearance of its border with Bulgaria in mid-2002. By the end of 2003, 14,487 antipersonnel mines had been removed in eastern and southeastern areas, and an area of 48,120 square meters was cleared on the border with Armenia. The government accused PKK of using mines in 1999-2002, and 2004. PKK stated its intention to ban antipersonnel mines in January 2002. The Turkish government has claimed that between 1993 and 2003, landmines caused 2,905 casualties. Since 2000, at least 260 new mine casualties were reported, including 72 people killed and 188 injured.

Turkmenistan

The Mine Ban Treaty entered into force for Turkmenistan on 1 March 1999. Turkmenistan did not attend any annual or intersessional Mine Ban Treaty meetings of States Parties until June 2004. Turkmenistan submitted its initial Article 7 transparency measures report in November 2001, more than two years late and without all the required information, did not submit annual updates in 2002 or 2003, and provided another incomplete report in February 2004. Turkmenistan has not passed any national legislation or other implementation measures as required by Article 9. After first asking for an extension of its stockpile destruction deadline, Turkmenistan announced it completed destruction of its antipersonnel mine stockpile in February 2003, in advance of its 1 March 2003 deadline. However, it stated it would retain 69,200 mines for training. The ICBL criticized this as a possible violation of Articles 3 and 4 of the Mine Ban Treaty. Turkmenistan subsequently decided to destroy all of its mines, by the end of 2004.

Uganda

The Mine Ban Treaty entered into force for Uganda on 1 August 1999. Uganda submitted its initial Article 7 report, due in January 2000, in May 2002. Uganda does not have implementing legislation in place, although reportedly it has been drafted and revised. Uganda completed its stockpile destruction of 6,383 antipersonnel landmines in July 2003. There were serious and credible allegations indicating a strong possibility of Ugandan use of antipersonnel mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo, particularly in the June 2000 battle for Kisangani. Uganda has denied any use, and reportedly carried out a joint investigation, but it has not made the findings public. It appears that Lord’s Resistance Army rebels have used landmines throughout most of the period. Uganda invited foreign military attaches to inspect an alleged mine production facility, and they concluded no production existed. There is no organized mine clearance underway in Uganda, but mine risk education is being carried out in the northern districts of Gulu, Kitgum and Pader, and in Kasese district in western Uganda. Assessments of the mine situation in Uganda have been carried out by the Mines Advisory Group (in May 2001 and February/March 2003), Mines Awareness Trust (in January 2003), and a United Nations interagency team (in March/April 2004). It is estimated that since 1998, 425 people have been killed by mines. In northern Uganda, the government has identified 385 people with amputations as a result of mine or UXO incidents between 1999 and 2003. More than ten local associations have been established to support the socio-economic reintegration of mine survivors. In 2000, a disability policy was put in place.

United Kingdom

The UK became a State Party on 1 March 1999. National legislation implementing the Mine Ban Treaty entered into force the same day. From 1999 to 2003, the UK provided about $107 million for mine action in at least 24 countries and regions. The UK has been actively engaged in the intersessional work program, and served as co-chair of the Standing Committee on Mine Clearance in 1999–2000. It has actively promoted universalization of the Mine Ban Treaty. The UK completed destruction of its stockpile of more than 2 million antipersonnel mines on 19 October 1999, well in advance of the treaty deadline of 1 March 2003. At one point the UK retained close to 5,000 antipersonnel mines for training purposes, but in 2003 decided the number was excessive to the need and destroyed 3,116 mines. Since entry into force of the Mine Ban Treaty, there have been allegations of attempted transfers of antipersonnel mines in the UK by Pakistani, Romanian, and UK companies. The UK has stated that tripwires, breakwires and tilt rods are not acceptable methods of detonating antivehicle mines, but has not made the legal determination that such mines are prohibited by the Mine Ban Treaty. The UK has confirmed that transit of foreign antipersonnel mines through UK territory is prohibited by the treaty and domestic law.

Uruguay

Uruguay ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 7 June 2001 and the treaty entered into force on 1 December 2001. Uruguay started stockpile destruction in 2000, and completed it on 23 September 2004. In 2002 and 2003, Army deminers took part in the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Venezuela

Venezuela ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 14 April 1999 and the treaty entered into force on 1 October 1999. Venezuela’s initial Article 7 report, due 29 March 2000, was submitted in September 2002. Venezuela reported that it completed destruction of its stockpile of 47,189 antipersonnel mines on 24 September 2003. Venezuela has revealed that it laid antipersonnel mines in May 1998, five months after signing the Mine Ban Treaty.

Yemen

The Mine Ban Treaty entered into force for Yemen on 1 March 1999. A nationwide Landmine Impact Survey, completed in July 2000, identified 594 mine-affected villages in 19 of the country’s 20 governorates. By April 2004, at least 6,688,575 square meters of land, including 213 minefields, had been demined, accounting for 74 percent of the total area marked in Yemen for clearance; 11 of the 14 high-impacted and 67 medium to low-impacted communities had been cleared. From 1999-2003, mine risk education activities reached 341,980 people in 198 villages. Yemen completed destruction of its antipersonnel mine stockpile in April 2002. The Victim Assistance Department of the Yemen Mine Action Program was established in 2001. In January 2002, Presidential Law Number 2 established a care and rehabilitation fund for persons with disabilities.

Zambia

Zambia ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 23 February 2001 and became a State Party on 1 August 2001. Domestic implementation legislation was enacted on 18 November 2003. UNMAS carried out an assessment mission in May-June 2000, and the US State Department conducted an assessment mission in October 2000. The Zambian Mine Action Center was established in August 2001, and training was provided for management, survey, mine risk education, and clearance teams. In November 2002, a Level One Survey was carried out jointly by ZMAC and its Namibian counterpart, to help establish the scale of the landmine problem in Western province. Mine clearance operations began in May 2002. In 2002, 721 kilometers of road along Lake Kariba were cleared to open up the area for a $50 million World Bank development project. The Angolan government and UNITA forces both appeared to have laid antipersonnel mines inside Zambia in 1999 and 2000.

Zimbabwe

The Mine Ban Treaty entered into force for Zimbabwe in March 1999. In January 2001, Zimbabwe enacted The Anti-Personnel Mines (Prohibition) Act, 2000. In November 2000, Zimbabwe destroyed its stockpile of 4,092 antipersonnel mines, retaining 700 mines for training purposes. Zimbabwe served as co-rapporteur, then co-chair, of the Standing Committee on General Status and Operation of the Convention from May 1999 to September 2001. Zimbabwe strongly denied allegations of use of antipersonnel mines by its forces deployed in the DR Congo, and rejected concerns about possible “assistance” to other forces using mines.

Major mine clearance operations started in March 1999. Zimbabwe reports that by the end of 2003, 221,020 antipersonnel landmines had been cleared from three of Zimbabwe’s seven identified contaminated areas. In 2002, a National Authority on Mine Action was established to formulate a national mine action plan, and the Zimbabwe Mine Action Center was formed to coordinate all mine action in the country. Mine risk education has been carried out in the country since 1998. Between 1999 and 2002, 31 mine/UXO casualties were reported; another 26 were reported in 2003.

Signatories

Brunei Darussalam

Brunei has shown new interest in the Mine Ban Treaty since 2003, attending several meetings including the Fifth Meeting of States Parties. As of August 2004, the ratification process has reportedly progressed and is in its final stage.

Ethiopia

Ethiopia signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 3 December 1997, but it has not yet ratified the treaty. During the 1998-2000 border conflict, Ethiopian forces laid an estimated 150,000 to 200,000 mines, and Eritrean forces laid an estimated 240,000 mines. Although Ethiopia had denied using mines, in April 2002 it gave the UN detailed maps of mines its forces laid in Eritrea during the conflict. The United Nations Mission on Eritrea and Ethiopia Mine Action Coordination Center was established in August 2000, following the cessation of hostilities. The government created the Ethiopian Mine Action Office in February 2001. A national Landmine Impact Survey was carried out from April 2002 to March 2004. EMOA started humanitarian demining operations in mid-2002. By February 2004, EMAO reported having cleared 4.6 million square meters of land. From 2000 to 2003, more than 1.3 million people received some form of mine risk education. Since 2000, ICRC-supported orthopedic centers have produced 6,455 prostheses, including 2,971 for mine survivors. The Landmine Impact Survey recorded 16,616 landmine/UXO casualties, including 1,295 “recent” deaths or injuries.

Haiti

In January 2004, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official told the ICBL that the national parliament passed ratification legislation on 12 January 2004.

Indonesia

Indonesia has repeatedly stated its commitment to the Mine Ban Treaty and has moved toward ratification, albeit slowly, since 2002. In May 2002, Indonesia revealed that it has a stockpile of 16,000 antipersonnel mines. Since 2001, there have been a small number of incidents involving homemade mines and booby-traps in Aceh and Ambon.

Poland

Poland has been a signatory to the Mine Ban Treaty since 4 December 1997. From signature until 2004, Poland repeatedly cited several pre-conditions to its ratification. However, in 2004, the Prime Minister’s Office and the Defense Ministry indicated that ratification could now go forward. Poland has been a regular participant in the Mine Ban Treaty work program. In March 2003, Poland submitted a voluntary Article 7 report, declaring stockpiles of about one million antipersonnel mines, and noting that Poland banned export of antipersonnel mines in 1998 and stopped production long before that. It submitted a second report in May 2004. In 2000, Poland established an inter-agency working group to develop a plan and timeline for ratification. Poland and Canada co-sponsored a landmine seminar in Warsaw in June 2001. From 1999-2003, Poland cleared 16,972 mines and 256,704 UXO, nearly all left from World War II. During those years, more than 700 Polish deminers engaged in international operations in Afghanistan, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq, Kosovo, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen.

Ukraine

The government of Ukraine has been working with donors and others in the mine action community to address the linked issues of destruction of 6 million stockpiled PFM mines and the process of ratification of the Mine Ban Treaty. In 2002, the European Commission launched a project to prepare for the destruction of the PFM mines. The first phase assessing the condition of the mines concluded in mid-2003. Between July 2002 and May 2003, Ukraine cooperated with NATO’s Maintenance and Supply Agency to complete the destruction of 405,000 stockpiled PMN mines. Ukraine ratified CCW Amended Protocol II on 12 September 1999. From 1992 to the end of 2003, Ukrainian demining teams destroyed more than 450,000 mines and UXO Since 2000, Ukranian deminers have participated in international operations in Lebanon, Sierra Leone, Kosovo, and Iraq. From 2000 to mid-May 2004, 73 new mine/UXO casualties were reported.

Non-Signatories

Armenia

The National Center for Humanitarian Mine Action was officially opened in March 2002. The US trained and equipped 178 Armenian deminers and other personnel in 2001 and 2002. The first survey activities began in October 2002 in the Tavush region, and the first demining operations got underway in May 2003 in Syunik province. Armenia has voted in favor of every annual UN General Assembly resolution calling for universalization of the Mine Ban Treaty. An international seminar on banning antipersonnel landmines was held in Yerevan in October 2002.

Azerbaijan

In 2000, the civilian Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action developed a National Mine Action Plan, initiated a National Mine Database, purchased equipment and trained deminers. Demining operations started in July 2000. A limited Level One Survey was completed in the Fizuli region in 2000. Two national demining NGOs were established in 2000. With UNDP assistance, an Azeri National Strategic Plan for mine action was adopted in October 2001. A national Landmine Impact Survey was initiated in September 2002 and completed in June 2003. At least 153,000 people attended mine risk education sessions held between 1999 and 2002. The LIS identified a total of 1,215 mine/UXO casualties. From 1999 to July 2004, ANAMA recorded 172 new mine/UXO casualties.

Bahrain

Bahrain has voted in favor of every pro-ban UN General Assembly resolution since 1996. Bahrain has not revealed if it has a stockpile of antipersonnel mines. The status of US landmines stockpiled in Bahrain is not known following combat operations in Iraq.

Bhutan

In September 2004, Bhutan’s Foreign Minister stated that Bhutan would accede to the Mine Ban Treaty in 2005. Bhutan attended the Fifth Meeting of States Parties in September 2003, its first participation in a Mine Ban Treaty meeting. Bhutan for the first time officially stated that it has never produced, acquired, or stockpiled antipersonnel mines. In December 2003, during a Bhutanese military offensive to oust Indian rebels from their bases in Bhutan, there were reports of use of landmines by the rebels.

Burma (Myanmar)

Government forces and armed ethnic groups have used antipersonnel mines regularly and extensively throughout the period. In 1999, Landmine Monitor identified ten rebel groups using landmines; the number grew to 15 by 2004. Myanmar remains one of the few countries still producing antipersonnel mines. There has been no humanitarian mine clearance carried out. Government forces have been accused each year of using “human minesweepers,” forcing civilians to walk in front of troops to blow up mines. There is no systematic collection of information about mine casualties, but there is evidence that Myanmar is among the countries with the highest number of casualties each year. The ICRC resumed its joint physical rehabilitation programs with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Defense, and with the Myanmar Red Cross in June 1999. In 2002, a new physical rehabilitation and prosthetic center was opened at Hpa-an in Karen State.

China

China announced completion of clearance of its border with Vietnam in September 1999, but resumed clearance in Yunnan and Guangxi provinces following the signing of a new border agreement with Vietnam. China is modifying or destroying antipersonnel mines that do not meet CCW Amended Protocol II requirements. China reported that since 1997, it has ceased the production of non-detectable antipersonnel mines and those without self-destruct mechanisms. China has reported providing more than $6 million in international mine action assistance from 2001-2003. China has been increasingly active in international mine action and in Mine Ban Treaty-related activities. Landmine Monitor has identified 4,207 mine survivors in Yunnan province and Guangxi province.

Cuba

Cuba is one of the small number of countries that has abstained from the vote on every annual pro-ban United Nations General Assembly resolution since 1996. Cuba is one of only 15 countries in the world still producing antipersonnel mines. It has stated that it does not export antipersonnel mines, but has declined to institute a formal moratorium. The United States removed its landmines from around Guantánamo Naval Base from 1996-1999; Cuban minefields remain.

Egypt

In 2002, the government recast its approach to the landmine problem to focus on development aspects. In 2003, Egypt adopted a national plan to develop the north coast and clear mines. The United States trained Egyptian Army deminers and provided equipment and other assistance between 2000 and 2003. In February 2000, Egypt told a UN assessment mission that it does not produce or export antipersonnel mines. An Arab Regional Seminar on Landmines was held in Cairo in April 2000. Since 1999, at least 87 new landmine/UXO casualties were reported in Egypt.

Finland

Finland has put back adherence to the Mine Ban Treaty until 2012. The goal of joining the treaty by 2006 was first stated in December 1997, reiterated in December 1999 and December 2000, and confirmed by a governmental report approved by Parliament in December 2001. The Ministry of Defense will not reveal any details of Finland’s stockpile of antipersonnel mines. Finland claims that all mines are in storage and none are deployed in minefields. Finland carried out destruction of some non-detectable mines, and adapted others, in accordance with CCW Amended Protocol II. From 1999 to 2003, Finland provided more than $25 million in mine action funding.

Georgia

It appears that Georgian Armed Forces have used antipersonnel mines each year from 2001-2004, despite repeatedly government denials. In addition, private armed groups from Georgia have infiltrated into Abkhazia and laid antipersonnel mines. In 2002 NATO agreed to provide assistance for clearance of UXO around military sites, but in mid-2004, the project had not yet started. The US transferred demining equipment to Georgia in 2001 and 2002 and trained Georgian demining instructors. Georgia has frequently expressed its support for the goals of the Mine Ban Treaty, and has voted in favor of every annual UN General Assembly resolution calling for universalization of the Mine Ban Treaty. The ICBL Georgian Committee recorded 266 landmine/UXO/IED casualties between 2001 and April 2004.

India

India laid large numbers of mines along its border with Pakistan between December 2001 and July 2002, in one of the biggest mine-laying operations anywhere in the world in years. There have been numerous reports of civilian casualties, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the measures taken to protect civilians. The Indian Army started major mine clearance operations in October 2002 and reported that as of 30 September 2003, over 90 percent of the mines had been recovered. Previously, India said it cleared 8,000 mines planted by intruders during the 1999 conflict in the Kargil area of Kashmir.

India has for the first time designed a remotely-delivered antipersonnel mine system for trial evaluation and prototype production. It has also designed for production a detectable version of its hand-laid, non-metallic M14 mine. India is making its large existing stockpile of M14 antipersonnel mines detectable. India has had an export moratorium in place since 1996.

India ratified CCW Amended Protocol II on 2 September 1999. An Indian Ambassador chaired the key Main Committee One during the Second CCW Review Conference in 2001 and subsequently chaired the Group of Governmental Experts considering the issues of explosive remnants of war and antivehicle mines.

The Indian Institute for Peace, Disarmament & Environmental Protection started collecting data on civilian landmine casualties in the border districts of Rajasthan, Punjab and Jammu in December 2002; it has collected data on more than 700 civilians killed or injured by landmines with some injuries dating back to the 1965 India-Pakistan war.

Iran

The UN Development Programme signed an agreement with Iran in July 2002 to implement a national mine action program. A National Committee for Demining was established. The Army carries out extensive mine clearance, but official statistics are not available. Despite an export moratorium announced in 1997, and government statements that production has ceased, antipersonnel mines of Iranian origin with date stamps indicating new production have been found in Afghanistan. The first known conference on the landmine problem in Iran was held in Tehran in February 2000, organized by the non-governmental High Center of Research and Informatics. There is renewed interest in the landmine issue, with increased attention by the government and the formation of NGOs to deal with the problem.

Iraq

The government of Saddam Hussein did not in any way engage in the global effort to eradicate antipersonnel mines. An Iraqi diplomat confirmed that Iraq continued to produce mines until 2003. The extensive mine and UXO problem in Iraq was exacerbated by the conflict in 2003 in which Iraqi forces used mines, US and UK forces used cluster munitions in populated areas, and hundreds of thousands of tons of ammunition were abandoned by Iraqi forces. The long-established mine action programs in Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq were for the most part suspended in early 2003, but subsequently resumed and expanded into new areas. Mine action programs were initiated for the first time in central and southern Iraq after the main fighting ceased.

In northern Iraq, from 1997 to 2003, the UN Mine Action Program cleared more than 12.2 million square meters of land, destroying more than 79,000 UXO, 2,500 cluster bomblets, 11,000 antipersonnel mines and 560 antivehicle mines. In addition, the NGOs MAG and NPA cleared more than 3.7 million square meters of land, destroying more than 54,959 mines and 4,500 cluster bomblets. The Mine Action Program completed a Landmine Impact Survey in northern Iraq in 2002. In northern Iraq, as of the end of 2003, 13,672 mine/UXO casualties (4,551 killed and 9,121 injured) have been recorded in four northern governorates. Between 1999 and the end of December 2003, at least 3,333 mine and UXO casualties were recorded in northern Iraq. ICRC-supported centers fitted more than 11,956 prostheses (6,230 for mine survivors) since 1999. The construction of new rehabilitation and vocational training centers in Diana and Dohuk were completed in 2002/2003.

Israel

Israel has ceased the production of antipersonnel mines and has renewed an export moratorium until 2005. The last confirmed use of antipersonnel mines by the IDF was in 2000 in south Lebanon. Israel first reported destroying obsolete antipersonnel mines in 2002. Israel joined CCW Amended Protocol II in October 2000 and has submitted three national annual reports.

Kazakhstan

An ICBL delegation visited Kazakhstan in April 2004. Kazakhstan participated in the Fifth Meeting of States Parties in Thailand in September 2003, and in regional seminars on landmines in Kyrgyzstan in November 2003 and Tajikistan in April 2004. The Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs estimated that it could cost $3 million to destroy its antipersonnel mine stockpile. In September 2003, Kazakhstan deployed 25 troops to Iraq to assist in demining.

Democratic People's Republic Of Korea

In 2002, North Korea conducted mine clearance inside the DMZ for the first time as part of two inter-Korean transportation projects to link railways and roads. The ICRC and Handicap International have launched programs specifically for persons with disabilities. North Korea has made no public statements on landmines and has been absent from every vote on the pro-Mine Ban Treaty UNGA resolutions. Landmine Monitor assumes that North Korea continues to produce antipersonnel mines. In June 2003, the Supreme People’s Assembly adopted a new law to protect the rights of persons with disabilities.

Republic Of Korea

In April 1999, the ROK began clearance around military bases in the rear area of the DMZ and had completed clearance at 17 sites by the end of 2003. In 2002 and 2003, the ROK conducted mine clearance inside and below the DMZ for the first time as part of two inter-Korean transportation projects to link railways and roads. The ROK has stated that it has not produced antipersonnel mines of any type since 2000, and that it has enforced an indefinite extension of its 1997 moratorium on the export of antipersonnel mines. The ROK revealed that it has a stockpile of about 2 million antipersonnel mines. Between 1999 and 2002, at least 46 new mine casualties were recorded. The ROK has contributed a total of $1 million to the UN Voluntary Trust Fund.

Kuwait

More landmines, and even greater numbers of cluster bomblets and other explosive remnants of war, are found in Kuwait each year and clearance operations are ongoing. In 2002, Ministry of Defense sources told Landmine Monitor that Kuwait does not use landmines. Officials also stated that the 45,845 antipersonnel mines Kuwait removed from the ground and stored for a period were destroyed by 2002, but Kuwait will not confirm if it has a stockpile of mines. Following the movement of weaponry associated with the invasion of Iraq, the status of the US antipersonnel mine stockpiles in Kuwait is not known.

Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan used landmines in 1999 and 2000 to prevent infiltration across its border with Tajikistan. Mine risk education programs have begun in border areas of Kyrgyzstan adjacent to minefields emplaced by Uzbekistan. In June 2001, the Kyrgyz government issued a decree regarding mine clearance and mine risk education. Since 1999, at least ten landmine casualties occurred in the Batken region near the Uzbek border.

Lao People’s Democratic Republic

From 1996 to 2003, UXO Lao cleared 43.96 million square meters of land, benefiting an estimated 1.5 million people, including 33.36 million square meters since 1999. The Australian commercial company Milsearch reports clearing 26 million square meters from 1993-2003. More than 600,000 pieces of UXO and mines have been cleared, including more than 400,000 since 1999. Since 1996, more than 1.14 million people have received UXO and mine risk education in Laos, including more than 900,000 since 1999. During a funding crisis in mid-2002, UXO Lao reduced its staff by more than half, but regained capacity in 2003 and 2004. There have been more than 11,000 UXO/mine casualties since 1973, including at least 544 since 1999.

Latvia

Latvia has declared that it intends to accede to the Mine Ban Treaty by November 2004. It has voluntarily submitted two Article 7 transparency reports. Latvia has voted for every annual pro-ban UN General Assembly resolution since 1996. Latvia reports that mines and unexploded ordnance from World Wars I and II and the Soviet occupation are still found “in considerable quantity.” More than 24,000 UXO, including mines, have been found and destroyed since 1999. Latvia became a party to CCW Amended Protocol II in August 2002.

Lebanon

Israel withdrew its forces from South Lebanon in May 2000, leaving behind a significant mine and UXO problem. In May 2001, the United Arab Emirates announced a contribution of up to $50 million to redevelop South Lebanon, including an unknown sum for demining, survey and mine risk education activities; “Operation Emirates Solidarity” began in October 2001 and was completed in June 2004 with clearance of nearly 5 million square meters of land. Between 1999 and 2003, 1,555,644 people received mine risk education. A nationwide Landmine Impact Survey was conducted from March 2002 to August 2003. The Mine Action Coordination Center for South Lebanon was established in early 2002. In 2001, the National Demining Office established a National Mine Victim Assistance Committee. Between 2000 and June 2004, landmines and UXO caused 291 casualties. Casualties have steadily declined from 119 in 2000, to 93 in 2001, 49 in 2002, and 26 in 2003.

Libya

Libya has abstained from voting on every annual pro-ban UN General Assembly resolution since 1998, but it has participated in most Mine Ban Treaty meetings. There is no national budget or coordination body for mine action in Libya, but reportedly some mine clearance is carried out every year by the civil defense authority and the Army. In 2002, Italy initially allocated €2.5 million to Libya for mine clearance operations, but Italy reports the money was reallocated when Libya did not meet the deadline to provide information on how the money would be used.

Mongolia

Mongolia has voted in favor of every pro-Mine Ban Treaty UN General Assembly resolution since 1998. Mongolia has increasingly participated in Mine Ban Treaty meetings. In January 2002, the President of Mongolia expressed support for a mine ban and said that a process to assess accession to the Mine Ban Treaty had been initiated; it was still underway in 2004. Mongolian defense officials have acknowledged that Mongolia has a large operational stockpile of antipersonnel mines.

Morocco

Morocco has stated that it is complying with the Mine Ban Treaty “de facto.” In February 2001, Moroccan officials for the first time claimed that Morocco no longer uses or stockpiles antipersonnel mines. Morocco and the Polisario have periodically traded accusations of new mine use. Both parties have conducted mine clearance and explosive ordnance disposal along the berms of Western Sahara. In April 2004, the UN reported that since 1997 MINURSO has facilitated the discovery and marking of 1,123 mines and UXO, and has participated in 750 disposal operations. Morocco ratified CCW Amended Protocol II on 19 March 2002.

Nepal

Government forces and Maoist rebels have used antipersonnel landmines and improvised explosive devises in the internal conflict, which began in 1996. The Maoists have used mines/IEDs much more extensively than security forces. The use of mines and IEDs increased every year from 1999 to 2002, until the cease-fire which lasted from January to August 2003. There were no confirmed instances of new mine use during the cease-fire, but in the wake of renewed fighting since then, both sides are again laying mines or IEDs in significant numbers. All 75 districts are now affected, compared to four in 1999. The government did not officially acknowledge using mines until 2002. The Army has also acknowledged that Nepal produces antipersonnel mines, a previously unknown fact.

Nepal has voted in support of every pro-ban UN General Assembly resolution since 1996, and has participated in many Mine Ban Treaty meetings. Some of Nepal’s most senior officials have expressed support for a ban. Nepalese leaders have since 1999 regularly stated that Nepal is carefully studying accession to the Mine Ban Treaty.

There have been no formal surveys or assessments of the mine situation of Nepal. There are no humanitarian demining programs in Nepal. Mine risk education activities were initiated in 2003 and 2004. Handicap International started a program to support persons with disabilities in 2001. Nepal has taken special measures to aid victims of the conflict and acknowledges that assistance to landmine survivors is an obligation of the state. Since 2000, the number of landmine casualties is increasing although no comprehensive statistics are available.

Oman

Oman has voted in favor of every pro-ban UN General Assembly resolution since 1996. The United States provided mine action assistance from 2000-2002. In February 2001, Oman revealed for the first time that it has a limited stockpile of antipersonnel mines for training purposes. The status of US landmines stockpiled in Oman is not known following combat operations in Iraq.

Pakistan

During the escalation of tensions with India that began in December 2001, Pakistani forces engaged in a massive mine-laying operation, which continued until mid-2002. Reports of civilian casualties in Pakistan following the mine-laying call into question the effectiveness of the measures taken to protect civilians. Pakistan stated in November 2003 that it had cleared 99 percent of the mines it laid in the operation. Pakistan-backed militants, and allegedly Pakistan Army troops, made extensive use of antipersonnel mines in the conflict in the Kargil area of Kashmir in mid-1999. There were allegations of Pakistani-manufactured mines being supplied to the militants. There were reports of attempts by state-owned Pakistan Ordnance Factories to sell antipersonnel mines to British journalists posing as representatives of private companies in both November 1999 and April 2002. Pakistan’s 1997 moratorium on export of antipersonnel mines became a legally binding ban in February 1999. Pakistan ratified CCW Amended Protocol II on 9 March 1999, exercising the nine-year deferral period. Pakistan is modifying its stockpile of low-metal content mines to make them detectable. Pakistan is producing both new detectable hand-emplaced antipersonnel mines and new remotely-delivered mines.

From August to December 2000, the Community Motivation & Development Organization carried out the first assessment mission in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and collected data on landmine casualties in the Bajaur Agency. It launched the first mine awareness program in August 2000. By the end of 2003, it had provided mine risk education to 97,664 people. Handicap International provided mine risk education in Afghan refugee camps in Baluchistan Province from October 2001 to January 2003, and the Italian NGO Intersos from January 2001 to June 2002. Several NGOs have implemented programs to assist mine survivors and other persons with disabilities. Landmine incidents in border areas with India and Afghanistan continue to be reported. From 2000 to 2003, Landmine Monitor has reported at least 428 new landmine/UXO casualties.

Russian Federation

Russia has used antipersonnel mines in Chechnya, Dagestan, Tajikistan, and on the Russia-Georgia border since 1999. CCW Amended Protocol II was submitted to the State Duma for ratification in May 2000, but has not been approved. Still, Russia maintains it is complying with letter of the law. Russia stated that it stopped production of blast mines in 1997. Russia’s five-year moratorium on transfer of non-detectable and non-self-destructing mines expired in 2002, but officials have stated that it is still being observed. In 2003, Russia surprisingly reported that it had destroyed more than 16.8 million antipersonnel mines from 1996 through 2002. New information in 2004 indicates Russia’s antipersonnel mine stockpile may number 22-25 million, rather than the previously estimated 50 million. Russia has been increasingly involved in international demining operations.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has participated in almost every annual Meeting of States Parties, as well as all the intersessional meetings since December 2000. Saudi Arabia claims that it has never produced, exported or used antipersonnel mines, but in 2002, Saudi officials indicated for the first time that the country stockpiles antipersonnel mines. They also confirmed that the United States stockpiles mines in Saudi Arabia, but stated that the US cannot use them on Saudi territory. In May 2001, Saudi Arabia announced it would provide $3 million for mine action in Yemen.

Singapore

Singapore remains one of the fifteen mine producers globally. While stating the need for antipersonnel mines for “legitimate security concerns,” Singapore has voted in favor of every pro-ban UN General Assembly resolution since 1996, and has attended all but one of the annual Mine Ban Treaty States Parties meetings. Singapore has maintained an indefinite moratorium on the export of all types of antipersonnel mines since February 1998. An NGO Campaign to Ban Landmines was launched in Singapore in June 2001.

Somalia

Continuous conflict, including use of landmines by different factions, has prevented any meaningful mine action throughout most of the period, outside of Somaliland. The United Nations Mine Action Program, which had in 2000 and 2001 taken exploratory steps to set up mine action offices in Mogadishu, Baidoa and Garowe, was forced to abandon its efforts in 2002 due to insecurity in all of those areas. The Puntland Mine Action Center was established in August 2004 and a Landmine Impact Survey began the same month. In November 2002, 16 Somali factions (including Puntland and two representatives of the TNG) signed the Geneva Call “Deed of Commitment” to ban landmines and cooperate on mine action. Since 1999, ICRC-assisted hospitals treated more than 519 mine/UXO casualties. Since 2001, there have been at least 539 new mine/UXO casualties in Somalia.

Sri Lanka

Following a UNDP assessment, the UN Mine Action Project began in July 1999, but had to be suspended in April 2000 due to the conflict. Increased fighting in 2000 and 2001 resulted in increased use of antipersonnel mines by both sides, increased military and civilian mine casualties, and the termination of UN mine action programs. Fighting stopped in December 2001, and a formal cease-fire agreement came into force in February 2002. There have been no confirmed reports of new use of mines by either government or LTTE forces since December 2001.

The cease-fire enabled a significant expansion of mine action activities in 2002: the government established a National Steering Committee on Mine Action; UNICEF and NGOs increased mine risk education activities; and, seven mine action operators cleared a combined total of more than 16.3 million square meters of land. In 2003, more than 2.1 million square meters of land were cleared, and another 629,948 square meters from January to March 2004. Mine risk education activities expanded, reaching over 200,000 people. From 1999-2003, more than 18.7 million square meters of land were cleared, and at least 300,000 people received mine risk education. In early 2004, the government set the goal to make Sri Lanka mine-free by the end of 2006.

Since 1999, at least 724 new landmine/UXO casualties have been recorded; however, UNDP believes the real number is higher. In April 2002, a five-year Disability Support Program started with the aim of improving the quality of life of persons with disabilities. In February 2003, UNDP announced the start of its “Disability Assistance Project.”

Sri Lanka has voted in favor of every pro-ban UN General Assembly Resolution and in October 2002, the government announced its willingness to accede to the Mine Ban Treaty contingent upon reaching an agreement with the LTTE prohibiting use of landmines.

Syria

In cooperation with Syrian authorities, UN peacekeeping forces in the Golan Heights initiated a program to identify and mark all mined areas in their area of operations in 2000. A mine awareness component is included in the Ministry of Health’s “Safe Gardens Project,” initiated in August 2000. In February 2001, the Syrian Army started landmine clearance in Lebanon, and had demined more than 955,000 square meters of land by the end of 2003. Since 1999, at least 12 new mine casualties have been reported in Syria. Although it was previously believed that Syria had not produced mines, Jordan has declared possession of Syrian-made mines.

United Arab Emirates

The UAE has voted in favor of every pro-ban UN General Assembly resolution since 1996. The UAE has stated that it has not produced or exported antipersonnel mines, and in December 2003, for the first time stated that it has no stockpile of mines. In May 2001, the UAE announced a contribution of up to $50 million to redevelop South Lebanon, including an unknown sum for demining, survey and mine risk education activities; “Operation Emirates Solidarity” commenced in October 2001 and as of June 2004, deminers had cleared nearly 5 million square meters of land.

United States Of America

The Bush Administration announced the results of a two-and-one-half year policy review on 27 February 2004, abandoning the objective of joining the Mine Ban Treaty eventually and declaring its intent to retain antipersonnel mines indefinitely. The US apparently did not use antipersonnel mines in Yugoslavia (Kosovo) in 1999, or in Afghanistan since October 2001, or in Iraq since March 2003. It reserved the right to use antipersonnel mines during each of these conflicts, and deployed mines to the region at least in the cases of Kosovo and Iraq. Landmine Monitor has identified 74 mine casualties among US military personnel between 2001 and 2003.

US mine action funding totaled $421.4 million between fiscal years 1999 and 2003, the largest total for any government. In addition, the State Department reports that in the last five years several hundred thousand US citizens have contributed more than $14 million to mine action programs around the world. The Department of Defense spent over $250 million from 1999-2003 to identify and field alternatives for landmines. The RADAM program, which would have combined existing antipersonnel and antivehicle mines into a new “mixed system,” was cancelled in 2002. The Pentagon reported in May 2002 that it “will not be able to meet” the 2006 target date to develop and field alternatives to antipersonnel mines.

Congress has extended the 1992 legislative moratorium on export of antipersonnel mines several times, most recently until 23 October 2008. US antipersonnel mines stockpiled in Italy, Norway, and Spain were removed to comply with their Mine Ban Treaty obligations. The US cleared its protective minefields at the Guantanamo Bay naval base in Cuba in 1999, and now claims not to maintain minefields anywhere in the world. However, protective minefields from the Soviet era are incorporated into the perimeter defense at locations US forces occupy in Afghanistan. The US ratified CCW Amended Protocol II in May 1999.

Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan used antipersonnel mines on its borders with Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, beginning with the Afghan border in 1998, then the Kyrgyz border in November 1999, and the Tajik border from August 2000-May 2001. Both Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan contend that Uzbekistan laid mines inside their borders. Uzbekistan declared demining by Kyrgyzstan in disputed border areas illegal. Kyrgyzstan claimed in February 2004 that Uzbekistan had replanted mines in areas that the Kyrgyz deminers had cleared in the first half of 2003. In June 2004, Uzbekistan declared it would demine its borders with Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Since 2000, incidents involving mines laid by Uzbekistan have caused at least 65 Uzbek casualties and numerous others involving Tajik and Kyrgyz citizens.

Vietnam

A National Landmine Impact Survey began in February 2004 after more than three years of negotiations. Mine/UXO survey, clearance, risk education, and survivor assistance activities by non-governmental organizations have expanded throughout the period, including into new areas of the country. The government has carried out extensive clearance, especially related to construction of the new Ho Chi Minh Highway. Vietnam states that from 1975 to 2002, the Army cleared 1,200 million square meters of land, destroying 4 million landmines and 8 million UXO. Since 1998, seven NGOs have combined to clear 12 million square meters of heavily-affected land. The government-sponsored Community Based Rehabilitation program expanded from 40 to 46 of 61 provinces by 2003. In 2001, the government established a National Coordinating Council on Disabilities. Donors have provided an estimated $35 million for mine action in Vietnam. Vietnam confirmed continuing production of antipersonnel mines. Officials have stated that Vietnam does not and will never export landmines. Between 1975 and 2000, Vietnam recorded 104,701 mine/UXO casualties (38,849 people killed and 65,852 injured). Estimates of the current mine/UXO casualty rate range between 1,200 and 2,992 people killed or injured each year.

Other

Abkhazia

In 2001, Abkhazian authorities for the first time acknowledged that Abkhazian soldiers were using antipersonnel mines. Abkhazia maintains that both Abkhazian and Georgian forces used landmines in the Kodor Valley in October 2001 and in mid-2002. Throughout the period, private armed groups from Georgia have infiltrated into Abkhazia and laid antipersonnel mines. The Abkhazian Mine Action Center was established January 1999. HALO Trust conducted a nationwide survey of the mine problem in 1999, and determined that about 18 million square meters of land was dangerous or suspect. Between 18 December 1997 and 28 July 2004, HALO cleared a total of 4,555,216 square meters of land, and destroyed 4,816 antipersonnel mines, 521 antivehicle mines, and 4,338 UXO. The most important elements of Abkhazia’s infrastructure have been demined. Systematic mine risk education programs have been underway since early 1999. By the end of 2003, 61,955 people had received MRE. The Gagra Orthopedic Center identified 244 landmine amputees between 1995 and 2003.

Chechnya

Renewed conflict in 1999 was accompanied by extensive use of antipersonnel mines by Russian and Chechen forces. In December 1999, mine clearance operations by HALO Trust were suspended. Because of the ongoing security situation, there has been no humanitarian mine clearance since that time. Mine risk education activities also ground to a halt, but resumed in 2000. Since then, UNICEF and the ICRC have expanded their mine risk education and survivor assistance programs in Chechnya and neighboring Ingushetia, where the majority of Chechen Internally Displaced Persons reside. From 1999 to 2003, about 543,000 people took part in mine risk education sessions in Chechnya and IDP camps in the region, including 263,000 in 2003 alone. In 2001, UNICEF started data collection on civilian mine and UXO casualties in Chechnya. UNICEF has recorded 2,340 new civilian landmine and UXO casualties occurring between 1999 and the end of 2003.

European Union

All members of the European Union are States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty, with the exception of Poland (which is a signatory), Latvia and Finland. The EU has vigorously promoted universalization and full implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty. In the five years since 1999, the EU and its Member States have contributed more than €710 million to mine action.

Kosovo

The 1999 NATO bombing campaign and internal conflict left widespread contamination in Kosovo. The Mine Action Coordination Center (MACC) was set up by the UN in June 1999. It closed in December 2001, having declared Kosovo generally free of the impact of mines and UXO. It passed responsibility for clearance to the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC). During MACC operations from June 1999 to December 2001, 32 million square meters of land were cleared, with the destruction of 19,457 antipersonnel mines, 5,515 antivehicle mines, 15,940 cluster bomblets and 13,896 other items of UXO. Mines have been used on occasion, mainly in attacks against the remaining Serbian minority in Kosovo, with the last incident in May 2003. Weapons caches, including mines, continued to be uncovered by KFOR. From June 1999 through July 2004, 502 civilians were killed or injured by mines, cluster bomblets and UXO.

Nagorno-Karabakh

In January 2000, the HALO Trust resumed mine clearance operations which it had previously undertaken in 1995-96. From 2000 to 2003, HALO cleared 2,691,097 square meters of affected land manually, cleared 45,414,190 square meters by battle area clearance, surveyed 7,767,500 square meters, and destroyed 2,167 antipersonnel mines, 977 antivehicle mines and 8,710 items of UXO. Since 1999, 131 new mine/UXO casualties were reported in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Palestine

A National Mine Action Committee was created in August 2002. NMAC has designed a national mine action plan and coordinated mine risk education. Mine risk education activities have grown significantly since 2001. In 2002, a UNICEF assessment of the landmine and UXO situation concluded that most affected areas are not properly fenced or marked, including Israeli military training zones. There were allegations of Israeli use of antipersonnel mines in 2000 and 2001. Armed Palestinian groups have used improvised explosive devices, and allegedly landmines as well.

Somaliland

The House of Representatives passed a resolution calling for a unilateral ban on landmines in 1999 and the President endorsed the resolution. A comprehensive Landmine Impact Survey began in Somaliland in May 2002 and was completed in March 2003. It identified 357 mine-affected communities and another 772 suspected hazard areas. Mine clearance and mine survey activities expanded significantly in Somaliland in 1999 and 2000. Three NGOs have been clearing mines since 1999 and 2000. According to their information, from 1999 through 2003, they cleared a total of 2.9 million square meters of mined land and about 92 million square meters of battle area, destroying 47,613 antipersonnel mines, 1,213 antivehicle mines, and 59,168 UXO. Mine action coordination in Somaliland was seriously disrupted in 2002. As of November 2002, some 7,517 stockpiled mines had been destroyed. Officials indicated in early 2003 that there were plans for the destruction of all stockpiles, but no further destruction has been reported. Since 2001, there have been at least 349 new mine/UXO casualties in Somaliland.

Taiwan

Since 1999, officials on many occasions have expressed Taiwan’s support for a comprehensive ban on antipersonnel mines. In March 2001, a Ministry of National Defense spokesman stated that Taiwan no longer uses, produces, or transfers antipersonnel mines. In 2002, Taiwan sent 42,175 stockpiled antipersonnel mines to Germany for destruction. But, Taiwan has not formally taken any steps domestically to restrict or ban antipersonnel mines, and the military continues to believe some existing minefields are necessary. Six minefields on Kinmen Island and eleven on Matsu Island were cleared from 1998 to April 2001. In 2002, an area of 66,362 square meters on Kinmen was cleared, and another 114,300 square meters in 2004.

Western Sahara

Polisario states that it has not used antipersonnel mines since the 1991 cease-fire, and has no stockpile of mines. Between April 1998 and May 2000, Norwegian People’s Aid conducted a mine risk education program for Saharawi refugees in Algeria. In April 2004, the UN reported that since 1997 MINURSO has facilitated the discovery and marking of 1,123 mines and UXO, and has participated in 750 disposal operations.