| Media Note Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC April 4, 2006 International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action"April 4 presents another opportunity to remind the public that the global landmine problem still exists while also recognizing that great progress has been made in reducing it," remarked Dr. John Hillen, the Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs. "Through the concerted efforts of governments and private citizens, a world free from the humanitarian impact of landmines is coming closer to reality." To commemorate April 4, several U.S. embassies are sponsoring or participating in various events. In New York, the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) is hosting a discussion, "Ridding the World of Landmines and Explosive Remnants of War," in which Richard Kidd, Director of the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, will participate. On April 5, the U.S. Mission to the UN will host a panel discussion on "Landmine Awareness: A Tribute to the Work of Nongovernmental Organizations." To learn about other scheduled events, visit the UNMAS website at www.mineaction.org/overview.asp?o=198. The United States takes this opportunity to call upon all nations to work within the framework of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (www.ccwtreaty.org) to restrict the use of all landmines and join it in strengthening these limits through the completion of an additional protocol dealing specifically with mines other than anti-personnel mines. The U.S. Humanitarian Mine Action Program supports mine action worldwide through bilateral and multilateral assistance and through more than 50 public-private partnerships with non-governmental organizations and civic groups. The U.S. has contributed well over $1 billion to mine action since 1993. To learn more, visit the following websites:
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