| Media Note Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC September 21, 2006 The United States’ Record on Protecting Innocent Civilians from LandminesAs the Seventh Meeting of States Parties to the 1997 "Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction," often referred to as the Ottawa Convention, takes place in Geneva, Switzerland this week, it is worth noting why the United States is unable to accede to this particular landmine treaty and to review those areas where United States landmine policy and practices are in harmony with or surpass the provisions of the Ottawa Convention.
The military capabilities provided by landmines remain necessary for the United States to protect its armed forces and to save lives. At the same time, the United States is committed to eliminating the humanitarian risks posed by all landmines (including anti-vehicle mines, which are not covered by the Ottawa Convention). It shares common cause with all who seek to protect innocent civilians from these weapons when they are used indiscriminately or are left behind on the battlefield by other nations’ forces or armed groups. That is why the new landmine policy announced in February 2004 committed the United States to never employ a "persistent" landmine - - that is, a landmine that can remain active for years and even decades following emplacement - - after 2010. Instead, if needed, the United States would employ only relatively short-duration, self-destructing/self-deactivating mines that would cease to pose a threat within hours or days following combat. In addition, the United States banned the use of any non-detectable mines, both anti-personnel and anti-vehicle, in its stockpile, effective January 2005. The U.S. ban, because it includes anti-vehicle mines, surpasses the corresponding provisions of the Amended Mines Protocol (Protocol II) of the Convention on Conventional Weapons to which the United States is a party, and surpasses the corresponding provisions of the Ottawa Convention. The United States has played a major role in contributing to the progress that is being discussed in Geneva and is pleased to be part of a sustained international effort involving 21 other significant donor nations and the European Commission. Since 1993 alone, the United States has provided a total of well over $1 billion dollars to nearly 50 of the approximately 80 mine affected countries for humanitarian demining, mine risk education, mine survivors assistance, landmine surveys, research and development on better ways to find and clear landmines, and training for foreign mine action managers so that they can run their nation’s programs more effectively. # # # |
 | |||
|
