Brussels, 15/10/2009 (Agence Europe) - As the second review conference on the Ottawa Convention, which bans the use, production, storage and transfer of anti-personnel mines, approaches (29 November-4 December), the situation remains mixed. Of the more than 50 signatory countries which have mined zones, more than 40 have not completed demining, three signatory states have not managed to destroy their stocks of anti-personnel mines in the timescale set, and assistance to victims has not significantly improved over the 10 years since the Convention came into force. The lack of access or only complicated access to financial resources, the lack of political will and the widespread use of mines by non-state players are the main problems, those taking part in the public hearing organised by the European Parliament defence and security sub-committee on Thursday 15 October said.
Among the 52 participating states which have declared that there are mined zones on their territories, 41 have yet to complete demining. 15 (including Afghanistan and Angola) have been granted additional time, going for most up to 10 years in recognition of the fact that they will need more time to carry out their obligations. Three of the participating states have not met the deadlines set for the destruction of their stocks (Turkey and Greece which each hold around one million mines, and Belarus, whose stock is about 3 million mines). A fourth, Ukraine, whose stocks of anti-personnel mines number 6 million, probably will not be able to meet its commitment, given the lack of political will and technical problems, to complete destruction by March 2010. In the hearing, the Greek representative restated her country's determination to meet is commitments. By the end of November, Greece is likely to be able to destroy half its reserves. Since the Convention came into force, some progress has been made, however. According to Peter Herby of the Red Cross, the USA, which in February 2004 launched its own policy, has stopped using anti-personnel mines. China and Russia, while still producing anti-personnel mines, have banned exports. Stephan Husy, head of the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian demining (GICHD) said that, since 1999, around 1,100 km2 of declared zones have been demined and participating states have destroyed a total of 42 million mines. (A.By./transl./rt)