NEWS RELEASES
ANTI-PERSONNEL MINE CONVENTION ENTERS INTO FORCE
March 1, 1999 (11:15 a.m. EST) No. 46
ANTI-PERSONNEL MINE CONVENTION ENTERS INTO FORCE
The Foreign Ministers of Austria, Canada, Mozambique, Norway and South Africa today welcomed the entry into
force of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines
and on Their Destruction.
In addition to banning the manufacture, storage, transfer and use of anti-personnel (AP) mines, the Convention lays
the foundations for international co-operation in mine action efforts. With its entry into force, the Convention has
started the clock for States Parties to comply with their obligations: stockpiles must be destroyed within four years,
and mined areas must be cleared within ten.
Opened for signature in Ottawa on December 3, 1997, the Convention has been among the fastest to enter into
force of any such international agreement. To date, 134 countries have signed the Convention, and 65 have
ratified. On February 24, Ukraine became the most recent state to sign the Convention.
Austria's Foreign Minister, Wolfgang Schüssel, declared: "Today, the total ban on anti-personnel mines has
become a reality under international law. This encourages us in the pursuit of our common goal: no more mine
victims. The same unprecedented international co-operation that produced the Convention within a year will allow
us to rid the planet of the plight caused by these hidden killers."
Lloyd Axworthy, Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs, noted that the degree of international support for the ban is
significant: "The way the Convention was developed broke the rules, and now the speed at which it has entered into
force has broken the records. While we celebrate this achievement, we must remember that our objective remains:
freedom from the terror of mines. Canada will continue to work with its partners to achieve this goal."
Knut Vollebæk, Norway's Foreign Minister, noted that this day marks a ground- breaking, remarkable achievement.
"The emphasis must now shift from campaigning to implementation. The convention provides the international
community with a framework for effectively resolving the tremendous humanitarian problems caused by AP
landmines. We must now respond in a co-ordinated and integrated way, in order to free the world of these
weapons within a finite period."
South Africa's Foreign Minister, Alfred Nzo, welcomed the entry into force of the Convention: "It will significantly
contribute to eradicating this scourge from the African continent, thereby assisting the socio-economic
advancement of its people who have been so gravely afflicted by the use of these deadly weapons."
Church bells will be ringing out in cities around the world today, in celebration of the occasion. Numerous activities
have been arranged worldwide to commemorate the event. The next major milestone for the Convention will be the
First Meeting of States Parties, to take place on May 3 to 7 in Maputo, Mozambique. In this forum, countries party
to the Convention (as well as other interested states and non-governmental organizations) will review progress to
date in implementing the Convention and set new goals for increased international co-operation.
Mozambican Foreign Minister Leonardo Simao noted that the Government and the people of Mozambique are
honoured to host the First Meeting of States Parties and look forward to welcoming all participants. "It is our
earnest hope that the Maputo Meeting will succeed in devising joint actions against anti-personnel mines, including
assistance and rehabilitation of victims as well as raising international awareness of this issue."
The five Ministers called upon all countries to join them in becoming States Parties to the Convention, and pledged
to work together to promote effective global mine action.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Debora Brown
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
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