May 24, 2001 (9:10 a.m. EDT) No. 66

MANLEY REAPPOINTS SPECIAL ADVISOR ON LANDMINES

John Manley, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced the reappointment of Senator Sheila Finestone as Special Advisor on Landmines.

Senator Finestone's mandate is to provide advice to Mr. Manley on landmines in the foreign policy context, to personally represent the Minister at international meetings relating to landmines and to meet with members of Canadian civil society in order to learn of their concerns regarding the issue.

Special Advisor on Landmines since 1998, Senator Finestone has been involved in the landmine ban effort since the beginning of the drive for an international treaty through the Ottawa Process.

Senator Finestone's efforts on behalf of the landmine ban are motivated by her personal experiences in mine-affected areas of Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Senator Finestone works with legislators from around the world, under the auspices of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, to build awareness of the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel mines. She advocates for its ratification and for financial support for mine action programming.

Canada continues to play an international leadership role in the effort to eradicate anti-personnel mines and to help communities affected by these weapons. In its first three years, the five-year, $100 million Canadian Landmine Fund has supported mine action programs, including stockpile destruction, mine clearance, mine awareness and survivor assistance, in over 20 countries. The Ottawa Convention first opened for signature in December 1997 and has now been formally accepted through ratification or accession by 114 states.

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