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<title>MANLEY CONGRATULATES GREECE AND TURKEY ON CONCURRENT PLAN TO JOIN THE OTTAWA CONVENTION </title>
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<p><font face="Arial"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1">April 13, 2001 <em>(9:30 a.m. EDT)</em> No. 47</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>MANLEY CONGRATULATES GREECE AND TURKEY ON CONCURRENT PLAN TO JOIN
THE OTTAWA CONVENTION </strong></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong></strong></font><font face="Arial">John Manley, Minister of Foreign Affairs,</font> today congratulated Greece and Turkey on the announcement of their decision
to concurrently become parties to the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel mines.</p>
<p>"This is a bold step that will make a major contribution to confidence building and stability in the region," said Minister
Manley. "It confirms that mine action is an effective measure and an aid to global security." </p>
<p>Greek Foreign Affairs Minister Yeoryios Papandreou and Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister Ismail Cem announced on April
6 that Greece, which signed the Convention on December 4, 1997, will begin the process of ratification and that Turkey
will begin the process of acceding to the Convention. Greece's instrument of ratification and Turkey's instrument of
accession will be simultaneously deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.</p>
<p>Ministers Papandreou and Cem stated that their countries "recognize that a total ban on these mines is an important
confidence-building measure that would contribute to security and stability in the region." </p>
<p>The Ottawa Convention, officially known as the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and
Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction, was opened for signature in Ottawa in December 1997 and
entered into force on March 1, 1999, making it the most rapidly ratified multilateral disarmament treaty in history. </p>
<p>The Convention has established a new international norm by calling for a complete ban on the production, use and transfer
of anti-personnel mines, and for the destruction of stockpiled mines within four years of its entry into force. Since
December 1997, 139 states have signed or acceded to the Convention, and a total of 111 have formally accepted its
obligations.<font face="Arial"></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial">- 30 -</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">For further information, media representatives may contact:</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Sanjeev Chowdhury </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Press Secretary</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(613) 995-1851</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Media Relations Office</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(613) 995-1874</font></p>
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