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<title>MANLEY WELCOMES DESTRUCTION OF ANTI-PERSONNEL MINES IN ALBANIA</title>
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<p><font face="Arial"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>July 6, 2001 <em>(10:10 a.m. EDT)</em> No. 97</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>MANLEY WELCOMES DESTRUCTION OF ANTI-PERSONNEL MINES IN
ALBANIA</strong></font><font face="Arial"></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">John Manley, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today welcomed the beginning of a year-long
project, initiated and supported by Canada, which will see the demilitarization and
destruction of anti-personnel mines stockpiled in Albania.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Some 1.6 million mines, owned by the Albanian military, will be demilitarized and
destroyed through a project managed by the NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency on
behalf of the following eight donor countries: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Hungary, the
Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The project is being
undertaken under the umbrella of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council's Partnership for
Peace Trust Fund for Anti-personnel Landmine Stockpile Destruction. Canada is the
lead nation and initiator of the Fund.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">"This project is an example of Canada's active co-operation with other countries to
ensure the implementation of the Ottawa Convention banning landmines," said
Minister Manley. "It's an indicator of our concrete progress toward ridding the world of
these weapons, and should serve as a valuable contribution to stability in the region."</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">The destruction of Albania's stockpiled anti-personnel mines will allow the country to
meet its obligations under the four-year stockpile destruction time-line imposed by the
Ottawa Convention. Albania is a state party to the Convention, having signed on
September 8, 1998 and ratified on February 29, 2000.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">The demilitarization and destruction of the mines will take place at Ulp Mjekës, a former
weapons production facility near Elbasan in central Albania. The first mines were
demilitarized on June 29 with the entire demilitarization and destruction scheduled to be
completed by next year. The mines will be taken apart and their component parts
destroyed or recycled for civilian use. The total project cost is US$800 000. Canada's
contribution is US$200 000. In addition, the Department of National Defence has
provided a technical expert for the project. </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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