SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS FOR TOTAL BAN ON PRODUCTION, SALE, USE OF LAND-MINES IN MESSAGE TO CONFERENCE IN DENMARK
Press Release
SG/SM/6012
IHA/602
SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS FOR TOTAL BAN ON PRODUCTION, SALE, USE OF LAND-MINES IN MESSAGE TO CONFERENCE IN DENMARK
19960702 Following is Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali's message to the International Conference on Mine-Clearance Technology, delivered on his behalf by Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Yasushi Akashi at the Scanticon Conference Centre near Copenhagen today:Land-mines are a problem that kill and maim not only during a conflict, but even after hostilities end among combatants.
Even while you meet here today in Denmark, more mines are being laid and innocent victims killed around the world. Mine-clearance activities are, therefore, an important humanitarian undertaking which will reduce unnecessary casualties and, at the same time, enable fragile societies that emerge from conflicts to rebuild their civil societies.
While the world has made tremendous strides in the development of technology, including in the field of weapons, little progress has been achieved in the advancement of technical know-how in mine clearance. I, therefore, warmly welcome the initiative of the Government of Denmark to convene this conference, to bring together interested governments, demining experts, non-governmental organizations and the private sector from around the world to discuss and promote the development of appropriate technology for humanitarian demining activities. I sincerely hope that, as a result of this unique partnership, a network will be established to strengthen, in particular, the technological capacity of the countries which require this support in eliminating these indiscriminate weapons from their schoolyards, fields, roads -- from their everyday lives.
Mine clearance, as we all recognize, is an increasingly important but relatively new humanitarian problems. We would all benefit from internationally recognized standards and procedures to promote greater cost- effectiveness, higher quality of delivery and improved safety for mine- clearance workers in the field. Of equal importance is the ability to provide a safer environment to enable victims of conflict to return to normal economic and social activities. I look forward to concrete recommendations from your
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conference in the establishment of internationally recognized standards for mine-clearance purposes. The United Nations will spare no efforts to promote the adoption of such standards by all those who engage in mine-clearance activities.
While we should continue to increase and improve our efforts to move these indiscriminate weapons from the ground, today more mines are being laid than cleared. It is, therefore, imperative that the international community not be allowed to be complacent with the progress made so far in the banning of land-mines. As I have said on many other occasions, a total ban on the production, sale and use of these immoral weapons must be achieved.
Once again, I would like to thank the Government of Denmark for convening this important conference, and I wish you all every success with your endeavours here today.
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