PRESS CONFERENCE ON MINE AWARENESS DAY

The international community would mark its first International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance for Mine Action tomorrow, to raise awareness of the problem and progress towards mine eradication, correspondents were told at a Headquarters press conference this afternoon.

Speaking to the press were the Director of the Mine Action Service, Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Max Gaylard; and the Co-Chairman of the Forum of Mine Affected States, Ismael Abraão Gaspar Martins ( Angola).

Mr. Gaylard said that 4 April was an opportunity to remind the world that, while much remained to be done, “there is light at the end of the tunnel”.  He did not want to underestimate the challenge -- there were still an “awful lot of mines out there” -- but the international community now believed the problem could be solved “sooner, rather than later”.  The task of eliminating landmines could be completed in years, rather than many decades.

In this connection, he recalled that, some 10 years ago, there had been a belief that it would take hundreds of years to solve the problem in such countries as Afghanistan.  While the main responsibility for mine action lay with the Governments of mine-affected countries, they also required international assistance in order to succeed.  Today, with some 82 countries affected by landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW), the United Nations was acting in 30 countries and 3 territories.  [ERW include unexploded ordnance, such as cluster munitions that did not detonate on impact, and such abandoned ordnance as grenades and missiles.]  In late 1990 there had been some 25,000 casualties a year -- today, that number had been reduced to about 15,000, and it was still heading downwards.

Alerting the press to the activities planned for the Mine Awareness Day tomorrow, he said that they included an exhibit in the visitors’ area of the Secretariat Building and a film screening, followed by a panel discussion by several personalities from the mine-action community, at the United Nations Dag Hammarskjöld Library Auditorium.  The Secretary-General would make a statement in connection with the event.  Adopt-A-Minefield would host a fund-raising dinner in the Delegates’ Dining Room.  Another non-governmental organization, Roots of Peace, would host the First Lady of Angola and the Secretary-General’s wife in planting Angola’s national flower.

Representing one heavily affected country, Mr. Martins stressed the importance of clearing mines, which represented not only a humanitarian problem, but also a development issue, for it affected agriculture and freedom of movement.  It was necessary to transform “affected and infected lands into productive lands”.  In his country, 4 April coincided with the Day of Peace, which commemorated the day when, after 30 years of war, Angola had decided to put a stop to the hostilities and sign a peace agreement.

Responding to a question, Mr. Gaylard said that progress could be attributed to better global awareness of the existence and scale of the problem, as well as stronger commitment by individual countries and the international community at large, which, in particular, manifested itself in increased adherence to the Mine Ban Treaty, which was signed almost 10 years ago.  Success was possible, as long as mine-affected countries did everything in their power to become mine-free, and donor countries and organizations maintained their interest and support.

Mr. Martins added that, due to a thorough survey in his country, the Government now had a much better picture of where landmines had been placed.  Effective demining work had also been done.  His Government was tackling the problem as a top priority.  The international community was also actively involved, with the need for partnerships emphasized.  In particular, the role of non-governmental organizations should not be underestimated.

A correspondent commented that, during a Security Council briefing on the Middle East last week, a United Arab Emirates representative, speaking on behalf of the Arab Group, had mentioned the need for Israel to hand over all landmine maps pertaining to southern Lebanon.  She wanted to know about contacts with Israel on that matter.

Mr. Martins replied that one of the ideas of the Mine-Affected States Forum was to bring together its 30 members and create partnerships to promote dialogue.  Countries that were not party to the Convention were welcome to participate in the Forum, as well.  So far, the Forum had not had direct contact with Israel, “but there is nothing to bar us from doing that”, he said.

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For information media • not an official record