Tuomioja: Ottawa Mines Convention a great victory for civic engagement

The Ottawa Convention entered into force in 1999 and it has been signed by 156 countries. The Convention prohibits the use, development, production, acquisition, stockpiling and transfer of anti-personnel mines, and furthermore requires that existing stockpiles are destroyed. The Convention includes an obligation to provide assistance for mine clearance and for supporting mine victims.

Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja says the Ottawa Mines Convention was a great victory for civic engagement.

“It was not for nothing that the International Campaign to Ban Landmines won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997. The Convention has all but put an end to the planting of new landmines, even though undetonated landmines left behind in former war zones continue to cause extensive human suffering and destruction around the world. Finnish landmines have played no part in these events, but our joining the Convention is nonetheless an important expression of support.”

According to the government proposal Finland undertakes to destroy all its stockpiles of anti-personnel mines by 2016 as required by the Convention. Even before its decision to join the Convention Finland has supported a universal ban on anti-personnel landmines and contributed to humanitarian mine action in developing countries. Furthermore Finland has refrained from manufacturing, exporting and acquiring new anti-personnel mines.

Further information on the Ottawa Mines Convention: Director Markku Virri, Unit for Arms Control, tel. +358 9 1605 6185