How to meet that cost will be discussed at a series of meetings this week on the sidelines of the signing ceremony. One major target would be to develop detection technology so that people clearing mines do not have to poke gingerly ahead of them with a steel rod. Skeptics have noted that most countries that use land mines on a large scale aren't ready to sign the treaty. On Tuesday, Russian President Boris Yeltsin signed a decree extending the moratorium for another five years, beginning December 1, 1997. Why they're not signing President Clinton said the United States wanted to sign the treaty, but only if an exception were made to allow continued use of mines to protect American troops in Korea.
China says it, too, needs land mines for defensive purposes.
Russia, with a vast border to defend, says one reason it's not signing the treaty is because it doesn't have the money to conduct massive mine removal under the four-year deadline suggested by conference organizers. In addition, minefields guard Russian nuclear bases. Axworthy says he'd be happy with international commitments for half that. Associated Press contributed to this report. D.C. External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.