B4-1042, 1051, 1059, 1063, 1072, 1076 and 1081/97

Resolution on the 1997 Convention on the prohibition and destruction of anti- personnel mines

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on landmines, which called for a complete ban on anti-personnel mines,

- having regard to the Convention on the prohibition of the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines and on their destruction signed by 122 states in Ottawa on 3 and 4 December 1997,

A. whereas the Ottawa Convention meets its demands for an international instrument imposing a total ban on anti-personnel mines with no exceptions, each country adhering to the Ottawa Convention committing itself 'never, under any circumstances¨ to use anti-personnel mines,

B. whereas it has been involved in the 'Ottawa Process¨ to establish such an instrument since it was launched in October 1996,

C. whereas the number of states that have signed the Ottawa Convention is considerably higher than might have been expected and marks a very significant step in ridding the world of these brutal weapons,

D. whereas the Convention will only enter into force six months after it has been ratified by 40 states,

E. noting with approval that Canada, Ireland and Mauritius have already deposited their instruments of ratification,

F. whereas it is important that more countries should now proceed to sign it,

G. whereas, in order to ensure compliance with the Convention, it is essential now to move swiftly to ensure its effective implementation,

H. whereas the momentum gathered in the campaign to ban anti-personnel mines must be maintained not only to widen adherence to the Convention but also to pursue efforts to clear mines and rehabilitate victims,

I. whereas the Convention provides for all signatories to destroy all anti- personnel mines in mined areas under their control no later than ten years after its entry into force and, where possible, to assist others in mine clearance and related activities,

J. whereas the European Union and its Member States are currently the largest contributors outside the United Nations of funds and expertise for mine clearance,

1. Congratulates the Canadian Government in having successfully organized the negotiation of such a binding and watertight convention in such a short period of time;

2. Welcomes the significant role played by the Commission in the campaign against anti-personnel mines and in particular its full and effective support for the 'Ottawa Process¨;

3. Commends the 14 EU Member States which have signed the Convention for having done so and calls on the Finnish Government to sign as soon as possible, in the realization that any possible military advantages of anti-personnel mines are far outweighed by their disastrous humanitarian effects and that worldwide respect for the Convention is vital;

4. Considers that the EU's leading position in the fight against anti-personnel mines would be strengthened by having the 14 Member States which have signed the Convention among the first 40 states to ratify it and urges these Member States therefore to do their utmost to expedite their ratification procedures with the aim of completing them by mid-1998;

5. Is pleased to see that, of those countries applying for membership of the European Union, eight (Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia) have already signed the Convention and calls on Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Turkey to do so in the near future;

6. Urges all states which have not yet signed the Convention, and in particular the United States, Russia, China, and India, which have as producing countries a major role to play, to do so during 1998 and to halt immediately all exports of anti-personnel mines; calls on the Commission and the Council to raise this question at all appropriate meetings with countries linked to the European Union by trade and cooperation or other agreements, declarations or action plans;

7. Calls upon all Member States to take the necessary administrative, legislative and other measures at national level to ensure compliance with the Convention and to provide assistance to severely mine-affected countries for the destruction of stockpiles of anti-personnel mines, clearance of emplaced mines and vastly increased programmes of assistance to mine victims;

8. Calls for effective coordination of international efforts in mine clearance and in the rehabilitation of victims by states, international organizations and NGOs, perhaps involving the creation of an international steering committee and working groups for appropriate technology, information management and afflicted country actions, with a strong EU involvement;

9. Points out that such a coordinated approach, apart from ensuring that aid is disbursed efficiently, could enable afflicted countries to deal with a single organization rather than having to devise complicated programmes involving myriad organizations;

10. Calls on the UN Conference on Disarmament to consider the question of anti- personnel mines with a view to promoting a ban thereon amongst the non- signatory countries and to securing firm undertakings from those countries concerning the banning of such mines;

11. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States and the Government of Canada.