Resolution on the conference in Oslo seeking a convention on a total ban on anti-people mines
Date: 1997-09-18
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: conventional weapon, disarmament, international agreement, international conference













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51997IP0786

Resolution on the conference in Oslo seeking a convention on a total ban on anti-people mines  


Official Journal C 304 , 06/10/1997 P. 0146 





B4-0786/97Resolution on the conference in Oslo seeking a convention on a total ban on anti-people minesThe European Parliament,- having regard to its previous resolutions on this subject, in particular those of 14 March 1996 on anti-personnel landmines and the Vienna International Conference on the review of the Protocol on Certain Conventional Weapons ((OJ C 96, 1.4.1996, p. 292.)), 23 May 1996 on the failure of the Conference on anti-personnel mines ((OJ C 166, 10.6.1996, p. 197.)) and 17 July 1997 on anti-personnel mines ((nutes of that Sitting, Part II, Item 13.)),A. noting the significant progress the Ottawa process has made towards a ban on anti-people mines,B. congratulating the 97 signatories to the Brussels Declaration in favour of a December 1997 treaty and in support of the Austrian draft text, and those Member States who declared a moratorium on the sale or deployment of landmines before the Ottawa process,C. welcoming the successful outcome of the negotiations in Oslo, which will make possible the signing of a treaty in Ottawa in December 1997,D. acknowledging the profound challenges that victims of landmines face after an explosion and commending the intrepid role survivors have played in the movement for a global ban,E. commending the efforts of non-governmental organizations and many personalities like Diana, Princess of Wales, who brought the inhumane and tragic impact of anti-people mines to the attention of the world public,F. whereas the agreement to refinance the fourth European Union research and technological development framework programme should include a section on support for mine-detection technologies,1. Welcomes the fact that 89 states succeeded in Oslo in agreeing a common text that will put a legal ban on the production, stockpiling, use and transfer of anti-people mines;2. Regrets that, with the US leaving the Ottawa process, the hoped-for positive signal for a worldwide ban on the mines has not been sent;3. Regrets that Finland and Greece were present at the negotiations only as observers, but urges them, nevertheless, to sign the treaty;4. Encourages all states, in particular Russia, China, Pakistan, India, Iraq and Turkey, which have not participated in the Ottawa process to date to sign the treaty in December 1997;5. Requests its Delegation for Relations with the US to draw the attention of their US counterparts to the massive popular support that exists for a total ban and to encourage the US to sign the treaty;6. Demands that the developing cooperation with states which refuse to sign the treaty or to participate in the Ottawa process should be scrutinized critically;7. Demands that in the near future, the number of areas cleared annually must be higher than the number of newly-mined areas;8. Calls on the Secretary-General of the United Nations to use his political influence to revive the hesitant disarmament negotiations in Geneva;9. Calls on the Council, the Commission and Member States to develop the necessary cooperation between civilian and military R& D programmes in order to foster the widespread use and diffusion of mine-detection technologies;10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Secretary-General of the Oslo conference and the Secretary-General of the United Nations.