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Disarmament DiplomacyIssue No. 41, November 1999Britain, Bosnia Eliminate LandminesOn October 19, the UK announced it had completed the destruction, ahead of schedule, of its stockpile of anti-personnel landmines. Making the announcement, Armed Forces Minister John Spellar observed: "I hope that the completion of our accelerated destruction programme will send a clear message to those countries who have not yet signed the Ottawa Convention. I can only emphasize that a global, united effort is vital to make the Ottawa Convention truly effective." The Ottawa Convention sets a date of March 2003 for the elimination by States Parties of their landmines stockpiles.On November 15, Bosnia-Herzogovina completed the destruction of 360,000 landmines left on its territory at the end of the Bosnian conflict. Speaking at a ceremony in Sarajevo, Lt. Gen. Ronald Adams, Commander of the NATO-led Stabilisation Force (S-FOR), enthused: "This event is a small but very important step in confidence-building and helping sustain peace in Bosnia-Herzogovina." Reports: Britain destroys land mines, Associated Press, October 19; Bosnia destroys last land mines, Associated Press, November 15. © 1999 The Acronym Institute. |