Afghanistan Joins International Treaty Banning Landmines - 2002-07-28

Afghanistan announces its intention to join the international treaty banning the use of landmines. So far, over 140 countries have signed this agreement. Abdullah Abdullah, Afghanistan's Foreign Minister, stated at an international conference on landmines that the Ministry of Defense, in collaboration with local authorities, is working to encourage various factions in Afghanistan to support the signing of the anti-landmine treaty. Hamid Karzai, the leader of Afghanistan's transitional government, also mentioned at the conference that with international assistance, Afghanistan will be free of landmines within seven years. Dr. Abdullah called for the use of international peacekeeping forces in areas outside Kabul. However, Javier Solana, the EU's foreign affairs chief visiting Afghanistan, stated during a joint press conference with the Afghan Foreign Minister that the quickest way to ensure security is to establish a multi-ethnic army and police force in Afghanistan. Mr. Abdullah expects the transitional government’s cabinet to approve Afghanistan's accession to the international anti-landmine treaty by next Monday. The anti-landmine treaty, signed in 1997, prohibits the use, production, or stockpiling of anti-personnel mines. Afghanistan is one of the countries most heavily affected by landmines, with hundreds of people killed or injured each month due to landmine incidents.