BELGIUM: NINETY-FIVE COUNTRIES ATTENDING AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON LAND MINES IN BRUSSELS EXPRESS THEIR SUPPORT FOR LANDMINE BAN TREATY

Record ID: 639858

  • Title: BELGIUM: NINETY-FIVE COUNTRIES ATTENDING AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON LAND MINES IN BRUSSELS EXPRESS THEIR SUPPORT FOR LANDMINE BAN TREATY
  • Date: 27th June 1997
  • Summary: BELGIUM, BRUSSELS (JUNE 27, 1997) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. LV PAIR OF TORN JEANS HANGING OVER BRUSSELS 0.06 2. CU IMITATION MINEFIELD IN SQUARE 0.12 3. SV/SLV BELGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ERIC DERYCKE WALKING ACROSS MINEFIELD (2 SHOTS) 0.29 4. CU MINE 0.32 5. SLV CAMBODIAN MINE VICTIM IN WHEELCHAIR 0.44 6. INTERIOR CONFERENCE - PAN OF DELEGATES SEATED 0.53 7. MCU PRINCESS ASTRID ADDRESSING CONFERENCE, SAYING "MY DEEP WISH IS THAT YOUR UNCEASING EFFORTS WILL LEAD BY THE END OF THE YEAR TO A BAN ON THE USE AND THE PRODUCTION OF THESE MURDEROUS AND VICIOUS DEVICES (FRENCH) 1.15 8. LV CONFERENCE 1.26 9. SV DELEGATES IN HALL, INCLUDING CROATIA WHO SIGNED (2 SHOTS) 1.34 10.MCU INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS (ICRC) PRESIDENT CORNELIO SOMMARUGA SAYING THAT WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS TO CONTINUE FOR A COMPLETE BAN WITH NO EXCEPTION (ENGLISH) 1.52 11.LV CONFERENCE 1.57 12.SV/CU BOSNIAN MINE VICTIMS PRIGANICA PLAMENKO AND ZARKO PERIC (3 SHOTS) 2.09 13.MCU PLAMENKO SAYING HE IS NOT HAPPY THAT SOME OF THE BIG POWERS TO WHOM MINES MEAN NOTHING HAVE NOT SIGNED THE CONVENTION (SERBO-CROAT) 2.18 14.SV PLAMENKO AND PERIC 2.24 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
  • Embargoed: 12th July 1997 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
  • City:
  • Country: Belgium
  • Reuters ID: LVA2I8RC2IL4O8CRZNWA6O2G3W25
  • Story Text: Ninety-five countries attending an international conference on land mines in Brussels have expressed their support for a first ever international landmine ban treaty, to be signed in Ottawa in December.

    The countries have signed the so-called Brussels Declaration which will form the basis for negotiations in Oslo in September on the exact wording of the Ottawa treaty.

    Delegates from 130 countries have been attending the conference in the Palace of Congress, under the shadow of a giant pair of mutilated jeans hung up to symbolise the injuries caused by anti-personnel mines.

    Celebrity delegates including conference host and Belgian Foreign Minister Eric Derycke and Belgium's Princess Astrid had to pick their way through an imitation mine-field, accompanied by realistic sound-effects courtesy of campaigning group Handicap International.

    Princess Astrid told delegates she hoped their efforts would now lead to a complete ban on "these murderous and vicious devices".

    At a news conference afterwards, International Red Cross President Cornelio Sommaruga hailed the "historic" involvement of more than half the world's countries in the move towards a ban.

    Sommaruga called for continued efforts to secure a complete ban with no exceptions.

    A total of 115 countries took part in the Brussels talks to prepare the way for a ban of the production, use, stockpiling and transfer of anti-personnel landmines. But some countries are seeking exceptions for types of mine, or for their use in particular areas.

    The United States, which is attending the conference as an observer only, will not sign because it favours separateUnited Nations-sponsored landmine talks in Geneva.

    Russia and China are also against the moves, but France, Britain and Italy have all declared their support.

    Among those attending the talks were a number of mine victims, including six who cycled from Paris last weekend to support the call for a ban. Priganica Plamenko from Tuzla, in Bosnia welcomed the result of the conference but said he was concerned that some powerful countries had not yet signed.


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