The National Defence Committee initiated a Bill for allowing transfer of landmines
Today, the National Defence Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) initiated a Bill allowing the transport of anti-personnel mines, as Estonia withdrew from the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel mines at the end of last year.
In connection with the withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention, the Bill will repeal a provision of the Strategic Goods Act that currently prohibits the transfer of anti-personnel mines and the related services, except in the cases when it is absolutely necessary for the purpose of training or the demolition of the mines.
The Riigikogu decided to withdraw from the convention banning anti-personnel mines in June of last year due to deteriorating security situation, and Estonia’s withdrawal took effect at the end of December of last year. Along with Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland also withdrew from the convention. Finland reportedly plans to begin producing anti-personnel mines this autumn.
Chairman of the National Defence Committee Kalev Stoicescu noted that withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention without amending the legislation and without allowing the use and stockpiling of anti-personnel mines was neither sensible nor justified. “Moreover, our other neighbouring countries and allies, which have also withdrawn from the Convention, have already taken or are taking specific steps. We should not fall behind them,” he said.
The explanatory memorandum to the Bill states that while the intention behind withdrawing from the Convention was to give the Estonian Defence Forces greater flexibility and freedom to choose additional weapons systems and solutions to use as needed, the transport of anti-personnel mines through Estonia’s territory from Finland to countries of the Baltic Sea region cannot be ruled out. The explanatory memorandum also points out that the United States, a NATO member whose units are stationed on Estonia’s territory, has not acceded to the Ottawa Convention.
Riigikogu Press Service
Karin Kangro
+372 631 6356, +372 520 0323
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