4th International Pledging Conference for the Implementation of the
Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention
Geneva, 26 February 2019
Statement by Estonia
Mr. President,
Estonia warmly welcomes your initiative for convening the Fourth International Pledging Conference for the Implementation of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention. Let me also thank the keynote speakers and panellists for sharing their insightful ideas and information. Estonia aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union.
We agree that the Ottawa Convention, which celebrates the 20th anniversary of its entry into force this year, has become one of the most successful international disarmament agreements that has brought clear results on the ground through mine clearance, victim assistance and stockpile destruction. However, the work has to continue to achieve our goal – an anti-personnel mine free world without new victims.
Mr. President,
Estonia has prioritized mine action well over a decade now and humanitarian demining is a priority area in our Government’s Strategy for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Assistance for the years 2016-2020. Estonia remains committed to supporting mine clearance activities to help mine affected States Parties to meet their clearance obligations under the Convention. Over the years, we have gradually increased our contributions, including financial support to the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), as well as to clean-up of various explosive remnants of war and mine-clearance activities under bilateral and international humanitarian projects in Mali, Gaza, Libya, Lebanon Iraq, Syria, Ukraine and Afghanistan. In 2018, Estonia continued financing a bilateral project for developing a humanitarian demining training system in Ukraine and contributed to UNMAS to support the Mine Action programme in Iraq.
Since 2006, we have regularly supported and gradually increased our contributions to the Ottawa Implementation Support Unit (ISU) in achieving its mandate-based targets. In 2018, Estonia supported the ISU with 5000 EUR. This year, we are planning to continue our support in the same amount. Estonia stands ready to look further into the financing mechanisms of the ISU when the States Parties are ready to do so.
To conclude, we would like to commend the ISU for their excellent work and wish Norway every success ahead of the Fourth Review Conference in Oslo.
Thank you!