Mr. Chairman,
I would like to seize this opportunity to thank the Government of the
Republic of Djibouti for organizing the conference and for the warm
hospitality accorded to us since our arrival in the city of Djibouti. My
gratitude also goes to all Governments and Organizations that made the
convening of the conference possible and for the effort they have been
making to draw the attention of the international community to the
challenges posed by land mines.
Mr. Chairman,
Landmines in general and anti-personnel land mines in particular have
brought immeasurable sufferings to millions of innocents civilians. They
kilI and maim thousands of innocent civilians including women and
children. They continue to turn vast areas of arable lands into wastelands
and placed severe constraints on rehabilitation and development efforts.
Cognisant of this enormous challenge facing humanity, the international
community has been making great effort to eliminate anti-personnel land
mines and to support mine victims.
Ethiopia, as a country that has suffered from the indiscriminate use of
land mines, has joined international community to contribute to and
benefit from the collective effort being made at global and regional
levels. Today, when the mine situation in the country has been exacerbated
and reached crisis proportion as a result of the unprovoked aggression of
Eritrean Government, the government of Ethiopia is duty bound to bring to
the attention of the international community of the challenges posed by
antipersonnel landmines.
Mr. Chairman,
a) Background
As a result of the protracted civil war many parts of the country have
been highly infested by landmines. Moreover, recurrent foreign armed
aggression and military incursions, especially committed by the defunct
Somali regime against Ethiopia in 1976-1977 left behind a considerable
number of landmines and unexploded ordnance in Eastern and Southern parts
of the country. At the end of the Derg regime, May 1991, the overall
number of these weapons had been estimated to over 1.5 million. The figure
could have been higher if an exhaustive survey was undertaken.
Mr. Chairman,
b) The Effort of the Government of Ethiopia
The Government of Ethiopia, since 1991, has fully recognized the
gravity of the problems of landmines and unexploded ordnance. It, thus,
has identified mine action as one of the priority areas to ensure the safe
return of displace population and refugees, to make wasted agricultural
lands useable and to tackle the challenges of sustainable development,
especially in agricultural sector. In the pursuit of these objectives, the
Government of Ethiopia has established demining training center with the
help of development partner. Moreover, it is creating National Mine Action
body and is formulating integrated mine action programme in order to
facilitate smooth cooperation with partners.
Mr. Chairman,
c) Exacerbation of Mine Situation
The Eritrean regime, in its unprovoked war of aggression against
Ethiopia had been extensively using anti-personnel land mines. The
objective of this act was crystal clear. It was to depopulate occupied
territories by terrorizing innocent civilians and denying them access to
farm lands and water points. This fully contradict with principles of
international humanitarian law and with civilized behaviour of nations.
After the humiliating defeat of the Ertirean occupation forces, it has
become glaringly clear that the Eritrean defence forces have contaminated
the whole occupied territories and.adjacent areas particularly in no-man's
land. It is estimated that more than I million land mines were
deliberately planted in villages, water points, farm lands and roads in
order to create a serious impediment to resettlement activities.
Reconnaissance mission which was dispatched by UN Secretary General to
the region to discuss with the Organization of African Unity (OAU),
Ethiopia and Eritrea the modalities of implementation of the Agreement on
Cessation of Hostilities signed by two countries in Algiers on 18 June
2000, after visiting Zalambessa and Bure reported that the presence of
landmines and unexploded ordnance from recent and previous hostilities
poses a significant risk throughout the conflict area and the
threat posed by these weapons, if unmitigated could impede emergency
rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts.
These weapons have already started taking their toll, according to the
reports of local administration 400 people, mostly children were killed or
injured by landmines since February 2000. 70,000 hectares of land rendered
uncultivated and unproductive due to the presence of landmines. Moreover,
these weapons killed and injured more than 2000 domestic animals.
Mr. Chairman,
d) Assistance expected from the International Community
The Ethiopian demining units with the limited resources, equipment and
manpower at their disposal were able to remove about 500,000 land
mines and unexploded ordnance, so far since May 1991. Out of these, more
than 260,000 Antipersonnel landmines and 13,000 antitank mines were
removed since May 1999. The operation undertaken has resulted in the death
of a significant number of deminers. It is, however, clear that the
challenge posed by these weapons cannot be dealt with current capacity of
the Ethiopian demining units. The afore-mentioned reconnaissance mission
noted "Both parties have already removed and/or destroyed a large
number of mines during the conflict or immediately thereafter. However,
neither side has sufficient technical means to conduct mine clearance to
international humanitarian standards, and consequently a significant
residual risk remains."
At this juncture, I would like to express our thanks to our partners
for assistance they rendered so far and for the expressed readiness to
enhance existing mine action capabilities of our country and to support
preparation of mine action assistance programme to help mitigate the
threat posed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Mr. Chairman,
There is an urgent need for resettlement of hundred thousands of
displaced population and rehabilitation of mine victims. In light of this,
the Government of Ethiopia calls upon donor countries, intergovernmental
agencies and non-governmental organizations to support the efforts being
made by Ethiopian demining units and to mobilize assistance for mine
victims, including medical and rehabilitation aspect of individuals as
well as communities.
In conclusion, I would like to express the readiness of Government to
cooperate with all concerned in mine action to alleviate the problems
posed by antipersonnel landmines. I also would like to reiterate
unwavering commitment of the Ethiopian Government to eliminate
antipersonnel landmines in all their aspects.
I thank you.
