EU calls on countries to ban use of landmines

On the occasion of the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, the European Union called on the world community to join Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention and to ban the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of these weapons. This is reported on the website of the European External Action Service.

“European Union is a longstanding major donor for mine action worldwide, providing assistance in various areas ranging from mine clearance, risk education, victims’ assistance, stockpile destruction, capacity building, to research and development on mine detection and clearance.  In the past five years, we have supported mine action for over €250 million in over 26 mine affected countries, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Chad, Colombia, Iraq, Laos, Lebanon, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Syria, Turkey and Ukraine,” said in a statement.

Before the Convention was joined by 164 states, some 30 countries have been declared mine-free.

As The Journalist reported, volunteer Yana Chervona and the fighter Oleksandr Milyutin, who were killed by a mine, will be awarded posthumously.