Falklands : AMBASSADOR ANNOUNCES LIMITED FALKLANDS MINEFIELD CLEARANCE IN THE FALKLANDS
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 27.11.2008 (Article Archived on 11.12.2008)
A press release from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office states that Ambassador John Duncan made a statement to the Ninth meeting of States Parties to the convention on the prohibition of the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines and their destruction.
AMBASSADOR ANNOUNCES LIMITED FALKLANDS MINEFIELD CLEARANCE
By J. Brock (FINN)
A press release from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office states that Ambassador John Duncan made a statement to the Ninth meeting of States Parties to the convention on the prohibition of the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines and their destruction.
Speaking in Geneva, Mr Duncan explained the UK's commitment to fulfilling it's obligations under the Ottawa convention. He explained that the United Kingdom together with Canada, Japan and Norway have collectively spent over $160 million last year to help those countries worst affected by landmines. And spoke of the one million anti-personnel mines that have been destroyed from the UK's stockpile some three years before the required deadline under Article 4 of the convention.
Mr Duncan went on to explain the situation in the Falkland Islands and announced that the UK has decided to proceed with the clearance of three areas in the Falklands: Fox Bay 8 (West), Goose Green 11, and Stanley Area 3, M25.
He said:
"I am pleased to announce today that the UK has decided to proceed with the clearance of three mined areas in the Falkland Islands. These are: Fox Bay 8 (West); Goose Green 11; and Stanley Area 3, M25. These areas have been chosen because of their proximity to urban areas. In addition the variety of terrain they cover will serve as a means of testing the environmental and ecological impact of de-mining, which I have made clear are significant factors of concern".
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