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The Disposal of Albania’s Anti-personnel Mine Stockpiles 1. Introduction Contents   1. Introduction   2. Albania’s mine problem defined  3. Mission overview  4. NATO’s PfP: A Programme to enhance stability and security  5. Working together for results  6. Mission expansion  7. One Minute Interview Editorial Note   Important publisher and editorial information about this document Other Formats English PDF (~446Kb) Printable version with colour illustrations Order a hardcopy version using the online order form. Against the background of fifty years of communist rule and the prolonged conflict and instability that has devastated the entire Balkan region, Albania acquired an extensive anti-personnel mine problem. This landmine problem has had a significant and devastating humanitarian toll on the country, rendering large areas of valuable land unusable, affecting transportation and contributing to harsh social and economic conditions. The presence of the landmines also hindered the repatriation of refugees and internally displaced persons, a situation which posed particularly serious problems for a country trying to rebuild itself and return to normality. In recognising the gravity of the problem, the Defence Partnership and Cooperation Directorate of NATO’s Defence Planning and Operations Division decided to initiate a programme to help Albania meet the demands and challenges of its ammunition-related problems. The importance of this project cannot be over-stated: not only does it save lives and resources, but it also represents a major step in the military reform of Albania, ultimately bringing the country closer to the Euro-Atlantic community. "Landmines are among the most insidious weapons commonly used in armed conflict. They are too often used indiscriminately and cause immense suffering, especially among civilians who are protected by universally accepted law from acts of war. What is more, they continue to claim victims for decades after the fighting has stopped". International Committee of the Red Cross What is an anti-personnel mine? Article 2 of the Ottawa Convention defines an anti-personnel mine as “a mine designed to be exploded by the presence, proximity, or contact of a person and that will incapacitate, injure, or kill one or more persons”. Landmines are placed just under the surface of the land and contain between 10 and 250 grammes of explosive charges that, when deployed, cause significant damage and injury to whatever, or whomever, they come in contact with. Anti-personnel mines can be detonated when a person steps on them, picks them up, or disturbs the tripwire attached to them. They cause serious injury, sometimes leading to amputations, life-long disabilities or death. In addition, victims often experience severe psychological trauma. Albania possessed approximately 1 607 420 of these deadly weapons.

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