13 Sept. 2002

Report on global landmine situation presented at NATO Headquarters Handicap International Belgium, the co-recipient of the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize, presented the major findings of its Landmine Monitor Report 2002 at a press conference held at NATO Headquarters on 13 September. The Landmine Monitor is a comprehensive report on the global landmine situation, containing information on every country in the world with respect to mine use, production, trade, stockpiling, mine clearance, mine risk education and mine survivor assistance. NATO's contribution By welcoming Handicap International at NATO today, we wish to underline the importance of the issue to the Alliance, NATO officials said. NATO has been and continues to be an active player in both the destruction of mine stockpiles and demining. "I think it most appropriate that [the presentation] is done at NATO Headquarters, because indeed we have lot of programmes (…) in the anti-landmine area," said David Wright, Canadian Permanent Representative to NATO and Dean of the North Atlantic Council, NATO's top decision-making body. Outlining NATO's contribution, Dr. Edgar Buckley, Assistant NATO Secretary General for Defence Planning and Operations, pointed out that 1.6 million of the 7 million landmines destroyed in the past year were destroyed under NATO's Partnership for Peace Trust Fund. The Fund, established in 2000, aims to help NATO partner countries eliminate stockpiles of mines and munitions. Press Conference 13 September 2002 at NATO HQ Brussels Photos MP3 (13Mb) Notes for Remarks at the Launch of the 2002 Landmine Monitor Report by the Canadian Ambassador to NATO, David Wright   Major findings presented by Handicap International Belgium   Landmine Monitor Report 2002   Speaking notes by Assistant Secretary General For Defence Planning and Operations, Dr. Edgar Buckley   Additional information: Handicap International Belgium NATO's Partnership for Peace Trust Fund