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Anti-land mine group urges Lebanese cooperation - The Daily Star Lebanon

BEIRUT: The diplomatic adviser of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), Satnam Jit Singh, arrived in Lebanon Wednesday to meet with the country's political and military leaders in an effort to gain their cooperation in ridding Lebanon of landmines.

In a statement issued by the Faculty of Public Health at Balamand University, Singh urged the Lebanese government to take a firm step to clear its territory permanently.

The adviser condemned the fact that Lebanese people's daily lives are marred by the constant terror of mines.

"It has been 15 years since the war ended and six years since Israeli forces withdrew from South Lebanon, but landmines still prevent farming, the return of displaced persons and the development of much-needed infrastructure," he said.

But the ICBL adviser praised Lebanese efforts in demining fields, saying: "The National Demining Office of the Lebanese Army, NGOs and the United Nations are doing an excellent job."

However, he said, "without a political decision those efforts are like a house built on sand."

To ensure the Lebanese their basic rights to life, safety, freedom of movement and access to resources, a firm commitment is needed on the part of Lebanon to prohibit the planting of landmines in its territory in the future, he said.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb

Such commitment requires adherence to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Antipersonnel Mines, and on their Destruction, he added.

The convention, also known as the Ottawa Convention, was started in 1999 and now includes 151 countries.

Lebanon has nothing to lose from joining the convention, Singh said, but instead can benefit from the political, technical and financial support of its member states.

Some of the member states have security concerns similar to Lebanon and the convention contributed to stabilize areas of heated tension, he added.

After his meeting with Lebanese Army Commander Michel Suleiman, Singh will also meet with Premier Fouad Siniora, Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh and MP Ali Bazzi during his three-day visit.

Posted: Thursday, June 15, 2006



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