Estonia supports clearing Afghanistan of land mines
10.04.2008
TALLINN, Apr 10, BNS - Estonia gave 200,000 kroons (EUR 12,800) to the United Nations fund that is respsonsible for clearing Afghanistan of land mines.
The Foreign Ministry said that the money would be allocated from sums earmarked in the ministry bugdet for membership fees of international organizations.
"Afghanistan is one of the worst mine-infested countries in the worldc" Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said. "Supporting the destruction of land mines Estonia will make its contribution to the restoration of a normal and safe living environmment."
Afghanistan is estimated to have 700 million square meters covered with mines and other live ordnance.
According to the Ottawa Convention which demands a ban on the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines and destruction of the mines Afghanistan must clear its mine fields by 2013.
In the recent years Estonia has actively supported activiites connected with the Ottawa convention.
In 2003-2007 there was an Estonian rescue team working in Afghanistan with the duty of clearing mine fields.
In 2006 Estonia was co-reporter of the destruction of the stockpiles committee of the Ottawa Convention and in 2007 co-chairman of the same committee.
Tallinn newsroom, +372 610 8861, sise@bns.ee
 
|
