Key
developments since May 2000: Belgium continued to play a leadership role in
promoting universalization and effective implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty.
Belgium has served as co-chair of the intersessional Standing Committee on
General Status and Operation of the Convention since September 2000. There has
been much activity in Parliament and elsewhere in support of a ban on
antihandling devices. Belgium contributed more than US$3.7 million to mine
action in 2000, an increase from the previous year.
Belgium signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 3 December
1997, ratified it on 4 September 1998, and became a State Party on 1 March 1999.
Belgium had already adopted domestic legislation banning the production,
procurement, sale, export, use and stockpiling of antipersonnel
mines.[1]
In September 2000,
at the Second Meeting of States Parties in Geneva, Belgium’s delegation
was headed by Ambassador Marc Baptist, Deputy Director-Generalof
Political Multilateral Relations and Thematic Questions, at the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, and Ambassador Jean Lint, Permanent Representative to the
Conference on Disarmament (CD). Advisers from the nongovernmental organization
Handicap International (HI) Belgium were also members of the Belgian delegation.
In a speech at the opening ceremony, Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid of
Belgium, reiterated the need for universalization of the Mine Ban Treaty, and
pleaded for greater solidarity with landmine
victims.[2]
Belgium
continues to play a significant role in promoting adherence to, and
implementation of, the Mine Ban Treaty. For example, on 15-16 February 2001,
Belgium participated actively in a seminar in Bamako, Mali, on the
implementation and universalization of the Mine Ban Treaty in Africa. Belgium
promotes universalization of the Mine Ban Treaty via bilateral contacts. Louis
Michel, Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, has sent letters to
a number of States not party to the Mine Ban Treaty, encouraging them to join
the treaty. Efforts to promote universalization are also made in multilateral
or international fora, such as the UN, NATO, and the CD. The interdepartmental
working group established by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has continued to
work on promoting the Mine Ban Treaty, and regularly invites HI Belgium to
attend its meetings.
At the Second Meeting of States Parties, Belgium
became co-chair with Zimbabwe of the Standing Committee on General Status and
Operation of the Convention. This Standing Committee has stressed the
importance of continuing efforts to universalize the Mine Ban Treaty. Belgium,
together with a number of other States Parties, has taken the initiative to form
the Universalization Contact Group, which coordinates activities encouraging
non-States Parties to accede to, or ratify, the Mine Ban Treaty without delay.
The group was formally recognized at the Second Meeting of States Parties.
Belgium was a very active participant in the December 2000 and May 2001
intersessional Standing Committee meetings. Belgium has given financial support
to the Geneva International Center for Humanitarian Demining to create a
sponsorship fund, which will allow wider participation in the intersessional
work and annual meetings of States
Parties.[3]
In addition,
Belgium is coordinating efforts to encourage full and prompt reporting by States
Parties of implementation measures under Article 7 of the Mine Ban Treaty.
Together with the NGO VERTIC, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, and
UN Department for Disarmament Affairs, Belgium undertook to develop a guide for
Article 7 transparency reports. During the Bamako seminar, Burkina Faso and
Belgium co-chaired a workshop on how to construct national Article 7 reports.
Belgium and Burkina Faso agreed to make a contact list of the African
representatives responsible for Article 7
reports.[4] Belgium has also
undertaken démarches in respect of a number of countries that have
not submitted Article 7 reports to the UN.
Belgium submitted its
transparency reports under Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 in May 1999, 15 August
1999, 27 April 2000, and 30 April
2001.[5] The most recent
Article 7 report includes the new Form J, in which Belgium provides information
on mine action funding and victim assistance measures.
In November 2000
Belgium voted in favor of UN General Assembly Resolution 55/33V on the
universalization and implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty. In 2001, Belgium
will lead the drafting of the UN resolution on the Mine Ban Treaty.
Belgium
is a party to Amended Protocol II of the Convention on Conventional Weapons
(CCW). At the Second Annual Conference of States Parties to the Protocol in
December 2000, Ambassador Lint headed a small Belgian delegation, and Belgium
was the only State Party to include an NGO member in its delegation. The
Belgian position is to continue encouraging States Parties to implement the
Amended Protocol II and also to encourage States to join the Mine Ban Treaty.
During the Second Annual Conference, the Netherlands made an informal proposal
for intensive consideration of whether to amend the CCW to cover
“explosive remnants of war.” Belgium co-sponsored this proposal
along with many other countries. Belgium submitted the annual report as required
by Article 13 of Amended Protocol II on 15 October
2000.[6]
Belgium
“considers that the Conference on Disarmament, at the same level as other
international and regional forums, may contribute to the promotion of the
universalization and the reinforcement of the international norm created by
the” Mine Ban Treaty.[7]
On 1 March 2001, Belgium’s Ambassador to the CD, Jean Lint, reminded the
CD that this date was the second anniversary of the entry into force of the Mine
Ban Treaty. He encouraged States that had not yet joined the Mine Ban Treaty to
do so.[8]
Belgium’s
position regarding the use of antipersonnel mines by a non-signatory of the Mine
Ban Treaty during joint military operations with a State Party was elaborated by
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in June 2000 and again in March 2001: “Any
Belgian unit engaged in joint operations outside national territory cannot use
antipersonnel mines, in any circumstances, whatever framework and subordination
mode this engagement is undergoing. Belgium will also continue to make
diplomatic and political efforts to NATO partners who have not ratified the
Ottawa Convention and to encourage them to adhere to
it.”[9] This issue has
been raised by the ICBL in the General Status Standing Committee several times,
and as co-chair, Belgium has proposed that a constructive debate on the scope of
the obligation take place in that Standing
Committee.[10]
Belgium has not produced antipersonnel mines since demilitarization of
facilities in 1990, and has stated that “the actions in which Belgium
participates, whether as a promoter or as a participant, are by no means aimed
at conceiving or developing munitions whose operation would be similar to the
operation of antipersonnel
mines.”[12]
In
September 1997, Belgium became one of the first countries to complete
destruction of its antipersonnel mine stockpile. Its most recent Mine Ban
Treaty Article 7 report indicates that at the end of reporting period on 31
December 2000, Belgium retained 5,433 M 35 Bg antipersonnel mines, after using
383 mines during the year for permitted training purposes, which are reported in
detail.[13] By March 2001, the
number had been further reduced to
5,426.[14]
On 1-2 February
2001, a representative of the Armed Forces participated in a technical meeting
in Budapest on the destruction of the PFM1 “Butterfly” mine.
Antihandling devices
An issue of particular concern has been certain
antivehicle mines with antihandling devices which may act like an antipersonnel
mine and thus be banned under the Mine Ban Treaty. This issue has been
discussed in various fora, including the meetings of the Standing Committee on
the General Status and Operation of the Convention. On 13-14 March 2001, the
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) hosted an expert meeting on
antivehicle mines with sensitive fuzes or sensitive antihandling devices in
Geneva, which Belgium attended.
[15]
On 11 May 2001, when the
results of the ICRC meeting were discussed at the Standing Committee on the
General Status, the Belgian delegation stated that Articles 1 and 2 of the Mine
Ban Treaty constitute an “interdiction on using antivehicle mines with
antihandling devices conceived or modified to activate when no attempt is made
to tamper with or disturb them.” The delegation went on to say that
Belgium considered such devices as booby-traps, which are banned under Belgian
national legislation.[16]
Belgium welcomed the ICRC contribution to keep with the objectives and purpose
of the Convention to take all possible steps to minimize the risk to civilian
populations of certain antivehicle mines, including by considering and adopting
as appropriate relevant best practices of the type identified in the report of
the ICRC Expert Meeting.
Within Belgium, substantial progress has been made
on this issue. Following a public awareness day on 11 November 2000 at the
Federal Belgian Parliament, a number of members of the Chamber of
Representatives and the Senate (from very different political parties) initiated
work on a ban on antihandling
devices.[17] HI Belgium
forwarded a document on antihandling devices to parliamentarians, encouraging
them to ban the devices.[18]
Five legal proposals to ban antihandling devices were initiated within fifteen
days. On 8 March 2001, three proposals by members of the Chamber of
Representatives were formally considered. On 22 February 2001, two proposals by
Senate members were discussed in the External Affairs and National Defense
Commission, were adopted
unanimously,[19] and put on the
agenda of the plenary session for voting by the Senate on 8 March
2001.[20] But no vote was taken
and the issue was referred back to the External Affairs and National Defense
Commission.
To consider more fully the technical, humanitarian and
international consequences of a ban on antihandling devices, a mixed commission
of the Chamber of Representatives National Defense Commission, and the Senate
Foreign Affairs and Defense Commission was organized on 21 March 2001. HI
Belgium, the Head of the Foreign Affairs Cabinet and a number of military
experts, including Minister of Defense Flahaut, were invited. HI Belgium
presented the humanitarian effects of antihandling device and expressed its view
that the 1995 Belgian law banning antipersonnel mines also bans the use of
antihandling devices. Martine Dardenne, co-author of the 1995 law, explained
that its objective was to cover the widest possible range of weapons having the
same effects as antipersonnel mines. Given the possibility of different
interpretations of the law, Martine Dardenne suggested that an interpretative
law be passed to make the precise scope of the 1995 law on antipersonnel mines
clearer. Parliamentarians have declared that they have the political will to
pursue a ban, and have noted that the international context may change if
Belgium does this.[21]
The
Minister of Defense has said, “I can tell you that the legislation related
to antipersonnel mines, booby-traps and other devices of the same nature is
fully respected by our national forces, as well in the text as in the spirit.
I’m glad to know that today, a proposal of law and resolution has been
initiated by Senator P. Mahoux to apply the Belgian law and the Ottawa Treaty on
antihandling devices.... The proposal of Senator P. Mahoux is a step in the
right direction.”[22]
But the Minister of Defense
has also pointed out that destroying antivehicle mines fitted with antihandling
devices would be very expensive and collaboration with multinational forces
would have to be reconsidered. The Minister agreed to consult with EU and NATO
members on whether they have already a national law prohibiting sensitive
antihandling devices, and the consequences for NATO of prohibiting such devices.
In response to a question from two members of the Chamber of Representatives the
Minister said, “Belgium has, as has its partners and allies, a stock of
antivehicle mines, of which a certain percentage is equipped with antihandling
devices.... There is an established political positionof Belgium to
continue its fight against antipersonnel mines. I officially informed the
Senate that I was in favor of the law proposal such as it has been initiated....
We could decide not to use them anymore but we would need some time to dismantle
them. The delays would be different in relation to the numbers of the existing
devices. We also have to take into account the problem of replacement and the
fact that we need to keep a certain amount of stockpile in order to train our
soldiers, just as we did for antipersonnel
mines.”[23]
Belgium
has one antivehicle mine fitted with an antihandling device, the HPD (or HPD
F2). This is a French mine equipped with an antihandling device and a
self-neutralizing system,[24]
which the Army says is 100 percent effective. An Army officer told
parliamentarians, “This kind of antivehicle mine fitted with antihandling
device doesn’t explode by an unintentional act, as you have to really move
it hard to make it
explode.”[25] The Army
states that it does not have any other antivehicle mines fitted with
antihandling devices and that it does not use any kind of booby-traps, as they
are prohibited by the national law on antipersonnel mines.
Belgium is not considered to be mine-affected, but
is still occasionally affected by unexploded ordnance (UXO) and mines from the
two World Wars. For instance, on 1 January 2001, it was reported that a
landmine had been found in
Snellegem.[26] The Armed Forces
maintain an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit, the SEDEE-DOVO, which still
operates in Belgium on a regular
basis.[27]
Deaths and
injuries due to UXO occur from time to time. In April 2000, an amateur
collector of war remnants and four firemen were injured when an item of UXO
exploded, and on 4 October 2000 another collector was killed by UXO in Diksmude
in the village of Essen.[28] A
Captain in the SEDEE-DOVO said that each year at least one or two persons are
killed by UXO in the region where fighting took place during World War I; he
said since 1999 only collectors of war remnants have been involved in such
accidents and the civil population is no longer at
risk.[29] As a result of the
accidents among collectors in this region of Belgium, the Governor of the East
Flanders Province decided to organize a UXO awareness prevention campaign. The
briefing is given by the SEDEE-DOVO to local policemen.
During 2000, there
were 3,125 notifications to the SEDEE-DOVO unit, and 304 tons of UXO/mines were
destroyed.[30] During the last
week of 2000, for example, builders on the Belgian coast found grenades
remaining from World War II. Owing to the risk of mines or other explosives
being present, SEDEE-DOVO completely checked the
area.[31]
People injured by
mines or UXO follow the general provisions for accident or illness. Amputees
unable to work may receive a disability
allowance.[32] Healthcare
insurance reimburses medical and rehabilitation costs. Families with one or
more disabled members may have reduced taxes. Disabled people in general also
have other benefits such as reserved parking, and reduced telephone, gas and
electricity charges.
Belgium describes its position concerning the allocation of financial
resources to mine action in terms of the promotion of coordination and
integration. A multidisciplinary approach is adopted, which includes
humanitarian demining, victim assistance and research in safer technologies.
Demining is accorded priority where land is needed for survival, and special
attention is given to local capacity building. States Parties to the Mine Ban
Treaty are given preference, in order to optimize the use of resources and make
sure the demined areas will not be re-mined, but in some emergency cases
resources may be allocated to States that are not party to the treaty.
In
2000, Belgium contributed about US$2.068 million to mine clearance, mine
awareness and victim assistance programs, another US$405,407 for implementation
of the Mine Ban Treaty, as well as US$1.276 million for mine action research and
development (R&D). In comparison, in 1999, US$2.3 million was given for
mine action and treaty implementation, with an additional US$1.4 million for
R&D. Financial data for 2000 has been entered on the UN investment
database.[34] The financial
contributions to mine action in 2000 include:[35]
Support to advocacy work and public awareness: BEF2,922,044 (US$64,862)
Contribution to support the coordination of the
Belgian network of the ICBL campaign, carried out in cooperation with HI
Belgium.
Support for the promotion and implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty: BEF9
million (US$199,778)
To the UN Voluntary Fund,the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs allocated BEF7 million (US$155,383).
To promote the Mine Ban Treaty and the intersessional Standing Committee
meetings, BEF2 million (US$44,395) was allocated by the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs.
Support for monitoring the Mine Ban Treaty: BEF 6,350,000 (US$ 140,767)
To the Landmine Monitor, BEF2 million (US$44,405)
by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Additionally, BEF3,350,000 (US$74,362) was donated from the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs to support a research conference in Brussels in January/February
2000 and enable delegates from developing countries to participate. The
Ministry of Defense also supported the conference by organizing an exhibition on
antipersonnel mines, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs put the Egmont Palace
in Brussels, logistic support and BEF1 million (US$22,000) at the disposal of
ICBL for the event.
Support to mine clearance operations (humanitarian or military cooperation
projects): BEF59,945,000 (US$1,330,632)
Cambodia: BEF11,360,000 (US$252,160) -
financial and in-kind support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry
of National Defense. Since 1994, three mine clearance experts have served as
technical advisers to Cambodian Mine Action Center on a development project
intended to enable Cambodian staff ultimately to operate independently.
Kosovo: in-kind support from the Ministry of National Defense.
Belgium has sent three permanent mine clearance experts to this region, who
operate under the KFOR mandate and assist local demining organizations.
Croatia: in-kind support from the Ministry of National Defense.
Belgium sent a training adviser for the Western European Union Demining Mission
project in collaboration with the EU and the Western European Union.
International Trust Fund: BEF5 million (US$110,988) was allocated by
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for demining operations.
Laos: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs contributed in-kind
three demining experts to provide technical assistance to enable the staff of
UXO LAO, the national UXO program, ultimately to operate independently. They
also contributed financially BEF16.7 million (US$370,699).
Albania: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, allocated BEF1.1 million
(US$24,417) to the special fund for the destruction of antipersonnel mine
stockpiles in Albania.
Democratic Republic of Congo (Kisangani):aHI-Belgium
project of mine awareness and destruction of mines and UXO has received
BEF25,785,000 (US$572,364) in funding from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Support to mine awareness and victim assistance: BEF33,217,561 (US$737,349)
BEF3 million (US$66,593)for the special
appeal launched by the ICRC in late 1999 for the period 2000-2005 for prevention
and assistance to victims of antipersonnel mines.
BEF30,217,561 (US$670,756) to HI’s operations in Afghanistan, Angola,
Cambodia, and northern Iraq, as detailed
below:
Afghanistan:
Mine Awareness program: BEF924,000
(US$20,510)
Angola:
Support to disabled persons and mines victims: BEF7,392,000
(US$164,084)
Support to R&D of new mine detection and clearance technologies:
BEF57,470,095 (US$1,275,697)
HUDEM (HUmanitarian DEMining) is
financed jointly by the ministries of foreign affairs and defense with
BEF14,375,000 (US$320,000), plus in-kind assistance.
PARADIS project is funded with BEF2,222,500 (US$49,334) for the year
2000, and BEF1,311,250 (US$29,107) for 2001, through the Scientific Policy
Department budget.
APOPO project has received increased funding from the ministries of
foreign affairs and defense with BEF33.5 million (US$743,600).
HOPE is a project aimed at developing a portable, multi-sensor mine
detection system demonstrator. It was allocated in-kind resources from the
Ministry of Defense estimated at BEF3,752,000 (US$83,285).
Multi Sensor Mine Signature campaign is supported in-kind with
approximately BEF2,310,000 (US$51,276) by the Ministry of Defense.
Belgium has been involved in R&D for new mine-related technologies for
several years. Prof. Acheroy from the Royal Military Academy attended the
Standing Committee meetings in Geneva in May 2001, where he proposed the
creation of a framework for R&D in humanitarian demining.
ITEP: On
17 July 2000, the Memorandum of Understanding on International Test and
Evaluation Program (ITEP) was signed between Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands,
Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States, together with the ISPRA Joint
Research Center (as representative of the EU). “ITEP will serve as a
center to promote the development and sharing of information on new technologies
for humanitarian demining, and link existing and potential testing and
evaluation sites around the world to provide an independent, standardized means
of testing those new
technologies.”[37]
HUDEM: the National Project on Humanitarian Demining, launched in
1997 on the initiative of the Minister for Defense, is coordinated by the Royal
Military Academy in collaboration with researchers from eight Belgian
universities, two Belgian industrial engineering high schools, King’s
College in London, the French-German Saint-Louis Research Center, and three
units of the Belgian Army. The project covers research on a new generation of
detectors such as ground-penetrating radar, metal and infrared detectors,
nuclear quadruple resonance, bio-captors, and detection of minefields from air
or space platforms.
The PARADIS project aims to develop an electronic
planning and follow-up tool for demining operations, based on satellite images.
The project is conducted by the Royal Military Academy in collaboration with the
Free University of Brussels and SEDEE-DOVO. A second mission to Mozambique was
planned for April 2001 with an evaluation mission in Laos in June
2001.[38]
The APOPO
project is researching the use of ‘bio-sensors’ (African rats)
in humanitarian mine clearance operations. The project reached a crucial point
on 15 July 2000, when the new APOPO infrastructure was inaugurated at
Sokoïne University in Tanzania (this involved increased Belgian funding).
A ten-person team has been recruited to work on training rats to locate
antipersonnel mines from the smell of TNT. Tests in real minefields will take
place from spring 2001.
The HOPE (Hand-held Operational Demining
System) project is conducted by the Royal Military Academy in collaboration with
the German aerospace research center, the German radar firm RST, Belgian firms
Spacebell and Bats and two NGOs specialized in demining operations (Mines
Advisory Group and Norwegian People’s Aid). Belgium is in charge of
configuring the program that analyses the signals and data-fusion. SEDEE-DOVO
planned to test the system in relation to an inert minefield, and field-tests
were also planned for 2001 in Bosnia and Herzegovina in collaboration with
NPA.[39]
The Multi-Sensor
Mine Signature project is conducted by the Royal Military Academy in
collaboration with demining specialists from the UK, the Netherlands and
Germany. The project aims to set up a database of mine-signatures in order to
support researchers testing or developing a new generation of mine
detectors.
The ARIS Network aims to accelerate European research in
the humanitarian demining field by giving information on progress and
difficulties in ongoing research, new technologies, procedures and normalization
standards.
The Airborne Minefield Detection Pilot Project was
co-financed by the European Commission, several EU States and organizations.
This project has come to an end, and the conclusions are negative in terms of
the feasibility of minefield detection by airborne images. There has been
criticism of the project’s huge budget, the reduction of its objectives,
and the negative final
results.[40]
NGO Activity
In 2000 and 2001 a wide variety of activities have
been organized around the mine issue to keep the public informed of recent
developments. The Belgian royal family is fully involved in the mine ban
movement; in addition to Princess Astrid’s speech to the Second Meeting of
States Parties in September 2000, Her Royal Highness Princess Mathilde has
accorded her High Patronage to HI Belgium.
On 21 July 2000, Belgian National
Day, the movement against landmines received huge support from the population,
the Federal Government, and the entire royal family, as both military and
civilians wore HI’s blue laces as symbols of their support to mine
victims. This event was widely covered by the media in both parts of Belgium.
It marked the first time the State, royal family, army and civil society all
committed themselves to the goal of an NGO.
In August 2000, another public
awareness event, an international athletics competition, took place at the
memorial Ivo Van Damme, where seven ex-beauty queens ran 100 meters in order to
attract attention to the landmine situation. They ran with blue laces (the HI
symbol) on their feet.[41] The
blue laces were also in the spotlight during several
festivals[42] and local and
national sports events.
In September 2000, a press conference was organized
to present the Landmine Monitor Report 2000, and the report was widely
distributed. The Belgian country report was released in a more detailed
version. The Prime Minister expressed interest in both
reports.[43]
On 16 September
2000, HI Belgium organized its National Blue Laces Day, an annual public
awareness day on the mine
issue.[44] On 21 September
2000, an awareness day also took place at the EU Parliament in Brussels. On 11
November 2000, a youth awareness day on several current topics, and particularly
the landmine problem, was organized with the collaboration of the Federal
Parliament, the Army and a number of
NGOs.[45]
In 2000, various
other awareness activities were organized around the mines issue in different
forum (schools, youth organizations, etc) to keep the public informed of recent
developments. A photo exhibition of mine victims was organized in two cultural
places in Brussels. The photographs were taken by five famous female
photographers in Cambodia, Kosovo, Nicaragua, Senegal, and
Thailand.[46]
To celebrate
the second anniversary of the entry into force of the Mine Ban Treaty on 1 March
2001, HI Belgium issued a press release and a delegation visited the US Embassy
in Brussels in order to encourage US adherence to the Mine Ban Treaty. Shoes
that symbolize mine victims have also been sent to President Bush from different
parts of the world where HI is working.
[1] See Landmine Monitor
Report 2000, p. 577.
[2]
Discours de son Altesse Royale La Princesse Astrid de Belgique, (translated) to
the SMSP, Geneva, 11 September 2000, and reported in “Prinses en Sir
willen Verenigde Staten beschaamd maken,” Het Volk (Dutch speaking
newspaper), 12 September
2000.
[3]
“Réponse au questionnaire de Handicap International Belgique sur la
position belge en matière d’interdiction des mines antipersonnel,
realized in a coordinated approach by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of
Foreign Affairs Louis Michel, Minister of Defense André Flahaut, State
Secretary for Cooperation and Development Eddy Boutmans, and their
administrative representatives under the coordination of the Deputy Prime
Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs” [hereafter, Belgian Response to
the Landmine Monitor Questionnaire], Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Brussels,
March 2001, p. 1.
[4] Belgian
Response to the Landmine Monitor Questionnaire, Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
March 2001, p. 1.
[5]
Article 7 reports submitted 2 May 1999 for the period 3 December 1997-30 April
1999; submitted 15 August 1999 for the period 1 May-15 August 1999; submitted 27
April 2000 for calendar year 1999; and submitted 30 April 2001 for calendar year
2000.
[6] CCW Amended
Protocol II Article 13 report, 15 October
2000.
[7] Report of the
Permanent Representative of Belgium to the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), 15 December 2000, p. 1
(translated).
[8] “111
States Ratified Convention on Anti-personnel Landmines, Belgium tells Conference
on
Disarmament,” UN press release, 1 March
2001.
[9] Interview with the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 15 June 2000; Belgian Response to the Landmine
Monitor Questionnaire, March 2001, p.
5.
[10] Belgian Response to
the Landmine Monitor Questionnaire, March 2001, p. 5; oral remarks from Amb.
Lint at the meeting of the Standing Committee on General Status and Operation of
the Convention, Geneva, 11 May
2001.
[11]
Details of past production and transfer were reported in the Landmine Monitor
Report 1999, pp.
540-543.
[12] Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, “Belgium’s Position regarding Action against
Antipersonnel Mines,” April 2000, p.
1.
[13] Article 7 report,
submitted 30 April 2001, for calendar year 2000, Forms B, D,
G.
[14] Belgian Response to
the Landmine Monitor Questionnaire, March 2001, p.
5.
[15] The participants were
Major Jones, Military Adviser, and Captain Muylkens, Bomb Disposal Unit, Belgian
Armed Forces, and Mr. Angelet, Deputy Chief of Mission, Permanent Mission to the
CD. Belgium made statements on various points such as: magnetic and acoustic
systems fall under the “fuze system” category and not under
“antihandling device” category; infrared and magnetic fuze systems
are never used alone but in combination because of their nature; Belgium
recommends self-neutralization instead of self-destruction as it is
non-pollutant; once self-deactivation batteries expire, the mine is completely
inoffensive.
[16] Landmine
Monitor notes, Standing Committee on the General Status, Geneva, 11 May
2001.
[17] A Landmine Monitor
researcher was present in the meeting with Martine Dardenne (French-speaking
Green Party), a member of the Chamber of Representatives, 25 January 2001, with
Karine Lalieux, (French-speaking Socialist Party), a member of the Chamber of
Representatives, 29 January 2001, and with Senator George Dallemagne
(French-speaking Social Christian Party), 30 January
2001.
[18] HI Belgium, Mines
Unit, “Antihanteerbaarheidsmechanismen,” Brussels, February
2001.
[19] Senate of Belgium,
External Affairs and Defense Commission, Bulletin of the Commission, Agenda, 22
February 2001. In the report, Mr. Mahoux’s proposal (2-647/1) was adopted
and Mrs. Thijs’s proposal (2-648/1) was not pursued due to the adoption of
Mr. Mahoux’s proposal on the same
issue.
[20] Senate of
Belgium, Plenary sessions, Bulletin of the Commission, Agenda, 8 March
2001.
[21] A Landmine Monitor
researcher was present at the Parliament of Belgium, Senate, Mixed Commission
with members of the Senate’s Commission for External Affairs and National
Defense and members of Chamber of Representatives’ Commission for National
Defense, Brussels, 21 March
2001.
[22] Answer of the
Minister of Defense to the parliamentary question asked by Senator Dallemagne
(Social Christian party), Plenary session, Senate, 8 February 2001 (unofficial
translation).
[23] Oral joint
questions from members of Chamber of Representatives Dirk Van der Maelen and
Martine Dardenne on “dispositifs antimanipulation” to the Minister
of Defense, Commission of National Defense, Chamber of Representatives, Integral
Bulletin CRIV 50 COM 403, 6 March 2001, pp.
9-12.
[24] Colin King (ed.),
Jane’s Mines and Mine Clearance (Coulsdon, UK: Jane’s Information
Group Ltd., 2000), p.
463.
[25] Captain Muylkens
explained to the parliamentarians the functioning of the HPD antivehicle mine he
had brought with him. Mixed Commission, Senate, 21 March
2001.
[26] “Snellegem
landmijn blootgelegd,” Het Laatste Nieuws (Dutch-language newspaper), 1
January 2001.
[27] SEDEE-DOVO
also has ten deminers abroad in order to protect Belgian troops and undertake
humanitarian demining (three in Cambodia, four in Laos and three in
Kosovo).
[28] Telephone
interview with Captain Muylkens from the SEDEE-DOVO, 23 January
2001.
[29]
Ibid.
[30] Email from Captain
Muylkens, SEDEE-DOVO, 23 January
2001.
[31] “Vrees voor
mijnenveld onder pier,” Het Volk (Dutch-language newspaper), 2 January
2001.
[32] “Guide de la
personne handicapée,” Public Health and Environment: Disabled
Person Policy Service, Ministry of Social Affairs, Brussels,
1999.
[33]
Unless otherwise specified below, the source of information in this section is:
Belgian Response to the Landmine Monitor Questionnaire, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, March 2001, pp.
6-10.
[34] Website:
<www.un.org/Depts/dpko/mine>.
[35]
Totals given are for 2000, unless otherwise stated; exchange rate at 23 March
2001:
US$1=45.05.
[36]
Belgian Response to Landmine Monitor Questionnaire, March 2001, pp.
11-13.
[37] “Agreement
for International Test and Evaluation Program for Humanitarian Demining,”
US Department of State, Office of the Spokesman, Media note, 17 July 2000.
[38] Email from Captain
Muylkens, SEDEE-DOVO, 23 January
2001.
[39]
Ibid.
[40] Interview with
Prof. Acheroy, Signal and Image Center, Electrical Engineering Dept., Royal
Military Academy, 4 January
2001.
[41] “Rennen
met...blauwe veters!,” TV Story (Dutch speaking newspaper), 31 August
2000.
[42] “Dwars door
Brakel” (walk), 30 April 2000, Mano Mundo Festival Boom (Music Festival),
14 May 2000, Jogging Party du Solstice (Walk), 24 June 2000, Dodentocht 2000
Bornem, 10 August 2000, Tennis competition for persons in wheelchairs in Ath,
1-3 September 2000.
[43]
Letter received from Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, Brussels, 18 December
2000.
[44] Interview with
Koen Schelkens, co-organizer of the event, Belgium Communication Department, HI,
5 January 2001.
[45]
“En bref: Activité de sensibilisation au Parlement belge,”
Ban Mines Newsletter No. 3, HI Belgium, Brussels, November 2000, p.
6.
[46] “Exposition
Terres Minées,” HI Belgium, intranet, HIB02.
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