On the fourth anniversary of the Ottawa Treaty, most countries in South Eastern Europe required to destroy their remaining stockpiles of landmines under a United Nations treaty have succeeded in doing so within the prescribed time frame, making it one of the most successful regional disarmament accords.  Recognizing the impact that land mines have on the region of SEE, the Stability Pact created the Reay Group (previously the Forum for Co-operation on Mine Action in SEE) in May 2000 already.  The Reay Group represents an excellent example of a regional mechanism that is assisting the States to fulfil their Convention obligations, including stockpile destruction.

« All countries in SEE are to be commended on their efforts.  In our region, only Serbia and Montenegro have yet to join in the “Ottawa process” but there is a stated political commitment by these authorities to adhere to the Convention as soon as domestic parliamentary circumstances permit », Special Co-ordinator Erhard Busek said today.

The 1999 Ottawa Treaty, formally known as the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Antipersonnel Mines and on their Destruction, expresses the parties' determination to put an end to the suffering and casualties caused by anti-personnel mines.  After signing on, a country has 4 years to destroy all of its landmines, except for a limited number reserved for training purposes.

1 March 2003 is the fourth anniversary of the entry into force of the Treaty, which 131 countries have ratified or acceded to.  55 countries have so far destroyed more than 30 million landmines worldwide.