UN endorses resolution on helping mine-clearance efforts
Egypt, Local, 12/9/2000

The UN General Assembly underlined the important role that could be played by the international community, particularly those countries which planted landmines, to help in mine-clearing efforts through providing the necessary maps and technical and financial assistance to remove and defuse landmines.

In a related resolution endorsed by the General Assembly after the agreement of all member states, the UN body expressed concern over the dire humanitarian and developmental consequences resulting from the existence of mines, which also hamper the return of refugees, relief operations and economic development.

The resolution, meanwhile, expressed worry over limited effective equipment used to detect and clear mines, and the need for an international cooperation to improve related technology.

The resolution called on the international community to provide for the required technical and financial resources to cover the costs of mine-clearance activities in affected nations.

"Egypt has had an effective participation in the preparatory stages of the resolution with the aim of adjusting it so that it would take into account the country's needs with regard to clearing Egyptian territories of landmines, a problem impeding the government's efforts to achieve economic development and distribute the population on areas where landmines are still planted," said Egypt's Permanent Delegate to the UN Ambassador Ahmed Abul-Gheit.

"Egypt asked for adding a clause to the resolution calling on the UN Secretary-General to prepare a comprehensive review of the international organization's policy in this connection to revise the role to be played by it and see how far the most affected countries make use of the efforts exerted by the UN," the ambassador noted.

He asserted that Egypt was closely cooperating with the UN mine activities unit, which led the international organization to send a mission to the country in February 2000 to evaluate the problem.

"Following the visit, the UN issued an all-inclusive report on the problem, including practical proposals to face it," Abul-Gheit added.

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