The defence ministers of Poland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania recommend denouncing the Ottawa Convention, which banned the production and use of anti-personnel mines. This sends a clear message that our countries are ready and able to use any means necessary to defend their territory and freedom.

The Ministry of Defence published on Tuesday a joint statement by Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Lithuanian Defence Minister Dovile Šakaliene, Latvian Defence Minister Andris Spruds and Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkura, stressing that in light of the significant deterioration of the security situation in the region, caused by Russian aggression against Ukraine and the threat posed by Russia to the Euro-Atlantic community.

Despite withdrawing from the Convention, the declaration says that Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia remain “bound by international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians during armed conflict”. 

“Our states will continue to abide by these principles while protecting our security,” the joint statement says.

Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk and President Andrzej Duda also agreed about the withdrawal from the Convention. 

The Mine Ban Treaty was approved on 3-4 December 1997 in Ottawa, hence its name, the Ottawa Convention. To date, it has been ratified by 163 countries, including non-signatories such as China, Russia, the USA, India, Israel, North Korea, and South Korea. Poland became a part of the agreement on 4 December 1997 but only ratified it in 2012.

The Convention entered into force on 1 March 1999 and is an instrument of international law that prohibits the development and use of anti-personnel mines.

Source:PAP

Photo: @intermarium24Tomasz Modrzejewski