Voorzitter Europees Parlement Schulz over Mine Awareness Day (en)

Marking the 2013 International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, the President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz stated:

"The fact that people are still dying because of mines is yet another dramatic reminder of the necessity to ban the use and production of mines in all parts of the world. Landmines and cluster munitions are weapons deliberately thought to hit professional military and civilians alike.

In the recent example of the use of landmines along the Syrian border with Turkey and Lebanon, civilians fleeing the country were the prime target. The European Parliament continues to condemn all use of landmines and cluster munitions. I urge Syria to immediately stop using this kind of weapons.

Children are often the first victims of landmines and cluster munitions no matter whether in times of war or peace. Our efforts must be targeted not only at ending the proliferation of landmines and cluster munitions, but also at de-mining and assistance to the victims. On this day, I pay tribute to all local and international organisations working on the ground to help clearing mined areas and providing relief to the victims and their families. The EU has demonstrated its commitment to ban mine usage, as it remains one the biggest donor for this important cause.

I am happy that all EU Member states have joined the Mine Ban Treaty. I congratulate Poland on its accession to the Mine Ban Treaty in 2012. Moreover, I call on all remaining EU Member States outside the Convention on Cluster Munitions to accede to it as soon as possible.”

Note to editors:

European Parliament resolution of 7 July 2011 on Progress on Mine Action: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-%2f%2fEP%2f%2fTEXT%2bTA%2bP7-TA-2011-0339%2b0%2bDOC%2bXML%2bV0%2f%2fEN&language=EN