Contamination and Impact

Mines

The Argentine Republic reports that it is mine-affected by virtue of its claim to sovereignty over the Malvinas/Falkland Islands.[1] On ratifying the Mine Ban Treaty, Argentina submitted a declaration reaffirming “its rights of sovereignty over the Malvinas, South Georgia and South Sandwich and the surrounding maritime areas which form an integral part of the territory.”[2] The islands were mined, mostly by Argentina, during its armed conflict with the United Kingdom (UK) in 1982. Argentina has reported that no other territory under its jurisdiction or control is mine-affected.[3]

Cluster munition remnants and other explosive remnants of war

There is also residual unexploded ordnance (UXO) from the 1982 armed conflict, including a number of areas that contain cluster munition remnants resulting from the use of BL-755 cluster bombs by the UK against Argentine positions. The precise extent of UXO contamination is not known. The UK has also noted the presence of booby-traps on the islands.[4]

Mine Action Program

Argentina has a Humanitarian Demining Office under the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces and a Humanitarian Demining Training Center (Centro de Entrenamiento de Desminado Humanitario).

Land Release

At the Second Review Conference, Argentina said it was unable to meet its Article 5 obligations because it did not have access to the Malvinas due to the “illegal occupation” by the UK.

Article 5 Compliance

Under Article 5 of the Mine Ban Treaty, and in accordance with the 10-year extension granted in 2009 by the Second Review Conference, Argentina is required to destroy all antipersonnel mines in mined areas under its jurisdiction or control as soon as possible, but not later than 1 January 2020.

At the Second Review Conference, Argentina said it was unable to meet its Article 5 obligations because it did not have access to the Malvinas due to the “illegal occupation” by the UK. Argentina said for this reason it had no other choice than to request an extension to its clearance deadline.[5]