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Austria

Last Updated: 02 October 2012

Mine Ban Policy

The Republic of Austria signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 3 December 1997 and ratified it on 29 June 1998, becoming a State Party on 1 March 1999. Production, export, and use of antipersonnel mines were formally renounced in September 1995. In 1996, Austria enacted legislation to implement the Mine Ban Treaty domestically. In 2012, Austria submitted its 13th Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 report.

Austria destroyed its stockpile of antipersonnel mines, including 116,000 M14 mines from the United States and small quantities of prototypes, in 1996. Austria did not retain any antipersonnel mines for training.

Austria served as co-rapporteur and then co-chair of the Standing Committees on the General Status and Operation of the Convention (2001–2003) and Victim Assistance (2005–2007), and was the president of the First Review Conference in 2004.

Austria attended the Eleventh Meeting of States Parties in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in November-December 2010 and the intersessional Standing Committee meetings in Geneva in May 2012. At the intersessional meetings, Austria strongly condemned recent allegations of new use of antipersonnel mines. Austria called on the states facing allegations to fully investigate and clarify reports in a transparent manner, to urgently clear contaminated areas to prevent further casualties, and to do their utmost to ensure that mines are never used again. Austria welcomed efforts to advance the universalization of the treaty during the year, including in partnership with civil society and international organizations, and reaffirmed its commitment to use all appropriate bilateral and multilateral opportunities to promote the treaty.[1]

Austria is party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons and its Amended Protocol II on landmines and Protocol V on explosive remnants of war.



[1] Statement by Caroline Wörgöter, Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Austria in Geneva, Mine Ban Treaty Standing Committee on the General Status and Operation of the Convention, Geneva, 25 May 2012.