Key developments since May 2003: In September 2003, at the Fifth
Meeting of States Parties, Saudi Arabia stated that no person in its territory
or under the government’s control is involved in any activity that would
violate the Mine Ban Treaty, and that Saudi Arabia does not help or encourage
any actions prohibited by the treaty. In April 2004, a Saudi official said that
the government continues to consider how it might join the treaty in a way that
is not contrary to its national interest, and it hopes to join in the near
future. Saudi Arabia participated in a regional seminar on military and
humanitarian issues surrounding the Mine Ban Treaty in Amman, Jordan in April
2004.
Key developments since 1999:Saudi Arabia has participated in
almost every annual Meeting of States Parties, as well as all the intersessional
meetings since December 2000. Saudi Arabia claims that it has never produced,
exported or used antipersonnel mines, but in 2002, Saudi officials indicated for
the first time that the country stockpiles antipersonnel mines. They also
confirmed that the United States stockpiles mines in Saudi Arabia, but stated
that the US cannot use them on Saudi territory. In May 2001, Saudi Arabia
announced it would provide $3 million for mine action in Yemen.
Mine Ban Policy
Saudi Arabia has not acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty, but continues to show
interest in the treaty, its progress, and new demining technology. On several
occasions in 2003 and 2004, Saudi officials expressed support for the
humanitarian spirit and purpose of the Mine Ban
Treaty.[1] In a statement
delivered to the Fifth Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty in
September 2003, Saudi Arabia said that it continues to consider how it might
join the treaty in a way that is not contrary to its national interest, and it
hopes to join in the near
future.[2] Saudi Arabia has
penal laws that forbid and punish the possession and transfer of arms and
munitions, including
landmines.[3]
Saudi Arabia participated in Ottawa Process meetings leading to the Mine Ban
Treaty, and has remained engaged since the treaty entered into force. Saudi
Arabia has attended every annual Meeting of States Parties, except 2001 in
Nicaragua. It has also sent representatives to all of the intersessional
Standing Committee meetings since December 2000, including meetings held in
February and June 2004. In April 2004, Saudi Arabia participated in a regional
seminar on military and humanitarian issues surrounding the Mine Ban Treaty in
Amman, Jordan.
Saudi Arabia voted in favor of pro-ban United Nations General Assembly
resolutions in 1996 and 1997, but it has been absent from the vote on every
annual resolution since that time.
Saudi Arabia is not a member of the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW)
or its Amended Protocol II, but it attended the Fifth Annual Conference of
States Parties to Amended Protocol II in November 2003. According to a Saudi
official, the country is considering joining the CCW and Amended Protocol II in
the very near future.[4]
Production Transfer, Use and Stockpiling
In May 2001, a Saudi official confirmed that the country has never produced,
exported, or used antipersonnel
mines.[5] At the Fifth Meeting
of States Parties, Saudi Arabia stated that no person in its territory or under
the government’s control is involved in any activity that would violate
the Mine Ban Treaty, and that Saudi Arabia does not help or encourage any
actions prohibited by the
treaty.[6]
Saudi officials have indicated that their country imported antipersonnel
mines in the past from the United Kingdom and the United States. In February
2002, for the first time Saudi officials confirmed to Landmine Monitor that the
country still maintains a stockpile of antipersonnel mines, but no details were
provided.[7] In May 2003, a
Saudi Brigadier General assured Landmine Monitor that this stockpile is safe and
secure, and would only be used in wartime; all minefields would be marked,
registered, and fenced in accordance with the technical annex of CCW Amended
Protocol II. He confirmed that the United States stockpiles antipersonnel mines
in Saudi territory, but said the US could not use the mines on Saudi soil,
according to an existing agreement between the two
countries.[8] In February 2004,
the Brigadier General stated that they do not have any further information about
the US stockpile.[9] In 1999,
Landmine Monitor reported that the US stockpiled 49,610 CBU-89 Gator
antipersonnel mines at US military bases on Saudi
territory.[10]
Mine Action
Saudi Arabia is not a mine-affected country, but some parts are affected by
the presence of unexploded ordnance (UXO). The engineering corps of the Saudi
Army has a unit in every region of the kingdom responsible for on-demand
clearance of UXO. These units cleared training areas and camps used by allied
forces before and during the 1991 Gulf War. With the exception of the
destruction of two Iraqi missiles that fell in desert areas in Saudi Arabia in
2003, there was no reported UXO clearance in 2003 or the first half of
2004.[11]
In April 2004, a Saudi official stated that the country provides technical
and financial support to other mine affected countries in the
region.[12] He noted that Saudi
Arabia built a field hospital for war victims in Iraq and transferred some of
the victims to the kingdom for further medical
care.[13] However, due to the
deteriorating security situation in Iraq, this hospital has ceased
operations.[14] In May 2002,
Saudi Arabia donated 40 protective suits for deminers and 50 metal detectors to
Lebanon.[15] In May 2001, Saudi
Arabia pledged $3 million to Yemen’s national demining program for a
three-year period ($1 million each year). In 1999, Landmine Monitor reported
that Saudi Arabia had contributed $50,000 to the UN Voluntary Fund for
Assistance in Mine Clearance.
[1] Statement by Saudi Arabia, Fifth
Meeting of States Parties, Bangkok, 18 September 2003; Statement by Saudi
Arabia, Amman Seminar on Military and Humanitarian Issues Surrounding the Ottawa
Convention, Amman, 20 April 2004. [2]
Statement by Saudi Arabia, Fifth Meeting of States Parties, 18 September
2003. [3] Interview with Brig. Gen.
Ibrahim M.K. Al-Arifi, Ministry of Defense, Geneva, 14 May
2003. [4] Interview with Brig. Gen.
Ibrahim M.K. Al-Arifi, Ministry of Defense, Geneva, 23 June
2004. [5] Interviews with Saudi
representative, Geneva, 7-11 May
2001. [6] Statement by Saudi Arabia,
Fifth Meeting of States Parties, 18 September
2003. [7] Interview with Brig. Gen.
Hamad Alrumaih and Capt. Masfer A. S. Alhusain, Geneva, 1 February
2002. [8] Interview with Brig. Gen.
Ibrahim M.K. Al-Arifi, Ministry of Defense, 14 May
2003. [9]
Ibid. [10] Letter to Human Rights
Watch and attached fact sheet from US Department of the Air Force, 11th Wing, 26
May 1998, provided in response to FOIA request; interviews with US civilian and
military officials. [11] Interview
with Brig. Gen. Ibrahim M.K. Al-Arifi, Ministry of Defense, 14 May
2003. [12] Statement by Saudi Arabia,
Amman Seminar, 20 April 2004. [13]
Ibid. [14] Interview with Brig. Gen.
Ibrahim M.K. Al-Arifi, Ministry of Defense, 22 June
2004. [15] Email from Brig. Gen. Hamad
Alrumaih, 6 June 2002.