LM Report 2000

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HOLY SEE

The Holy See signed the Mine Ban Treaty (MBT) on 4 December 1997 and ratified it on 17 February 1998. At the First Meeting of States Parties to the MBT in May 1999, the Holy See was represented by Archbishop Juliusz Janusz who stated that "the Holy See intends to implement fully the provisions of the Convention by continuing to urge all States to become Parties to it. It will also continue to support efforts for effective and rapid mine clearance and for the adequate care for mine victims."^[1] The Holy See has participated in meetings of the intersessional Standing Committees of Experts (SCE) of the MBT, including meetings on victim assistance, mine clearance, and treaty status and operation. It submitted its Article 7 report on 28 August 1999, in which it is stated that national legislation to implement the treaty is "under consideration."^[2] The Holy See does not possess, produce, transfer, or use antipersonnel landmines and is not mine-affected.

The Holy See is a party to Amended Protocol II of the Convention on Conventional Weapons. It participated in the First Conference of States Parties to the Amended Protocol in December 1999.

In a statement before the UN General Assembly, Archbishop Martino noted that "funding for mine clearance must become and remain an integral part of the aid and development programs of both donor and afflicted States."^[3] As of September 1999 the Holy See has donated $4,000 to the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Clearance.^[4] During his trip to the Middle East, Pope John Paul II made a stop at Qasr el-Yahud, a religious site located in the occupied West Bank, in what was characterized as "a landmine-strewn Israeli military zone."^[5] He did not directly address the landmine situation during his visit.

[1] Statement of the Holy See by H.E. Archbishop Juliusz Janusz, Apostolic Nuncio in Mozambique, at the First Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty, Maputo, Mozambique, 3-7 May 1999.
[2] Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, submitted 28 August 1999, covering February 1998-August 1999.
[3] Statement of Archbishop Renato R. Martino, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations General Assembly, New York, 19 November 1999.
[4] "Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Action: Total Contributions By Donor, October 1994 to September 1999," Table, UN Mine Action Service.
[5] Richard Engel, "In the Birthplace of Christianity, Pope supports Palestinian Homeland," Agence France-Presse, 22 March 2000.