Legislation to accede
to the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty has been introduced in Palau’s House of
Representatives. At a recent regional meeting of parliamentarians in Fiji, a
member of parliament from Palau promised to work in support of Palau’s
accession to the treaty and also indicated she would raise the landmines issue
at a meeting in Palau of Pacific legislators in July
2000.[1]
Palau was absent from the vote on UN General Assembly Resolution 54/54B in
support of the ban treaty in December 1999 as it was on all previous landmines
resolutions. It did not attend the First Meeting of States Parties to the Mine
Ban Treaty in Maputo, and has not participated in any intersessional meetings.
One possible reason for this abstention and for the lack of accession could be
the close economic, political and military dependence between the Marshall
Islands and non-signatory, the United States, as defined by the Compact of Free
Association.
It is believed that Palau has never produced, transferred, stockpiled, or
used antipersonnel landmines. It is not believed to provide any assistance to
humanitarian mine action.
While the islands of Palau were the scene of fighting in the latter stages of
World War II, Palau is not believed to be mine-affected.
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