LM Report 2003

Iceland

The Republic of Iceland signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 4 December 1997, ratified on 5 May 1999, and became a State Party on 1 November 1999. National implementation legislation was enacted on 7 May 2001.^[1] Iceland submitted its second Article 7 transparency report on 29 April 2003. It is essentially a “nil” report.^[2]

Iceland has never manufactured antipersonnel mines and it has no stockpile.^[3] Iceland has no armed forces of its own, but is a member of NATO and has a bilateral defense agreement with the United States. In June 2002, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to express any view on joint military operations with non-party States.^[4] Iceland attended the Fourth Meeting of States Parties in September 2002, and voted in favor of UN General Assembly Resolution 57/74 on 22 November 2002, which calls for universalization and implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty.

During 2002 and the first half of 2002, Iceland did not contribute financial or other assistance to any mine action program, but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs notes that Iceland participates in NATO peace-support operations in the Balkans, which include demining activities.^[5]

[1] See Landmine Monitor Report 2002, p. 302.
[2] Article 7 Report, 29 April 2003 (for the period 30 April 2002–29 April 2003); Article 7 Report, 28 May 2002 (for the period 1999–2002).
[3] Email from Haukur Ólafsson, Minister-Counselor, Political Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 7 June 2002.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Ibid.; UN Mine Action Investments database.