LM Report 2004

Estonia

Key developments since May 2003: Estonia acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty on 12 May 2004, becoming a State Party on 1 November 2004. It has reported that the treaty is incorporated into domestic law. In 2003, in 20 planned operations, a total of 7,274 square meters of land were cleared, and 3,265 UXO and 408 mines were destroyed, all remnants of World Wars I and II. In Afghanistan, Estonian EOD personnel and an explosive detection dog team completed their fourth rotation in December 2003, and started a new rotation in July 2004.

Key developments since 1999: Estonia acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty on 12 May 2004. Estonia has stated on several occasions that it has not produced or exported antipersonnel mines and that it does not possess significant quantities in stockpiles. Export and transit of antipersonnel mines have been banned since 1999. The Estonian Rescue Board estimates that hundreds of thousands of landmines and items of UXO remain in Estonia from the World Wars I and II. From 1999 to 2003, a total of 10,494 items of unexploded ordnance have been found and destroyed in Estonia. Mine/UXO risk education is a compulsory part of the school curriculum. Estonian EOD teams were in Afghanistan from July 2002 to December 2003. From 1999 to 2003, 77 mine and UXO casualties were reported in Estonia.

Mine Ban Policy

The Republic of Estonia acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty on 12 May 2004, thereby becoming a State Party on 1 November 2004. Parliament approved accession on 24 March 2004.^[1] At the Standing Committee meetings in June 2004, Estonia declared that the Mine Ban Treaty was now part of its legal system, and claimed it had been in full compliance with the treaty since the “early days.”^[2] Estonia’s concerns about geographical security, which had previously prevented accession, were eased when it was offered NATO membership in November 2002, according to an Estonian representative.^[3]

Estonia did not attend the Fifth Meeting of States Parties in September 2003. As an observer, it attended previous annual meetings of States Parties in 2000 and 2002. Since December 2000, Estonia has also attended some of the intersessional Standing Committee meetings, including those in February and June 2004.

Estonia’s initial transparency report required under Article 7 of the Mine Ban Treaty is due by 30 April 2005.

At the Standing Committee meetings in February 2004, the Estonian representative gave details of preparations for accession. He said Estonia supports efforts in all fora to achieve a global ban on antipersonnel mines, and participates in international missions in mine-affected countries.^[4] Estonia takes the view that the Conference on Disarmament is no longer well-placed to deal with the mine issue, as the Mine Ban Treaty and Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) “have established widely recognized norms” and have review conferences which can respond to any ongoing issues.^[5]

In December 2003, Estonia voted in favor of UN General Assembly Resolution 58/53, which calls for the universalization and implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty. It has voted for every annual pro-ban UN General Assembly resolution since 1996.

On 8-9 June 2004, Estonia participated in a regional conference in Lithuania, which was held to encourage neighboring countries which remain non-States Parties, notably Finland and Latvia, to join the Mine Ban Treaty without delay.

Estonia acceded to the CCW and its Amended Protocol II in April 2000. Estonia attended the Fifth Annual Conference of States Parties to the Protocol in November 2003, and submitted an annual report as required by Article 13 of the Protocol on 29 October 2003. It attended annual conferences of States Parties and submitted Article 13 reports in previous years.

Production, Transfer, Stockpiling and Use

Estonia has stated on several occasions that it has not produced or exported antipersonnel mines and that it does not possess significant quantities in stockpiles. In March 2000, Estonia told Landmine Monitor that it possessed “less than 1,000 AP mines...which are used for training.”^[6] In November 2003, it stated in its annual national report for CCW Amended Protocol II, “Estonia does not possess antipersonnel mines.”^[7] Export and transit of antipersonnel mines have been banned since 1999.^[8]

In June 2003, the Estonian Rescue Board clarified that items of explosive ordnance have been used as explosives in criminal activities, but not mines. In 2003, there were 98 bomb threats, more than half of which were related to schools, as in previous years.^[9]

Landmine/UXO Problem and Clearance^[10]

The Estonian Rescue Board estimates that hundreds of thousands of landmines and items of unexploded ordnance (UXO) remain in Estonia. They date mainly from World War II, but also from World War I, and are found particularly in Männiku forest, approximately 15 kilometers south of the capital, in the Sinimäe area between Kohtla-Järve and Narva in northeastern Estonia, in the Jõgeveste area 10 kilometers east of Tõrva in southern Estonia, on the Sõrve peninsula on the island of Saaremaa, and on the Pakri islands.

Mines and UXO are found during construction projects, as well as in planned clearance operations. During 2003, 20 planned clearance operations took place; a total of 7,274 square meters were cleared, and 3,673 UXO including 408 mines were destroyed. This was a substantial increase from 2002 when 1,675 UXO were found.

During 2003, Estonian deminers began using US-donated data recording devices with detectors to more accurately map and archive suspect areas. These recordings are then used to plan and prioritize operations. Diving equipment and underwater detectors provided by the US led to discovery of large air-delivered ordnance in lakes and rivers in 2003. This donated equipment was responsible for the increased number of UXO found and destroyed during 2003. The US donated $235,000 in its fiscal year 2003.^[11]

From 1999 to 2003, a total of 10,494 items of unexploded ordnance have been found and destroyed in Estonia (1999: 2,340, 2000: 1,437, 2001: 1,375, 2002: 1,669, 2003: 3,673).

The Estonian Rescue Board is legally responsible for demining activities, planned operations, emergency response, training in mine clearance and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), and mine risk education. The Rescue Board operates under the Ministry of the Interior, and includes the Estonian Demining Center with its EOD section. The EOD section is based in Tallinn, and there are three other regional units, described as militarized companies, in Tallinn, Tartu and Jõhvi. In total, there are 35 fully trained Estonian deminers, including 17 at the EOD center. Planned demining operations are usually conducted from April to October. The Rescue Board uses the Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA) database, installed in 2001, to plan and record clearance operations. The Estonian Defense Forces are responsible for military bases and ranges.^[12]

Mine/UXO Risk Education

During 2003, the Rescue Board conducted mine/UXO risk education with 117 adults (both civilians and military) and 162 school children. In addition, four broadcasts were televised stressing the potential of UXO hazards and giving safe procedures for reporting suspected UXO. Risk education is a compulsory part of the school curriculum. In 2001, the Rescue Board produced a program to warn children in case they find UXO, which included dissemination of booklets and videos in schools.^[13]

Mine Action Assistance and Funding

In Afghanistan, Estonian EOD personnel and an explosive detection dog team completed their fourth rotation in December 2003, supporting coalition forces. In July 2004, a new team was deployed on assignment until December 2004.^[14] Estonian teams have been in Afghanistan since July 2002. The cost to the government from July 2002 to December 2003 is estimated as $840,000, from July 2002 to December 2003. A total of 253,000 UXO and weapons were destroyed.^[15] Estonian personnel have also served with SFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with mine-related tasks as part of their duties.

In 2003, as in previous years since 1999, Estonia contributed $2,000 to the UN Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Action.^[16]

The US provided $2,340,000 to Estonia for demining and EOD equipment and training during US fiscal years 2000-2003, including $235,000 in FY2003, $254,000 in FY 2002, $853,000 in FY2001, and $998,000 in FY2000.^[17]

Landmine/UXO Casualties and Survivor Assistance

In 2003, two adult civilians were killed and 19 others injured (including four children) by UXO. No deminers or military personnel were killed or injured by mines/UXO in Estonia during 2003.^[18]

Between 1999 and 2002, 56 new mine and UXO casualties were reported: one civilian killed and seven injured in 2002; three killed and nine injured in 2001 (including one assistant deminer killed and one injured); two killed and 18 injured in 2000; and four civilians killed and 12 injured in 1999.

There no reports of Estonian military forces on missions abroad becoming mine/UXO casualties between 1999 and 2003.

Estonia reports that “there are no special rehabilitation programs for persons injured by mines in Estonia. If incident(s) happen, the injured person(s) is treated in civilian hospitals with all available medical means and resources.”^[19]

[1] The Riigikogu (Estonian parliament) approved accession with 62 votes in favor and six against. One small political party opposed accession, referring to Finland’s position on antipersonnel mines.
[2] Statement by Estonia, Standing Committee on General Status and Operation of the Convention, Geneva, 21 June 2004.
[3] Interview with Amb. Malle Talvet, Estonian Embassy, Brussels, 10 March 2004. Estonian security concerns were outlined in Landmine Monitor Report 2000, p. 810.
[4] Statement by Estonia, Standing Committee of General Status and Operation of the Convention, Geneva, 9 February 2004.
[5] Estonia Response to OSCE Questionnaire, 15 December 2003, p. 1. For previous statements of Estonia’s preference for the CD, see Landmine Monitor Report 2000, p. 811, and Landmine Monitor Report 2002, p. 648.
[6] Interview with Malle Talvet, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 10 March 2000.
[7] CCW Article 13 Report, Form C, 3 October 2003, p. 6.
[8] Response to OSCE Questionnaire, 15 December 2003, p. 2. See also Landmine Monitor Report 2002, p. 648, and Landmine Monitor Report 2003, p. 579.
[9] Email from Stan Reber, Task Leader, Estonian Demining Center, 18 June 2004.
[10] Information supplied by Stan Reber, Estonian Demining Center, 6 May and 17 June 2004.
[11] Email from Stan Reber, Estonian Demining Center, 18 June 2004. The figure is confirmed by US government documents.
[12] Email from Margus Kurvits, Rescue Board, 3 April 2003. For details of the Rescue Board’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Operations Center, see Landmine Monitor Report 2002, p. 649.
[13] Information supplied by Stan Reber, Estonian Demining Center, 6 May 2004; emails from Margus Kurvits, Rescue Board, 3 April 2003 and from Arno Pugonen, Rescue Board, 12 June 2003.
[14] “Estonia sends replacement mine-clearing team to Afghanistan,” Molodezh Estonii (news agency), 9 July 2004.
[15] CCW Amended Protocol II Article 13 Report, Form F, 29 October 2003; information supplied by Stan Reber, Estonian Demining Center, 6 May 2004. There are six EOD personnel, and the dog team consists of two dogs and five individuals.
[16] CCW Amended Protocol II Article 13 Report, Form E, 29 October 2003.
[17] US Department of State, “To Walk the Earth in Safety,” September 2002; “Current and Planned Donor Activity for United States,” Mine Action Investments database, accessed on 15 June 2004.
[18] Information provided by Stan Reber, Estonian Demining Center, 6 May 2004.
[19] CCW Amended Protocol II Article 13 Report, Form B, 29 October 2003.