Key developments since 1999: Kiribati acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty
on 7 September 2000 and became a State Party on 1 March 2001.
The Republic of Kiribati acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty on 7 September 2000,
after it had evaluated the financial implications of joining the agreement, and
the treaty entered into force on 1 March
2001.[1] Both of the Article 7
reports submitted by Kiribati note that domestic implementation legislation is
not under consideration by the government because there are no antipersonnel
mines in the country; Kiribati “does ... not use, stockpile, produce, [or]
transfer ... anti-personnel
mines.”[2]
Kiribati has been absent from voting on annual pro-mine ban resolutions since
1999, including the 2003 vote on Resolution 58/53. In June 2004, Kiribati said
it does not maintain an office in the UN in New York, but it would be willing to
support future resolutions by proxy vote done on its behalf by the New Zealand
mission to the UN.[3] A 2003
report described the unexploded ordnance from World War II, especially on
Tarawa, as residual, with no casualties reported in recent years and few
indications of detrimental effects on land
use.[4]
[1] A New Zealand diplomat noted in March
1999 that Kiribati “wishes to evaluate the requirements that membership
would have on scarce personnel resources and the effect of any financial
obligations before acceding.” Fax from Grahame Morton, International
Security and Arms Control Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, New
Zealand, 30 March 1999. [2] See
Article 7 reports submitted 4 December 2001 (for the period 7 September 2000-28
August 2001) and 4 June 2004 (for the period since May
2003). [3] Article 7 Report, 4 June
2004. This report is titled, “Landmine Monitor Report for Kiribati –
2004.” [4] John Borrie,
Explosive remnants of war: a global survey, Landmine Action, London, June 2003,
p. 35.