LM Report 2004

Marshall Islands

The Republic of the Marshall Islands signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 4 December 1997. It is one of just nine countries that have still not ratified the agreement, and one possible reason could be the close economic, political and military dependence between the Marshall Islands and the United States, a non-signatory, as defined by the Compact of Free Association. In its last update provided in June 2003, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official told Landmine Monitor that the government is currently reviewing its position on ratification of the treaty.^[1] In 2002, the Marshall Islands voted in support of the annual pro-mine ban United Nations General Assembly resolution, while in other years it has either abstained from similar resolutions (in 2003, 2000, 1999, and 1998) or been absent (in 2001). The country is not believed to have ever produced, transferred, stockpiled, or used antipersonnel mines. There are considerable quantities of unexploded ordnance left over from World War II, when Japanese and American forces fought over many of the islands, but these materials are not believed to include landmines.

[1] Letter to Landmine Monitor (John V Head), from Raynard Gideon, Acting Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade for the Republic of the Marshall Islands, 9 June 2003.