LM Report 2004

Saudi Arabia

Key developments since May 2003: In September 2003, at the Fifth Meeting of States Parties, Saudi Arabia stated that no person in its territory or under the government’s control is involved in any activity that would violate the Mine Ban Treaty, and that Saudi Arabia does not help or encourage any actions prohibited by the treaty. In April 2004, a Saudi official said that the government continues to consider how it might join the treaty in a way that is not contrary to its national interest, and it hopes to join in the near future. Saudi Arabia participated in a regional seminar on military and humanitarian issues surrounding the Mine Ban Treaty in Amman, Jordan in April 2004.

Key developments since 1999: Saudi Arabia has participated in almost every annual Meeting of States Parties, as well as all the intersessional meetings since December 2000. Saudi Arabia claims that it has never produced, exported or used antipersonnel mines, but in 2002, Saudi officials indicated for the first time that the country stockpiles antipersonnel mines. They also confirmed that the United States stockpiles mines in Saudi Arabia, but stated that the US cannot use them on Saudi territory. In May 2001, Saudi Arabia announced it would provide $3 million for mine action in Yemen.

Mine Ban Policy

Saudi Arabia has not acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty, but continues to show interest in the treaty, its progress, and new demining technology. On several occasions in 2003 and 2004, Saudi officials expressed support for the humanitarian spirit and purpose of the Mine Ban Treaty.^[1] In a statement delivered to the Fifth Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty in September 2003, Saudi Arabia said that it continues to consider how it might join the treaty in a way that is not contrary to its national interest, and it hopes to join in the near future.^[2] Saudi Arabia has penal laws that forbid and punish the possession and transfer of arms and munitions, including landmines.^[3]

Saudi Arabia participated in Ottawa Process meetings leading to the Mine Ban Treaty, and has remained engaged since the treaty entered into force. Saudi Arabia has attended every annual Meeting of States Parties, except 2001 in Nicaragua. It has also sent representatives to all of the intersessional Standing Committee meetings since December 2000, including meetings held in February and June 2004. In April 2004, Saudi Arabia participated in a regional seminar on military and humanitarian issues surrounding the Mine Ban Treaty in Amman, Jordan.

Saudi Arabia voted in favor of pro-ban United Nations General Assembly resolutions in 1996 and 1997, but it has been absent from the vote on every annual resolution since that time.

Saudi Arabia is not a member of the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) or its Amended Protocol II, but it attended the Fifth Annual Conference of States Parties to Amended Protocol II in November 2003. According to a Saudi official, the country is considering joining the CCW and Amended Protocol II in the very near future.^[4]

Production Transfer, Use and Stockpiling

In May 2001, a Saudi official confirmed that the country has never produced, exported, or used antipersonnel mines.^[5] At the Fifth Meeting of States Parties, Saudi Arabia stated that no person in its territory or under the government’s control is involved in any activity that would violate the Mine Ban Treaty, and that Saudi Arabia does not help or encourage any actions prohibited by the treaty.^[6]

Saudi officials have indicated that their country imported antipersonnel mines in the past from the United Kingdom and the United States. In February 2002, for the first time Saudi officials confirmed to Landmine Monitor that the country still maintains a stockpile of antipersonnel mines, but no details were provided.^[7] In May 2003, a Saudi Brigadier General assured Landmine Monitor that this stockpile is safe and secure, and would only be used in wartime; all minefields would be marked, registered, and fenced in accordance with the technical annex of CCW Amended Protocol II. He confirmed that the United States stockpiles antipersonnel mines in Saudi territory, but said the US could not use the mines on Saudi soil, according to an existing agreement between the two countries.^[8] In February 2004, the Brigadier General stated that they do not have any further information about the US stockpile.^[9] In 1999, Landmine Monitor reported that the US stockpiled 49,610 CBU-89 Gator antipersonnel mines at US military bases on Saudi territory.^[10]

Mine Action

Saudi Arabia is not a mine-affected country, but some parts are affected by the presence of unexploded ordnance (UXO). The engineering corps of the Saudi Army has a unit in every region of the kingdom responsible for on-demand clearance of UXO. These units cleared training areas and camps used by allied forces before and during the 1991 Gulf War. With the exception of the destruction of two Iraqi missiles that fell in desert areas in Saudi Arabia in 2003, there was no reported UXO clearance in 2003 or the first half of 2004.^[11]

In April 2004, a Saudi official stated that the country provides technical and financial support to other mine affected countries in the region.^[12] He noted that Saudi Arabia built a field hospital for war victims in Iraq and transferred some of the victims to the kingdom for further medical care.^[13] However, due to the deteriorating security situation in Iraq, this hospital has ceased operations.^[14] In May 2002, Saudi Arabia donated 40 protective suits for deminers and 50 metal detectors to Lebanon.^[15] In May 2001, Saudi Arabia pledged $3 million to Yemen’s national demining program for a three-year period ($1 million each year). In 1999, Landmine Monitor reported that Saudi Arabia had contributed $50,000 to the UN Voluntary Fund for Assistance in Mine Clearance.

[1] Statement by Saudi Arabia, Fifth Meeting of States Parties, Bangkok, 18 September 2003; Statement by Saudi Arabia, Amman Seminar on Military and Humanitarian Issues Surrounding the Ottawa Convention, Amman, 20 April 2004.
[2] Statement by Saudi Arabia, Fifth Meeting of States Parties, 18 September 2003.
[3] Interview with Brig. Gen. Ibrahim M.K. Al-Arifi, Ministry of Defense, Geneva, 14 May 2003.
[4] Interview with Brig. Gen. Ibrahim M.K. Al-Arifi, Ministry of Defense, Geneva, 23 June 2004.
[5] Interviews with Saudi representative, Geneva, 7-11 May 2001.
[6] Statement by Saudi Arabia, Fifth Meeting of States Parties, 18 September 2003.
[7] Interview with Brig. Gen. Hamad Alrumaih and Capt. Masfer A. S. Alhusain, Geneva, 1 February 2002.
[8] Interview with Brig. Gen. Ibrahim M.K. Al-Arifi, Ministry of Defense, 14 May 2003.
[9] Ibid.
[10] Letter to Human Rights Watch and attached fact sheet from US Department of the Air Force, 11th Wing, 26 May 1998, provided in response to FOIA request; interviews with US civilian and military officials.
[11] Interview with Brig. Gen. Ibrahim M.K. Al-Arifi, Ministry of Defense, 14 May 2003.
[12] Statement by Saudi Arabia, Amman Seminar, 20 April 2004.
[13] Ibid.
[14] Interview with Brig. Gen. Ibrahim M.K. Al-Arifi, Ministry of Defense, 22 June 2004.
[15] Email from Brig. Gen. Hamad Alrumaih, 6 June 2002.