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ON THE OCCASION OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL NGO COALITION
RECEPTION TO COMMEMORATE THE ROLE PLAYED BY THE SOUTH
AFRICAN CAMPAIGN TO BAN LAND MINES IN THE NOBEL PRIZE
WINNING INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN - 13 MARCH 1998

I. INTRODUCTION

PRESIDENT OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL NGO COALITION, MR.
RAMS RAMASHIA, ESTEEMED REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NORWEGIAN GOVERNMENT, PRESENTATIVE OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN CAMPAIGN TO BAN LAND MINES, MR. NOEL STOTT, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

1. I consider it a pleasure and a privilege to address you this evening.

2. We are gathered here to celebrate the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to the International Campaign to Ban Land Mines, to pay tribute to the South African Campaign to Ban Land Mines, and to encourage continued support for the international campaign.

II. THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST LAND MINES

1. Anti-personnel mines are a menace to the world as they have severe consequences for years after emplacement.

2. These mines claim hundreds of victims every month - mostly innocent and defenceless civilians, and especially children.

3. They also obstruct economic development and reconstruction, and inhibit the repatriation of refugees and internally displaced persons.

4. South Africa therefore fully endorses the conviction expressed by the International
Committee of the Red Cross that, and I quote:

"The limited military utility of anti-personnel mines is far outweighed by the appalling
humanitarian consequences of their use in actual conflicts.

On this basis, their prohibition and elimination should be pursued as a matter of urgency by governments and the entire international community".

End quote.

5. We can be proud that our Government, on February 19th 1997, gave practical effect to the ICRC plea by banning the use, development, production and stock-piling of antipersonnel land mines with immediate effect.

6. And I can state unequivocally that Government was ably informed in reaching this
decision by the efforts of the South African Campaign to Ban Land Mines.

7. Cabinet appreciated this support when it further decided that our existing stockpile of anti-personnel land mines would be destroyed as soon as possible.

8. The first controlled detonation and destruction of our stockpile of anti-personnel mines was conducted on 21st May 1997 at Alkantpan.

9. There were 211 subsequent detonations, culminating in the destruction of the last batch of 1 000 mines later in the year on October 30th 1997.

10. It is salutary to note that the total number of these mines destroyed, within a mere 5 months, is 243 423.

11. Partnership and transparency were important elements in this process.

12. I am proud of the fact that South Africa was the first country in the world to have
involved the media and NGO's in witnessing phases of the anti-personnel mine destruction.

13. The destruction of our stockpile is also far ahead of the terms of the newly negotiated Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on their Destruction, which provides a period of 4 years after entry into force for the destruction of these mines.

14. We can similarly take pride in the fact that South Africa played a major role as the Chair of the Oslo Diplomatic Conference that steered the negotiations of this Convention to a successful conclusion on September 18th last year.

15. Indeed, South Africa was amongst the first countries to sign the ban Convention, in Ottowa, on December 3rd 1997.

16. It is very important that the new Convention is given wide support as it establishes a new norm in international humanitarian law against the use of these deadly weapons.

17. In addition to destroying anti-personnel mines, the Convention also provides for mine clearance and victim assistance.

18. In this respect, South Africa possesses world leading technology and expertise for demining, as well as the medical capability and experience to assist mine victims.

19. We must, therefore, retain this capability and use it instrumentally to assist those
neighbouring countries still infested with mines and, where possible, the international
community.

III CONCLUSION

1. We welcome your continued support in highlighting the ongoing menace from these mines and our need to combat this threat effectively.

2. South Africa, with the assistance of the South African Campaign to Ban Land Mines, has played a leading role on the regional and international level to ban anti-personnel mines.

3. In this noble cause, we can all draw inspiration from the shining example of the leadership of the Nobel Prize laureates, Ms Jody Williams and the International Campaign to Ban Land Mines.

4. May we all redouble our efforts to support the ban on these terrible weapons and to make this a safer and more humane world.

5. I thank you.

-END-

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