Mongolia

Mine Ban Policy

Last updated: 18 December 2019

Policy

Mongolia has not acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty and did not fulfill its objective, announced in 2004, of joining the treaty in 2008 through a step-by-step approach.[1]

In June 2011, Mongolia informed States Parties that it “continues to pursue a step-by-step (or phased) policy towards accession to the Convention due to a range of security and economic concerns.”[2] However, it did not mention the interagency action plan to accede to the Mine Ban Treaty that it had announced at the Tenth Meeting of States Parties and at the Second Review Conference.[3] In 2010, Mongolia informed States Parties that it would join the treaty “in the near future.”[4] Earlier, in October 2010, during a UN General Assembly (UNGA) debate, Mongolia stated that “Just a few days ago the Prime Minister re-affirmed Mongolia’s commitment to accede to the Convention.”[5]

Mongolia has repeatedly stated that it has limited resources to implement the treaty, especially with respect to stockpile destruction, and it encouraged “cooperation, assistance and support” from other countries and international organizations.[6] In the past, representatives from Mongolia have expressed concern about whether Mongolia will receive international assistance for both stockpile destruction and clearance of areas contaminated with unexploded ordnance, especially Soviet-era firing ranges.[7]

Mongolia has infrequently attended Mine Ban Treaty meetings, and has not participated as an observer since the Eleventh Meeting of States Parties in November–December 2011.

On 5 December 2018, Mongolia voted in favor of Resolution 73/61 calling for universalization and full implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty, as in previous years.[8]

Mongolia is party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW), but not its Amended Protocol II on landmines or Protocol V on explosive remnants of war. Mongolia is also not party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

Use, stockpiling, production, and transfer

Mongolia submitted a voluntary Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 report in August 2007.[9] The report revealed a stockpile of 206,417 antipersonnel mines, exported by the Soviet Union.[10] At the government’s invitation, in July 2009, technical experts from the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) investigated the condition of Mongolia’s mine stocks. At the Second Review Conference, Mongolia reported that it had destroyed 100 antipersonnel mines in the previous year and that it would destroy another 100 in the following year to help identify a destruction technology that is both environmentally safe and cost effective.[11]

In December 2010, Mongolia stated that it had a stockpile of 206,317 antipersonnel mines (100 mines fewer than the number reported in August 2007) and would destroy another 380 mines in 2011 to demonstrate “our step-by-step approach to join the Convention.”[12] However, in June 2011, Mongolia reported that it had 206,417 antipersonnel mines and that 110 had been destroyed to “define an appropriate mine destruction technique friendly to the environment.”[13] A representative of the Ministry of Defense could not provide any information on the method of destruction used, but he did confirm that Mongolia would not necessarily need to retain any live mines for training purposes since it currently uses inert mines in its training programs.[14]

In the past, Mongolia often stated that it has never used antipersonnel mines on its territory.[15] In December 2010, Mongolia reaffirmed that it will not “transfer, acquire or place landmines.”[16]



[1] See, Landmine Monitor Report 2005, p. 819; and Landmine Monitor Report 2006, pp. 1,011–1,012, for details of Mongolia’s 2004–2008 Program of Action aimed at accession.

[2] Statement of Mongolia, Mine Ban Treaty Standing Committee on the General Status and Operation, Geneva, 20 June 2011.

[3] At the Second Review Conference, Mongolia stated that it had “drafted an interagency action plan,” but at the Tenth Meeting of States Parties, Mongolia stated that it was “drafting a collaborative interagency action plan to implement its step-by-step accession” to the convention. See, statement of Mongolia, Mine Ban Treaty Tenth Meeting of States Parties, Geneva, 2 December 2010; and statement by Col. Lkhagva Gantumur, General Staff, Mongolian Armed Forces, Mine Ban Treaty Second Review Conference, Cartagena, 1 December 2009.

[4] Statement of Mongolia, Tenth Meeting of States Parties, Mine Ban Treaty, Geneva, 2 December 2010.

[5] Statement of Mongolia, 65th Session of the UNGA, First Committee General Debate, New York, 8 October 2010.

[6] At the Tenth Meeting of States Parties, Mongolia stated that “cooperation, assistance and support through bilateral channels and international organizations are appreciated for accelerating the process of our accession.” See, statement of Mongolia, Tenth Meeting of States Parties, Mine Ban Treaty, Geneva, 2 December 2010.

[8] “Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction,” UNGA Resolution 73/61, 5 December 2018.

[9] The report is undated, with the reporting period listed as “2007 to 2008.” Mongolia has stated it submitted the report in August 2007, and it is listed by the UN as received in 2007. Statement by Col. Gantumur, Mongolian Armed Forces, Mine Ban Treaty Standing Committee on General Status, Geneva, 25 May 2009. All forms are marked “not applicable” except Form B on types and quantities of stockpiled antipersonnel mines and Form H on technical characteristics of stockpiled mines. In June 2011, Mongolia stated that it has annually updated this report, but only one has been sent to the UN. See, statement of Mongolia, Mine Ban Treaty Standing Committee on the General Status and Operation, Geneva, 20 June 2011.

[10] Mine Ban Treaty Voluntary Article 7 Report (for the period 2007–2008), Form B cites: 40,331 POMZ-2; 83,028 PMN-2; 996 PMN; 48,891 PMD-6; 29,997 OZM-72; 2,000 MON-50; 601 MON-100; and 573 MON-200 antipersonnel mines.

[11] Statement by Col. Gantumur, Mongolian Armed Forces, Mine Ban Treaty Second Review Conference, Cartagena, 1 December 2009.

[12] Statement of Mongolia, Mine Ban Treaty Tenth Meeting of States Parties, Geneva, 2 December 2010.

[13] Statement of Mongolia, Mine Ban Treaty Standing Committee on the General Status and Operation, Geneva, 20 June 2011.

[14] ICBL meeting with Col. Narankhuu Turbat, Deputy Chief of Strategic Management and Planning Directorate, Ministry of Defense, Geneva, 21 June 2011.

[15] See for example, Landmine Monitor Report 2009, p. 1,020.

[16] Statement of Mongolia, Mine Ban Treaty Tenth Meeting of States Parties, Geneva, 2 December 2010. See also, statement by Col. Gantumur, Mongolian Armed Forces, Mine Ban Treaty Second Review Conference, Cartagena, 1 December 2009.