Key
developments since May 2000: In 2000, Germany increased its financial
support for mine action from $11.4 million in 1999 to approximately $14.5
million. Initiatives are underway in the government and the Parliament aimed at
a ban or increased restrictions on antivehicle mines.
The Federal Republic of Germany signed the Mine
Ban Treaty on 3 December 1997, ratified it on 23 July 1998 and became a State
Party on 1 March 1999. National implementation legislation was previously
enacted on 9 July 1998. Germany was an early supporter of a ban on
antipersonnel mines, adopting an export moratorium in 1994, banning use of
antipersonnel mines in 1996, and completing stockpile destruction in December
1997.[1]
At the Second
Meeting of States Parties in Geneva on 11-15 September 2000 the German
delegation included members of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Ministry of
Defense and Germany’s representative to the Conference on Disarmament. At
the Second Meeting of States Parties, Germany became co-rapporteur of the
intersessional Standing Committee on Mine Clearance and Related Technologies.
Germany attended the Standing Committee meetings in December 2000 and May 2001.
Germany submitted the transparency reports required by Mine Ban Treaty
Article 7 on 31 August 1999, 30 April 2000 and 30 April
2001.[2]
On 20 November
2000, at the UN General Assembly, Germany voted in favor of Resolution 55/33V,
which calls for universalization and full implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty.
Indeed, universalization and effective implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty
remains a priority for German foreign policy, and many efforts have been made to
promote the Mine Ban Treaty. For example, in November 2000 at the Southern
Africa Development Community-European Union conference of foreign ministers in
Gaborone, Botswana, the German State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ludger
Volmer, urged that the landmines issue be put on the
agenda.[3] In March 2001, the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs updated its policy strategy on Southern Africa,
aiming “to involve the States and their regional organizations in the
debate on serious global problems such as drugs, environmental pollution, the
spread of small arms,
landmines.”[4] Opening a
conference on disarmament and development in October 2000, the Minister for
Development and the State Minister for Foreign Affairs described the mine ban as
a milestone, and called for its universalization and strict
observance.[5] In November
2000, at a Council meeting of Development Ministers in Brussels the German
Minister for Development Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul emphasized that “the
close co-operation of the international community, of engaged governments, and
of non-governmental organizations is key for the successful implementation of
the Ottawa
Convention.”[6]
The
President of the Federal Republic, Johannes Rau, and the President of the German
Parliament, Wolfgang Thierse, have also encouraged universalization. In
November 2000, at a meeting with Army commanders, Federal President Rau
described the Mine Ban Treaty as a milestone in cooperative security policy and
urged non-member states to accede to
it.[7] In April 2001, on the
occasion of the awarding of the Lew Kopelew Friedenspreis (Lew Kopelew
Peace Prize) Parliamentary President Thierse strongly criticized China, Russia,
and the United States for not yet having acceded to the Mine Ban
Treaty.[8]
In October 2000,
Germany and Japan agreed on seven “pillars of co-operation,” which
included the necessity of “the full and rapid implementation of the Ottawa
Convention on banning anti-personnel
mines.”[9]
Germany is a
party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) and its Amended Protocol
II. It submitted its annual report as required by Article 13 of Amended
Protocol II on 8 November
2000.[10] At the Second Annual
Conference of States Parties to Amended Protocol II in Geneva on 11-14 December
2000, the German delegation co-sponsored a proposal by the Netherlands to
consider the possibility of amending the CCW to deal with “explosive
remnants of war.” Germany also welcomed proposals by the US to increase
the technical standards for detectability and self-destruction of antivehicle
mines but said that these would need detailed
consideration,[11] and wants to
add self-neutralization to achieve 99.99 per cent
reliability.[12]
The
established German policy that any developments on the antipersonnel mine issue
in the Conference on Disarmament must not “fall behind the achievements of
the Ottawa Convention” was reconfirmed in December
2000.[13]
Antivehicle Mine Ban
In April 2001, the scope of the mine ban was
discussed at a conference on landmines organized by the Lew Kopelew Forum. The
participants, including Walther Stützle, State Secretary of the Ministry of
Defense, Angelika Beer, defense spokesperson of the Green Party, former Foreign
Minister Klaus Kinkel (FDP – Liberal Party), Rupert Neudeck (humanitarian
relief organization, Cap Anamur), and Thomas Gebauer (Medico International),
agreed that Germany should ban all types of landmines. Angelika Beer
confirmed, that according to the Green Party “antivehicle mines which can
be triggered by a person are in contradiction to the spirit” of the Mine
Ban Treaty.[14] Mr. Kinkel said
that his party has agreed to take a parliamentary initiative to urge the
government to ban antivehicle
mines.[15] Minister
Stützle indicated the government’s willingness to introduce a
proposal to ban antivehicle mines at the CCW Review Conference in December
2001.[16] He said, “If
one wants to eliminate devilish things, then one mustn’t allow any
exceptions. If one assesses mines as devilish things – and one can’t
argue against that - then one must prohibit mines without any exception. Then
one must introduce such a position to the negotiations. If one wants to support
that process, then indeed the possibility exists, to go in advance with a
unilateral concession. For this year exists a possibility [with the
CCW].”[17]
However,
this appears to have been a spontaneous statement by Minister Stützle, as
the government has not followed up on the issue since that time. The German
Initiative to Ban Landmines (GIBL) believes that the Ministry of Defense wants
to avoid discussing a ban on antivehicle mines. The government’s report
on disarmament, submitted to parliament on 9 May 2001, refers only to efforts
“to reduce the humanitarian dangers caused by long-living and
non-detectable mines,” implying that German policy goals are limited to
“a ban on non-detectable mines as well as an introduction of effective
activity limits for remotely delivered antivehicle
mines.”[18]
At a press
conference on 26 June 2001, Mr. Kinkel made an appeal of the Liberal Party to
the German Parliament requesting a ban on all landmines without
self-destruction/self-neutralization features. GIBL welcomed this initiative,
but said the appeal is insufficient, since landmines with self-destruction/self
neutralization features do not guarantee the safety of civilians.
[19] In reaction to the
Liberal Party initiative, Angelika Beer of the Green Party called for a
unilateral ban on all antivehicle
mines.[20]
Production, Transfer and Stockpiling
Previous Landmine Monitor Reports have
detailed German production and export of antipersonnel
mines.[21] Stockpile
destruction was completed in December
1997.[22] In May 2000, the
Ministry of Defense confirmed that the DM-39 anti-lift device was no longer in
use and scheduled for destruction, to be completed in December 2000. In June
2001, the Ministry of Defense confirmed that the DM-39 is no longer in the
inventory of the Federal Armed
Forces.[23]
The most recent
Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 report gives technical characteristics of
antipersonnel mines previously produced and of those currently retained as
permitted by Article 3. Mines retained at the end of 2000 totaled 2,753 (down
from 2,983 at the end of
1999).[24]
US antipersonnel
mines stocked in Germany are also not included in the German Article 7 reports.
The government takes the view that under the prevailing Status of Forces
Agreement, US mines do not fall under German jurisdiction or
control.[25]
Antivehicle Mines
The current German government position is that
antivehicle mines with antihandling devices do not fall within the scope of the
Mine Ban Treaty, due to the definitions in Article
2.[26] Germany attended the
Technical Expert Meeting on Anti-vehicle Mines with Sensitive Fuzes or with
Sensitive Anti-handling Devices hosted by the International Committee of the Red
Cross (ICRC) on 13-14 March 2001, but did not provide any technical information
on the issue. The experts recommended further research to determine if
antihandling devices can discriminate between intentional and unintentional
contact of a person and that States review the sensitivities of their mines with
antihandling devices.[27] When
the results of this meeting were discussed at the Standing Committee on the
General Status and Operation of the Convention on 11 May 2001, Germany made no
statement or intervention.
During 2000, the German Initiative to Ban
Landmines identified several antivehicle mines with antihandling devices and/or
sensitive fuzes that might be capable of being detonated by the unintentional
act of a person, and which therefore would be prohibited by the Mine Ban
Treaty.[28] In a letter dated
21 September 2000, the Ministry of Defense commented on the types of antivehicle
mines identified:[29]
AT 1
has not been in the Bundeswehr inventory for many years;
AT 2 does not have
a magnetic detonator;
DM-21 only has a pressure-operated detonator;
DM-31 does not have an anti-handling-device;
PM 60/K1: The German army
never took over mines belonging to former East Germany for its own
use.[30] According to our
regulations, a Statement of Functional and Operational Safety would be necessary
for this purpose; this statement was not made;
COBRA is neither under
development nor in
production;[31]
The Ministry of Defense also restated its
“contrary understanding” regarding
MUSPA and MIFF.
A recent
study jointly published by GIBL and the British campaign, Landmine Action,
continued to assert the antipersonnel capabilities of the AT 2/DM-1233, DM-21,
DM-31/FFV 028, PARM 1/DM-12, MIFF, and
MUSPA.[33]
Mines With Antipersonnel Capabilitiesas assessed by
GIBL[34]
Type
Estimated Quantities
Antipersonnel Capabilities
AT 2/
DM-1233
1.2 million
Yes, due to capability for antihandling/antidisturbance devices and
integrated magnetic influence fuze.
DM-21
150,000
It is believed that the mine has pressure-operated fuze, initiated by
180-350 kilograms.
DM-31 AT/
FFV 028
125,000
Yes, due to magnetic fuze, reportedly capable of being detonated by the
presence of metallic objects.
PARM 1/
DM-12
12,000
Yes, due to incorporated fibre optic sensor cable (breakwire)
MUSPA
90,000
Yes (classified antipersonnel by Italy and the US Department of
Defense)
MIFF
125,000
Probably, due to magnetic fuze and antihandling/antidisturbance
device
Apparently, MUSPA and MIFF were both offered for sale at the Eurosatory
2000 in Paris.[35] It is
noteworthy that Italy decided to destroy its MUSPA and MIFF stocks due to their
antipersonnel effects.[36]
At
the April 2001 landmine conference organized by the Lew Kopelew Forum, Thomas
Gebauer of Medico International presented an internal document of Dynamit Nobel,
which appears to indicate that the DM-31/FFV 028 antitank mine, produced by
Dynamit Nobel and Bofors AB and currently in the service of the
Bundeswehr, is not in compliance with the Mine Ban Treaty. In the
document, Dynamit Nobel estimated the modernization costs of the DM-31/FFV 028
mine as DM40-50 million in order “to achieve the obligations of the Ottawa
Convention.”[37]
Also, according to a press account, a spokesperson for Dynamit Nobel
admitted that the mine’s fuze could be triggered not only by a tank but
also “unintentionally” by a motorized bicycle passing near to the
mine.[38] Moreover, there is
question as to whether the DM-31/FFV 028 can be set off by sweeping a metal
detector over the mine.[39] CCW
Amended Protocol II prohibits the use of mines specifically designed to detonate
a munition by the presence of commonly available metal detectors. A Canadian
Forces landmine database says that “sweeping a detector which contains
metal components over the mine may cause the FFV 028 to
function.”[40] Neither
the Army nor Dynamit Nobel has commented on this.
Dynamit Nobel subsequently
sent an email, dated 7 May 2001, to parliamentarians stating that the DM-31/FVV
028 is in compliance with the Mine Ban
Treaty.[41] Other sources
indicate that the DM-31/FFV 028 is equipped with a very sensitive fuzing
system.[42]
The leader of
the Mine Documentation and Training Center of the Federal Armed Forces, when
asked whether there is in practice nowadays any difference between antipersonnel
mines and antivehicle mines, responded: “I personally believe – no.
One can separate only in respect of the pressure activation, since antitank
mines of course react on a considerable higher activation pressure than must be
the case with people. However, people can also cause the explosion of such
mines through unhappy conditions – for example, driving in a vehicle. Of
course, a tank mine will also be effective against civilians then. The only
difference I can see, is actually the size and the effect itself and, of course,
the purpose, why this mine has been
laid.”[43]
Germany is
engaged in research into alternatives to antipersonnel mines, which has been
reported in detail by a number of
sources.[44]
Mine Action Funding
Since 1993, the German government has bilaterally
provided a total of DM132 million (approx. US$69
million)[45] for mine action
projects in twenty-eight different countries: Afghanistan, Albania, Angola,
Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Chad, Croatia (Eastern Slavonia),
Eritrea, Ethiopia, Georgia (Abkhazia), Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Iraq,
Jordan, Laos, Lebanon, Mozambique, Namibia, Nicaragua, Russian Federation
(Chechnya), Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Vietnam, Yemen, and Yugoslavia (Kosovo).
In 2000, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs (MFA) had a budget of
approximately DM21.6 million (US$11.4 million) for humanitarian mine action
activities.[46] An additional
DM3 million (US$1.57 million) was provided for mine action programs from a
separate budget under the Stability Pact for South East Europe. Final funding
data for 2000 was not available from the Ministry for Economic Cooperation and
Development as this report was going to press, but it appears to have been some
DM2.86 million (US$1.5
million).[47] Germany’s
contribution to European Union mine action funding in 2000 is not yet
known.
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs is primarily concerned with
humanitarian mine clearance. The Ministry for Economic Cooperation and
Development selects its projects according to development policy priorities, so
its mine clearance activities are part of an integrated approach to promoting
the development of a region. The projects are mainly implemented in rural areas
and involve a considerable amount of victim
assistance.[48] The Ministry of
Defense does not carry out its own mine clearance programs, but supports
Ministry of Foreign Affairs projects by providing military experts and training,
and making available equipment from army stocks, as well as information from its
mine documentation
center.[49]
In 2000, the
Ministry for Foreign Affairs continued to support the testing of mechanical mine
clearance equipment.[50] The
GIBL has complained that this included machines such as the Minebreaker 2000,
which has been widely criticized for being too costly and inappropriate for many
mine-affected countries,[51] and
the earth tiller Rhino, which has been reported to be non-operational in
conditions common to mine-affected
countries.[52] In June 2000,
the Ministry for Foreign Affairs published an update of its humanitarian mine
action equipment catalogue 1998/1999, which showcases state-of-the-art
equipment.[53]
MFA mine action funding (including in-kind assistance) in
2000[54]
Country
Type of Assistance
Total (DM)
Afghanistan
Support to the Mine Dog Centers in training and deploying sniffer dogs,
under the auspices of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Assistance; Funding the OMAR Female and Children Mine Awareness program,
and a mechanical demining project; In-kind support (trucks) to OMAR and mine
detectors to the Mine Action Programme Afghanistan.
4.45 million
(US$2,342,104)
Albania
Funding of a demining project by the German NGO HELP in the area bordering
Kosovo.
260,000
(US$136,842)
Angola
Funding for Menschen gegen Minen (MgM) demining program for emergency
humanitarian assistance (run in cooperation with Deutsche Welthungerhilfe and
the World Food Program);
Funding of emergency demining project by Medico
International and Mines Advisory Group in Luena.
700,000
(US$368,421)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Funding of demining projects by Handicap International (HI) and
Kölnische Franziskaner;
Funding HI mine awareness program;
Funding a
HELP demining project by the children’s village Selo Mira;
Funding six
mine-dog teams of Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) and training of sniffer
dogs;
Funding integrated mechanical mine clearance in Vidovice.
2 million
(US$1,052,632)
Cambodia
Funding Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC) demining project in Siem Reap
province;
Funding the Rhino demining system introduced in 1999, in
cooperation with CMAC manual demining teams and CARE;
Funding
extension/improvement of the GPC database.
3.3 million
(US$ 1,736,842)
Chad
Supply of mine detectors and support for a UXO clearance project by
HELP.
875,000
(US$460,526)
Croatia
Provision of a German army expert and technical instruments to the Western
European Union Demining Mission in Croatia;
Supply of mine marking material
to the Croatian Mine Action Center (CROMAC);
Funding for UN Mine Action
Assistance Program through UN Development Program (UNDP).
290,000
(US$152,632)
Ethiopia/
Eritrea
Secondment of German army expert to UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) demining
mission.
100,000
(US$52,632)
Georgia (Abkhazia)
Funding a mine and unexploded ordnance clearance project by the HALO
Trust.
320,000
(US$168,421)
Guinea-Bissau
Supply of protective clothing to the national mine clearance program.
5,000
(US$2,632)
Jordan
Supply of demining equipment.
125,000
(US$65,789)
Kosovo
Secondment of German army experts to UN Mine Action Coordination Center;
Funding of CARE/MineTech demining project via the International Trust Fund;
Funding of HELP mine border clearance;
Funding of HI mine awareness
program.
767,000
(US$403,684)
Laos
Funding of explosive ordnance disposal project by the Gerbera company, due
to urgent humanitarian needs.
1.9 million
(US$1 million)
Lebanon
Funding and supply of demining material for establishment of Mine Action
Center by UNMAS.
337,000
(US$177,368)
Mozambique
Funding and supply of equipment to National Demining
Institute;
Emergency relief to the UN “floods”
program;
Secondment of a technical adviser and doctor for local demining
teams of the Accelerated Demining Program;
Funding of a mechanical demining
project run by MgM.
2,120,000
(US$1,115,789)
Somalia
Funding survey and mine clearance project in Somaliland by Stiftung Sankt
Barbara, within the scope of UNDP programs;
Funding to the Georadar project
run by Tricon in cooperation with MineTech.
1.5 million
(US$789,474)
Vietnam
Funding for UXO clearance projects by Solidaritätsdienst-International
and Potsdam Kommunikation, in Quang Tri and Hue provinces.
1.275 million
(US$671,053)
Yemen
Funding of survey by the Survey Action Center and providing expert help for
the National Demining Authority.
395,000
(US$207,895)
Zimbabwe
Funding mine clearance project by Gesellschaft für Technische
Zusammenarbeit and MineTech in the border area.
200,000
(US$105,263)
Other
Expo 2000 conference, exhibition, presentation on humanitarian mine action;
support of translating the Bad Honnef framework (mine action programs from a
development-oriented point of view); support of UNDP study of socio-economic
approaches to mine action, publishing brochures on eradicating landmines and on
mine clearance equipment; support for ICBL Landmine Monitor 2000.
722,000
(US$380,000)
Total
21,641,000 (US$11,390,000)
NGO Funding of Humanitarian Mine Action and related activities in
2000[55]
Country
Activities Supported
Amount (DM)
Afghanistan/
Pakistan
Noor Eye Hospital in Kabul: in the course of medical treatment of blind
people also treatment of landmine victims;
Peshawar: support services and
rehabilitation for people blinded by landmines.
150,325
(US$79,118)
Angola
Cuene: resettlement of refugees and internally displaced people
particularly in heavily mined areas; vocational reintegration of underprivileged
people (unemployed, demobilized soldiers); education of four local mine action
teams;
Luena: integrated mine action program; education program for mine
victims.
384,273
(US$202,249)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Support of demining activities of local NGO APM; mine awareness; orthopedic
workshop in Zavidovici; orthopedic treatment for war-disabled persons;
prostheses, rehabilitation and economic support of traumatized people in
Sarajevo.
771,721
(US$406,169)
Cambodia
Medical treatment and socio-economic rehabilitation; victim assistance for
blind and other disabled people, trauma work, socio-economic rehabilitation;
support of wheelchair production, prostheses, rehabilitation; mine awareness,
victim assistance, rehabilitation of newly resettled mine-affected communities,
advocacy, public information.
3,038,482
(US$1,599,201)
Chad
Support of associations of disabled people and other initiatives
(consulting, training, vocational training, advocacy, rehabilitation).
168,000
(US$88,421)
El Salvador
Support for Center for Rehabilitation of War Disabled People.
160,514
(US$84,481)
Ethiopia
Development program in rural area of the Adigrat diocese.
2 million
(US$1,052,632)
Kosovo
Mine awareness.
600,000
(US$315,789)
Nicaragua
Pilot project for avoiding child mine accidents, in Madriz
Department.
15,000
(US$7,895)
South Sudan
Support for peace conference in southern Sudan.
50,000
(US$26,316)
Sri Lanka
Development and food program (emergency aid, disabilities program, aid for
war victims).
700,000
(US$368,421)
Vietnam
Integrated mine action program, mine clearance and resettlement of
internally displaced people.
163,332
(US$85,964)
Germany
Mine awareness and advocacy for refugees from Kosovo; advocacy and
campaigning in Germany.
323,021
(US$170,011)
Total
8,524,668 (US$4,486,667)
NGO Funding of Humanitarian Mine Action and related activities
1995-2000[56]
Integrated Mine Action Program (mine clearance, mine awareness, physical
and psychosocial rehabilitation, socio-economic and cultural rehabilitation,
political advocacy)
Nil
Nil
Nil
1,944,000
2,602,617
3,266,417
7,813,034
Percentage
0%
0%
0%
40.38%
24.73%
38.32%
26.02%
NGO Activities
GIBL has observed that the Ministry for Foreign
Affairs continues to favor a technical rather than a development-oriented
approach, in contrast to its declared aim of integrating mine action into a
broader development context. The fundamental principle of a
development-oriented approach is that humanitarian mine action and development
require the combination of mine clearance, mine awareness, and mine victim
rehabilitation with reconstruction, reconciliation, and peacekeeping/building
activities, as described in the NGO-developed Bad Honnef
guidelines.[57] NGO funding and
in-kind assistance has the effect of counterbalancing, to some degree, the lack
of development orientation in the Ministry for Foreign
Affairs.[58]
Landmine Problem and Casualties
On 5 December 1995, the German government
announced that all mine-affected areas on the old east-west divide had been
cleared and the last zone, near the Bavarian town of Hof, was reopened to the
public.[59] Incidents, though,
do still occur occasionally. On 16 March 2000, a landmine was found at the
former frontier.[60] On 24
April 2001, it was reported that three mines had been discovered in the last
year on the former border. It is assumed that even more mines could be hidden
close to the former border, because mines could have shifted over
time.[61] On 20 May 2001,
unspecified munitions from World War II were found in the river Lenne near Ohle,
a town in Westfalia.[62] A mine
problem also exists in former military training areas. In Königsbrück
(Lower Saxony) three live grenades and mines were cleared in a former training
area that became a nature reserve in
1996.[63]
German soldiers
serving in peacekeeping operations are also at risk. On 22 September 1999, five
German soldiers, part of the NATO-led KFOR peacekeeping force, strayed into a
minefield near the Albanian border. Three of the soldiers suffered minor
injuries while the other two were seriously
injured.[64]
[1] For details, see the full
version of the 1999 German report, available at:
<www.landmine.de>.
The German Initiative to Ban Landmines (GIBL) prefers the term “Ottawa
Convention on banning anti-personnel
mines.”
[2] Article 7
reports, submitted 31 August 1999, for the period 1 March-27 August 1999; 30
April 2000, for calendar year 1999; 30 April 2001, for calendar year
2000.
[3]
“Staatsminister Volmer reist zur SADC-EU-Außenministerkonferenz nach
Gaborone” [State Minister Volmer travels to the SADC-EU conference of
ministers for foreign affairs in Garbone], press release, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, 28 November
2000.
[4] Summary of Foreign
Policy Strategy on Southern Africa, available at:
<www.auswaertiges-amt.de>.
[5]
Opening Address by Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, Federal Minister for Economic
Cooperation and Development , and Opening Address by Ludger Volmer, Minister of
State, Federal Foreign Office, available at:
<www.dse.de/ef/disarmnt>.
[6]
“Europäische Entwicklungspolitik schärft Profil –
Ratstagung der EU-Entwicklungsminister und -ministerinnen am 10. November 2000
in Brüssel” [The European Development policy improves its profile
– meeting of the council of EU minister for development in Brussels on 10
November 2000], press release, Ministry for Economic Co-operation and
Development, undated, available at: <www.bmz.de/presse/presse/0221.html>.
Translated from original in
German.
[7] “Rede von
Bundespräsident Johannes Rau anlässlich der 38. Kommandeurtagung der
Bundeswehr” [Speech of the German President Johannes Rau on the occasion
of the 38th meeting of commanders of the Federal Armed Forces], Leipzig, 14
November 2000.
[8]
“Lew-Kopelew-Preis für Minengegner von HALO Trust. Thierse kritisiert
Großmächte USA, Russland und China” [Lew-Kopelew Peace Prize
awarded to mine opponent HALO Trust. Thierse criticizes major powers US,
Russia, and China], WDR-online, 8 April 2001; also reports in
Associated Press, 8 April 2001, die Tageszeitung; 9 April 2001,
and Kölnische Rundschau, 9 April 2001.
[9] “Japan und
Deutschland im 21. Jahrhundert. Sieben Säulen der Kooperation” [Japan
and Germany in the 21st century. Seven pillars of cooperation], Tokyo, 30
October 2000, published in: Stichworte zur Sicherheitspolitik, Presse- und
Informationsamt der Bundesregierung [Notes for Security Policy, Media and
Information Department of the German Government], October
2000.
[10] CCW Protocol II
Article 13 report, submitted 15 October 2000, for the period 1 August 1999-15
October 2000.
[11] Landmine
Monitor notes, Second Annual Conference of States Parties to Amended Protocol II
of the CCW, Geneva, 14 December 2000.
[12] Interviews with the
German delegation, Geneva, 11-13 December
2000.
[13] Report of the
Permanent Mission of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe, 15 December 2000; see also Landmine
Monitor Report 2000, p.
646.
[14] See: Parliamentary
Party of Bündnis 90/Die Grünen, “Anti-Panzerminen mit dem Geist
von Ottawa nicht vereinbar ” [Anti-tank mines are not compatible with the
spirit of Ottawa], press release, 20 February 2001. See also, Phoenix
broadcasting, 7 April
2001.
[15] “Millionen
Minen lauern in der Erde” [Millions of mines lurk in the ground],
Kölner Stadtanzeiger, 9 April 2001; also reports in Kölner
Rundschau,9 April 2001 and WDR-online, 8 April
2001.
[16]
“Lew-Kopelew-Preis für Minengegner von HALO Trust. Thierse kritisiert
Großmächte USA, Russland und China” [Lew-Kopelew Peace Prize
awarded to mine opponent HALO Trust. Thierse criticizes major powers US,
Russia, and China], WDR-online, 8 April
2001.
[17] Phoenix
broadcasting, Lew Kopelew Forum: Landminen – das Ende einer
Waffengattung [Landmines – the end of an arm], 7 April 2001 (Original
in German: Stützle: “Wenn man Teufelszeug beseitigen will, dann darf
man keine Ausnahmen zulassen. Wenn man Minen für Teufelszeug hält
– und darüber kann man, glaube ich, nicht streiten -, dann muß
man Minen ohne Ausnahmen verbieten. Dann muß man mit einer solchen
Position in die Verhandlungen rein gehen. Wenn man diesen Prozeß
befördern will, dann gibt es in der Tat die Möglichkeit, durch einen
einseitigen Verzicht eine Vorleistung zu machen. Dazu gibt es dieses Jahr eine
Möglichkeit.“).
[18]
Deutscher Bundestag Drucksache 14/5986 [German Parliament, Document 14/5986], p.
16.
[19] “FDP will
Minen ächten” [FDP wants to ban mines], Südwest Presse
online, 27 June 2001; Parliamentary Party of FDP, “Kinkel: Alle
Landminen ohne Wirkzeitbegrenzung international ächten” [Kinkel: Ban
internationally all landmines without activity limits], press release No. 979,
26 June 2001; GIBL press release, 26 June 2001; Reutlinger
General-Anzeiger, 27 June 2001; die tageszeitung, 27 June 2001;
Berliner Zeitung, 27 June
2001.
[20] Parliamentary
Party of Bündnis 90/Die Grünen, “Ächtung von Landminen: FDP
bleibt auf halben Weg stehen” [Ban on landmines: FDP takes only a
half step], press release No. 0387/2001, 26 June
2001.
[21] See Landmine
Monitor Report 1999, pp. 611-613,
618-620.
[22] See Landmine
Monitor Report 1999, pp.
620-621.
[23] Letter from
Ministry of Defense, Berlin, 15 May 2000; telephone interview with
representative of the Ministry of Defense, 1 June
2001.
[24] Article 7 reports,
submitted 30 April 2000 for calendar year 1999, and 30 April 2001 for calendar
year 2000, Forms D and H. No information is given on other institutions
permitted to hold stocks of antipersonnel mines, which are obliged to inform the
Bundesausfuhramt (Federal Department for Exports) on types and quantities
of antipersonnel mines possessed or under their control. No information is
available on how this legal obligation is monitored. “Verordnung
über Meldepflichten für bestimmte Kriegswaffen
(Kriegswaffenmeldeverordnung – KWMV) vom 24. Januar 1995 (BGB1, IS. 92,
geändert durch die Erste Verordnung zur Änderung der
Kriegswaffenmeldeverordung vom 9. Juni 1999, BGB1, IS. 1266)” [Ordinance
on obligation of notification for certain weapons of war, 24 January 1995, BGB1,
I p. 92, altered through the first amendment of the Ordinance on obligation of
notification for certain weapons of war on 9 June 1999, BGB1, I p. 1266], para.
3(1).
[25] See Landmine
Monitor Report 2000, p.
648.
[26] Deutscher Bundestag
Drucksache 14/2339 [German Parliament, Document 14/2339], 10 December
1999.
[27] Robert Gravett,
“Report on the Technical Expert Meeting on anti-vehicle mines with
sensitive fuses or with sensitive anti-handling devices, hosted by the ICRC in
Geneva, 13-14 March 2001,” April
2001.
[28] For details of
mines identified by GIBL, see Landmine Monitor Report 2000, p.
647.
[29] Letter from
Ministry of Defense to GIBL, 21 September
2000.
[30] According to
research by Thomas Küchenmeister and Otfried Nassauer, the German army has
taken over from the inventory of the former Nationale Volksarmee (Armed
forces of the former GDR) about 33,000 DM-51, similar to the Claymore-type PM
60/K1 mine. See Thomas Küchenmeister/Otfried Nassauer, “‘Gute
Mine’ zum bösen Spiel? Landminen made in Germany” [Good mines,
bad games? Landmines made in Germany], p. 46; see also Deutscher Bundestag,
Drucksache 13/1473 [German Parliament, document 13/1473], 22 May
1995.
[31] Government sources
indicate projected expenditure of DM 310 million (US$163.1 million) on the
system over the next few years, of which DM45 million has already been spent.
Letter from the Federal Ministry of Defense, Bonn, undated, but December 1997.
According to an interview with representatives of the Federal Ministry of
Defense, Berlin, 9 March 2000, these funds are suspended; however, whether this
suspension will become permanent or is the interim result of recent budgetary
limits is not known.
[32]
Though the German Ministry of Defense denies the existence of this scatterable
mine/munitions system, the arms producer GIWS (Diehl/Rheinmetall) advertised it
at Eurosatory 2000 in Paris (“Sub-munitions for airborne dispensers and
ground-to-ground rockets and dispenser,” RTG Euromunition, company
brochure).
[33]
“Alternative Anti-personnel Mines – The Next Generations,”
published by GIBL and Landmine Action (UK), March 2001, p. 71; see also the more
exhaustive table available at:
<www.landmine.de>.
[34]
Sources for Table: Deutscher Bundestag Drucksache 14/2339 [German Parliament,
Document 14/2339]; “Alternative Anti-personnel Mines–The Next
Generations”, March 2001;
<www.landmine.de>; Federal Ministry
of Defense, Bonn, 14 February 1997; US Department of Defense:
<www.demining.brtrc.com>; Italy, MBT Article 7 report, submitted 29 March
2000, Form B-1.
[35]
“Sub-munitions for airborne dispensers and ground-to-ground rockets and
dispenser,” RTG Euromunition, company
brochure.
[36] Italy, Article
7 report, submitted March 2000, Form G-1. Acknowledged and confirmed by the
German Ministry of Defense in a letter to Angelika Beer/MdB, 27 December 1999.
[37] Dynamit Nobel, Sperren
ohne Landminen [Area denial without landmines], Troisdorf/Berlin, February 2000.
(Original in German: “Eine Modernisierung der vorhandenen PzAbwVMi DM 31
zwecks Erfüllung des Ottawa-Übereinkommens würde Kosten zwischen
40 und 50 Mio DM
verursachen.”).
[38]
“Gute Mine, böses Spiel” [Good mines, bad game],
Spiegel, 7 May
2001.
[39] See landmine
database at
<www.landmine.de>.
[40]
Canadian Forces Mine Awareness Database
99.
[41] Email from Dynamit
Nobel (Dr. Heinemann) to Angelika Beer, MdB; Paul Breuer, MdB; Manfred Opel,
MdB; Peter Zumkley, MdB, 7 May
2001.
[42] “Alternative
Anti-personnel Mines–The Next Generations,” GIBL and Landmine Action
(UK), March 2001, p. 23; see also, Colonel E.S. Fitch, Director of Military
Engineering, Canadian Nation Defense Headquarters, letter to Mines Action
Canada, 24 August 1998; Canadian Forces Mine Awareness Database 99; Mary Foster,
“Mines and mine-like weapons in Canada,” Discussion paper, December
1999.
[43]Südwestrundfunk, Report Mainz, 19 February 2001 (transcript
available at: <www.swr.de/report>). Original in German: “Bertram
Hacker, Oberstleutnant, Leiter Minen-Dokumentationszentrum der Bundeswehr: Ich
persönlich glaube - nein. Man kann nur insofern trennen, als bei den
Anti-Panzerminen natürlich der Auslösedruck zum Beispiel erheblich
höher sein muss wie bei Personen. Allerdings können auch Personen
durch unglückliche Zustände solche Minen auslösen - zum Beispiel
in einem Fahrzeug fahrend. Natürlich wird dann auch eine Panzermine auch
gegen Zivilisten wirken. Der einzige Unterschied den ich sehe, ist
tatsächlich die Größe und die Wirkung an sich und natürlich
der Zweck, warum diese Mine verlegt worden
ist.”
[44] See:
Altmann/Hornig/Krallmann/Span/Vega Laso/Wüster,
“‘Nichttödliche Waffen’ – Hirngespinst oder Chance
für humanere Gewaltanwendung” [Non-lethal weapons’ –
fantasy or chance for a more human use of force?], in: Informationsstelle
Wissenschaft & Frieden, Dossier No. 17, 1994; K.-D. Thiel,
“Non-lethal Weapon Activities at ICT,” Paper presented at Non Lethal
Defense III Conference, US, 1998. GIBL/LAUK,“Alternative Anti-personnel
Mines – the Next Generations,” March
2001.
[45] Exchange rate used
throughout this report: US$1 = DM
1.9.
[46] Email from Ministry
for Foreign Affairs, 31 March
2001.
[47] Fax from Ministry
for Economic Cooperation and Development, 17 May 2001. According to the
government’s annual report on disarmament for 2000, the overall spending
on humanitarian mine action amounts to approximately DM24.5 million (US$12.9
million), not including the Stability Pact funds. Subtracting the total mine
action funds of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 2000 of DM21.64 million
(US$11.39 million) it appears that the total mine action funding of the Ministry
for Economic Cooperation and Development amounted to some DM2.86 million (US$1.5
million) in 2000. See Deutscher Bundestag Drucksache 14/5986 [German
Parliament, document 14/5986], pp.
16-17.
[48] Mine-related
activities funded by the Ministry are mostly implemented by the Deutsche
Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) in accordance with
policies set out in its handbook Development-oriented Emergency Aid –
Integrated Demining. This includes support for demining, but other
developmental assistance, such as medical and social rehabilitation, receives
only limited support, for instance through the collection of data on mine
victims. This approach – Integrated Humanitarian Demining for Development
– was confirmed by GTZ in 2000. Fritz Mamier, Chris Pearce, Ulrich Weyl,
“Die Vergessenen Minenfelder” [Forgotten Minefields], Wiesbaden
2000.
[49] Email from
Ministry for Foreign Affairs, 31 March
2001.
[50] For past funding
details of mechanical mine clearance technology, see Landmine Monitor Report
2000, pp. 649-655.
[51]
Peter Thorsten, “Performance Report – The Minebreaker 2000,”
Journal Of Mine Action, Vol. 3, No. 1; Maj. Frank Akins and Maj. Arthur
Tulak, (undated), <call.army.mil/call/trngqtr/tq1-99/akins.htm>; Deonna
Kelli, Landmines: Costly Aftermath Of War In Afghanistan (Washington
D.C.: Islam Online, undated):
<www.islamonline.net/iol-english/dowalia/special-7/nrep2.aps>; Al Venter,
“New Mines In Angola,” Bulletin Of The Atomic Scientists,
Vol. 55, No. 3 (May/June 1999), p. 14:
<bullatomsci.org/issues/1999/mj99/mj99venter.html>.
[52]
Maj. H. Petetin, Field Technical Advisor “Rhino Mechanical Mine Clearance
Program, Final Report,” p.
17.
[53] Auswärtiges
Amt/German Federal Foreign Office, Humanitarian Mine Action Equipment Catalogue,
Second Edition, June
2000.
[54] Email from
Ministry for Foreign Affairs, 31 March
2001.
[55] GIBL Questionnaire
2000 to member organizations, Markus Haake, Berlin, May
2001.
[56] Sources: Misereor
Questionnaire to member organizations of GIBL, 1995-1998; Email from Hein
Winnubst, Aachen, 25 November 1999; GIBL Questionnaire 1999 to member
organizations, Markus Haake, Berlin, June 2000; GIBL Questionnaire 2000 to
member organizations, Markus Haake, Berlin, May 2001. The table corrects data on
NGO funding in Landmine Monitor Report 2000, p.
655.
[57] “Mine Action
Programs From A Development-Oriented Point Of View” (“The Bad Honnef
Framework”), GIBL, revised version, 1999, available at:
<www.landmine.de>.
[58]
This report concentrates on the activities of GIBL member organizations: Bread
for the World, Christoffel Mission for the Blind, German Justitia et Pax
Commission, German Committee for Freedom from Hunger, German Caritas, Social
Service Agency of the Evangelical Church in Germany, EIRENE International,
Handicap International Germany, Jesuit Refugee Service, Kindernothilfe (Help for
Children in Need), Medico International, Misereor, OXFAM Germany, Pax Christi,
Solidarity Service International, Terre Des Hommes, UNICEF Germany. Their
activities range from restricted mine clearance and mine awareness projects to
emergency aid and physical, psychological and socio-economic rehabilitation of
mine victims, their families and communities (as described in the Bad Honnef
framework). Some of these programs are cofinanced by the Ministries of Foreign
Affairs and Economic Co-operation and Development; their contributions are
subtracted from the total in order to show the NGO
contribution.
[59] Press
release, Federal Ministry of Defense, 5 December 1995. For more information, see
Landmine Monitor Report 1999, pp.
624-625.
[60]
“Unscheinbar versteckt im Boden” [Inconspicuously hidden in the
ground], Volksblatt-Mellrichstadt (daily newspaper), 18 March
2000.
[61] “Minengefahr
im ehemaligen Grenzstreifen” [Mine threat on the former border],
Volksblatt-Mellrichstadt, 23 April
2001.
[62]
“Munitionsfund in Lenne: Zufall stand Pate” [Chance discovery of
munitions in Lenne], Westfälische Rundschau (daily newspaper), 28
May 2001.
[63] “Die
Idylle von Königsbrück täuscht” [The deceptive paradise of
Königsbrück], Lausitzter Rundschau-online, 19 April 2001,
<www.lr-online.de>.
[64]
Robert H. Reid, “One peacekeeper killed, five injured, in Kosovo,”
AssociatedPress, 23 September 1999; also reported in:
Reuters, 23 September 1999 and Spiegel-online, 23 September
1999.