The
Cook Islands signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 3 December 1997, but has still not
ratified. In January 2002, the government's legal advisor for international
affairs said that ratification legislation has been drafted and after
consideration by the Crown Law Office, it will be sent to Parliament for
approval.[1] The Cook Islands
is not a member of the United Nations and therefore has not voted on any of the
relevant UN General Assembly resolutions on landmines. The Cook Islands has
never produced, transferred, stockpiled or used antipersonnel
mines.[2]
[1] Meeting between James Gosselin, Legal
Adviser for International Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration,
Cook Islands, and John Head, Spokesperson, New Zealand Campaign Against
Landmines, Rarotonga, 1 January
2002. [2] Interview with James Gosselin,
Legal Adviser for International Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
Immigration, Cook Islands, Wellington, 30 March 2001.