Key developments since May 2004: Estonia acceded to the Mine Ban
Treaty on 12 May 2004, and the treaty entered into force on 1 November 2004.
Estonia submitted its initial Article 7 transparency measures report on 21 March
2005, which declared no antipersonnel mines in stockpile or retained for
training. In 2004, a total of 1,952 items of UXO were destroyed, and to 19
September 2005 1,114 UXO were destroyed, including 82 mines. Almost 400 UXO
were found on the island of Saaremaa during planned clearance operations and the
construction of a ferry port in 2005.
The Republic of Estonia acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty on 12 May 2004, and
the treaty entered into force for it on 1 November 2004. Estonia’s
security concerns, which it previously said prevented accession, were eased when
it joined NATO and the European Union in 2004.
With respect to national implementation measures, Estonia states that the
“Convention is part of our national legal system...Violations of the
provisions of the Convention committed by persons will be punished according to
the Estonian Penal Code.”[1]Under the Strategic Goods Act, which entered into force on 5 February
2004, it is prohibited to export and transit antipersonnel mines (including
related services).[2]
Estonia submitted its initial Article 7 transparency measures report on 21
March 2005, covering calendar year 2004. The report included optional Form J
which detailed Estonia’s mine action contributions.
The Director of the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of
Defense led Estonia’s delegation to the First Review Conference of the
Mine Ban Treaty in Nairobi in November-December 2004. Estonia did not make a
statement in the high level segment of the Conference. Estonia also attended
the intersessional meetings in Geneva in June 2005, but did not make any
interventions.
In December 2004, Estonia voted in favor of UN General Assembly Resolution
59/84, which calls for the universalization and full implementation of the Mine
Ban Treaty. It has voted for every annual pro-ban UNGA resolution since
1996.
Estonia acceded to the Convention on Conventional Weapons and its Amended
Protocol II in April 2000. Estonia attended the Sixth Annual Conference of
States Parties to the Protocol in November 2004, and submitted an annual
national report as required by Article 13 of the Protocol in October 2004.
A contingent of Estonian demining personnel participates in Coalition/NATO
operations in Afghanistan. Estonia has not made its views known on matters of
interpretation and implementation related to Articles 1, 2 and 3, and the issues
of joint military operations with non-States Parties, foreign stockpiling and
transit of antipersonnel mines, antivehicle mines with sensitive fuzes or
antihandling devices, and the permissible number of mines retained for training.
In its initial Article 7 report, Estonia confirmed that there are no
production facilities in the country.[3]Estonia has banned export and transit of antipersonnel mines since
1999.[4]Estonia declared no
stockpiles of antipersonnel mines in its Article 7 report: “Estonia does
not possess APMs.”[5]It also
did not declare any antipersonnel mines retained for research and training
purposes.[6]However, in March 2000,
a Foreign Ministry official told Landmine Monitor that Estonia possessed
“less than 1,000” antipersonnel mines that it used for
training.[7]
Landmine/UXO Problem and Clearance
The Estonian Rescue Board estimates that hundreds of thousands of landmines
and unexploded ordnance (UXO) remain in Estonia. They date mainly from World
War II, but also from World War I, and are found particularly in Männiku
forest (approximately 15 kilometers south of the capital), in Sinimäe (an
area between Kohtla-Järve and Narva in northeastern Estonia), in the
Jõgeveste area (10 kilometers east of Tõrva in southern Estonia),
on the Sõrve peninsula on the island of Saaremaa, and on the Pakri
islands.[8 ]
According to Estonian law, the Estonian Rescue Board is responsible for all
demining and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) in the country. The Rescue Board
operates under the Ministry of the Interior. Following a July 2005
restructuring, it includes the Estonian Demining Center and Northern Bomb Group
based in Tallinn, and three regional bomb groups (Eastern in Jõhvi,
Southern in Tartu and Western in Pärnu). The new bomb groups are now
staffed wholly by professional civilian deminers. The Demining Center is also
responsible for mine risk education.[9]
Military EOD specialists perform clearance tasks only on military bases and
ranges, and in Estonian territorial
waters.[10]
Mines and UXO continue to be found during construction projects and are also
cleared in planned operations. During 2004, 1,952 UXO were destroyed; from 1
January to 19 September 2005, 1,114 UXO including 82 mines were cleared and
destroyed. In 2005, nearly 400 UXO were found on the island of Saaremaa during
several planned demining operations and the construction of a ferry
port.[11]
There were no demining accidents during 2004 and through September
2005.[12]
An Estonian military EOD specialist training school has been opened in Tapa.
Part of its program is to prepare Estonian military EOD specialists for
international missions.[13]During
the reporting period, Rescue Board deminers and dog teams continued to serve in
Afghanistan with the sixth rotation having returned on 1 July 2005. Due to
restructuring and limited resources, the Rescue Board is reviewing its future
participation in such missions.[14]
Mine Risk Education
A nine-minute video has been distributed to all Estonian schools by the
Rescue Board, with instructions on what should be done if a suspicious item is
discovered. In addition, a brief TV spot has been developed for broadcast in
Estonian and Russian explaining what to do if UXO is
found.[15]
Landmine/UXO Casualties and Survivor Assistance
In 2004 and the first half of 2005, there were reportedly UXO-related
casualties in Estonia; however, it is not possible to differentiate between
incidents caused by criminal activities and
accidents.[16]Since 1999, there
have been at least 77 mine/UXO casualties (12 people killed and 65 injured),
including 21 UXO casualties in
2003.[17]
There are no special programs for mine/UXO survivors, who receive treatment
in civilian hospitals. In response to the OSCE questionnaire, Estonia stated
that it does not require assistance for survivor
assistance.[18]
[1] Article 7 Report, Form A, 21
March 2005.
[2] Article 7 Report, Form A, 21
March 2005.
[3] Article 7 Report, Form E, 21
March 2005.
[4] Estonia Response to
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Questionnaire, 15
December 2003, p. 2.
[5] Article 7 Report, Form B, 21
March 2005.
[6] Article 7 Report, Form D, 21
March 2005.
[7] Interview with Malle Talvet,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 10 March 2000.
[8 ]Information confirmed by Stan Reber,
Senior Specialist, Estonian Demining Center, 19 September 2005.[9] Interview with Juri Kask,
Head of North Estonia Bomb Squad, Estonian Rescue Board, Tallinn, 11 July 2005;
information confirmed by Stan Reber, Senior Specialist, Estonian Demining
Center, 19 September 2005.[10] Interview with Juri Kask,
Estonian Rescue Board, Tallinn, 11 July 2005; information confirmed by Stan
Reber, Estonian Demining Center, 19 September 2005.[11] Interview with Juri Kask,
Estonian Rescue Board, Tallinn, 11 July 2005; information confirmed by Stan
Reber, Estonian Demining Center, 19 September 2005.[12]Information provided by
Stan Reber, Estonian Demining Center, 19 September 2005.[13]Information provided by
Stan Reber, Estonian Demining Center, 19 September 2005.[14] Interview with Juri Kask,
Estonian Rescue Board, Tallinn, 11 July 2005.
[15] Interview with Juri Kask,
Estonian Rescue Board, Tallinn, 11 July 2005.
[16] Interview with Juri Kask,
Estonian Rescue Board, Tallinn, 11 July 2005.
[17] See Landmine Monitor
Report 2004, p. 436.
[18] Estonia’s Response to
OSCE Questionnaire, 24 November 2004; see also Landmine Monitor Report
2004, p. 436.
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