International cooperation needed for safer and faster demining techniques
The European Commission has signed a memorandum of understanding for an international test and evaluation programme for humanitarian demining with the defence authorities in Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, Sweden, the UK and the USA 'Success will only be achieved if there is a political and resource commitment at the international level, if the international coordination is improved [and] if effective national capabilities are established in all of the mine-affected countries. And, most importantly, if safer and faster demining techniques are introduced,' said Mr Philippe Busquin, the European Commissioner for Research, who signed the memorandum on behalf of the European Commission. ' ITEP, the international test and evaluation programme was launched two years ago at the Washington conference for humanitarian demining. Mr Busquin believes the new memorandum of understanding signals a major milestone: 'With the incentive of the entry into force of the Ottawa Convention on the Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines, the challenge is to carry out the land demining process in the next 10 to 15 years. The recently published Commission communication on actions against Anti-Personnel Landmines underlines the fact that the European Union is expected to be a major player in these activities,' he added. For now, the European Commission's demining efforts are focused on south eastern Europe and on promoting regional co-ordination and collaboration. The ITEP secretariat will initially be based at the European Commission's Joint Research Centre, which has worked in the past with the UN Mine Action Centre for Afghanistan and can provide test and evaluation facilities to the ITEP team. The European Commission has also issued a mandate to the European office for standards, to support ITEP in the selection and identification of international standards.