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Austria

Austria signed the Convention on 3 December 1997, ratified it on 29 June 1998, with the Convention entering into force for Austria on 1 March 1999.

Obligations under the Convention

Notwithstanding the obligation to destroy all stockpiled anti-personnel mines, the Convention permits the retention of the minimum number of anti-personnel mines absolutely necessary for the development of and training in mine detection, mine clearance, or mine destruction techniques.

Austria opted not to retain anti-personnel mines for these permitted purposes.

In its initial transparency report submitted on 29 July 1999, Austria reported that it had completed the destruction of all stockpiled anti-personnel mines in 1996.

In total, Austria reported having destroyed 116,000 mines.

Austria has not reported any areas under its jurisdiction or control in which anti-personnel mines are known or suspected to be emplaced.

Article 6 of the Convention indicates that “Each State Party in a position to do so shall provide assistance for mine clearance and related activities […], the care and rehabilitation, and social and economic reintegration, of mine victims and for mine awareness programs […], the destruction of stockpiled anti-personnel mines, […] with a view to ensuring the full and prompt implementation of agreed assistance programs.”

In this regard Austria routinely engages in such cooperation and assistance. The latest statement on Article 6 for this State Party can be found on this page.

Annually and no later than 30 April, each State Party is to update information covering the previous calendar year. The latest Article 7 reports for this State Party can be found on this page.

Each State Party is to take all appropriate legal, administrative and other measures, including the imposition of penal sanctions, to prevent and suppress any activity prohibited to a State Party under this Convention undertaken by persons or on territory under its jurisdiction or control.

Austria has reported having established national implementation measures or that it considers existing legislation to be sufficient. 

Presidency of the 16MSP

Austria has twice held the Presidency of the Convention, most recently in 2017. H.E. Thomas Hajnoczi, Ambassador of Austria to the UN in Geneva, who was an active contributor to the development of the Text of the Convention, and execution of the First Meeting of the States Parties, led the work of the States Parties as President of the 16MSP. 

Find alll press releases of Austria's 16MSP Presidency here

Presidency of the First Review Conference

Austria first held the Presidency of the Convention in 2004. H.E. H.E. Wolfgang Petritsch of Austria, Ambassador of Austria to the United Nations (Geneva) led the work of the States Parties as President of the Nairobi Summit on a Mine-Free World.

Press Release | Nairobi Summit President joins call to assist landmine survivors. Find other press releases from Austria's Presidency of the Nairobi Summit here.

 

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 View, download photos and/or videos of Austria during Convention-related activities on Flickr.

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