Mine Ban Convention Special Envoy to visit Myanmar

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Geneva, Amman, Nay Pyi Taw – The Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention’s Special Envoy HRH Prince Mired Raad Zeid Al-Hussein will make an official three-day visit to Myanmar starting 28 May. The Envoy will hold meetings with H.E. Lt. Gen. Sein Win, Union Minister for Defense and H.E. U Kyaw Tin, Union Minister for International Cooperation.

In addition, the Convention delegation will meet with Myanmar mine action partners including representatives of various governments, the European Union and its Member States, United Nations agencies, ICRC, ICBL and mine clearance operators.

Prince Mired’s official visit to Myanmar is part of the activities carried out under a Decision adopted by the European Union Council. Among other objectives, the Decision seeks to contribute to global human security by supporting implementation of the instrument’s norms among States not party.

“I am pleased to have the opportunity to engage with the government of Myanmar, particularly given that this would be only the second time that representatives of the Convention discuss landmine policy with Myanmar at a ministerial level. We look forward to using this opening to promote the humanitarian aim of the Convention, engage Myanmar in the work of the Convention, and encourage Myanmar to continue its efforts to provide mine risk education, assistance to victims and carry out mine clearance,” said Prince Mired.

The previous ministerial engagement between Convention representatives and Myanmar occurred in 2012 when the then-Convention President – current Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cambodia H.E. Prak Sokhonn, seen here at right – met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar.

At that meeting, Myanmar expressed it was “seriously considering all key disarmament treaties including the Ottawa Convention [Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention], as part of its state reforms.”

The May 2018 visit is the result of various months of conversations with Myanmar that began earlier in the year.

In February, the Special Envoy had the opportunity to meet with Myanmar Ambassador to the UN in Geneva H.E. U Htin Lynn (here at left), who has been key in facilitating the high-level engagement.

The Convention, adopted and signed in 1997, entered into force in 1999. To date more than 51 million landmines have been destroyed by its 164 States Parties. Of these, 158 States no longer have stockpiling destruction obligations.

Thirty (30) of 51 States have declared completion of their mine clearance obligation; millions of square metres of land have been cleared and returned for normal use.

While more than 80% of the world’s States have joined, there still remain 33 States that have not yet joined.

For more information contact: press@apminebanconvention.org