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Serbia

Serbia acceded to the Convention on 18 September 2003, with the Convention entering into force for Serbia on 1 March 2004.

Obligations under the Convention

In its initial transparency report submitted on 1 September 2004, Serbia reported anti-personnel mines under its ownership or possession or under its jurisdiction or control.

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.

As of 2019, Serbia had reported having retained 3,134 anti-personnel mines for these permitted purposes. In its report submitted in 2018, Serbia indicated that all fuses for 494 PMA-1 type and 540 PMA-3 type mines had been removed and destroyed. Mines retained for permitted purposes were planned to be used for personnel training towards possible engagement in United Nations peace operations, protection equipment testing, and mine detectors.  

In its initial transparency report submitted on 1 September 2004, Serbia reported stockpiled anti-personnel mines under its ownership or possession or under its jurisdiction or control.

In its transparency report submitted in 27 December 2006, Serbia reported that it had completed the destruction of all stockpiled anti-personnel mines. In total, Serbia reported having destroyed 1,404,819 mines.

In its initial transparency report, Serbia reported areas under its jurisdiction or control in which anti-personnel mines were known or suspected to be emplaced.

In accordance with Article 5 of the Convention, Serbia undertook to destroy or ensure the destruction of all anti-personnel mines in these areas as soon as possible but not later than 1 March 2014.

On 27 March 2013, Serbia submitted a request to extend its mine clearance deadline. The request was granted at the Thirteenth Meeting of the States Parties and a new deadline set for 1 March 2019.

On 3 March 2016, Serbia acted upon the decisions of the Thirteenth Meeting of the States Parties by submitting an updated work plan for the implementation of Article 5 of the Convention.

On 14 March 2018, Serbia submitted a second request to extend its mine clearance deadline and on 28 June 2018 Serbia submitted additional information to the request. The request was granted at the Seventeenth Meeting of the States Parties and a new deadline set for 1 March 2023.

On 18 March 2022, Serbia submitted a third extension request to extend its mine clearance deadline. The request was granted by the Twentieth Meeting of the States Parties in November 2022, and a new deadline set for 31 December 2024.

On 3 August 2022, Serbia submitted additional information on the extension request.

Article 5 Extension Request Process

Serbia has indicated having significant numbers – hundreds or thousands – of landmine survivors.

Serbia is also a State Party to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

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. 

Article 9 of the Convention states that “each State Party shall 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.”

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

Individualised Approach