MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Hunt
Australia is helping 50,000 people in Jordan gain safe access to more than seven million square metres of land previously rendered useless by the risk of landmines.
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Australia's Special Representative on Mine Action, Greg Hunt, said Australia was providing $1 million to clear landmines along Jordan's heavily mined northern border with Syria.
Mr Hunt made the announcement to mark the 10th anniversary of the signing of the international Mine Ban Convention.
'One of the first acts of the Howard Government was to end the stalling and take affirmative steps for the signing the Convention, on 18 September 1997,' Mr Hunt said.
'The Convention created a total ban on the use, development, stockpiling and transfer of anti-personnel mines. There are now 155 States Parties to the Convention, making it the most widely adopted conventional arms control treaty in history.'
Mr Hunt said Australia was now providing a further $1 million to the United Nations Development Programme to support the final phase of a long-term strategy to de-mine Jordan in accordance with the Mine Ban Convention.
'Much has been achieved in this decade - use of landmines has reduced significantly, stockpiles have been destroyed, land has been cleared, the number of new victims has fallen and survivors and their communities have been supported,' Mr Hunt said.
'We are now looking to play a leading role in the negotiation of an international agreement to ban cluster munitions that cause unacceptable harm to civilian populations. Australia will take a dual track approach to both the Oslo and Certain Conventional Weapons processes that are currently underway,' Mr Hunt said.
The Australian Government has today released a booklet detailing its achievements in mine action over the last year. Australia's Mine Action Activities 2006-07 is a record of Australia's timely and on-going commitment to practical mine action.
'Australia has enabled mine-affected communities to reclaim productive land, prevented new victims through mine-risk education, and provided support to survivors,' Mr Hunt said.
'The Australian Government has provided $21.9 million in 2006-07, as part of our five-year, $75 million pledge on positive landmine action.'
The booklet is available at www.ausaid.gov.au
Media contacts:
John Deller (Mr Hunt's office) on 0400 496 596
AusAID Public Affairs 0417 680 590