OSCE supports first international mine clearance project in Tajikistan
(OSCE/Alex Nitzsche)Mines and unexploded ordnance pose some of the greatest threats to the security of civilians after a conflict. (OSCE/Alex Nitzsche) Photo details
DUSHANBE, 29 May 2003 - An agreement to start the first internationally supported mine clearance operations in Tajikistan was signed today in the OSCE Centre in Dushanbe, clearing the way for a nation-wide Mine Action Project to start in June.
The agreement was made between the OSCE Centre and the Swiss non-governmental organization, Federation Suisse de Deminage.
"This project, which reflects the three Helsinki baskets - politico-military, economic and environmental aspects and the human dimension - and is further evidence of the interest paid by the Chairman-in-Office to Tajikistan", said Ambassador Marc Gilbert, Head of the OSCE Centre.
After the civil war from 1992 to 1997, Tajikistan was classified as a "mine-affected country". Mines were laid during the civil war by both sides, as well as by the peacekeeping forces. Later landmines were also laid along the borders with Afghanistan and Uzbekistan.
According to the Tajik authorities, around 16,000 land mines are threatening the population over an area of 2,500 square kilometres. They represent a major obstacle to the Tajik economy as well as being a danger to the life of thousands of innocent people. In both 2001 and 2002, some 35 people perished in landmine incidents, mainly children and women who were gathering mushrooms, wood or just herding animals.
The Tajik authorities have recently ratified the Landmine Ban Convention signed in Ottawa in September 1997. The OSCE will help them implement the commitments that stem from that decision.
Due to a lack of resources, the execution of a general mine action assessment has been hindered in Tajikistan. The Government's recently published State De-mining Programme identifies four separate zones, which it has classified as priorities for survey and clearance.
The first step in implementing the Project will be the recruitment, training and deployment to the field of landmine survey teams, whose task will be to identify and mark the exact location of the minefields.
Following recommendations by Tajikstan's government, initial work will begin in the country's Tavildara district and adjacent territories.
The project dovetails with efforts by the United Nations Development Programme and the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining to set up a national mine action centre in the country's capital, Dushanbe. The centre will be responsible for the co-ordination of information collected by the survey teams.
The initiative is funded by the OSCE, the Canadian Government and the Canton of Geneva in Switzerland. At the first stage, survey equipment for two teams of 11 local employers and one international expert can be purchased.
"We hope that other countries will give further contributions to this project later this year", Ambassador Gilbert said. "This additional funding could then be used to permit the mine clearance teams to be deployed to areas where concentrations of mines have been identified."
The agreement was made between the OSCE Centre and the Swiss non-governmental organization, Federation Suisse de Deminage.
"This project, which reflects the three Helsinki baskets - politico-military, economic and environmental aspects and the human dimension - and is further evidence of the interest paid by the Chairman-in-Office to Tajikistan", said Ambassador Marc Gilbert, Head of the OSCE Centre.
After the civil war from 1992 to 1997, Tajikistan was classified as a "mine-affected country". Mines were laid during the civil war by both sides, as well as by the peacekeeping forces. Later landmines were also laid along the borders with Afghanistan and Uzbekistan.
According to the Tajik authorities, around 16,000 land mines are threatening the population over an area of 2,500 square kilometres. They represent a major obstacle to the Tajik economy as well as being a danger to the life of thousands of innocent people. In both 2001 and 2002, some 35 people perished in landmine incidents, mainly children and women who were gathering mushrooms, wood or just herding animals.
The Tajik authorities have recently ratified the Landmine Ban Convention signed in Ottawa in September 1997. The OSCE will help them implement the commitments that stem from that decision.
Due to a lack of resources, the execution of a general mine action assessment has been hindered in Tajikistan. The Government's recently published State De-mining Programme identifies four separate zones, which it has classified as priorities for survey and clearance.
The first step in implementing the Project will be the recruitment, training and deployment to the field of landmine survey teams, whose task will be to identify and mark the exact location of the minefields.
Following recommendations by Tajikstan's government, initial work will begin in the country's Tavildara district and adjacent territories.
The project dovetails with efforts by the United Nations Development Programme and the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining to set up a national mine action centre in the country's capital, Dushanbe. The centre will be responsible for the co-ordination of information collected by the survey teams.
The initiative is funded by the OSCE, the Canadian Government and the Canton of Geneva in Switzerland. At the first stage, survey equipment for two teams of 11 local employers and one international expert can be purchased.
"We hope that other countries will give further contributions to this project later this year", Ambassador Gilbert said. "This additional funding could then be used to permit the mine clearance teams to be deployed to areas where concentrations of mines have been identified."