Appell fra Vatikanet om eliminering av alle anti-personell landminer

APPEAL FOR ELIMINATION OF ALL ANTI-PERSONNEL LAND MINES

VATICAN CITY, DEC 6, 1997 (VIS) - Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, made an appeal today for the removal of all anti-personnel land mines which are still scattered throughout a number of countries.

Referring to the recent conference in Ottawa, Canada, at which the accord banning these mines was signed, Cardinal Etchegaray said: "With this signing, an important number of states offers new hope for the security of the future of so many peoples. The path, along which much progress has already been made, must proceed to the end, ensuring universal adhesion and effective application of the accord. Now there is a need for a new process: that of the removal of all the mines already disseminated in the countries affected by this scourge, and of ensuring adequate assistance to the numerous victims of these cruel arms."

"These important steps toward the banning of anti-personnel mines open new possibilities for the resolution of another problem, which is also of a humanitarian nature: that of the massive proliferation of low-caliber (fire)arms. No region of the world is free of the scourge of these arms, so simple that even children can carry them and, unfortunately, use them. The Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace will proceed in its efforts to awaken the consciences of all people on these issues."

OP/APPEAL MINES/CON-IP:ETCHEGARAY                            VIS 971209 (240)