OSCE SMM Chief Monitor Apakan and OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine Verba highlight importance of mine action

KYIV, 4 April 2018 – Today, as the world marks International Mine Awareness Day, the Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, Ertugrul Apakan, and the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine, Vaidotas Verba, highlighted the importance of mine action in eastern Ukraine.

“In Ukraine, mines and explosive remnants of war put innocent people, including many children, at risk. By signing the Memorandum, the sides have already committed to removing mines and pledged not to lay new ones. All sides must fully adhere to these commitments,” said Apakan.

Project Co-ordinator Verba said: “We have been helping build the capacity of government deminers for several years now. In fact, our assistance started with helping to clear explosive remnants of war dating from World War II. Years, if not decades, of effort will be needed to complete demining.”

The two missions support mine action in line with their respective mandates. The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine pays special attention to the problem of mine contamination in its monitoring, reporting and dialogue facilitation. The Mission records and publicly reports about the presence of mines and aids demining in eastern Ukraine by facilitating localized ceasefires.

The Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine supports the national authorities in building capacity for mine action. Its assistance includes formulating mine action policy; adapting international standards to national regulations; installing the Information Management System for Mine Action, which tracks known hazards, clearances and other data; and providing modern equipment for safer, more efficient demining.

“The presence of mines and explosive remnants of war constitutes both a current and a long-term threat to the civilian population,” Apakan and Verba said. “We stand ready to further support and facilitate demining in Ukraine.”