Conclusion of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction
(Anti-Personnel Mines Ban Treaty)

September 30, 1998

The Government of Japan, represented by Mr. Hisashi Owada, Ambassador to the United Nations, deposited its instrument of acceptance of the "Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction (Anti-personnel Mines Ban Treaty)" on September 30 (Wed.) with the United Nations Secretariat in New York. The Convention will enter into force in Japan on March 1, 1999.
More than 100 million anti-personnel mines remain buried in conflict areas of the world. Not only pose great humanitarian problems in that they indiscriminately maim civilians, but they also severely hinder postwar reconstruction efforts in these areas. It is hoped that the Convention will contribute greatly to the solution of these problems.
Japan, which is aiming to achieve "Zero Victims" of landmines at an early date, will continue to lead the international society in this field by making further efforts with the countries concerned to achieve a universal and effective ban on landmines, clear landmines which remain buried and assist the injured by this weapon.

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Discussion on the Convention started in October 1996 at the proposal of the Government of Canada. The Convention was adopted in September 1997 in Oslo. Mr. Keizo Obuchi, the Foreign Minister at the time, signed the Convention on behalf of Japan last December in Ottawa. As of September 30, 1998, 130 countries have signed the Convention.
According to the U.N. Secretariat, Japan is the 45th and most recent country to have concluded the Convention as of September 30, 1998. The Convention will enter into force in the existing contracting parties on March 1, 1999.

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