[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 137 (Tuesday, September 27, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 27, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                  A GOAL TO ELIMINATE A WEAPON OF SHAME

  Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, for the past 3 years, I have urged the 
Congress, the administration, and governments around the world to stop 
the terrible slaughter of innocent people by landmines. These tiny 
weapons, often no larger than a can of shoe polish, can blow the leg or 
arm off whoever steps on them.

  They are indiscriminate. They cannot tell the difference between a 
soldier and a child, and usually it is civilians, going about their 
daily lives, who are killed or maimed. It is a young child like the boy 
in this photograph who steps on a landmine probably costing about $3 or 
$4, strewn by the thousands. That child will spend the rest of his life 
in a poor country trying to survive without his legs. Over 1,200 people 
are killed by landmines each month, and many thousands more are 
injured. There are 100 million unexploded mines strewn in over 60 
countries.
  Last year, the Congress, in a unanimous vote on a resolution I wrote 
extended the U.S. moratorium on exports of antipersonnel landmines for 
another 3 years, and since then at least 16 countries have stopped 
exports following our lead. But much stronger action is needed. During 
the past year, another 2 million new mines were deployed, and they are 
waiting to kill, waiting to main.
  Madam President, ridding the world of any weapon takes leadership and 
international cooperation. On Monday, President Clinton showed that the 
United States will provide that leadership. In his speech to the U.N. 
General Assembly, President Clinton announced for the first time that 
the United States will seek the ultimate elimination of antipersonnel 
landmines. I applaud the President for that.
  This is a crucial milestone, and I want to commend the President for 
his courageous step. By declaring this goal we put to rest any need for 
further debate about how to end the landmine scourge. We agree that the 
solution is to ban them completely.
  That is the only way to put an end to this mayhem.
  The question is how to achieve that goal. It will take years, but let 
us agree that we should move as quickly as possible. Every day, of 
every week, of every month, of every year, landmines continue to kill 
and maim their innocent victims.

  As a first step toward that goal, the President called on other 
countries to join with the United States in an international agreement 
to reduce the number and availability of these weapons.
  The administration's proposal would impose limits on certain kinds of 
mines, and includes verification and compliance procedures for 
enforcing these limits. Frankly, I am skeptical that an elaborate 
system of rules which permit some kinds of mines but not others can 
work in the real world. We have seen how landmines are routinely used 
in violation of the laws of war, even by those who are signatories to 
those agreements. But I will support any interim measure that will lead 
to the ultimate goal of the elimination of these killers.
  Madam President, I am greatly encouraged by the President's 
announcement. I also want to mention what is happening in Italy, which 
has been one of the largest producers of mines. Just last week, in the 
town of Castenedolo where Valsella, the company which produces the 
mines is located, thousands of people gathered to call for a ban on 
landmines. The mayor of the town was among them, as were the two 
parliamentarians, Emma Bonino and Edo Ronchi, who I met with a couple 
of weeks ago and who sponsored legislation to end production and 
exports of antipersonnel landmines. The Italian Defense Minister has 
announced his support, and the Foreign Minister is expected to announce 
in the U.N. General Assembly that Italy has stopped all exports and 
production of these weapons.
  In less than a year, Italy has gone from being among the world's 
largest landmine producers, to a world leader by ending its involvement 
in this shameful business. If Italy can do it, so can we and so can the 
rest of the world.
  Madam President, as support for the elimination of landmines builds 
around the world, I again want to commend President Clinton, and our 
U.N. Ambassador Madeleine Albright, for their leadership. After years 
of work it is so gratifying to have their strong support. If we work 
together there is no reason why we cannot achieve this goal, and solve 
one of the most urgent humanitarian crises of our time.
  Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that an excerpt of the 
President's remarks on landmines at the United Nations be printed in 
the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

    Exerpts of Speech by President Clinton at the United Nations on 
                           September 26, 1994

       And today, I am proposing a first step toward the eventual 
     elimination of a less-visible, but still deadly threat: the 
     world's 85 million antipersonnel land mines--one for every 50 
     people on the face of the Earth. I ask all nations to join 
     with us and conclude an agreement to reduce the number and 
     availability of those mines. Ridding the world of those often 
     hidden weapons will help to save the lives of tens of 
     thousands of men and women and innocent children in the years 
     to come.

  Mr. LEAHY. I applaud the President of the United States for his 
strong statement.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. CRAIG addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Idaho.

                          ____________________