    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)]
    [May 20, 1998]
    [Page 815]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on the Washington Conference on Humanitarian Demining
    May 20, 1998

        It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the Washington
    Conference on Global Humanitarian Demining.
        This conference fulfills a commitment I made last October when
    Secretary Albright and Secretary
    Cohen announced the ``Demining 2010
    Initiative.'' We set as our goal the elimination, by the end of the next
    decade, of the threat posed by landmines to civilians. Landmine
    contamination is not only a pressing humanitarian problem, but it
    affects virtually every aspect of life in countries recovering from
    civil war or armed conflict.
        We long ago realized that reaching this goal would require a
    concerted effort by the international community, and we have been
    heartened by the response--your response--so far. Each of the countries
    and organizations represented at this conference plays a critical role
    in this effort, and your presence here is testimony to the importance
    the international community attaches to this enormous task.
        Almost 4 years ago I called for the global elimination of landmines.
    Since then, the U.S. has been at the forefront of the efforts to rid the
    world of these hidden killers. Not only have we destroyed millions of
    landmines in our own arsenal and banned their export, but we have also
    provided a substantial share of the global resources for humanitarian
    demining.
        The Washington conference is an opportunity for us to set a course
    for the future together and move toward a goal we all share: to
    eliminate as quickly as possible the scourge of antipersonnel landmines
    that kill and main civilians. This conference builds on the efforts of
    many other countries and individuals, including, of course, the
    remarkable accomplishment of the Ottawa process, making this a truly
    global endeavor.
        We have come a long way, but much remains to be done. It is my hope
    that the Washington conference will inspire a new commitment on the part
    of all present to ensure an increase in the level and effectiveness of
    effort and resources the world dedicates to the challenge of
    humanitarian demining.