[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000-2001, Book III)]
[January 19, 2001]
[Page 2955]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement on Landmines
January 19, 2001

    Every year, landmines still active from wars past kill or maim 
thousands of innocent men, women, and children who simply find 
themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time. That is why, since I 
called for the worldwide elimination of anti-personnel landmines in 
1994, the United States has taken the lead both at home and abroad to 
rid the globe of these hidden killers.
    Five years ago, I ordered a ban on producing the most dangerous 
types of anti-personnel landmines, those that remain active and 
dangerous long after conflicts have ended. These are the kind of mines 
that have taken the lives of innocent children from Angola to Bosnia to 
Kosovo. The United States has since destroyed more than 3.3 million of 
these landmines, most of our stockpile. We have also budgeted $970 
million in a vigorous effort to find sensible alternatives. Our goal has 
been to end the use of all anti-personnel landmines outside of Korea by 
2003, and we have aimed to sign the Ottawa Convention by 2006 if 
suitable options can be found that will allow us to maintain the 
warfighting capability and safety of our men and women in uniform.
    America has also led the world in the effort to remove existing 
landmines. Since 1993, we have devoted more than $500 million to this 
cause, working to remove mines from 35 nations. Our experts have helped 
train and equip more than one-quarter of all the people who are working 
to eliminate mines around the world. We have led the effort to bring 
higher safety standards to demining techniques and equipment. Through 
partnerships with everyone from the Government of Vietnam to DC Comics, 
we have worked to raise awareness of the dangers of landmines and to 
share information that could lead to the disposal of even more. Our 
efforts are saving lives. In Cambodia, for example, the casualty rate 
for landmines has fallen by 90 percent since 1992. In some African 
nations, death from landmines has been nearly eliminated. I call upon 
the new administration to continue the Demining 2010 initiative.
    While I am proud that we have made substantial progress toward 
eliminating the threat that landmines pose to innocent civilians around 
the world, there is work yet to be done. I urge the next administration 
to build on our progress and take the steps necessary to allow the 
United States to eventually sign the Ottawa Convention, while still 
meeting our security needs and protecting our men and women in uniform. 
The Defense Department has worked aggressively to find alternatives to 
anti-personnel landmines, and those efforts must continue if we are 
going to meet the Ottawa goals. As part of this effort, two decisions 
are pending. The first is whether to begin production of the Remote Area 
Denial Artillery Munition (RADAM). The second is whether to begin 
engineering and manufacturing development of the so-called ``Man-in-the-
Loop'' system. Since more work must be done before we can reach our 
overall policy goals, I am deferring decision on these two programs. We 
halted the production of anti-personnel landmines in 1993 because there 
was no longer a need for additional mines, and I urge the new 
administration to continue this policy.
    The principal reason that the United States needs to retain some 
anti-personnel landmines today is to protect our troops and allies. As 
the need for anti-personnel landmines is reduced, it is my hope that my 
successor will lead us closer to the day when we can rid the world of 
these weapons once and for all.