Prince Mired urges US to join anti-mine convention

AMMAN — HH Prince Mired has renewed calls on the US to join the 1997 Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, which bans the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines.

“There is no good reason for the USA to remain outside of the convention and many good reasons why it should join,” Prince Mired, who serves as a special envoy for the convention, also known as the Ottawa Convention, said at an EU-sponsored symposium on US landmine policy held recently.

“Moreover, anything short of adopting a policy that would see the US administration commit to never, under any circumstances, use, produce, stockpile or transfer anti-personnel mines would leave the US on the side-lines and not in the lead where it normally belongs,” the prince added. 

The event was convened by Human Rights Watch on behalf of the US Campaign to Ban Landmines, and the Ottawa Convention’s Implementation Support Unit, according to a statement sent to The Jordan Times.  

The symposium, which took place at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, DC, also featured the participation of the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize co-laureate, Jody Williams, and various military and policy experts. 

“… Maintaining a policy that falls short of what is required to conclusively end the landmine era would seem to be inconsistent with the advanced, forward-looking America that we all know and respect,” Prince Mired said.

“The USA shares our concern about the humanitarian tragedy caused by anti-personnel mines. The USA has not used anti-personnel mines for over two decades.”

The US, unlike any other state, has the capacity to lead, the prince added, noting that a change in US policy to bring it in line with the provisions of the Ottawa Convention would have an impact on the positions of other states that remain outside of the convention.

“My country, Jordan, has benefited greatly from US support in removing mined areas from the Hashemite Kingdom. But while the USA has admirably invested greatly in the removal of these hidden killers, we would dearly like to see it do more to ensure that no more mines are put into the ground,” he added.

“I am optimistic and hopeful. Moreover, I am confident that the outcome of the US policy review would be announced shortly and that it would see the US claim its place on the right side of history on this issue.”

The Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention was adopted in Oslo in 1997.