LANDMINES

"We call upon all States to spare no effort in securing a global ban on the scourge represented by the proliferation and indiscriminate use of anti-personnel landmines and welcome the moratoria and bans already adopted by a number of countries on the production, use and export of these weapons, unilateral reductions in stockpiles as well as initiatives to address this urgent problem."

Grade: +1

France has supported several international initiatives to ban the use of anti-personnel landmines. During the October 1996 Ottawa Conference, France announced that it would move from a moratorium to a complete ban on the production and trade of APMs, 'except in cases of absolute necessity.' France further pledged to continue the destruction of its stocks of APMs. France also declared its support for the Ottawa Declaration which calls for the establishment of an international and verifiable agreement on a total APM ban.

France raised the issue of banning APMs in the context of the December 1996 Franco-African Summit. At the January 1997 Disarmament Conference in Geneva, France endorsed the U.S. decision to support a treaty banning APMs.

On May 7, 1997, the foreign affairs ministers of France, Germany and the United Kingdom issued a joint declaration, stating their resolve to work towards the rapid conclusion of an effective international agreement to ban the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of APMs. They intend to work with international organizations to achieve this end.

Due to the many efforts made by the French government to promote a ban on APMs, France was accorded a grade of +1, signifying full compliance with the commitment.