APS : Monday, 13 February 2017
BRUSSELS-Belgium has welcomed Algeria’s efforts in anti-personnel mine clearance following the announcement made Friday in Brussels of the end of mine clearance operations after 50 years of efforts.
“Algeria has fulfilled its obligations under article 5 of the Ottawa Convention. It is good news to hear in the beginning of 2017,” stated Belgium’s Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Didier Reynders quoted in a communiqué.
The Belgian PM stressed the end of mine clearance operations in Algeria “will have an impact on development” as the cleared lands “will be devoted to productive activities.”
Humanly speaking, the end of mine clearance operation “will help avoid new victims,” he added.
The Belgian official reaffirmed his country’s commitment to the Ottawa Convention that will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2017 recalling it played “to universalize this Convention.”
