State Minister Sandra Pierantozzi is in Colombia attending the Cartagena Summit on a Mine-Free World.
“Palau dreams of a world free of landmines and cluster munitions, starting first in the Pacific Ocean! As a first step, the Republic of Palau has addressed its first anti-personnel landmine problem and on 2 November 2009, destroyed all of the known AP landmines on its soil. A lesser known fact is that Palau is affected by Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) contamination leftover from World War II with that ERW corroded and volatile due to passage of time. A national capacity is being developed to tackle the problem, but Palau now seeks financial resources to continue its clearance program,” Pierantozzi said in her statement before the summit.
She said that Palau would not have made it to be the last country to join the Mine Ban Treaty due to the support of the International Support Unit of the Geneva International Center for Humanitarian Demining, Mr. Kerry Brinkert, UNDP friends in the Civil Society, and allies.
During the summit, Pierantozzi also signed the Cartagena Declaration and the Plan of Action in this beautiful Cartagena.
“We also are mindful that some of us here are mere victims of conflicts for which we had no involvement, but this gives us the encouragement to support landmines ban to help rid the world of these devices that cause much suffering and affect many lives, and to make it possible for all to `walk the earth in safety´,” Pierantozzi said.
Pierantozzi said it is pleased that its paternal steward, the United States of America, for the first time since the inception of this Convention, has decided to send a Delegation to attend this Second Review Conference on the AP Mine Ban Convention.
Palau also welcomes the United States announcement that it is doing a review of its policy on landmines.
“This is a good sign of hope that the United States does care and is sensitive to the concerns of its friends and allies,” the minister said in her statement.
A non-governmental organization, Cleared Ground Demining has cleared several explosive remnants of war in Peleliu. The group will then start the clearance in Angaur next year.
The project was made possible through the assistance of the United States but Palau is seeking more funding assistance to remove as many unexploded ordnance as possible.
