Mr. President,

The Indian delegation is pleased to see you chair the 13th Meeting of States Parties to the Anti-Personnel Landmine Convention. India is participating in this meeting as an Observer country.

Mr. President,

India supports the vision of a world free of the threat of landmines with mine survivors fully integrated into their society and with individuals and communities free to pursue development in a safe and secure environment. The humanitarian ideals espoused by the APLC regarding anti-personnel landmines have universal appeal. Our presence in this meeting is an expression of our commitment to these objectives. India would continue to address the humanitarian suffering caused by anti-personnel landmines, in consonance with our legitimate security concerns. We believe that the availability of militarily effective alternative technologies that can perform cost effectively the defensive function of anti-personnel landmines is important especially for defence purposes for countries with long land borders.

India’s position on anti-personnel landmines takes into account the humanitarian concerns regarding their use in accordance with international humanitarian law. As a High Contracting Party to the Amended Protocol II of Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons India has fulfilled its obligations related inter alia to non-production of non-detectable mines as well as rendering all our anti-personnel mines detectable. India is observing a moratorium on the export and transfer of landmines. Information regarding our obligations under Amended Protocol II is regularly disseminated to the armed forces.

India's armed forces have not used mines for maintenance of law and order or in internal security situations or even for counter-insurgency or counter-terrorism operations even though our security forces and civilians have been the target of indiscriminate use of improvised explosive devices and mines. Whenever and wherever the army has used mines for defensive military operations, the mines have been laid within fenced perimeters and marked, in accordance with the requirements specified in Amended Protocol II. India is also contributing effectively to the discussions on IEDs, the weapon of choice for terrorists and NSAs, under Amended Protocol II.

An integral part of the government’s efforts to avoid civilian casualties is to enhance public awareness on landmines. Further, mine victims are assisted in rehabilitation inter alia by providing financial compensation, employment and health assistance. India's ratification of the Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities underscores the importance we attach to victim assistance. The prosthetic called “Jaipur foot” is symbolic of India’s contribution to victim assistance. We would also like to stress the importance of development and sharing of technology to protect civilians against the indiscriminate use of mines as well as for mine clearance.

India has extended assistance to international demining and rehabilitation efforts including as part of UN peacekeeping operations to which India is a leading contributor. Indian mine clearance professionals have contributed to both clearance and clearance training globally, including in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Angola, Benin and Afghanistan. We have also provided support for mine clearance in the erstwhile conflict affected areas in Sri Lanka.

Mr. President,

In conclusion, I would like to reiterate India’s commitment to the vision of a world free of landmines. We hope that this meeting will contribute to the success of the Third Review Conference of APLC to be held next year.

Thank you.