THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts)
For Immediate Release: August 18, 1997
STATEMENT BY THE PRESS SECRETARY
United States to Join Ottawa Process
The United States will participate in the Ottawa process negotiations on a
treaty banning anti-personnel landmines. At the talks, which begin on
September 1 in Oslo, the United States will work with the other participating
nations to secure an agreement that achieves our humanitarian goals while
protecting our national security interests. We look forward to a successful
conclusion of these negotiations so that we can join with the other nations
involved to sign a treaty in Ottawa in December.
At the same time, the United States will continue other efforts to address the
problem of landmines, including our work to establish step-by-step negotiations
toward a global ban in the Conference on Disarmament. Cooperation in the
Conference on Disarmament on new steps in this area remains essential since
that body's membership includes most of the major producers and exporters of
anti-personnel landmines. In addition, we continue to seek early Senate action
on the pending Protocol on landmines. This Protocol will significantly
strengthen the restrictions on landmine use and, if adhered to, will save many
lives as we work toward an universal ban.
The United States is committed to pursuing the most promising opportunities
for ending the use of anti-personnel landmines, which every year cause enormous
suffering around the world.
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Click here for the transcript excerpt dealing with landmines from 18 August 1997 Department of State press briefing.
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