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Minister: Poland wants to resume production anti-personnel minings

Poland has announced that it is ready to resume production of antipersonnel landmines. This comes after the Baltic States and Warsaw both announced plans to withdraw from the treaty which bans the use of these mines.

The three Baltic Republics and Poland will be able to stockpile and use anti-personnel land mines once again if they decide to withdraw from the 1997 Ottawa Convention. More than 160 countries have ratified the convention or joined it. This is part of the response to what the Baltics say is an increasing threat by Russia.

When asked about plans to leave the Ottawa Convention, Wladyslaw Ksiniak Kamysz said at a press briefing: "Poland and its neighbors cannot be restricted by conventions which in any way hamper our deterrence policy or our defence policy."

He added, "Poland and our Baltic allies are undoing the corset that has been placed on the military."

Kosiniak Kamysz stated that it would take several months to pass legislation to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention and another six months to implement it at the United Nations.

He said that the arms industry was also responsible for acquiring the capability to produce the mines. He added that he knew that the industry was ready to do so.

Belma, a Polish arms company, told us by email that they already produce anti-tank weapons and can re-equip their machinery in no time.

Charles Bechara, from the International Campaign to Ban Landmines-Cluster Munition Coalition, said that reintroducing production of anti-personnel landmines could be costly and difficult.

He said that even if the plan was pursued, it could take many years to implement, which would divert resources away from developing modern, more effective defense measures.

Cordula Droege is the Chief Legal Officer of the International Committee of the Red Cross. She told reporters that she believes countries are making "rash" decisions, and warned them of the possible consequences.

You have to ask yourself: How far will it go?" The next step will be to say: "Yeah, we need chemical weapons...Is that acceptable? And do you leave the chemical weapon convention?"

(source: Reuters)