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Ukraine, Country Profile Jul 2007

Ukraine, Country Profile

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Under the brutal control of the Soviet Union during World War II, the terrain of present-day Ukraine was littered with minefields and munitions depots. When the Soviet Union disbanded into independent states in August 1991, the newborn Ukraine inherited the burden of Soviet munitions and mines. In February 1999 Ukraine signed the Anti-personnel Mine Ban Convention but waited to ratify the law, seeking international assistance for the four-year stockpile destruction deadline. In May 2005 the parliament in Kiev unanimously ratified the decision, President Viktor Yushchenko immediately signed it and the United Nations approved Ukraine's membership to the Convention. Ukraine became …


Belarus, Country Profile Jul 2007

Belarus, Country Profile

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

An heir to massive Soviet stockpiles of anti-personnel mines and other munitions, Belarus has been actively facing its extensive explosive legacy through significant destruction of this explosive ordnance. Belarus is also affected by unexploded and abandoned ordnance left in large part from heavy fighting between German and Soviet troops during World War II and, to a lesser degree, minefields laid by both sides. Additional explosive remnants of war come from World War I and the 18th and 19th century's Napoleonic wars.


Croatia, Country Profile Jul 2007

Croatia, Country Profile

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

On 25 June 1991, Croatia became an independent nation. Serbian and Yugoslav forces soon invaded the country, with the area known as Slavonia being a major battleground changing hands frequently throughout the conflict. The Dayton Peace Accords in November 1995 ended the fighting and Slavonia returned to Croatia on 15 January 1998. In 2003 Croatia applied for European Union membership and in 2004 received official candidate status. Prime Minister Ivo Sanader stated that 2007 is a critical year if Croatia wishes to become an EU member. While not directly included in these discussions, Croatia’s substantial mine-affected areas are seen as …


What Ever Happened To…?, Paddy Blagden Jul 2007

What Ever Happened To…?, Paddy Blagden

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article covers the activities of the Japan Alliance for Humanitarian Demining Support in Thailand, and can be seen as a sequel to the article, “They Started With a Temple,” found in Issue 7.2 of the Journal of Mine Action which described the expansion of JAHDS from a small, research-based nongovernmental organization into a capable, effective mine-clearance nongovernmental organization in Thailand. Things have changed since then, and this article gives the rest of the story.


Albania, Country Profile Jul 2007

Albania, Country Profile

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

For many citizens of Albania the current mine problem is a haunting reminder of the Kosovo Crisis of 1999. Upon returning home after an evacuation of the Albania- Kosovo border area, residents discovered the border polluted with mines and unexploded ordnance.


Chechnya, Country Profile Jul 2007

Chechnya, Country Profile

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

More than a decade of conflict between Russian armed forces and Chechen separatists has left Chechnya polluted with landmines, improvised explosive devices and unexploded bombs. Although clearance has been limited, organizations such as UNICEF have brought victim assistance and mine-risk education to Chechnya and its neighboring regions.


Former Yugoslav Republic Of Macedonia, Country Profile Jul 2007

Former Yugoslav Republic Of Macedonia, Country Profile

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

<-Ten years after gaining independence, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia faced the uprising of an armed group of ethnic Albanians demanding greater civil rights. The hostility between the ethnic Albanians—who called themselves the National Liberation Army—and the Macedonian government lasted seven months and ended with the signing of the Framework Agreement in August 2001. This conflict, in addition to World Wars I and II, left Macedonia with contamination from landmines and other explosive remnants of war along the northern borders with Kosovo and Albania and the southern border with Greece. In September 2006, five years after the end of the internal conflict, Macedonia completed landmine clearance and continues to work towards clearance of other ERW.


Endnotes Issue 11.1, Cisr Journal Jul 2007

Endnotes Issue 11.1, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Endnotes Issue 11.1


Azerbaijan, Country Profile Jul 2007

Azerbaijan, Country Profile

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

From 1988 to 1994, Azerbaijan was engaged in an armed conflict with its neighbor Armenia and armed forces of the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. A ceasefire was negotiated in 1994, but a peace agreement is still underway. During the conflict, both sides used landmines. Forces from both Armenia and the self-declared Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh currently occupy about 20 percent of land within Azerbaijan, making demining difficult in those areas.


Serbia And Montenegro, Country Profile Jul 2007

Serbia And Montenegro, Country Profile

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The State Union of Serbia and Montenegro has faced many political and social difficulties since the dissolution of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. On 18 September 2003, the then-unified country of Serbia and Montenegro acceded to the Ottawa Convention, becoming a State Party on 1 March 2004. In June 2006, Montenegro declared independence from Serbia. Montenegro subsequently acceded to the Convention as a separate country; Serbia remained bound by the original agreement. Both Serbia and Montenegro are party to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, having assumed the obligation of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Though a ratification bill was …


Explosive Remnants Of War And The Reality Of Azerbaijan, Nazim Ismaylov, Emil M. Hasanov Nov 2006

Explosive Remnants Of War And The Reality Of Azerbaijan, Nazim Ismaylov, Emil M. Hasanov

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article explains the danger of explosive remnants of war when located within communities and the precautions that need to be taken in order to get rid of this problem. It also describes how the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action is trying to address the problem of abandoned ammunition storage in one of the most highly contaminated areas among existing abandoned ammunition storages in the world.


Minewolf Flail And Tiller Machines: Testing The Differences Between Two Demining Technologies, Heinz Rath, Dieter Schröder Nov 2006

Minewolf Flail And Tiller Machines: Testing The Differences Between Two Demining Technologies, Heinz Rath, Dieter Schröder

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

MineWolf is the first demining concept, manufactured in Germany by Arthur Willibald Maschinenbau GmbH (AHWI), that overcomes the limitations of flail and tiller machines by combining the advantages of both systems. Extensive tests with live anti-tank and fragmentation mines were carried out at the German Army proving ground to determine whether the MineWolf meets the operational requirements for humanitarian demining. The aim was to discover the effects of detonations on the operator, MineWolf, clearing tools and cabin, and to work out instructions for reparability.


Explosive Remnants Of War And Their Consequences, Jonmahmad Rajabov Nov 2006

Explosive Remnants Of War And Their Consequences, Jonmahmad Rajabov

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article examines the post-conflict situation of Tajikistan, which has not only anti-personnel mines but various kinds of explosive remnants of war. Recently Tajikistan signed Protocol V of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, which includes a commitment to clear the nation’s ERW. The author highlights some of the different sources of ERW in Tajikistan as well as the progress being made by authorities to clear and destroy ERW.


Kosovo, Country Profile Nov 2006

Kosovo, Country Profile

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

From 1998 to 1999, an internal struggle known as the Kosovo Conflict caused Kosovo, a U.N.-administered province of Serbia, to become littered with mines and unexploded ordnance, including cluster-bomb units. Since the conflict ended, mines and UXO have claimed hundreds of victims in Kosovo. Today, very little of the original contamination remains thanks to the success of Kosovo's excellent mine-action program.


Issue 10.2 Endnotes, Cisr Journal Nov 2006

Issue 10.2 Endnotes, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Issue 10.2 Endnotes


Industrial Ammunition Stockpile Recovery: Saving Energy And Resources And Protecting The Environment, Erik Lauritzen, Mogens Straarup, Inés García Sánchez Nov 2006

Industrial Ammunition Stockpile Recovery: Saving Energy And Resources And Protecting The Environment, Erik Lauritzen, Mogens Straarup, Inés García Sánchez

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article presents the opportunities for the disposal of ammunition in an economically and environmentally feasible way, focusing on post-conflict disposal of larger stocks of ammunition with a special view to the ongoing Ammunition Stockpile Destruction Programme in Afghanistan managed by the Afghanistan New Beginning Programme. The contents of the article are based on the experiences gathered under the umbrella of the research and development programmes Western European Armament Group European Cooperation for the Long-Term in Defence and European Union L’Instrument Financier pour L’Environnement (EU LIFE), together with a study carried out for NATO’s Maintenance and Supply Agency, followed by …


Geneva Diary: Report From The Gichd, Ian Mansfield Feb 2006

Geneva Diary: Report From The Gichd, Ian Mansfield

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining provides operational assistance to mine action programmes and operators, conducts research, and provides support to the Anti-personnel Mine Ban Convention.


Mine Action Support Group Update, Cisr Journal Feb 2006

Mine Action Support Group Update, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The following article highlights the recent activities of the Mine Action Support Group, including updates on the United Nations Mine Action Service, the United Nations Development Programme and UNICEF.


Lrc System Allows Remote Disposal, Frederick L. Barthold Feb 2006

Lrc System Allows Remote Disposal, Frederick L. Barthold

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Panther Ridge Research initially designed a Laser Receiver Controller system for the blasting industry where non-electric shock tubing could be used as the lead for initiating the blast-hole pattern of the material to be blasted (known as the overburden). Presently, the system is being modified for the explosive ordnance disposal and unexploded ordnance technician. This tool was designed “by a tech for a tech,” and it is anticipated it will save operators many grueling hours of setting up the disposal sites, as well as cleanup after operations are completed.


Rats To The Rescue: Results Of The First Tests On A Real Minefield, Ron Verhagen, Frank Weetjens, Christophe Cox, Bart Weetjens, Mic Billet Feb 2006

Rats To The Rescue: Results Of The First Tests On A Real Minefield, Ron Verhagen, Frank Weetjens, Christophe Cox, Bart Weetjens, Mic Billet

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The study in this article showed that using rats to evaluate mine risk is a very promising mine-detection method. When three rats were used to evaluate a contaminated area, the success rate was 95 percent, showing that rats can be a speedy and cost-effective means of mine detection.


How Deminer Position Contributes To Injury, François-Xavier Jetté, Jean-Philippe Dionne, Ismail El Maach, Aris Makris, Matt Ceh, Denis Bergeron Feb 2006

How Deminer Position Contributes To Injury, François-Xavier Jetté, Jean-Philippe Dionne, Ismail El Maach, Aris Makris, Matt Ceh, Denis Bergeron

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Research shows injury risks to deminers can vary depending on their body positioning. Here, the authors present the preliminary results of a study testing the effects of body position on deminer injury using mannequins. They hope to refine further their methodology and continue to learn information that will benefit the demining community.


Blast Protection For Uxo Operations Including Demining, Glenn Miles Feb 2006

Blast Protection For Uxo Operations Including Demining, Glenn Miles

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Mines, UXO and improvised explosive devices are explosive hazards that have proliferated for many decades. In a post-conflict scenario, these are sometimes known collectively as explosive remnants of war. While global initiatives have limited the spread of certain types of devices (especially anti-personnel mines), a considerable problem still exists and will continue for many years to come.


Qr Hits A Homerun: Landmine-Detection Systems Based On Quadrupole Resonance Technology Show Progress, Peter Turner, Caroleen L. Williams Feb 2006

Qr Hits A Homerun: Landmine-Detection Systems Based On Quadrupole Resonance Technology Show Progress, Peter Turner, Caroleen L. Williams

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This study explains how quadrupole resonance technology in mine-detection systems improves with use and drastically reduces false alarms and deminer fatigue.


The Journal Of Mine Action Issue 8.1 (2004), Cisr Jmu Jun 2004

The Journal Of Mine Action Issue 8.1 (2004), Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Role of the Military in Mine Action


Rethinking Humanitarian Demining For Coalition Forces, Tom Barnett, Kyle Shaffer Jun 2004

Rethinking Humanitarian Demining For Coalition Forces, Tom Barnett, Kyle Shaffer

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

When you first arrive as a member of the Multinational Brigade North (MNB(N)), you are full of promise. You know your team of highly trained professional soldiers will make a difference in the lives of those that live in BiH. Then it sets in. Your six-month tour of duty doesn’t allow you time to finish what you start. So what is it you can do to make a difference in only six months? This is the exact question that started the process of developing the National Guard Demining Initiative in BiH. This initiative was undertaken by the U.S. Army National …


International Conference Sheds Light On Mine Action Trends And Concerns, Jan Cornelis, Hichem Sahli Jun 2004

International Conference Sheds Light On Mine Action Trends And Concerns, Jan Cornelis, Hichem Sahli

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

During the "International Conference on Requirements and Technologies for the Detection, Removal and Neutralization of Landmines and UXO" held in Brussels September 15–18, 2003, many global viewpoints and models emerged from the discussions. Some of the ideas triggered strong emotional reactions during the conference. Several of the new ideas might have a short lifetime; others have the potential of forcing breakthroughs; and all of them are subject to further debate.


Geneva Diary: Report From The Gichd, Ian Mansfield Jun 2004

Geneva Diary: Report From The Gichd, Ian Mansfield

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

As the theme of this edition of the Journal of Mine Action is about the use of the military in mine action, I would like to remind readers of the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) publication titled "The Role of the Military in Mine Action." This study was originally requested by the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) and completed in mid-2003. The study found that over the past 15 years, military forces—both local and visiting—have made a significant contribution to mine action.


The Ottawa Convention In Perspective, Dennis Barlow Jun 2004

The Ottawa Convention In Perspective, Dennis Barlow

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Seldom has a name caused such polarity among like-minded people, in this case those concerned with mine action. The Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC) of 1997, commonly called the "Mine Ban Treaty," or more often the "Ottawa Treaty," is loved by some—loathed by others. To some it is the lynchpin of mine action activities, to others it is a distracter from pragmatic mine action challenges. Some will not take action against mines without "it" being invoked, others will not take action if "it" is invoked.


Reducing Landmine Risk And Helping Victims: Unicef Albania, 1999–2003, Aurora Bushati Oct 2003

Reducing Landmine Risk And Helping Victims: Unicef Albania, 1999–2003, Aurora Bushati

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has been instrumental in helping Albania address its mine action problems. The following article discusses what steps UNICEF—as well as other mine action organizations within Albania—have taken during and after the conflicts in 1999 to help offset landmine concerns of both victims and the general Albanian population.


The Oas And Landmine Victims In Nicaragua, Carlos Orozco, Jaime Perales Oct 2003

The Oas And Landmine Victims In Nicaragua, Carlos Orozco, Jaime Perales

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Organization of American States (OAS) Mine Action Program has established a priority in providing prostheses and medical attention to landmine victims, as well as work training. In 2002, the program started a pilot project that provided job training and jobs to mine victims.