Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
Geneva, SANA- Syria has stressed that the international support for efforts to dismantle landmines and explosive devices should depend on the rules of international law in coordination with the national authorities concerned, adding that the dangers of landmines and explosive devices left behind by terrorist organizations pose threat to the lives of Syrians.
“The problem of mines and explosive devices is still a major threat to the lives of millions of people, particularly children, women, and it affects livelihoods and impedes development and stability efforts and the return of the displaced to their homes,” Syria’s permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, Ambassador Hussam al-Din Ala said in a statement on Friday to the 19th meeting of the States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling and Transfer of Antipersonnel Mines.
He added that despite the national efforts exerted to face the dangers and challenges arising from mines, a real progress can be achieved through strong international support and to help the affected countries get financial and technical resources needed for dismantling landmines without politicization or double standards.
Ambassador Ala said the Syrian Arab Republic has suffered from the impacts of the terrorist war waged on it since 2011 and the use of landmines and explosive devices by terrorist organizations such as Daesh, Jabhat al-Nusra and Tahrir al-Sham has caused large human suffering.
In that regard, Ala added that the Syrian Arab Republic deals with the issue of removing landmines and explosive devices left by terrorist organizations to protect its citizens and ensure their safe return to their homes and face the humanitarian, social, and economic consequences arising from it.
MHD Ibrahim/ Mazen Eyon
