The European Union's executive arm on Thursday pledged 140 million euros (186 million dollars) towards eliminating anti-personnel landmines around the world. The money was announced to coincide with the conclusion Friday of a conference in the Kenyan capital Nairobi that is the world's first review of the 1997 Ottawa Convention, which banned the deadly devices.
EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said the week-long Nairobi conference "is a time to take stock of the progress that has been made on this devastating issue". "I am mindful of the enormous task ahead to eliminate the threat of anti-personnel landmines, but am confident that with further time and political commitment, this is not a mission impossible," she said.
Use of anti-personnel mines has fallen fast since the Ottawa treaty took effect in 1999, but the devices still account for an "appalling" number of fatalities and maimings, according to the 2004 Landmine Monitor report.
And some important countries have refused to sign up to the convention, including China, Russia and the United States, which has shunned the Nairobi gathering.