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Angola prepares its request to apply the extension of article 5 of Ottawa Convention

Luanda, 22 March 2012 - Angola as an Ottawa Convention member State is preparing its request for an extension of the deadline for the stipulations of the article 5 of the document.

The information is contained in a press release from the National Inter-sector Commission for Demining and Humanitarian Assistance (CNIDAH). According to the source, the Convention stipulates that all member countries must localise and destroy the anti-personnel landmines in their jurisdiction within not later than 10 years from the date of membership.

The note further states that CNIDAH, together with all partners, is preparing the request for the extension of the article 5 deadline, while strictly complying with its paragraphs 3 and 4.

In the request, the source adds, Angola will present the reasons for not complying with the article, including its programme for the extension period.

The note states that the requested extension will be submitted on March 31 this year, ahead of an evaluation at the 12nd session of the member states of December 2012. It also states that the five-year extension will enable the country to implement projects and programmes and produce a more realistic picture of the anti-personnel landmine prevalence in Angola.

The Ottawa Convention is an international legal instrument comprising 21 articles banning the use, production, storing and transfer of anti-personnel landmines by all member country that are required to destroy them.

It came into force on 3 December 1997, before Angola joined in 1999 and ratified in July 2002, having become a member State in January 2003.