Statement by
H.E. Mr. Majid Takht Ravanchi
Ambassador and Permanent Representative
of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations
Before the United Nations Security Council
On “Mine action and sustaining peace: stronger partnerships for better delivery”
New York, 8 April 2021
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
Mr. President,
Landmines and explosive remnants of war pose a challenge to the security and sustainable development of some countries, and to mitigate their associated risks, protect lives and create safe conditions for socioeconomic activities require a comprehensive plan, which, in addition to focusing on demining as a key factor, must include efforts such as capacity-building, training and awareness-raising.
To accomplish such plans timely and effectively requires, among other things, skilled human resources, various types of advanced equipment, and adequate financial resources. Nevertheless, unfortunately, many of the countries facing the challenges of landmines and explosive remnants of war lack such capacity.
In this context, the Non-Aligned Movement, in the final documents of its successive summits and Ministerial meetings, has called upon all States in the position to do so, to provide the necessary financial, technical and humanitarian assistance to landmine clearance operations, the social and economic rehabilitation of victims as well as to ensure full access of affected countries to material equipment, technology and financial resources for mine-clearance. This cannot be overemphasized.
As a result of Saddam’s aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran, five provinces of our country have immensely been affected by landmines and explosive remnants of war, seriously inhibiting the reconstruction of those provinces, hampering the socioeconomic development of the affected cities and villages, delaying the safe return of internally displaced persons, and causing the martyrdom or wounding of many of our citizens.
Despite suffering from United States unlawful unilateral sanctions, hampering our access to necessary equipment and technologies and preventing us from receiving international assistance, we have relied on our zealous human resources and, using indigenously produced equipment and new demining methods, conducted a large-scale mine-clearance operation.
As a result, we have neutralized and destroyed over three million mines and explosive remnants of war and decontaminated most of the contaminated areas, enabling the promotion of agricultural, transportation, mining and other projects in such areas.
Building upon such precious hard-won experience, currently more than 60 Iranian private companies continue demining in Iran and also are assisting other countries in the region to address the threats to them resulting from landmines and explosive remnants of war. In recent years, we have also established an international center for education on humanitarian mine action.
As a step towards further enhancing regional cooperation in humanitarian mine action, an international seminar - co-sponsored by Iran Mine Action Center and the International Committee of the Red Cross - was held from 8 to 11 March 2019, in Tehran, wherein mine action related institutions from 13 regional countries and a number of relevant regional and international organizations, including the United Nations Mine Action Service actively participated.
Application of sanctions on the transfer of mine-clearance technologies and equipment to certain mine-afflicted countries seriously undermine their national capacity in mine action. Given the humanitarian nature of mine action, such sanctions are unjust and unacceptable and must therefore be removed immediately. Instead, the access of mine-stricken nations to the machinery and technology necessary for speedy and effective mine-clearance operations must be facilitated.
Taking into account the threat that mines and explosive remnants of war pose to the lives of United Nations peace-keeping personnel, the Council must continue to consider this issue in the mandates of peace-keeping operations. However, it is evident that the involvement of peace-keeping forces in mine-clearance does not provide any mandate to the Council to put the subject of mine action under its purview.
Due to the serious humanitarian and socioeconomic nature of the mine action, it remains under the purview of the General Assembly and it must therefore continue and upgrade its relevant functions including in the post-conflict situations.
Mine-clearance activities, whether in the context of peace-keeping operations or otherwise, must be consistent with the United Nations Charter, particularly the principles of full respect for the sovereignty, sovereign equality and territorial integrity of all States, and non-interference in their internal affairs.
To ensure that mine action operations contribute effectively to sustaining peace and socioeconomic development of the societies that are facing the challenges of mines and explosive remnants of war, enhanced international cooperation and assistance, upon request, is a must. This should therefore be a key priority area for the relevant United Nations bodies.
To that end, the Islamic Republic of Iran stands ready to extend its cooperation in humanitarian mine action with countries in the region and beyond, to share its experiences, exchange technical experts and expertise, hold training courses and implement demining projects.
I thank you, Mr. President.