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Headlines ; Thais to ratify mine ba



Subject: Headlines ; Thais to ratify mine ban  pact 

Headlines 

      Thais to ratify mine ban
      pact

      THAILAND is poised to become the first
      Asean country to ratify the Mine Ban Treaty
      of 1997 after the Army submitted the letter
      of affirmation to the Foreign Ministry on
      Thursday. 

      After several months of vetting and delay,
      the Permanent Secretary's Office for
      Defence informed the Foreign Ministry,
      which is coordinating preparations of the
      ratification process of the treaty, that it is
      agreeable to the original text and the Thai
      translation. 

      The air force and navy have both submitted
      their letters of affirmation to the ministry.
      The Interior Ministry and the National
      Security Council have yet to reply. 

      The ministry requires a positive response
      from these concerned agencies before it
      can proceed to request the Cabinet
      approval needed to ratify the treaty, which
      does not need a parliamentary sitting. 

      The treaty, which will become an
      international law in March next year,
      imposes a comprehensive ban on using,
      stockpiling, producing and transporting
      anti-personnel mines. 

      Thailand would need at least Bt800 million
      to clear mines and rehabilitate the victims
      of land mines. 

      Recently the Thai government has also
      agreed to be a state party to the
      conference of disarmament. It is planning to
      sign the International Covenant on
      Economic, Social and Cultural Rights soon.

      The Nation