Ottawa Convention Without Poland: Production of Anti-Personnel Mines to Resume

Poland will suspend its obligations under the Ottawa Convention, which prohibits the use of anti-personnel mines. This was stated by the country’s Deputy Minister of Defense, Cezary Tomczyk, according to РИА Новости.

According to him, the authorities intend to resume the production of anti-personnel mines and create remote detonating systems. Earlier, Prime Minister Donald Tusk noted that if necessary, Poland could plant mines along its borders with Russia and Belarus within 48 hours.

It was previously reported that for the first time since the Cold War, Poland plans to begin such mine production, deploying them along its eastern border. The state-owned Belma company announced that millions of mines are expected to be produced under the "Eastern Shield" program to protect the 800-kilometer-long eastern border.

It was also noted that excess production could be supplied to allies, and several NATO countries bordering Russia have expressed interest in purchasing.

The Ottawa Convention, which prohibits the use of anti-personnel mines, came into force in 1999 and has 164 participating states. It was also previously reported that brochures on actions during wartime situations have been distributed to Polish residents.