WASHINGTON: The United States said Friday it will not produce anti-personnel landmines in the future and intends to join a treaty banning their use.
"Today at a review conference in Maputo, Mozambique, the United States took the step of declaring it will not produce or otherwise acquire any anti-personnel landmines (APL) in the future, including to replace existing stockpiles as they expire," a White House statement said.
In 2009, Washington said it was reviewing its position on landmines but has failed to sign the Ottawa Convention that bans the use of APLs, along with Russia and China.
Nuclear powers India and Pakistan have also refused to sign up.
"Our delegation in Maputo made clear that we are diligently pursuing solutions that would be compliant with and ultimately allow the United States to accede to the Ottawa Convention -— the treaty banning the use, stockpiling, production, and transfer of APL," National Security Council spokesperson Caitlin Hayden said in the statement.
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Yawn --- USA has all but implemented the Ottawa Convention years ago with the exception of the demarcation line between N Korea and S Korea which remains a unique combat zone where civilians have never been "at risk".