Land Mine Treaty Finally Reality U.S., Russia, China Among Countries That Refuse To Sign Pact

What once seemed the impossible dream of a handful of humanitarian agencies and anti-war groups took a giant jump toward reality Wednesday as most nations of the world signed a historic accord renouncing all use of anti-personnel land mines.

Signing ceremonies continue today, and Canadian Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy predicted that as many as 120 countries would commit to the so-called Ottawa Treaty, which outlaws the stockpiling, manufacture, sale and military use of the devices, which kill or maim an estimated 26,000 people a year, most of them civilians.

“This is a defining moment,” said Axworthy. “International public opinion has determined that there must be limits to human behavior even on the battlefield.”

The treaty marks the first international ban of an entire category of weapons since poison gas was outlawed in the 1920s.

But the sense of triumph in this snowbound capital was overshadowed by the refusal of the United States, Russia, China and other nations - including such “rogue states” as Iraq and Libya - to join the treaty.

“I admire and love my country very much,” said Senator Patrick Leahy, the Vermont Democrat who is Congress’s most vociferous champion of a worldwide ban on the weapons. “But I am extraordinarily disappointed that the U.S. is not here signing today. By not signing, we give others an excuse not to sign. We become part of the problem.”

Others expressed their anger at the Clinton administration more bluntly.

“For the U.S. government to insist that the greatest military power in the world must use this coward’s weapon, even while over 100 other countries have abandoned it, is an insult to the American people,” said Susannah Sirkin, deputy director of Boston-based Physicians for Human Rights.

The countries signing the ban included all of America’s NATO partners except Turkey, and virtually every Pacific nation allied with the US except South Korea. The treaty does not come into force until at least 40 signatory countries fully ratify it, a process likely to take two years.

Although the U.S. has destroyed much of its stockpile of anti-personnel mines, Washington considers use of the weapons essential for the defense of South Korea, and refused to sign unless given an exemption for deploying mines in the demilitarized zone between the two Koreas.

But supporters of the treaty said the ban must be total and no participating nation could be permitted any exemptions.

“The treaty says the weapon is inhumane and illegal, period,” said Jody Williams, the Vermonter who won this year’s Nobel Peace Prize as coordinator of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, “not that it is illegal and inhumane for everyone in the world but the U.S.”

However, she added: “The most important signers are the countries that use mines the most, like Angola and Cambodia. Let’s face it, there is not a huge threat that the U.S. will start mining its borders.”

The United States was present as an observer at the gathering, which brought thousands of delegates and anti-land mine activists to Ottawa.

Washington, embarrassed by barrages of international criticism, pledged that it will lend its military expertise - and spend tens of millions of dollars - helping to clear mines from war-shattered countries in Africa and Asia. “We have been and will be the leading contributor to global de-mining.” said Rick Inderfurth, a U.S. envoy to the meeting.