White House Unveils New Landmine Policy - East Idaho News
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White House Unveils New Landmine Policy

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GETTY 92314 Landmines?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1411494785585iStock/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — The Obama administration announced a new policy on anti-personnel landmines (APL) Tuesday, pledging for the first time not to use them or encourage others to use them anywhere in the world outside the Korean Peninsula.

A statement from Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby describes how the U.S. will carry out the policy: “Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel fully supports the changes to U.S. anti-personnel landmine (APL) policy announced by the president today.  The department will not use anti-personnel landmines outside the Korean Peninsula; will not assist, encourage, or induce others outside the Korean Peninsula to engage in activity prohibited by the Ottawa Convention; and will undertake steps to begin the destruction of APLs not required for the defense of South Korea.”

The United States’ new policy is described as a step closer to signing the Ottawa Convention, a treaty signed by 160 countries against the use and production of APL.

The U.S. also plans to destroy its stockpiles of anti-personnel landmines that are not in Korea.


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