Estonian Parliament approves withdrawal from anti-personnel mine ban Convention

The Estonian Parliament has adopted a law on the country's withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction. The corresponding statement was published on the official website of the country's Foreign Ministry on June 4.

"I welcome the decision of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia — Ed.) to adopt a law on withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention, as withdrawal from the Convention gives the Estonian Defense Forces greater flexibility and freedom in choosing weapons systems and solutions that can be used to strengthen Estonia's defense capability if necessary," said the country's Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna., who introduced the bill to Parliament.

According to him, Estonia remains committed to upholding the goals and norms of international humanitarian law and is committed to limiting the impact of military operations on civilians, including by supporting humanitarian demining projects.

It is reported that 81 deputies of the Estonian Parliament and 101 voted for this bill.

The Foreign Ministry added that the withdrawal of their Convention will come into force in six months. Poland, Finland, Latvia and Lithuania have also started the withdrawal process.

On May 30, it became known that the Estonian authorities had not installed navigation buoys on the Narva River this year due to the termination of negotiations with Russia on this issue. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the reason for this decision was Russia's alleged refusal to cooperate on security issues.