Poland withdraws from the Ottawa Convention. There's a reaction from Russia

Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia announced their intention to retreat from the Ottawa Conventionwhich prohibits the usage of anti-personnel mines. A spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of abroad Affairs responded to the declaration of Poland and the Baltic countries, who reported that Russia would “take revenge”.

SEE: Poland withdraws from an crucial convention. It's a prohibited weapon.

- Of course. We will take reprisalsto guarantee defence and national security, including military-technical," she said Marija Zacharova, cited by RIA Novosti.

She added that a decision to retreat from the Convention would “lead to further escalation of tensions and degradation of regional and global safety situations‘.

A dispute over the Ottawa Convention. Norway criticises Poland

On Wednesday, he responded to the declaration of Poland and the Baltic countries Head of the Norwegian MFAwho said it was “disturbing”.

Espen Barth Eide stressed in a message that Compliance with global rules and war obligations is necessary, even erstwhile the global situation is deteriorating.

SEE: An anti-personnel mine dispute. Deputy Minister to Member: She should be informed

"Disarmament conventions include not only commitments in peacetime, but besides commitments that are peculiarly crucial erstwhile states are at war or conflict. Land mines make rebuilding, killing and mutilating people many years after the end of the war, they destruct the top layer of soil, make school roads dangerous and make large areas of land unfit for use," commented the Norwegian abroad Minister.

Poland withdraws from an crucial convention. It's a prohibited weapon.

In a joint message published on Tuesday by the Polish Ministry of Defence – Defence Ministers of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia – Władysław Kosiniak-Kamish, Dovile Shakaliene, Andris Spruds and Hanna Pevkur – recommended denunciation of the Ottawa Convention prohibiting the production and usage of anti-personnel mines, justifying this decision by making the safety situation in the region importantly worse due to Russian aggression against Ukraine and Russia's threat to the Euroatlantic community.

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‘Our decision is simply a clear message: Our countries are ready and can usage any means essential to defend our territory and freedom“The ministers said. At the same time, they stressed that, despite the withdrawal from the Convention, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia stay "obliged by global humanitarian law, including civilian protection during armed conflicts".

Ottawa Convention, i.e. the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Storage, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and On Their Destruction, was approved in 1997 in Ottawa. So far it has been ratified by 163 countries (Poland in 2012). It was not signed by China, Russia, USA, India, Israel, North Korea and South Korea. The treaty was passed due to concerns about the impact of anti-personnel mines on the civilian population in many areas affected by the conflict.

== sync, corrected by elderman ==

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