Belarus
Support for Mine Action
Belarus failed to meet its deadline of 1 March 2008 to destroy its stockpiles of antipersonnel mines. After a tender process on 21 December 2010, the European Commission (EC) awarded the Spanish company, Explosivos Alaveses (EXPAL), a 28-month contract valued at €3,900,000 (US$5,171,790).[1] Licensing and problems in importing equipment from Germany and Spain have delayed the start of the project. As of 21 May 2012, EXPAL had not destroyed any stockpiles.[2]
[1] EC, “Service procurement notice, UA-Kiev: ENPI — destruction of PFM-1 series ammunition in Belarus 2010/S 124-188668,” 30 June 2010; See ICBL-CMC, “Country Profile: Belarus: Mine Ban Policy,” 3 November 2011; Belarus, “Contract award notice, BY-Minsk: destruction of PFM-1 series ammunition in Belarus 2011/S 14-020376,” 21 January 2011; Information from Maria Cruz Cristobal, Mine Action Desk, Security Policy Unit, Directorate-General for External Relations, EC, through David Spence, Minister Counsellor, Delegation of the European Union to the UN in Geneva, 20 June 2011; Average exchange rate for 2010: €1=US$1.3261. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 6 January 2011.
[2] Statement of Belarus, Standing Committee Meeting on Stockpile Destruction, Geneva, 21 May 2012.