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Radisson SAS Astorija 8 June 2004 Your Excellencies, Ambassadors, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to express my appreciation to you all for attending the Vilnius seminar

on the advancing the Ottawa convention in the Baltic Sea region.

At the outset I wish pay tribute to the courage of de-miners and of all those involved in mine action, whose dedication to the cause of a world free from anti-personnel landmines and unexploded ordnance exposes them to serious dangers. I also wish to commend efforts by the United Nations Mine Action Service, other UN agencies, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines and affiliated NGOs, the European Union and NATO, as well as other institutions and people committed towards reducing humanitarian suffering and increasing human safety.

Landmine contamination is a humanitarian disaster for years or decades perpetuating poverty, desperation, and regional instability. We all have responsibility to contribute to the solution.

When last May I deposited the instrument of ratification of the Mine Ban Treaty at the United Nations Secretariat in New York, Under-Secretary-General Sir Kieran Prendergast wondered whether Lithuania could earnestly take up the role of the goodwill ambassador for the realization of the objectives of the Treaty in the region. After all, we had been the first to break the ice in the neighbourhood.

Few months later, the Lithuanian delegation at the Fifth Meeting of States Parties in Thailand reaffirmed our unwavering commitment to the goals set by the Bangkok declaration. Just over a year later, our deeds, not words, speak for themselves.

Lithuania is now a zone free of anti-personnel landmines banned under the Ottawa Convention. Transit of APLs through the territory of Lithuania will be allowed only for destruction purposes. Our engineers are training for possible mine clearing missions in peacekeeping operations. Our troops will not participate in joint military operations if prohibited APLs were to be used. Our experts are assessing means and ways in which Lithuania can contribute to EU and UN mine action and ammunition destruction plans in Belarus, the Caucasus region and beyond. As a new EU and NATO member, Lithuania will be earmarking resources to address the global landmine problem.

Our mine policy has been conceived in a way of promoting transparency and confidence building in the region. Yesterday, at the mines destruction ceremony I noted that this policy, in coordination with international efforts, had set in motion new regional developments. It has induced building up of the critical mass required for the universalisation of the Ottawa Convention. Lithuania was the first non-state party to voluntarily submit an Article VII report. Many in the region followed suit. Following our ratification, our friends have done so or are seriously considering doing in the offing. Well, now I challenge you all to bid regional farewell to anti-personnel mines.

Finally, I look forward to hearing constructive and action-oriented conclusions of the Vilnius seminar as well as later this year delivering those conclusions to the Nairobi Summit on a Mine-Free World.

I wish you good deliberations, while you may count on our hospitality and enjoy our beautiful city.