TEXT: U.S. TO JOIN OTTAWA TREATY PROCESS ON LANDMINES

(Hoping to sign a treaty in Ottawa in December)    
  
Martha's Vineyard -- The White House says the United States will  
participate in the Ottawa process negotiations on a treaty banning  
anti-personnel landmines.  
  

In a written statement released at the summer White House in Martha's  
Vineyard, the Office of the Press Secretary said that "At the talks,  
which begin on September 1 in Oslo, the United States will work with  
the other participating nations to secure an agreement that achieves  
our humanitarian goals while protecting our national security  
interests.  
  

"We look forward to a successful conclusion of these negotiations so  
that we can join with the other nations involved to sign a treaty in  
Ottawa in December," the statement said.  
  

"At the same time," the White House said, "the United States will  
continue other efforts to address the problem of landmines, including  
our work to establish step-by-step negotiations toward a global ban in  
the Conference on Disarmament.  
  

"The United States is committed to pursuing the most promising  
opportunities for ending the use of anti-personnel landmines, which  
every year cause enormous suffering around the world."  
  

Following is the White House text:  
  

(begin text)  
  

THE WHITE HOUSE  
  

Office of the Press Secretary  
(Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts)  
  

August 18, 1997  
  

STATEMENT BY THE PRESS SECRETARY  
  

United States to Join Ottawa Process  
  

The United States will participate in the Ottawa process negotiations  
on a treaty banning anti-personnel landmines. At the talks, which  
begin on September 1 in Oslo, the United States will work with the  
other participating nations to secure an agreement that achieves our  
humanitarian goals while protecting our national security interests.  
We look forward to a successful conclusion of these negotiations so  
that we can join with the other nations involved to sign a treaty in  
Ottawa in December.  
  

At the same time, the United States will continue other efforts to  
address the problem of landmines, including our work to establish  
step-by-step negotiations toward a global ban in the Conference on  
Disarmament.  
  

Cooperation in the Conference on Disarmament on new steps in this area  
remains essential since that body's membership includes most of the  
major producers and exporters of anti-personnel landmines. In  
addition, we continue to seek early Senate action on the pending  
Protocol on landmines. This Protocol will significantly strengthen the  
restrictions on landmine use and, if adhered to, will save many lives  
as we work toward an universal ban.  
  

The United States is committed to pursuing the most promising  
opportunities for ending the use of anti-personnel landmines, which  
every year cause enormous suffering around the world.  
  


(end text)



(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State.)