I wish to open my remarks by thanking the Government of Denmark for its foresight and initiative in convening this International Conference on Mine Clearance Technology.

What brings us all here today is our joint commitment to clearing the world of the scourge of landmines. We are only too familiar with the numbing statistics: more than 110 million landmines are currently deployed around the world, and another two to three million more mines are laid each year. At present, we are clearing about 100,000 mines annually. At this rate, with all our best efforts and the untiring work of the extraordinary men and women who work in the field as deminers, we can expect the total number of these insidious weapons to increase to 135 million by the next millennium.

Under the leadership of Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, we at the United Nations are committed to working towards the total elimination of landmines. This will require a two-pronged approach: first, we will continue to strongly advocate for a total ban on landmines. At the same time, the UN, in partnership with the humanitarian community, will strive to redress the devastating humanitarian consequences of those landmines already in place. As participants to this conference are already aware, landmines are a major impediment to the efforts of nations weakened by conflict to rebuild their societies. Landmines prevent agricultural land from being worked; roads from being used; people from returning to their homes; confidence from being restored. It is shocking to know that more women and children and agricultural workers are killed and maimed after a cease-fire than during the actual conflict.

The United Nations has focused on the crucial issue of mine clearance in post-conflict peace building. Over the last seven years, we have established mine clearance operations of considerable size in Afghanistan, Angola, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Croatia, Mozambique and Yemen. The mine-clearance programme in Afghanistan, with 3,000 deminers, is actually the biggest employer in that country. Together with 1,600 deminers in Cambodia, 500 in Mozambique, and 900 being deployed in Angola, these dedicated technicians toil in the most difficult of circumstances to clear the land in order to enable civilians to return to their everyday tasks safely. Together, these operations have removed some 200,000 mines in those four countries. Yet despite these Herculean efforts, the total achievement represents a tiny fraction - less than one per cent - of the landmines in these countries. The task of clearing the mines is slow, arduous and extremely dangerous. Most mines are detected individually, by prodding, metal detection or sniffer dogs. And the risks are high. For every 2000 mines cleared, one deminer is injured. For every 5000 mines cleared, one deminer gives up his life.

It is clear that new technology is vital to improving mine clearance yet there has been little research and few advances in the last half century. Today, here in Denmark, and thanks to the generosity of the Government of Denmark, we have a unique opportunity to find ways to accelerate the rate of mine clearance and to increase the safety of clearance operations. Over the next few days, you will be holding important working groups on mine clearance technology and mine clearance standards. You will be addressing the application of technology to the humanitarian demining programmes worldwide. Your work here this week will have a direct impact on the daily lives of civilians whose simple wish is to watch their children grow up without fear of dismemberment or death.

There is a brief story from Mozambique that I would like to share with you....... a true story of how valuable your work is and how directly mine clearance can provide help to entire communities. For six years, a population of 10,000 people in a village in Kalanga had been unable to return to their village because of the presence of mines. The Governor of the province called the UN demining programme in Maputo and told them of the problem and asked for their help. A survey team was sent to the area and once they realized that there were only a few mines they proceeded to clear the area. They found a total of eight mines. Eight mines had kept 10,000 people from their homes for six years. Today, 15,000 people are living in the village of Kalanga.

This compelling story tells us two things: first, it demonstrates how tangible and immediate mine clearance helps affected populations. But, it also shows us how even a small number of mines can deprive people of their homes and lives and how long it can take until help arrives; and it reminds us of the thousands of villages around the world that probably will have to wait for years until their houses and fields are cleared of these agents of death.

As Special Representative of the Secretary General in Cambodia and the Former Yugoslavia, I have witnessed the heavy toll landmines take on nations that are striving to recover from years of armed conflict. I therefore very sincerely wish you every success in your deliberations and hope that you will have a successful meeting that will further the progress of humanitarian mine clearance operations.

Before closing my remarks, I would like to express once again my appreciation to the Government of Denmark for all their efforts to increase landmine awareness and support demining operations. Minister Nielson, the leadership shown by your Government has brought us here together - representatives from governments and agencies around the world, technical experts and NGOs. You have provided us with the opportunity to work together to find ways to improve the lives of the millions of people held hostage by landmines.