Considering that Defence Minister Previti has stated that anti-personnel land mines ought to be considered as being equivalent to chemical weapons (whose production, stockpiling and trade are forbidden under Italian law) and has made reference to a UN Assembly Resolution stating that such weapons "seriously endanger civilian populations":

- that at least 800 people die and - mostly women and children - 450 are wounded each month because of exploding anti- personnel land mines:

- that according to a recent report of the US State Department between 85 and 110 million mines have been planted in at least 62 countries;

- that Italian mines have been reportedly identified in Afghanistan, Angola, Cambodia, El Salvador, Iraq, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Somalia, the former Yougoslavia;

- that, according to reports from the Prime Minister's Office on weapon export permits over 100.000 mines were exported in 1990 to Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, 30.000 to Egypt in 1981 and 200.000 to Saudi Arabia and Egypt in 1992;

Whereas,

the production and sale of anti-personnel land mines, inhuman weapons which hit civilians in an indiscriminate fashion, are in sharp contrast both with the Constitution (Art. 2 "guarantees man's inviolable rights"; art. 4 provides that economic enterprise

"may not be performed... in such a way as to harm...human dignity") and with the international conventions ratified by Italy on humanitarian rights during wars;

whereas, art. 1 of law 185 of 1990 on armaments' export controls bans the exportation of chemical and equivalent weapons;

whereas, the same art. 1 of law 185 of 1990 bans weapon exports "when adeguate guarantees on the actual destination of such materials are lacking" and this was clearly the case for sales of anti-personnel land mines, that were found in countries and areas which had nothing to do with legal exports, also because in some of those areas armed conflicts were under way,

binds the Government:

to implement all necessary measures and statutory obligations so that Italy ratify immediately Protocol no. 2 of the 1980 UN convention on sales of anti-personnel land mines use control;

to adopt all necessary measures for a unilateral moratorium by Italy on anti-personnel land mines abroad, for a production freeze by Italian companies and companies established in Italy, while supporting incomes and employment for those employed within sector;

to promote jointly with the UN de-mining operation in affected countries.