September 27, 1994

Mr. LEAHY. - Madam President, ridding the world of any weapon takes leadeship and international cooperation. On Monday, President Clinton showed that the United States will provide that leadership. In his speech to the U.N. General Assembly, President Clinton announced for the first time that the United States will seek the ultimate elimination of antipersonnel land-mines. I applaud the President for that.

This is a crucial milestone, and I want to commend the President for his courageous step. By declaring this goal we put to rest any need for further debate about how to end the landmine scourge. We agree that the solution is to ban them completely.

That is the only way to put an end to this mayhem.

The question is how to achieve that goal. It will take years, but let us agree that we should move as quickly as possible. Every day, of every week, of every month, of every year, land-mines continue to kill and maim their innocent victims.

As a first step toward that goal, the President called on other countries to join with the United States in an international agreement to reduce the number and availability of these weapons.

The administration's proposal would impose limits on certain kinds of mines, and includes verification and compliance procedures for enforcing these limits. Frankly, I am skeptical that an elaborate system of rules which permit some kinds of mines but not others can work in the real world. We have seen how landmines are rontinely used in violation of the laws of war, even by those who are signatories to those agreements. But I will support any interim measure that will lead to the ultimate goal of the elimination of these killers.

Madam President, I am greatly encouraged by the President's announcement. I also want to mention what is happening in Italy, which has been one of the largest producers of mines. Just last week, in the town of Castenedolo where Valsella, the company which produces the mines is located, thousands of people gathered to call for a ban on landmines. The mayor of the town was among them, as were the two parliamentarians, Emma Bonino and Edo Ronchi, who I met with a couple of weeks ago and who sponsored legislation to end production and exports of antipersonnel landmines. The Italian Defense Minister has announced his support, and the Foreign Minister is expected to announce in the U.N. General Assembly that Italy has stopped all exports and production of these weapons.

In less than a year, Italy has gone from being among the world's largest landmine producers, to a world leader by ending its involvement in this shameful business. If Italy can do it, so can we and so can the rest of the world.

Madam President, as support for the elimination of landmines builds around the world, I again want to commend President Clinton, and our U.N. Ambassador Madeleine Albright, for their leadership. After years of work it is so gratifying to have their strong support. If we work together there is no reason why we cannot achieve this goal, and solve one of the most urgent humanitarian crises of our time.