His Excellency the Ambassador of Algeria to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mohammed Meraimi, together with the Minister of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dubravka Bošnjak, officially opened on Tuesday an international workshop entitled “Enhancing Understanding and Implementation of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention by Bosnia and Herzegovina” on 17 February in Sarajevo.
The event brought together representatives of national institutions, international organizations and partners to review Bosnia and Herzegovina’s progress and remaining challenges in fulfilling its obligations under the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention.
Addressing participants in his capacity as Chair of the Committee on the Implementation of Article 5 of the Convention, Ambassador Meraimi commended Bosnia and Herzegovina for its sustained efforts to meet its international commitments despite the long-standing impact of landmine contamination.
“We meet today at a pivotal moment,” Meraimi said, noting that Bosnia and Herzegovina has carried the heavy legacy of anti-personnel mines for decades. Since acceding to the Convention in 1999, the country has made significant progress in reducing contamination, strengthening mine action institutions and protecting communities. However, mines continue to threaten lives, limit access to land and hinder socio-economic recovery.
He underlined that Article 5 of the Convention obliges each State Party to clear all known mined areas within its territory as soon as possible. With the current deadline approaching in 2027, Bosnia and Herzegovina is required to prepare and submit a request for an extension, as stated by the Convention, for consideration at the Twenty-Third Meeting of the States Parties later this year.
“The submission of an extension request is not an end in itself but an opportunity to chart a path forward that is credible, achievable and transparent,” the Ambassador stressed.
He emphasized that the workshop represents a crucial step in this process, allowing Bosnia and Herzegovina to present its assessment of the remaining mine situation, share draft plans and engage in constructive dialogue with partners and stakeholders.
As Chair of the Committee, Meraimi highlighted three key elements that will be central to the Committee’s analysis of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s extension request: the accuracy of the baseline data on remaining contamination, the credibility and realism of the proposed work plan, and a clear commitment to cooperation with international partners, donors and civil society.
He also pointed to the importance of strengthening international support to accompany the Bosnian authorities in completing clearance programmes and preparing a realistic, implementable action plan.
The Ambassador welcomed the inclusion of victim assistance in the workshop’s discussions, drawing on Algeria’s own experience in addressing mine contamination from the colonial era and supporting affected communities.
In his concluding remarks, Ambassador Meraimi reaffirmed Algeria’s commitment to working closely with Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Convention’s Implementation Support Unit and international partners to advance the shared humanitarian goal of a world free from the threat of anti-personnel mines.
He expressed confidence that the workshop would produce practical recommendations to support Bosnia and Herzegovina in fulfilling its obligations and moving closer to complete mine clearance.
