Turkey and Greece, conscious of the human sufferings and casualties caused by irresponsible and indiscriminate use of anti-personnel land mines, welcome the measures taken over the past years unilaterally, bilaterally and multilaterally aiming at prohibiting, restricting or suspending the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of the said mines and express their determination to do their utmost to contribute to these efforts. They also recognize that a total ban on these mines is an important confidence building measure that would contribute to security and stability in the region.

With these considerations in mind, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, Mr. İsmail Cem, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic, Mr. George Papandreou, have emphasized the desirability of the adherence of all states to the Convention on Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction, namely the Ottawa Convention. In this context, they have decided to concurrently start the procedures that will make both sides parties to the Ottawa Convention. For this purpose, while Greece initiates ratification process, Turkey will start accession procedures. It is also agreed that the instruments of ratification by Greece and accession by Turkey will be simultaneously deposited with the Secretary General of the United Nations in due course.