REPORTING FORMS pursuant to the Decision of the Third CCW Review Conference on the establishment of a Compliance mechanism applicable to the Convention, as contained in its Final Declaration, Annex II, Paragraph 5 (CCW/CONF.III/11, Part II) COVER PAGE NAME OF THE HIGH CONTRACTING PARTY: PARTY TO: Protocol I (Protocol on Non-Detectable Fragments) Protocol II (Protocol on Mines Booby-Traps and Other Devices) Amended Protocol II (amended Protocol on Mines Booby-Traps and Other Devices) Protocol III (Protocol on Incendiary Weapons) Protocol IV (Protocol on Blinding Laser Weapons) Protocol V (Protocol on Explosive Remnants of War) ACCEDED TO: The amendment to Article 1 of the Convention DATE OF SUBMISSION: 22.03.2012 (dd/mm/yyyy) (NOTE: the recommended deadline for submission of the national reports was fixed by the 2007 Meeting of the High Contracting Parties at 1 October of each calendar year) NATIONAL POINT(S) OF CONTACT (Organization, telephones, fax, e-mail): Arms Control Division, MFA of the Republic of Latvia, K.Valdemara street 3, Riga LV-1395, Latvia Tel.+371 67016156; Fax.+371 67828121 Email: armscontrol@mfa.gov.lv This information can be available to other interested parties and relevant organizations NO Partially, only the following forms: A B C D E NOTE: unless otherwise indicated all reports will be made public. Note: Pursuant to paragraph 5 of the above Decision the High Contracting Parties have agreed to provide information to the Secretary-General in advance of the Meeting, which will be circulated by the Secretary-General to all the High Contracting Parties, on any of the following matters: Please indicate individually for the CCW and each Protocol (if different).
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) Dissemination of information on the Convention and its annexed Protocols to their armed forces and to the civilian population; Steps taken to meet the relevant technical requirements of the Convention and its annexed Protocols and any other relevant information pertaining thereto; Legislation related to the Convention and its annexed Protocols; Measures taken on technical co-operation and assistance; and Other relevant matters. Each of the items listed above are provided as separate individual forms to be filled out by each High Contracting Party accordingly.
SUMMARY SHEET Reporting period: from 01.10.2011. to 30.09.2012. Form A: Dissemination of information: Form B: Technical requirements and relevant information: Form C: Legislation: Form D: Technical cooperation and assistance: Form E: Other relevant matters: un un un un un NOTE: This Summary Sheet may be used only after the High Contracting Party has submitted its first national report pursuant to the Decision of the Third CCW Review Conference. Only the reporting forms which are indicated as have to be submitted thereafter together with the Cover page and the Summary Sheet.
FORM A: Dissemination of information (a) Dissemination of information on the Convention and its annexed Protocols to their armed forces and to the civilian population; Reporting period: from 01.10.2011. to 30.09.2012. additional information of dissemination of information on CCW Amended Protocol II to armed forces and civilian population is contained in the National Annual Report provided in accordance with paragraph 4(a) of Article 13 of Amended Protocol II for the year: 2011 additional information on dissemination of information on CCW Protocol V is contained in the National Report provided pursuant to paragraph 2 (b) of Article 10 of Protocol V for the year: 2011 Information to the armed forces, including the extent to which the CCW and its Protocols are part of military manuals and the training curriculum of its armed forces: The Convention and its Protocols have been transformed into national law. Texts of the Convention and its annexed Protocols are published and disseminated to the Latvian National Armed forces (LNAF). Brochures are are available at the libraries of the LNAF. National Defence Academy has a course on international defence related legislation, including International Humanitarian Law. Officer training also includes legal aspects of CCW and its protocols. Information to the civilian population, including information on any programs, courses or documentation to disseminate the CCW to non-military audiences: The civilian population has been informed of the accession of the Republic of Latvia to the Convention and its Protocols through the mass media. The texts are published in State's Official Journal "Latvijas Vēstnesis" as well in the official edition "Ziņotājs". This information is also available on the Internet. Any other relevant information:
FORM B: Technical requirements and relevant information (b) Steps taken to meet the relevant technical requirements of the Convention and its annexed Protocols and any other relevant information pertaining thereto; Reporting period: from 01.10.2011 to 30.09.2012 additional information on steps taken to meet techncal requirements of Amended Protocol II and other relevant information pertaining thereto is contained in the National Annual Report provided pursuant to paragraph 4(c) of Article 13 of Amended Protocol II for the year: 2011 additional information on steps taken to meet techncal requirements of Protocol V and other relevant information pertaining thereto is contained in the National Report provided pursuant to paragraph 2 (b) of Article 10 of Protocol V for the year: 2011 Steps taken to meet the relevant technical requirements of the Convention and its annexed Protocols: As a State Party to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti- Personnel Mines and on their Destruction of 1997, Latvia is subject to the general obligation not to use or possess anti-personnel mines. In 2010 Latvia completed destruction of the few anti-personnel landmines that were retained for training. Latvia does not posses mines or other weapons the use of which is prohibited or restricted under provisions of the Convention and its annexed Protocols. Neither has Latvia ERW contaminated areas that fall under provisions of the Protocol as unexploded remnants from the First World War and the Second World War as well as those left by Soviet Army existed before entry into force of the Protocol V. In case the First and Second World War period munitions are found they are neutralized by the Latvian National Armed forces. Any other relevant information: Please refer to Protocol II and Protocol V reports submitted by the Republic of Latvia for further details.
FORM C: Legislation (c) Legislation related to the Convention and its annexed Protocols; Reporting period: from 01.10.2011 to 30.09.2012 additional information of legislation related to Amended Protocol II is contained in the National Annual Report provided pursuant to paragraph 4(d) of Article 13 of Amended Protocol II for the year 2011 additional information on legislation related to Protocol V is contained in the National Report provided pursuant to paragraph 2 (b) of Article 10 of Protocol V for the year: 2011 Legislation, including the status and content of national legislation to prevent and suppress violations of amended Protocol II: The Latvian Parliament approved the accession of the Republic of Latvia to Convention on Prohibitions or R Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons which may be deemed to be Excesively Injurious or to have Indiscriminate Effects and its annexed Protocols I, II, II on 16 September 1992 (in force since 4 July 1993); Protocol V on 18 December 1997 (in force since 11 September 1998); Amended Protocol II on 20 June 2002 (in force since 22 February 2003); Amendment to Article 1 on 13 March 2003 (in force since 18 May 2004) and Protocol V on 16 July 2009 (in force since 16 March 2010). Latvia has adopted relevant national legislation governing export, import and transit of military goods, including arms and explosives, and dual-use goods (civil and military). The Law on the Circulation of Goods of Strategic Significance of July 19, 2007 contains the requirements of international export control regimes and norms deriving from the EU Common position on Arms Exports, the Common Military List of the European Union, Council Regulation (EC) No 428/2009 setting up a Community regime for the control of exports, transfer, brokering and t transit of dual-use items. According to the Law, any transaction with goods of strategic significance requires a license. Cabinet of Ministers Regulations No.673 of August 25, 2008 on the List of National Strategic Goods and Services include anti-personnel mines into the list of goods to be controlled additional to those included in the EU regulations as well as prohibit export and transit of anti-personnel mines. Violations of the provisions of the Ammended Protocol II commited by the persons will be punished according to the Latvian Criminal Law. Article 190.1 of the Law provides for liability in smuggling of goods of strategic significance, weapons, ammunition and explosive devices circulation of which is prohibited or regulated across the state border of Latvia. The applicable punishment for such a crime is deprivation of liberty for a term not exceeding five years of imprisonment; if the crime is commited repeatedly - not less than ten years, if committed in a group - deprivation of liberty exceeds a term of not less than twelve years. Section XX of the Criminal Law provides for liability for unauthorised use, manufacture, acquisition, storage and sale as well as transportation and transfer of weapons and explosives without appropriate permission (Article 233). This provision further determines possible punishment for such a crime imprisonment for a term of four up to fifteen years. Any other relevant information, including the regulations and policies (other than national legislation) adopted to implement the CCW's obligations and ensure compliance with its Protocols:
FORM D: Technical cooperation and assistance (d) Measures taken on technical co-operation and assistance; Reporting period: from 01.10.2011 to 30.09.2012 additional information of measures taken on international technical information exchange, on international cooperation on mine cearance, and on technical cooperation and assistance is contained in the National Annual Report provided in accordance with paragraph 4(e) of Article 13 of Amended Protocol II for the year: 2011 additional information on measures taken on international technical cooperation and assistance is contained in the National Report provided pursuant to paragraph 2 (b) of Article 10 of Protocol V for the year: 2011 International technical co-operation, including relevant experiences in seeking or providing technical assistance and cooperation: In the reporting period Latvia did not contribute to any mine action related funds. In previous years Latvia has contributed to various projects (mainly NATO PfP Trust Fund) aimed at mine clearance and destruction of unexploded ammunition as well as medical rehabilitation in various regions/areas concerned, such as Georgia, Azerbaijan. Since 2002 LNAF (EOD unit) have participated in multinational peace-keeping operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo providing mine clearance and explosive ordnances (UXO) destruction. In 2010-2011 Latvian EOD team specialists participated in International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) operation in Afghanistan. International technical assistance: Any other relevant information:
FORM E: Other relevant matters (e) Other relevant matters. Reporting period: from 01.10.2011 to 30.09.2012 additional relevant information is contained in the National Annual Report provided pursuant to paragraph 4(a) of Article 13 of Amended Protocol II for the year: 2011 additional relevant information is contained in the National Report provided pursuant to paragraph 2 (b) of Article 10 of Protocol V for the year: 2011 Other relevant matters: In order to deal with unexploded remnants from the First World War and the Second World War as well as those left by Soviet Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal School (EOD School) was established in 2002 in coperation with Norwegian Armed Forces. The main purpose of EOD School is to prepare qualified explosive ordnance disposal experts able to carry out mine and UXO clearance in Latvia as well as train them for participation in peace-keeping operations. Latvian National Armed Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal School (EOD) offers International Explosive Ordnance Reconnaissance Course (EOR) and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Course (EOD). EOD School has provided training also for foreign military personel. In 2006 a special training course was created within National Armed Forces for dealing with Improvised Explosive Devices (IED). The training provides the military personnel with a theoretical knowledge about IED, supply chain, weapon caches, early warning etc.