A MAJOR meeting of countries who are signatories to the Convention Banning Anti-Personnel Landmines is scheduled for Maputo next month. Attendees will further pledge commitment to the Mine Ban Treaty and to assess its implementation. The Treaty agreed to in Ottawa, Canada, in 1997 was negotiated over a record one year period. It has been signed by more than 135 countries and ratified by 71, committing state parties to ban the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines. The world’s first legal agreement totally banning anti-personnel landmines, the convention came into force on March 1.