The Sejm began the procedure for Poland to denounce the Ottawa Convention, which prohibits the usage of anti-personnel mines. On the another hand, the government completed work on a bill granting PLN 6,000 to veterans of abroad missions for all 1% harm to wellness during the service. Members besides talked about building a satellite imaging system.
It is 1 of the fewer initiatives which in the Sejm gained the approval of all parliamentary groups. The deputy prime minister and defence minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz appealed yesterday for the consent of Members to denounce the Ottawa Convention. The Convention on the Prohibition, Storage, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on the demolition of Mines is simply a paper in which more than 160 countries have undertaken not to usage specified weapons. This is due to the fact that her victims are mostly civilians, even many years after the end of the war. Poland signed the Treaty in 1997 and ratified it in 2012. Unfortunately, the agreement has not been reached by military powers specified as the US, Israel, China, Iran or Russia.
The situation in which the signatories to the Convention were placed changed radically after the Russian Federation attacked Ukraine. The Kremlin threats directed at NATO allies made the east flank states decide to denounce the convention. In March, defence ministers of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia issued a joint message recommending withdrawal from the agreement. Finland besides decided to make the same move.
On Tuesday, the first reading of the Government's draft denunciation of the Ottawa Treaty took place in the Sejm. “The issue is present the most crucial issue in Poland, Europe and the world, that is security,” said Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz on behalf of the government. The head of the MON acknowledged that the negotiations on the denunciation of the convention had been conducted for respective months, and their aim was to have all states bordering the Russian Federation retreat from the agreement at the same time. – The denunciation of this convention is included in the deterrent policy. This is to guarantee that it never pays anyone so that no 1 always thinks about attacking us, our homeland, but besides any of our allies," explained Kosiniak-Kamish. "The point is that we should not be bound by a corset that prevents the defence of the homeland from being of all means," he stressed.
At the same time, the Minister of Defence ensured that Poland would proceed to respect humanitarian principles. We want to be able to produce and store. We want to scare distant in this way and have no tied hands in any way to defend our homeland. We want that these mines would never should be utilized – he argued. The Deputy Prime Minister called on all parliamentary groups to support the bill.
– I am pleased that the government has yet decided to denounce this convention," said Radosław Fogiel on behalf of the PiS Parliamentary Club. – The safety situation in which we are located, but besides the war in Ukraine has shown that anti-personnel mines are crucial for security. This should be a adequate argument for everyone to support this initiative, even if it has any humanitarian doubts. present the game is about our safety," said Mr Fogiel.
On the another hand, Joanna Kluzik-Rostkowska (KO) referred to the situation in which Ukraine was found to be a signatory of the Convention. – Russia, that is, the aggressor never thought about withdrawing from the usage of anti-personnel mines. On the another hand, Ukraine acceded to this convention in 2005 and in rule did not retreat from it until today. She had 6 million mines. any of these mines have been destroyed. From today's point of view, we can say: Fortunately, 3 million mines remained intact. And this utilized to mine the Ukrainian-Russian border. And present we know that thanks to this offensive it was very hard at first – explained the associate of the Civic Coalition. She admitted that although the armed forces presently have modern mines, but "the anti-personnel mines we are talking about present are simply 10 to 100 times cheaper than the very advanced ones." “We just request it,” she said.
Eventually, the bill went to further work in the Parliamentary National Defence Commission. After the parliamentary procedure, the paper will be signed by the President. However, denunciation of the Convention will take effect only six months later.
Veterans Government
Changes in regulations are besides expected to be made to soldiers who were injured while on missions. Yesterday, the Council of Ministers adopted – prepared by the MON – a draft amendment of the Veterans Act for activities outside the state and any another laws.
The government proposal adopts new, more favourable to uniforms, rules to pay compensation to veterans injured during the mission. Until now, they have been able to search redress only by court. And that meant a tedious and long-term conflict for their rights. MON decided to change that. It was so accepted that a soldier or typical of another uniformed services who would be injured during the abroad mission would receive PLN 6,000 a one-off compensation for each 1% harm to health. The degree of injury will be determined by the medical board. And it's not just wounds, it's physical injuries, but besides diseases acquired during the mission.
The procedure for granting and payment of compensation is to be as simple as possible, almost automatic – the uniform will apply to the appropriate department (MON, MSWiA, ABW or AW). After examining the application, the soldier will have 30 days to accept (or reject) the decision of the office. If he agrees to make amends, the money will be transferred to his account. Importantly, this amount will be tax-free. “I would like all veterans to take this bill as a low slop for having waited so long”, said Prime Minister Donald Tusk yesterday.
The completion of government work on the amendment of the Act is the first phase of legislative work. Now the paper will be sent to Parliament and later signed by the President. The provisions will enter into force 14 days after publication of the amendment of the Act in the authoritative diary of the Laws.
Members of the satellites
The Sejm has not only dealt with legislative issues. Members besides listened to information on the modernisation of the armed forces, specifically on the acquisition of reconnaissance satellites by the Polish Army.
Members of Radosław Lubczyk (PSL-TD) and Urszula Nowogórska (PSL-TD) asked the Deputy Minister of Defence, Paweł Bejad, at what phase is the construction of the Satellite Earth reflection System, whether it will be utilized exclusively by the military and whether MON has plans to buy satellites besides in Polish plants. Mr Lubczyk recalled that the investment in specified equipment is an crucial step in building the informational independency of Poland and thus expanding military security. "The strategy will let to monitor, for example, situations at borders, reflection of movements of opposing troops or protection of critical infrastructure," he calculated. However, the politician asked whether spending on reconnaissance satellites would besides benefit civilians. Deputy Minister Bejda assured that yes, as Poland buys dual-use systems. “So satellite capabilities will not be limited to military needs. Already now data obtained from satellites are utilized by civilian institutions, e.g. to fight the effects of natural disasters specified as fires or floods," explained Bejda.
The typical of the Ministry of Defence besides assured that the construction of capabilities related to satellite imaging in the WP is to be based not only on abroad solutions, but besides on national ones, so it will be an chance for Polish industry. MON takes into account the offer of native companies in this respect. An example is late signed agreement on the acquisition of SSOZ with Polish-Finnish company Iceye, which will establish a consortium with Military Communications Plants No. 1.
Bejda recalled that there are besides 2 very high-resolution reflection satellites with the French production ground section (delivery from 2027 to 2028), 4 high-resolution (including the ground segment) of Polish optical satellites ordered under MicroGlobe (2026 to 2027), 3 high-resolution SAR radar satellites from Iceye, a Polish-Finnish entity, which will be produced in Poland (microSAR, transportation from this year until 2026).
