RIGA, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Latvia's parliament on Wednesday approved in its final reading a bill to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention banning the use of anti-personnel mines.
The Saeima reached its final decision on the country's withdrawal from the convention after two rounds of voting. 66 MPs voted in favor of the withdrawal, while 14 opposed the bill.
The Latvian government initiated the withdrawal process on March 18.
If the bill is approved by both the government and parliament, all other countries that have joined the convention, the UN secretary-general and the UN Security Council will be informed of Latvia's decision. The withdrawal will take effect six months after its official announcement.
The Ottawa Convention was signed in 1997 and entered into force in 1999.
