Bolivia and Chile are to start the second stage of their anti-personnel landmine deactivation program on Monday, according to reports from Bolivia.

A ceremony will be held on Tuesday close to the Llullaillaco volcano, on the border between the two countries to restart the process initiated by the governments in July 2005 to remove anti-personnel landmines.

Bolivia Defense Minister Walker San Miguel will leave for Chile on Sunday to meet with his Chilean counterpart Jaime Ravinet and then go on to attend the ceremony.

General Wilfredo Vargas, head of Bolivia's armed forces, will travel with San Miguel. Argentine Defense Minister Nilda Garre also plans to attend the ceremony.

San Miguel said Chile's military will explain where they will carry out the operations and the deactivation procedures.

The operation is in line with the 1997 Ottawa Convention that bans the production and use of anti-personnel mines as well as their storage and transportation. It has been signed by 126 nations.

Source: Xinhua