Polish lawmakers vote to withdraw from landmine ban treaty

The lower house of the Polish parliament, the Sejm, has voted to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention, which bans the use, stockpiling and production of anti-personnel landmines, according to radio station RMF24.

A total of 413 lawmakers voted in favor of the measure, while 15 opposed it and three abstained.

Before the vote, Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said that passing the bill was crucial for security in the region.

Poland signed the Ottawa Convention in December 1997 but didn’t ratify it until 2012.