1.   Among other assignments, MacPherson traveled to Kosovo last year to supervise the start of mine removal there.

2.   After signing the treaty Wednesday, several countries made commitments to increase spending for mine removal.

3.   In addition to mine removal, foreign aid pays for programs to warn people about the dangers of mines and to help those who have been injured by them.

4.   Lokey said if American forces move into Afghanistan, either on raids or to occupy airfields or other military bases, mine removal will be a top priority.

5.   Among weaknesses are no clear enforcement provisions and no specific commitments to financing mine removal.

6.   At the current rate of mine removal, U.N. officials estimate it will take hundreds of years to clear the explosives.

7.   But that, he said, is not what is slowing down mine removal.

8.   Even China, which a few months ago was belittling the treaty process, was participating in roundtable discussions on such topics as mine removal and victim assistance.

9.   Enes Cengic, head of the Bosnian government mine-clearing agency, claims very little of the promised money for mine removal has come to Bosnia.

10.   He is in Vietnam to study the long-term environmental consequences of the mine removal.