Finland is considering withdrawing from an international agreement banning the use of anti-personnel mines. This was stated by the head of the military ministry Antti Hakkänen, Reuters writes. “I conducted an assessment on whether the use of anti-personnel mines could be a factor in strengthening Finland's defense capabilities and whether we could use them,” Hakkänen said. And this is from a defensive standpoint.” Previously, in Finland, MEP Mika Aaltola and a group of former officials launched a civilian initiative to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel mines. Under the Ottawa Ban Convention, the use and production of anti-personnel mines are prohibited. The Convention entered into force in 1999 and has been ratified by 164 countries. Ukraine signed the convention in 2005, but the US, Russia, China, India and Pakistan are not among the participating countries.