Minister Martin welcomes the outcome of the First Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions
Minister Martin welcomes the outcome of the First Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Micheál Martin, T.D., has warmly welcomed the successful outcome of the First Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions which concluded in Vientiane, Laos on Friday last. This was the first gathering of States which have ratified the Convention to ban comprehensively the use, production and stockpiling of Cluster Munitions. A large number of other States were present as observers.
The Minister said:
“Shortly after I became Minister for Foreign Affairs in 2008, Ireland hosted and chaired the Dublin Diplomatic Conference which negotiated and adopted the Convention on Cluster Munitions. The Convention entered into force in August of this year.
The good work done in Dublin has been built on in the interim. 46 States have now ratified the Convention. Furthermore, a significant number of other States are either on track to complete ratification or are giving serious consideration to ratification.
I warmly welcome the successful outcome of the First Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention, which concluded in Vientiane last week. A Vientiane Declaration and Plan of Action have been agreed which are ambitious and forward-looking and which reflect international determination to rid the world of these horrific weapons and to provide support to survivors.
Since 2006, Irish Aid has provided over €4.6 million for the clearance of landmines and other explosive devices in Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the country which has been more affected by cluster munitions than any other. Ireland’s per capita contribution for the clearance of unexploded ordnance there is among the highest of all bilateral donors.
I welcome also the decision taken in Vientiane that the next Meeting of States Parties will take place in September 2011 in Lebanon, another State which has been seriously affected by cluster munitions.”
Note for Editors: A cluster munition is a device designed to disperse explosive sub-munitions, each typically weighing less than 20 kgs. Many sub-munitions fail to go off, causing continuing casualties long after conflicts have ended. Cluster munitions have been used since World War II, most extensively in Lao PDR and Cambodia during the 1960s but also more recently in such countries as Lebanon and Iraq.
At the heart of the Convention on Cluster Munitions is an immediate and unconditional ban on the use, development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, retention or transfer of all cluster munitions which cause unacceptable harm to civilians. 108 countries have so far signed and 46 countries have ratified the Convention.
As a member of the Lao Support Group and a Friend of the Chair, Ireland assisted in the preparations for the Vientiane meeting, and provided financial support as well as the services of an Irish national to assist the Lao Government. The Action Plan agreed is designed to ensure effective and timely implementation of the Convention.
ENDS ++
16 November 2010
