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UK among over 100 countries to sign cluster bomb ban

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

London, Dec 3, IRNA
UK-Arms-Cluster Bombs
Britain Wednesday was among more than 100 countries that to sign the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which effectively outlawing the indiscriminate weapons.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband was among others to sign the convention, which was thrashed out in Ireland earlier this year, commits the 107 signatories to destroy their stockpiles of cluster bombs, clearing contaminated areas and helping victims.

Eighteen out of 26 NATO members are among the signatories, but notable absentees include the US, Israel and China. The treaty also needs to be ratified by 40 members before it takes effect, but so far Ireland and Norway are the only two countries to do so.

Campaign groups and aid agencies were among those hailing the Oslo ceremony with many believing the convention itself will succeed in stigmatizing the weapon and prevent also non-signatories from using in the same way as the landmines treaty.

"This historic treaty makes the world a safer place and will bring much needed help to thousands of affected communities," Barbara Stocking, Oxfam chief executive, declared.

"Cluster bombs not only kill at the time they are dropped, but leave a deadly legacy, sometimes for decades after," Stocking said.

Richard Moyes, policy director at Landmine Action and co-chair of the Cluster Munitions Coalition, hailed Britain as showing leadership and its commitment to protect civilians by signing the treaty.

Britain had recently used cluster munitions during the Iraq war.

The deadly weapons were also used by Israel during its last invasion of Lebanon in 2006.

The International Committee of the Red Cross, which also worked to outlaw cluster bombs, also welcomed the treaty. Its president Jakob Kellenberger said the committee was 'honored' to have been part of the process.

But Kellenberger also warned that 'the true measure of its achievement will be how the lives of people and communities affected change in the months and years to come'.

"The historic process, of which the signing of this convention is a part, will only end when the use of these weapons has ceased, when stockpiles are eliminated, when contaminated areas have been cleared and when victims have been helped to rebuild their lives," he said.

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