Author(s):
Alessandro Palmoso <alessandro@icbl.org> .
Monday 21 April 2008
(Mexico City, 17 April 2008) More than 20 Latin American and Caribbean governments have reaffirmed their commitment to a global ban on cluster bombs at a regional meeting in Mexico City one month ahead of the international negotiations in Dublin that will finalise an international treaty, with only Brazil and Cuba shunning the gathering.
Governments from the region discussed the most controversial issues on the agenda for the negotiations, including possible exceptions to the ban, the question of joint military operations with non-state parties that may use cluster munitions and calls by some producer and stockpiler countries for transition periods to allow them to continue to use the banned weapon.
“ We have been delighted to hear the firm resolve of governments in this region this week for a treaty with no exceptions, no loopholes and no delays and this makes us even more confident that we will see a strong and comprehensive international ban agreed next month,” said Thomas Nash, Coordinator of the CMC.
Latin American countries have been strong supporters of the so-called Oslo Process launched by Norway in February 2007 with the goal of prohibiting by the end of 2008 cluster munitions “that cause unacceptable harm to civilians.” Peru hosted the second major international conference of the process and Costa Rica hosted a regional conference for Latin America last year to promote a cluster munition free zone in the region.
“ This region is fortunate not to be affected by cluster munitions and by playing a leading role in this international process, Latin America and the Caribbean will ensure it never has to confront the human suffering caused by these indiscriminate weapons,” said CMC representative Wanda Muñoz of Handicap International. “ The strong stand taken by the countries in the region to promote real and concrete advances in victim assistance is a testimony to their commitment to this cause,” Muñoz added.
CMC photo exhibition and signature collection in Mexico City’s Alameda. Photo: P. Velasquez.
During the final preparatory meeting of the Oslo Process last February, most of the countries in the region endorsed the crucial Wellington Declaration which commits states to negotiate the new treaty on the basis of an agreed draft text. Several other states participating in the Mexico meeting this week indicated they would endorse the declaration, which is required for a state to be considered a full participant in the negotiations. El Salvador, Granada, Nicaragua and Panama indicated they would add their names to the list of negotiating countries in Dublin.
Brazil, the region’s major producer and stockpiler of cluster munitions, did not attend the meeting, despite showing apparent willingness to engage in the Oslo Process after participating as an observer in the last international meeting in Wellington. Argentina and Chile, the regions other two past producer countries have both renounced future production and Argentina has destroyed its stockpile while Chile has announced that is in the process of doing so.
“ If Brazil does not sign this treaty it will not only be totally isolated in its own region, but will be keeping company countries who have failed to recognise the urgency of this humanitarian problem and who refuse to join the Oslo Process. We hope Brazil will make the right decision and show the leadership we expect,” said Cristian Wittman, CMC campaigner in Brazil.
Brazil is expected to attend the negotiations in Dublin, but it is unclear whether it will attend as a full participant or as an observer.
For further information – In Mexico please call: Wanda Munoz +52 55 24 25 51 31, Thomas Nash +44 771 1926 730, Simona Beltrami +52 (044) 5543 7106 90
http://www.stopclustermunitions.org<http://www.stopclustermunitions.org/>
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Suggested interviewees:
Ms. Maria Pia Devoto, Argentina
Ms. Maria Pia Devoto is director of the Asociacion para politicas publicas (the Association of Public Policies), which works on human security, arms control, and community development Devoto is promoting the Oslo Process with parliamentarians, government officers and civil society in Argentina and Uruguay. Born 1970 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Languages: Spanish.
Mr. Cristian Wittmann, Brazil
Cristian Wittmann is an international environmental lawyer, who has coordinated the Brazilian Campaign Against Landmines (BCAL) work against cluster munitions since 2007. Since joining the campaign in 2004, Wittman has represented the organisation at international conferences in Geneva, Nairobi, Vienna and elsewhere. Born 1983 in Ijuí, Brasil. Languages: Portuguese, Spanish, French.
Thomas Nash - Cluster Munition Coalition Coordinator (Languages: English, French and Spanish)
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Notes to Editor:
What are cluster bombs?
Cluster munitions are large weapons which are deployed from the air by aircraft including fighters, bombers and helicopters and release dozens or hundreds of smaller submunitions. Submunitions released by air-dropped cluster bombs are most often called "bomblets,” while those delivered from the ground are usually referred to as "grenades.". First, their wide-area effect virtually guarantees civilian casualties when they are used in populated areas. Second, many of the submunitions do not explode on impact as designed, causing civilian casualties for months or years to come.
What's the problem with this weapon?
Air-dropped or ground-launched, they cause two major humanitarian problems and risks to civilians. First, their widespread deployment means they cannot distinguish between military targets and civilians so the humanitarian impact can be extreme when the weapon is used in or near populated areas.
Many bomblets fail to detonate on impact and become de facto antipersonnel mines killing and maiming people long after the conflict has ended. These duds are more lethal than antipersonnel mines; incidents involving submunition duds are much more likely to cause death than injury.
Who has used cluster munitions?
At least 14 countries have used cluster munitions: Eritrea, Ethiopia, France, Israel, Morocco, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Russia (USSR), Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tajikistan, UK, US, and FR Yugoslavia. A small number of non-state armed groups have used the weapon (such as Hezbollah in Lebanon in 2006). Billions of submunitions are stockpiled by some 76 countries. A total of 34 states are known to have produced over 210 different types cluster munitions. At least 24 countries have been affected by the use of cluster munitions including Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Chad, Croatia, DR Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Montenegro, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Uganda, and Vietnam.
Why is a ban on cluster munitions necessary?
Simply put, cluster munitions kill and injure too many civilians. The weapon caused more civilian casualties in Iraq in 2003 and Kosovo in 1999 than any other weapon system.
Cluster munitions stand out as the weapon that poses the gravest dangers to civilians since antipersonnel mines, which were banned in 1997. Yet there is currently no provision in international law to specifically address problems caused by cluster munitions. Israel's massive use of the weapon in Lebanon in August 2006 resulted in more than 200 civilian casualties in the year following the ceasefire and served as the catalyst that has propelled governments to attempt to secure a legally-binding international instrument tackling cluster munitions in 2008.
What is the Oslo Process?
In February 2007, forty-six governments met in Oslo to endorse a call by Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre to conclude a new legally binding instrument in 2008 that prohibits the use, production, transfer and stockpiling of cluster munitions that cause unacceptable harm TO CIVILIANS and provides adequate resources to assist survivors and clear contaminated areas.
Subsequent International Oslo Process meetings were held in Peru (May 2007), Austria (December 2007), and New Zealand (February 2008). Nearly 90 countries have committed to participate in the final negotiations in Ireland in May. A number that will surely grow http://clusterprocess.org/
What happens after the Mexico Conference?
After the Mexico Conference concludes, countries will prepare to negotiate the cluster munition treaty in Dublin, Ireland from 19-30 May 2008. At the negotiations, they will agree to the final language of the treaty, which will then be opened for signature on 2-3 December 2008 in Oslo, Norway (where the process began). The cluster munition treaty will represent the most significant advance in the field of disarmament since the achievement of the 1997 treaty prohibiting antipersonnel mines.
For more information on CMC: www.stopclustermunitions.org < http://www.stopclustermunitions.org/>
