Foreign Secretary signs Convention on Cluster Munitions in Oslo

94 countries signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions in Olso last week, with Foreign Secretary the Rt Hon David Miliband signing on behalf of the UK.

Addressing the Conference the Foreign Secretary stated that it was the UK’s intention to work to promote the treaty internationally to ensure the widest possible adherence to the new Convention. In addition the UK has already begun to implement some of the obligations contained in the treaty. Contracts are in place for the destruction of all UK stockpiles of cluster munitions, with the largest stockpile scheduled for completion in 2013, well within the 8 year period for stockpile destruction contained within the treaty.

The process to negotiate a ban on cluster munitions was initiated by the Norwegian Government in February 2007. Throughout 2007 and 2008 meetings were held to disucss the text of this treaty by the Governmnets of Norway, Peru, Austria and New Zealand. The final negotiations were concluded at a conference hosted by the Irish Government in May 2008, where the Convention on Cluster Munitions was adopted by 107 Governments.

It is the most significant disarmament and humanitarian treaty to be negotiated in the last 10 years and bans the use, production, transfer and stockpiling of the weapon. The treaty also requires states parties to destroy stockpiles, clear any unexploded cluster munition remnants and to provide assistance to individuals, families and communities affected by cluster munitions.