Martin Welcomes Cluster Bomb Ban Agreement At Croke Park

The Minister said "this is a very strong and ambitious text which nevertheless was able to win consensus among all delegations.  It is a real contribution to international humanitarian law.  I am proud that Ireland has been able to play a central part in its adoption.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank Ambassador Daithi Ó Ceallaigh, President of the Conference and his team for all their work

"The Convention is strong and ambitious.   Its ban on cluster munitions is comprehensive.  It sets new standards for assistance to victims and for clearing affected areas.  And even though we all know that there are important states not present, I am also convinced that together we will have succeeded in stigmatising any future use of cluster munitions.

"The new Convention has had the best possible start towards universalisation and effective implementation.  The spirit in evidence over the past two weeks will launch us on the next phase, to give effect to our words.  I am convinced that together we can do this," he concluded.

The treaty, which will be formally adopted on Friday, imposes a comprehensive ban on cluster bombs and will offer significant assistance to victims and for clearance of affected areas.

The Diplomatic Conference, from 19-30 May, has been attended by about 900 delegates from 111 Participating States, 18 observer States and a large number of NGOs and representatives of international organisations.

The Dublin Diplomatic Conference on Cluster Munitions has been hosted by the Irish Government in the Croke Park conference centre. 

States endorsing the Oslo Declaration of February 2007 committed themselves to conclude by 2008 a legally binding instrument to prohibit such cluster munitions and to establish a framework for cooperation and assistance to survivors, provide for clearance of contaminated areas and for destruction of stockpiles of prohibited cluster munitions.

The process has been driven by a small group of States - Ireland, Austria, New Zealand, Norway, Mexico, Peru and the Holy See. It has been characterised by a true determination on all sides to reach an ambitious and consensual outcome.

The past year saw intensive work to that end with the active support of Governments, the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Cluster Munition Coalition and other NGOs.