IN WHAT is being hailed as a major diplomatic breakthrough, more than 100 nations agreed last night in Dublin to ban the use of cluster bombs by their armed forces.
The pact was agreed at about 8pm last night, a spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed. Britain put its stamp of approval on the treaty, saying it wanted the international convention outlawing the munitions to be as strong as possible.
The US, China and Russia are not party to the treaty, but British prime minister Gordon Brown said the UK would work to secure global support for the new convention outlawing their use.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin welcomed the successful conclusion of 10 days of negotiations.
“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.”
The treaty, which will be formally adopted tomorrow, imposes a comprehensive ban on cluster bombs and will offer significant assistance to victims and for clearance of affected areas.
The bombs are responsible for the killing and maiming of thousands of civilians in war zones, with many deaths occurring years after the conflict has ended due to unexploded munitions.
The secretary general of the Irish Red Cross, John Roycroft, praised the Government for its work on the treaty.
The agreement “will save millions of lives in the future,” he said.
Said the UK prime minister: “This convention will be a major breakthrough, and builds on the UK’s leadership on landmines and the Arms Trade Treaty. We will now work to encourage the widest possible international support for the new convention.”
Thomas Nash, co-ordinator of the Cluster Munitions Coalition, said: “This is an incredibly strong document as it will ban forever all cluster munitions. Because it has no transition period, it will ensure the destruction of stocks of cluster munitions.”
The main sticking point which was overcome yesterday was whether signatories to the new treaty could take part in operations with forces that still used cluster bombs, such as the United States, which is not taking part in the discussions. “There is a prohibition in the treaty which says you cannot assist another country in the use of cluster munitions,” Mr Nash said, ahead of the conclusion of the talks.
“However, a new article has been added relating to co-operation with other states that don’t sign the treaty. This largely relates to the United States which wants to continue using cluster munitions,” he said.
Lord Elton, a British Conservative peer taking part in the negotiations, said the treaty could influence US behaviour even if the country was not a signatory.
“If the Americans want an effective alliance they would in effect have to leave these weapons at home,” Lord Elton said.
The United States said last week that the treaty could jeopardise US participation in joint peacekeeping and disaster relief operations because most US military units have these kinds of weapons in their inventories.
“I think Britain’s support is absolutely essential,” Lord Elton added.
A coalition of parliamentarians was formed during the Dublin negotiations, Lord Elton noted.
He described it a significant development because these politicians would ensure that once their state signed the treaty in December, it would be ratified and implemented by governments.
Cluster bombs can be dropped from aircraft or fired in missiles or artillery shells and have been used in conflicts including Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam, the Balkans and by Israel in southern Lebanon in 2006.