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DefMin: Ban on Cluster Bombs Will Have Serious Financial Implications
Sunday 01 August 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, August 1 (TASR) - The Defence Ministry recommends that Slovakia takes part in the International Convention on Cluster Munitions, but only when the country is able to meet the commitments included in it, ministry spokesman Richard Sumeghy has told TASR.
"The ban on producing cluster bombs has serious financial implications that have to be properly taken into account when preparing participation in the Convention," said Sumeghy.
According to him, Slovakia will or won't take part in the convention depending on an action plan aimed at a gradual process leading to the commitments included in the convention. "According to a letter written by the prime minister (Robert Fico at that time) in April 2010, the defence minister, in co-operation with the economy minister and foreign affairs minister, will submit an action plan proposal to a government session by June 30, 2012," noted Sumeghy.
When it comes to banning cluster bombs, the ministry is also communicating with Amnesty International Slovensko. "A recent call addressed by Amnesty International to the defence minister in July 2010 was subject to close assessment within the ministry," stressed the ministry spokesman.
Amnesty International has noted that the International Convention on Cluster Munitions will come into effect on Sunday. It forbids the production, storage, use or transfer of cluster ammunition. It also allows for aid to be provided to individuals and communities that fall victim to such weapons.
As many as 107 countries have signed the Convention since 2008, including almost all EU-member states and NATO members. "While these countries are celebrating that the agreement, which will save an immense number of lives, is coming in effect, these inhumane munitions that cause the same level of suffering to civilians as landmines are still being produced in Slovakia," said AI campaign co-ordinator Martina Mazurova, adding that Slovakia is one of the four EU states that still haven't signed the Convention. Mazurova calls on the new Government to re-assess this position and sign.
Cluster bombs are made up of several dozen or hundreds of small bombs. They are dropped from aircraft or fired from artillery and are used mainly to hit several targets at the same time - with often tens of thousands of bombs exploding over a relatively small area. Some of the bombs may fail to explode for a long time but continue to pose a threat. They have been used in conflicts such as those in Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam, the Balkans and southern Lebanon.
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