The American Task Force for Lebanon Applauds the International Treaty Banning
Cluster Bombs
WASHINGTON, May 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Task Force for
Lebanon (ATFL) applauds the 110 countries that reached agreement in Dublin,
Ireland, on Wednesday, May 28, to ban cluster bombs. We congratulate the
United Kingdom, a staunch NATO ally, for its turnabout and now fully
supporting the treaty. Lebanon is a signatory and staunch supporter of the
treaty.
ATFL is proud that one of its principal objectives in the ATFL "Action
Plan: Stop The Carnage, Ban The Cluster Bomb!" campaign has been achieved.
Since December 2006 ATFL has called for an international treaty banning
cluster weapons and has specifically been urging the United States to support
an international treaty to ban the use, transfer and sale of cluster bombs.
Dr. Cody, ATFL Executive Director, commended the parties instrumental in
making this treaty a reality. He said, "ATFL salutes the 110 countries that
made this agreement possible and urges the United States to join the community
of nations and ban these weapons." Dr. Cody further stated, "ATFL commends
Senator Diane Feinstein, Senator Patrick Leahy, Representative Darrell Issa,
Representative James McGovern, and other Members of Congress, for their
bipartisan leadership on this humanitarian issue."
This treaty is the culmination of a process that began in February 2007
when 46 governments met in Oslo, Norway to endorse a call by the Norwegian
government to conclude a new, legally binding instrument in 2008. The purpose
of the treaty was to prohibit 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.
In the draft Convention in Dublin at the diplomatic conference for the
adoption of a Convention on cluster munitions, the State Parties to the
Convention have agreed "...that each State Party undertakes never under any
circumstances to use cluster munitions, develop, produce, otherwise acquire,
stockpile, retain or transfer to anyone, directly or indirectly, cluster
munitions or assist, encourage or induce anyone to engage in any activity
prohibited to a State Party under the Convention..."
SOURCE American Task Force for Lebanon
Dr. George Cody, for American Task Force for Lebanon, W: +1-202-223-9333, C:
+1-202-257-8581
