Georgia & Russia must join cluster bomb treaty - MEP

10.09.00am GMT Wed 3rd Sep 2008

Local LibDem MEP Liz Lynne is calling on the Georgian and Russian governments to put its cluster munitions aside and sign up to the Dublin convention banning the deadly and indiscriminate weapons.

Her call comes after Georgia admitted using cluster munitions and it has been widely reported that Russia has also used them in their recent conflict. MEPs condemned both sides in a strongly worded resolution adopted today in Brussels.

Liz Lynne MEP has campaigned against cluster bombs for many years and fought to ensure the resolution mentioned the weapons' use. Speaking today in Brussels, Liz, who is a member of the Human Rights Subcommittee, said:

"Both Russia and Georgia must put their cluster bombs beyond use. Russia may not be concerned with what the West thinks of it, but if Georgia wants to become a close partner of Europe it will have to abide by the EU's human rights principles."

"Both countries are important neighbours of the EU and in the meantime it is right that an EU mission be sent to the region to monitor the situation and assess how we can help resolve the conflict and alleviate the human suffering it has caused."

On the Georgian claim that it only used 'safe' cluster bombs, Liz added:

"Despite the myth of 'safe' cluster bombs, unexploded bomblets are always left behind after an attack. These can lie on the ground for years until they are picked up by a child or driven over by a car, usually with deadly consequences."

On the need for commitment to ending cluster bomb use, Liz continued:

"The Dublin convention is already proving to be a force for good but many countries must still sign it in order to realise a full moratorium on these weapons' production, use, stockpiling, and transfer. In addition all countries that have used cluster bombs must accept full responsibility for their clearance."

ENDS

Notes:

The text of today's resolution can be accessed at the bottom of this web page: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/030-35955-245-09-36-903-20080902IPR35954-01-09-2008-2008-true/default_en.htm

Liz Lynne co-authored a European Parliamentary resolution on banning cluster bombs in October 2007 http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/028-12353-295-10-43-903-20071024IPR12335-22-10-2007-2007-false/default_en.htm

She also launched a Written Declaration on the subject in March 2007, in part to mark the 8th anniversary of the Ottawa treaty on landmines, because despite unexploded bomblets having much the same effect as landmines, they were not included in this treaty.

She also ran a petition in her West Midlands region constituency asking individuals to protest to the Prime Minister against the use of cluster munitions which received an encouraging response from her constituents.