SECRETARY-GENERAL APPLAUDS SIGNATORY COUNTRIES TO CLUSTER MUNITIONS CONVENTION,

LOOKS FORWARD TO EARLY ENTRY INTO FORCE, AS OSLO CONFERENCE CONCLUDES

 

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the conclusion of the signing conference of the Cluster Munitions Convention in Oslo:

The Secretary-General warmly welcomes the conclusion of the signing conference of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, held in Oslo from 3 to 4 December.  The conference brought out 94 signatures and four ratifications.  He hails the Convention as a step forward in international efforts to protect civilians and control the spread of deadly weapons.

The Secretary-General pays tribute to the broad-based coalition of States, international organizations and civil society groups that has made this Convention a reality, further strengthening international humanitarian law.

The Secretary-General applauds the signatory countries and urges others to sign and ratify the Convention. He looks forward to the Convention’s early entry into force.  The United Nations will provide its support to, and will implement its responsibilities under, this Convention.

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For information media • not an official record