Cluster Bombs: MEPs demand a stop to the killing (Sharon Bowles MEP)

Sharon Bowles MEP <info@sharonbowles.org.uk>

Cluster Bombs: MEPs demand a stop to the killing

October 25, 2007 12:00 AM

Sharon Bowles and her Lib Dem colleague Liz Lynne at a rally against using cluster bombs.

The European Parliament today adopted a resolution which MEPs hope will pave the way for an eventual global ban on cluster bombs.

Speaking after the vote, South East Liberal Democrat MEP Sharon Bowles, a long time campaigner against the use of cluster munitions, said: "I warmly welcome this resolution, the shocking fact is that cluster munitions are stockpiled in over 15 EU Member States and at least 10 EU Member States are producing them - France, Spain, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden and Bulgaria. It is my view that these countries, as well as of course those who have used them, including the UK, have blood on their hands. All states which have used them must accept responsibility for their clearance.

"Diplomatic manoeuvres by the UK Government and others to suggest there are "dumb" and "smart" cluster munitions must be given short shrift. They all kill and maim. The word 'smart' could not be more misleading or more inappropriate.

"We need an immediate moratorium on the use, investment, stockpiling, production, transfer or export of all cluster munitions by all EU Member States. I strongly welcome moves by countries such as Belgium to establish national legislation to ban cluster munitions, but all other EU Member States must now follow."

ENDS

Notes:

In February 2007, 46 countries signed up to a declaration in Oslo, to 'work towards a ban on cluster munitions'.

It is estimated the 98% of cluster bomb casualties are civilians. The Israeli Military dropped four million bomblets on Lebanon in summer 2005. At least 300,000 of these failed to go off but are still live in the country. Cluster munitions have also been widely used in Iraq, Afghanistan and Serbia.

Please find the European Parliaments resolution here:

http://www.europarl.ep.ec/sce/server/intranet/amend_motions_texts/sce_amend_motions_texts_main_01.jsp?amend_text_type=P