Strasbourg, 25/10/2007 (Agence Europe) - Meeting in plenary, the European Parliament approved a six-party resolution (EPP-ED, PES, ALDE, Greens/EFA, UEN, GUE/NGL) for an global treaty banning all cluster bombs. The European Parliament is calling for an immediate embargo on the use of, investment in, storage of, manufacture of, transfer of and export of cluster bombs. The EP says the embargo should apply until a binding international treaty is negotiated to ban the manufacture, storage, export and use of such weapons.
Clearly concerned about the devastating effect of cluster bombs on civilians, the European Parliament is urging countries that make use of such weapons to accept responsibility for de-mining, to draw up a detailed register of the locations where cluster bombs have been used and to take care of victims. Pointing out that 98% of the victims of cluster bombs are civilians, the MEPs urge the European Commission to increase the financial aid it gives to communities and individuals affected by cluster bombs, and urges the Council to adopt a common position committing all EU member states to actually support the Oslo Process. The Oslo Process was launched on 23 February 2007 with the adoption of a statement. It aims to get an international treaty signed banning cluster bombs around the world. A follow-up conference was held in Lima on 24 and 25 May 2007 where some 80 countries decided to back the process. A European conference on cluster bombs will be held in Brussels on 30 October 2007 ahead of the third international conference on the issue, to be held in Vienna, Austria, in December 2007. A treaty is expected to be signed next summer. (A.By.)