GROUP OF GOVERNMENTAL EXPERTS TO CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS CONVENTION CONTINUE NEGOTIATIONS ON CLUSTER MUNITIONS

The First 2010 Session of the Conventional Weapons Convention Group of Governmental Experts mandated to continue negotiations to address urgently the humanitarian impact of cluster munitions, presided by Minister Jesus S. Domingo of the Philippines, officially closed its week-long meeting on Friday, 16 April 2010 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

The 2009 Meeting of the High Contracting Parties to the 1980 Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects (CCW) decided that the Group of Governmental Experts should “continue its negotiations, informed by the Chairperson’s consolidated text dated 26 August 2009 (document CCW/MSP/2009/WP.1, titled “Draft Protocol on Cluster Munitions”), and taking into account document CCW/GGE/2009-II/2, Annex I (titled “Cluster Munitions”), and other past, present and future proposals by delegations, to address urgently the humanitarian impact of cluster munitions, while striking a balance between military and humanitarian considerations.”

The Group of Governmental Experts is expected to conclude its negotiations as rapidly as possible and report to the next Meeting of the High Contracting Parties, scheduled to take place in November 2010. The work of the Group of Governmental Experts is supported by experts on issues relevant to the negotiations.

The Chair was assisted by Lt. Col. Leonidas Hidalgo of the Philippines Armed Forces as Chairperson of the Meetings of the Military and Technical Experts of the Group. Moreover, Mr. Jim Burke of Ireland, Ms. Anesa Kundurovic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Mr. Philip Kimpton of Australia also assisted as Friends of the Chair.

A new Chair’s paper based on inputs from negotiating delegations throughout the week has been circulated. The new text will be considered as the basis for further negotiations at a special informal session of the Group of Governmental Experts scheduled to take place in the final week of June 2010.

The humanitarian impact of cluster munitions has been discussed within the CCW since 2001, first - under a broader theme of explosive remnants of war, and since 2007 – as the main item of the agenda of the Group of Governmental Experts. The Group has invested much effort during the last three years in drafting a new protocol on prohibitions and restrictions on the use of cluster munitions, but there is still considerable controversy over its possible content. In his closing remarks, the Chair emphasized that this represented a considerable challenge. “Cooperation, common efforts, flexibility and political will,” he stressed were important elements to overcome such challenge.

The Second 2010 Session of the Group of Governmental Experts will take place from 30 August to 3 September 2010.



For use of the information media; not an official record


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