Liz Lynne calls on MEPs to support a cluster bombs ban

12.00.00am GMT Thu 1st Mar 2007

Liz and supporters outside the European Parliament in Brussels

Liberal Democrat MEP Liz Lynne today led a demonstration outside the European Parliament to launch her Written Declaration calling for a historic new ban on the use of cluster munitions,on the 8th anniversary of the entry into force of the Ottawa treaty banning landmines.

Following an international conference in Oslo seeking a ban on cluster munitions, Liz Lynne MEP, long time campaigner against the use of such weapons, said:

"Cluster Munitions are not covered by the Ottawa treaty on landmines, they are used with impunity but they still have the same devastating effect with civilians maimed and killed for years to come.

"Ninety-eight per cent of causalities from cluster bombs are civilians - not combat troops. There can be no justification for the use of such an indiscriminate and harmful weapon and we must have a ban in place as soon as possible.

"Whilst I welcome the declaration made by 46 countries last week in Oslo to work towards a ban and the recent European Parliament resolution calling for an immediate ban, it is vital we keep up the momentum and I urge all MEPs to sign this declaration.

"We need a treaty on cluster munitions that is as comprehensive as the Ottawa treaty on landmines and includes a complete ban on the use, transfer and stockpiling of cluster munitions as well as commitments to munitions clearance; anything less is a travesty to the daily victims of these monstrous weapons."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Attached is a photo of Liz Lynne MEP (front, centre) outside the European Parliament today with other anti-cluster bomb protesters.

The Israeli Military dropped Four million bomblets on Lebanon this summer. 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.

The European Parliament voted in November to adopt a resolution, co-authored by Liz Lynne MEP, calling for a total ban on the production, stockpiling or use of cluster munitions.

The written declaration launched today, (which is an equivalent to an 'early day motion' in Westminster), will need half of the signatures from Members of the European Parliament to be forwarded to the Council, Commission, Member States, Council of Europe & United Nations.