POLITICIANS 'SHOULD BE BRAVE AND BAN CLUSTER BOMBS' - LIZ LYNNE MEP

10.57.54am GMT Tue 30th Oct 2007

On the eve of a major regional conference on cluster bomb production and use, one Liberal Democrat MEP and long-time campaigner against their use has called on European governments to be brave and take a moral stand on pushing the Oslo process forwards, in order to achieve a widespread ban.

Liz Lynne MEP, Member of the Subcommittee on Human Rights, co-tabled a European Parliamentary resolution calling for European and global action on cluster munitions which was adopted with a large majority last week. She feels that if politicians are brave, the conference could produce real progress towards an end to the cluster bomb.

Speaking today she said:

"Every year thousands of civilians, many of them children, are indiscriminately killed or injured by cluster bombs. Dreams are shattered and lives are destroyed.

"Last week the European Parliament laid down the gauntlet but it is now up to national governments to take up the challenge of stopping the use of these horrific weapons. Anything less on the part of the governments that still use, stockpile or manufacture cluster bombs would be an act of cowardice.

"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.

"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. All states which have used them must accept responsibility for their clearance and financial assistance must be offered to the communities affected by unexploded bomblets."