Visit to Southeast Asia by the President of the 3MSP

From 22 – 31. January 2013, the President of the Third Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, Ambassador Steffen Kongstad made a visit to Thailand, Cambodia, Viet Nam and Lao PDR.  The purpose of the trip was to promote accession to the Convention by countries in Southeast Asia, and to learn more about efforts undertaken in the region to protect civilians from the dangers posed by cluster munitions. Continue reading

Renewed use of cluster munitions in Syria condemned by the President of the 3MSP

Ambassador Steffen Kongstad
Permanent Representative
President of the Third Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions

Recalling my condemnation on 17 October this year of the Syrian authorities’ use of cluster munitions, I express my deepest concern at reports of renewed use of these unacceptable weapons in Syria in an attack that may have caused the deaths of at least 11 children.

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Use of cluster munitions in Syria condemned by the President of the 3MSP

Steffen Kongstad,
Ambassador Permanent Representative
President of the Third Meeting of the States Parties
to the Convention on Cluster Munitions

The recent reports from Human Rights Watch on the use of cluster munitions in Syria are of grave concern. As President of the Third Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions I condemn all use of these unacceptable weapons. The Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide issued a press release Monday 15.10.2012 where he condemns the use of cluster munitions in Syria. He says that “the use of cluster munitions is completely unacceptable and is incompatible with the norm established by the international community under the Convention on Cluster Munitions” Continue reading

Alleged use of Cluster Munitions – news of serious concern

Statement by the President of the Second Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions

It is of serious concern to learn from recent media reports of allegations of use of cluster munitions by a non-signatory to the Convention on Cluster Munitions. Although not independently verified, Human Rights Watch refers to videos which appear to show identifiable cluster bombs and submunitions. Continue reading