Japan welcomes entry into force of treaty to outlaw cluster bombs+

TOKYO, July 30 Kyodo -
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada said Friday that Japan welcomes the entry into
force this coming Sunday of an international treaty to ban the use and
stockpiling of cluster bombs, and vowed Tokyo's continued support for victims
and the disposal of dud bombs.
Okada said in a statement that Japan has ''actively involved itself in the
creation of this effective international convention,'' or the Convention on
Cluster Munitions, out of serious humanitarian concerns.
The minister noted Japan has extended a total of $390 million for the demining
and clearance of unexploded ordnances and assistance for victims in 44
countries and regions since 1998, and ratified the treaty in July last year.
Japan ''places high importance'' on the first conference of state parties to
the convention, which will be held in November in Laos, and plans to dispatch
high-level officials to the gathering, he said.
The pact will take effect on Sunday six months after the 30th state submitted
its ratification in February.
Current signatories include Britain, France, Germany, Laos, New Zealand and
Mexico. The United States and Russia have not signed the treaty.
Once the treaty comes into effect, signatories are required to stop using
cluster bombs immediately and to dispose of their stockpiles in eight years. It
also says signatories should provide adequate care for the victims and clear
contaminated areas.
Cluster bombs are air-dropped or ground-launched munitions that eject a number
of small bomblets to kill enemy personnel or disable armored vehicles.
Humanitarian groups have criticized their use because civilians have fallen
victim to duds long after conflicts have ended.
Such munitions have been used in numerous wars, including World War II and the
Vietnam War. They were used as recently as the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Because the ejected bomblets are small and often have bright colors, children
tend to mistake them for toys and become victims.
In a related move, three major Japanese banks -- Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp.,
the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ and Mizuho Financial Group Inc. -- as well as
Daiwa Asset Management Co. have decided to ban investments in and loans to
businesses that could be involved in the production of cluster bombs.
==Kyodo
2010-07-30 23:19:16


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