The Oslo-process continues: The Belgrade Conference of Affected States

Norway supports the initiative made by Serbia to host an international conference for cluster munitions affected states in Belgrade October 2 - 4. 

This is an important part of the ongoing international process towards a ban on cluster munitions. The Conference will be a  cross regional platform for the Affected States to voice their needs and concerns about the devastating consequences caused by use of cluster munitions.

The meeting in Belgrade will be an opportunity to strenghten the partnership between affected and non-affected countries, and give a message on what needs to be includerd in a new international ban on cluster munitions to prevent new victims and to help the survivors and their communities.

Working in partnership between affected states, supportive states, the UN, the International Red Cross and civil society is a model we believe will make us succeed in our joint endeavours to establish a ban on cluster munitions. We see the Belgrade Conference as a demonstration of this partnership, and are certain that the Conference will be an important step on the road towards our common goal.

Serbia is itself faced with a challenge regarding explosive remnants of cluster munitions from the NATO bombing campaign in 1999. Cluster munitions that failed to explode on impact during the bombing campaign remain on and in the ground posing a threat to civilians and others in several locations. Upon the request of Serbia NATO on September 24 delivered to the Serbian government a list with coordinates and numbers of cluster bombs dropped during the air campaign.

The release of the data is  key to effective humanitarian action and important in the work to minimize casualties and loss in impacted communities. Together with information delivered at an earlier stage, a survey of the remaining cluster munitions can now be conducted. The survey will be carried out by the Norwegian People`s Aid in co-operation with the Serbian Centre for Demining.

The Norwegian Government initiated an international process towards a ban on cluster munitions.  We are  now working closely with states who support the Oslo Declaration.  The Oslo Declaration sets out our commitment to negotiate an international legal instrument that prohibits cluster munitions that cause unacceptable harm to civilians by the end of 2008. Today 80 states are recorded to support the declaration.

Operational work in solving the problems caused by cluster bombs on the ground is an integrated part of these efforts. Norway contributes to clearance of unexploded cluster munitions and help to the victims in several countries, among them Afghanistan, Sudan, Iraq, Lebanon, Bosnia and Serbia.