Coalition: Cluster bomb threat must end

GENEVA, Switzerland, Sept. 6 (UPI) -- Countries must act now to end the cluster bomb threat, a coalition said Monday after nations met in Geneva, Switzerland, to plan implementing a ban treaty.

"Governments created a powerful treaty outlawing cluster bombs, now they must deliver the goods," said Thomas Nash, Cluster Munition Coalition coordinator, said in a release. "If we carry on the strong cooperation between states, civil society and international organizations that led to the ban, we can make a real difference in preventing civilian suffering."

The 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions, which became binding international law Aug. 1, bans the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of cluster munitions and requires the destruction of stockpiles, the clearance of affected land and the provision of assistance to victims and affected communities. So far, 108 countries have signed the treaty and 39 have already ratified.

The United States, Russia, China and Israel are among those who have not signed.

Ireland chaired the Geneva meeting, where participants previewed documents for consideration during the meeting of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which will be Nov. 9-12 November in Vientiane, Laos

Signatories to the Convention on Cluster Munitions are expected to agree on four main outcomes in Vientiane, including:

-- A political statement reaffirming countries' commitment to comprehensively banning cluster munitions.

-- An action plan for the next five years with objectives, priorities, specific outputs and benchmarks on how the treaty should be implemented and how progress can be measured.

-- A program of work for 2011.

-- Reporting formats for countries to provide annual updates of their progress on implementing treaty obligations.