Convention on Cluster Munitions Signing Conference - Ambassador Strohal

Oslo, 3 December 2008

Mr. Prime Minister,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Thank you for this day. This is a day of satisfaction and of hope –

• For the all of us gathered here today: satisfaction that we have achieved our goal of banning cluster munitions in only two years and hope that the Convention will have the impact it deserves;
• For those that cannot be here today, especially the victims and their relatives: satisfaction that their suffering has been recognized by the international community and hope that by banning of cluster munitions future generations will not share their plight;
• For the world: satisfaction that humanitarian disarmament initiatives are still possible and hope that what is possible for one category of weapons may be possible for others.

[1. A job well done – but still much to do]

Today we celebrate a historic achievement. The Convention on Cluster Munitions is the most important contribution to international humanitarian law and disarmament since the Ottawa Mine Ban Convention was adopted 11 years ago.

The past two years, we have worked hard in Austria for this success, both

• in the global campaign: in a series of conferences, including a conference in Vienna exactly one year ago and continuous international lobbying for our goal; and
• on the national level: to demonstrate our commitment and establish the ban on the national level. The Austrian federal law banning all cluster munitions entered into force in January this year.

Yet our work is not done. We must now ensure the Convention’s early entry into force and that it fulfils our expectations. I am privileged to sign this Convention today – the day that the new Austrian Government presents its Government Program in Parliament. One priority of the new Government is to ratify the Cluster Munitions Convention as soon as possible and to make the best contribution in the implementation phase.

[2. Victims Assistance – the heart and soul of the Convention]

Austria is convinced that the Convention will succeed in practice primarily for two reasons:

• 1. The ban affects cluster munitions as an entire category of weapons. There are no wide exceptions, no transition periods. Its broad stigmatizing effect will hopefully also persuade states not participating here today to forsake these weapons.
• 2. The provisions on victim assistance set new humanitarian standards: They cover conflict and post-conflict periods, combatants and non-combatants, physical and psychological injury, and addressing not only the individual’s immediate harm but also wider aspects of social and economic deprivation to families and communities. These provisions are the heart and soul of our new Convention. They should become the new international standard for victim assistance and they can, if we insist on raising the bar for victim assistance higher in all relevant fora.

[3. New multilateral Diplomacy]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The process that brought us here is proof that arms control and disarmament are alive. True, it is a different type of multilateral diplomacy. It is based on a mutually enriching partnership involving governments, parliaments, civil society, international organizations, private companies, academics and survivors. This is also reflected in the Austrian Delegation today which includes a Member of Parliament and the Director of CMC Austria.

This new partnership requires close cooperation and mutual respect, a willingness to listen to each other, a willingness to trust one another. It is new, it is different, - but it is successful.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

This is a day of satisfaction and of hope – a day to celebrate. In October, in his address to the East-West Institute, UN Secretary General Ban called for a “fresh start not just for disarmament but to strengthen our system of international peace and security”.

To us, the Convention on Cluster Munitions and the process that lead to it are such a fresh start: If we build on this new spirit of partnership and continue to make happen.

Thank you.