Safer Environment for BiH's Citizens: Farewell to Cluster Munitions
Sarajevo, November 12, 2010
Bosnia and Herzegovina started the destruction of stockpiles of cluster munitions in line with its obligations under the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) ratified on 7 September 2010. In period of next two months, 75.000 pieces of cluster sub-munitions will be destroyed at Binas, Bugojno facility as a initial activity.
The presence of cluster munitions in BiH is widespread. It is a threat to people living in affected areas. The most vulnerable group to the cluster munitions accidents are people in rural areas. From 1995, at least six of them have been victims of cluster munitions, so fast and effective disposal is vital in order to protect BiH's citizens and to prevent from further accidents.
It also presents an obstacle to economic and social development by making land and roads inaccessible.
BiH still has vast quantities of cluster munitions. The BiH Ministry of Defense and United Nations Development Programme in BiH (UNDP BiH) will continue working together on disposal of cluster munitions in BiH that form military ammunition surpluses.
The Minister of Defense of BiH Selmo Cikotic commented on the current activities:
"Regarding military stocks, we talk only about cluster munitions components such as KB1 bomblets that have been safeguarded by the Armed Forces and that have been produced in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces are providing technical support in transport of KB1 bomblets that were left over from production program and which are unstable and require immediate destruction."
Yuri Afanasiev, Resident Coordinator of UN to BiH expressed his satisfaction about BiH's ratification of Convention on Cluster Munitions and the rapid implementation of the obligations which have been actively supported and organized by the UNDP's Small Arms Control and Reduction Project.
"This is a major step for the BiH's demilitarization process and it is going to contribute to the safer environment for BiH's citizens. The implementation of the Convention on Cluster Munitions will prevent further humanitarian and socio-economic harm caused by the presence of unexploded cluster munitions. UNDP will remain dedicated in providing full support in destruction of other types of cluster munitions in BiH."
BiH is one of the first countries in the region to start implementing obligations from the Convention.
