FIRST REVIEW CONFERENCE OF THE CONVENTION ON CLUSTER MUNITIONS
ADOPTION OF DUBROVNIK DECLARATION
STATEMENT OF AUSTRALIA
Madam President,
Australia is grateful for this opportunity to speak. Australia reserves its position with respect to the Dubrovnik Declaration. As we have already explained in our National Statement to the Conference, Australia is concerned that the language of the Declaration does not fully represent Article 21 of the Convention regarding the ability of States Parties to conduct military cooperation and operations with states not party to the Convention. The Convention was negotiated and agreed in good faith in 2008. Australia has worked hard to build up the norm against the use of cluster munitions that cause unacceptable harm and to promote universalisation. Australia remains steadfastly committed to ridding the world of these terrible weapons. We believe we must do so within the framework of the Convention itself.
Thank you Madam President.