NGOs stress cluster-munitions ahead of treaty talks (LEBANON)
BEIRUT , Lebanon, 13 June 2007 (Daily Star)

By John Ehab

Beirut -- BEIRUT: Pushing to limit the use of cluster munitions, various Lebanese non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on Monday prepared Lebanon's input for a proposed United Nations treaty. The Permanent Peace Movement (PPM) organized the session, which took place at Beirut's UNESCO Palace and was sponsored by the International Action Network on Small Arms and Amnesty International. 

"Lebanon has suffered from the illegal trade of arms, and such a treaty would serve Lebanon," Fadi Abi Allam, president of the PPM, told The Daily Star.

In December 2006, 153 member states of the UN General Assembly voted in favor of creating a treaty which would regulate the international transfers of conventional arms, including cluster-munitions. 

Lebanese NGOs collectively called for prohibiting cluster weapons for states that do not comply with human-rights standards. Israeli forces dumped an estimated 4 million cluster bombs on Lebanon during last summer's war, and many unexpoded bomblets continue to foul farmland in the South, where agriculture is a main pillar of the economy.

In addition, the NGOs affirmed the right of the Lebanese state to defend itself against any attack.

"The treaty shouldn't hinder the state's right of self-defense," Abi Allam said.  

To be effective, the treaty should contain a comprehensive system to control the cross-border movement of all conventional weapons, munitions and related materiel.

"There is chaos in trading, transferring and selling arms, [which] results in serious violations of human rights," said Ahmed Karoud, a representative of Amnesty International.

"During conflicts, arms exporting should be stopped, [and] also when arms exporting is obviously hindering development - such as land mines," Karoud added.

The Lebanese government is scheduled to present its suggestions at the end of June for the proposed treaty before the UN General Assembly.

NGOs made their recommendations after the PPM had toured Lebanon to gather suggestions for the draft treaty. The suggestions were discussed with MPs, army leaders and NGOs in Beirut, Mount Lebanon and the South, said Abi Allam.

(c) 2007 THE DAILY STAR, BEIRUT, LEBANON.