Press release
Swedish Peace and Arbitration Society (SPAS)
10 May 2007
 
SPAS welcomes parliamentary decision:
Sweden supports ban on cluster munitions
 
The Swedish Peace and Arbitration Society (SPAS) welcomes today’s decision from the Swedish parliament to support “a ban on cluster munitions in accordance with the Oslo declaration”. At the same time, SPAS expects the Swedish politicians to clarify if today’s decision means that Sweden is now prepared to support a ban that will include its own cluster bomb, Bombkapsel 90 (BK90), or if Sweden will continue to argue that the BK90 should not be covered by a future international ban. SPAS also calls for Sweden to take steps against cluster munitions at the national level, in accordance with the Oslo Declaration.
 
”Today’s decision from the parliament is tremendously gratifying. It’s a big success since a international ban will have a life-changing impact on the lives of thousands of people who suffer from the consequences of cluster munitions in conflict regions around the world” says Frida Blom, President of Swedish Peace and Arbitration Society.
 
Sweden has previously opposed a ban, and instead favoured regulations on specific types of cluster munitions. Only last night, Minister of Defence Mikael Odenberg told the Swedish Televison’s news program ‘Aktuellt’ that Sweden would not be prepared to support an international treaty that would prohibit the use of Bombkapsel 90. But today’s decision from the Committee of Foreign Affairs means that Sweden will take an active role in bringing about an international ban on cluster munitions in accordance with the Oslo Declaration.
 
The Oslo declaration was signed on 23 February 2007, by 46 states, including Sweden. The declaration states that an international treaty which prohibits “the use, production, transfer and stockpiling of cluster munitions that cause unacceptable harm to civilians” shall be completed by 2008 at the latest. The Oslo declaration also encourages governments to take steps against cluster munitions at the national levels while an international prohibition is being negotiated.
 
”Today’s parliamentary decision and the fact that Sweden has signed the Oslo declaration, means that Sweden has committed itself to take real measures against cluster munitions at the national level. A national moratorium on cluster munitions would be the obvious first step” says Frida Blom. 
 
The next meeting within the framework of the so-called Oslo process is to be held in Lima on May 23. At that meeting there will be negotiations on what specific types of cluster munitions should be covered by a future prohibition. The four states preparing the meeting have put forward a proposal for a ban that would include cluster munitions with wide area effects such as Bombkapsel 90, while allowing for target-seeking weapon systems, such as the Swedish artillery grenade Bonus.
 
”We are convinced that the Oslo Declaration will lead to a ban that will cover the Swedish cluster bomb. If Sweden is to participate in the Oslo process in accordance with the decision by the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the government has to give up its ambition to keep the BK90” says Frida Blom.
 
Even though Sweden has signed the Oslo Declaration, prior to today’s decision Sweden had announced its intention not to participate in the next meeting within the framework of the so-called Oslo process, which is to be held in Lima on 23 May.
 
”Now that Sweden has come out in favour of a ban in accordance with the Oslo Declaration, I think it’s a given that Sweden shall participate in the next meeting at Lima, and actively work for the continuation of this process” says Frida Blom.

For more information:
Frida Blom, president, + 46 709-540 513