Statement by Mr. Masahiko Koumura, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, on the Dublin Conference on Cluster Munitions (Adoption of Draft Convention)

May 30, 2008

I welcome the adoption by consensus of the text of the Convention on Cluster Munitions today at the conference held in Dublin as a result of constructive and cooperative discussions of all the parties.
Taking humanitarian concerns arising from cluster munitions very seriously, Japan has been contributing to the clearance of unexploded ordnances including those of cluster munitions in Lebanon, Laos and elsewhere.
Based on the result of the Dublin Conference, Japan will seriously consider concrete steps to follow toward the signing of the Convention, while studying necessary security measures.

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