Government: Finland does not endorse total ban of cluster weapons

Negotiations on treaty restricting use of cluster weapons set to continue

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Finland does not endorse the total ban of cluster weapons; a government Foreign and Security Policy Committee predictably pronounced the new administration’s policy on the subject on Friday.
      This was the first time Finland formally expressed its opinion over the much-discussed cluster munitions, the use of which is meant to be restricted by an international agreement next year.
      Finland is one of around 50 countries negotiating over the treaty that would ban cluster weapons for the unreasonable harm they cause to the civilian population. The negotiations are set to continue in Peru at the end of the month.
      Most countries, like Finland, are in favour of restricted use of cluster munitions. Some countries, in turn, are striving for a total ban of the weapon.
     
Laura Kansikas, head of the Arms Control Unit at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, says that Finland is prepared to limit the use of those cluster weapons that have been discovered to operate unreliably. A total ban is out of the question, as a significant role has been outlined for cluster weapons in Finland’s national defence strategy.
     
The government did not specify in its Friday statement as to which cluster weapons would be allowed and which would be banned. According to Kansikas, Finland would accept a deal where weapons provided with a self-destruction mechanism would be permitted.
      The Finnish Defence Forces already have some of those, and Kansikas explains that according to the Defence Forces they work reliably enough.
      Because different countries have different ways of testing weapons, Germany has suggested that international regulations be set up to standardise the testing of weapons.
      Cluster munitions have been planned to replace infantry landmines in Finland during the next decade. "Should the coming agreement impose a total ban on all cluster weapons, Finland can opt for not signing it", Kansikas says.
     
So far Norway, Austria, and Belgium have declared a total ban on their own cluster munitions. Austria, Belgium, Ireland, and Bosnia-Herzegovina are in favour of a total ban, while Germany, France, and Great Britain endorse partial banning of the weapon.
      The new government’s Foreign and Security Policy Committee convened for the first time on Friday. The President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, and the Foreign Minister, among others, took part in the committee’s meeting.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Cluster shell acquired by Finland banned in Norway (9.3.2007)

Helsingin Sanomat