Government of the Republic of Zambia

Statement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Zambia, Hon. Kabinga J. Pande at the Signing Conference of the Convention on Cluster Munitions held from 2nd to 4th December, 2008 – Oslo, Norway

MR. PRIME MINISTER,
THEIR EXCELLENCIES,
DISTINGUISHED DELEGATIONS,

IT IS WITH GREAT HONOUR AND HUMILITY THAT MY DELEGATION TAKES THE FLOOR TO ADDRESS THE CONFERENCE. I WISH TO THANK THE NORWEGIAN GOVERNMENT FOR INVITING US TO NORWAY AND GRANTING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AT THIS MOMENTOUS OCCASION.

MR. PRIME MINISTER,
EXCELLENCIES,
DISTINGUISHED DELEGATIONS,
I WOULD LIKE TO SALUTE ALL FRIENDS OF THE CONVENTION FOR THE TENACITY AND SENSE OF COMMITMENT THEY DISPLAYED IN BRINGING US TO THE CONCLUSION OF A TREATY WHICH WAS MUTUALLY ACCEPTABLE TO ALL. I WANT TO PAY SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO OUR COLLEAGUES ON THE AFRICAN CONTINENT FOR THE CONFIDENCE THEY BESTOWED ON MY GOVERNMENT BY HONOURING US WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF COORDINATING AFRICA’S PARTICIPATION IN THE OSLO PROCESS. ALL OF US PRESENT HERE SHOULD BE PROUD OF THE ROLE WE PLAYED TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN, AND MY EARNEST APPEAL IS THAT WE KEEP THE MOMENTUM ALIVE DURING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONVENTION.

MR. PRIME MINISTER,
EXCELLENCIES,
IT IS MY STRONG BELIEF THAT WHEN WE SAT DOWN AS A COLLECTIVE BODY OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO CONCLUDE THIS CONVENTION, THE DRIVING FORCE CAME FROM OUR MORAL FIBRE OF HUMANITY AND OUR DESIRE TO ERADICATE CIVILIAN SUFFERING CAUSED BY THESE INDISCRIMINATE WEAPONS. IT IS OUR MORAL CONSCIENCE THAT SHOULD GOVERN OUR DECISION MAKING WHEN IT COMES TO ANYTHING RELATED TO OUR CONVENTION. WE THEREFORE HAVE A DUTY TO SEE TO IT THAT THIS GROUND BREAKING CONVENTION IS SUCCESSFUL, NO FURTHER HARM IS INFLICTED ON INNOCENT CIVILIANS, AND OUR ATTENTION IS FOCUSED ON HOW BEST WE CAN FOSTER A MORE PROSPEROUS, SAFE AND HUMANE SOCIETY. WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT VICTIMS ARE GIVEN THE NECESSARY ATTENTION THEY NEED. IT ALSO MEANS INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND ASSISTANCE WILL BE VITAL TO ENSURE THE CLEARANCE OF CONTAMINATED AREAS WHICH ULTIMATELY AFFECT OUR ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENTAL EFFORTS. OUR CONCERT OF EFFORTS CANNOT THEREFORE BE OVEREMPHASISED IF WE ARE TO SCORE MEANINGFUL SUCCESSES.

EXCELLENCIES,
DISTINGUISHED DELEGATIONS,
IN CONCLUDING, I WISH TO URGE ALL OF US WHO ARE SIGNING THIS CONVENTION TODAY, TO FOLLOW UP WITH QUICK RATIFICATION AND COMMENCE IMPLEMENTATION. OUR SIGNATURES SHOULD NOT MERELY BE TOKEN GESTURES OF SUPPORT, BUT MUST TRANSLATE INTO ACTION. IN THIS REGARD, ZAMBIA HAS ALREADY SET IN MOTION THE RATIFICATION PROCESS. THIS WILL FURTHER DEMONSTRATE OUR EARNEST DESIRE TO SEE THAT CLUSTER MUNITIONS ARE NEVER AGAIN USED. CONGRATULATIONS TO US ALL.

I THANK YOU.