Berri calls for more pressure on "Israel" over cluster bombs
Source: Daily Star, 7-10-2008
BEIRUT: Speaker Nabih Berri called Monday for a global campaign to condemn "Israel's" use of cluster bombs against Lebanon during the summer 2006 war and demanded that the government take responsibility for de-mining efforts, as well as compensating victims' families. Following a workshop on mines and cluster bombs organized Parliament's Human Rights Committee, a series of recommendations were issued calling for a global strategy to resolve the issue of cluster bombs in South Lebanon. The plan aims to provide full support to wounded civilians, including emergency services, medical care and rehabilitation.
Berri also called on the international community to hold "Israel" responsible for its use of cluster bombs and force the Jewish state to hand over maps of targeted areas.
"Even after the UN Security Council approved Resolution 1701 "Israel" continued its assault and dropped more than 1 million cluster bombs in the last three days of the war," he added.
On the subject of financial aid to clear cluster bombs and other unexploded ordnance, Berri hailed donations made by late United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan and thanked his son, Sheikh Khalifah bin Zayed bin Sultan, for his continuing support for Lebanon's de-mining projects.
He also urged Arab countries, international organizations and the United Nations to offer assistance to help in de-mining efforts.
The special rapporteur on disability for the UN's Commission for Social Development, Sheikha Hassa bint Khalifa bin Ahmad al-Thani, asked media outlets to sponsor a public awareness campaign in collaboration with non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
"We aimed in a series of documentary films and individual testimonials to encourage the media to promote the rights of the disabled and not only report on conflicts and politics," she said.
The sheikha also demanded that "Israel" hand over maps of where it dropped cluster bombs in the last three days of the war.
The Human Rights Committee also urged the Lebanese state to sign international agreements banning the use or production of cluster bombs and preserving the rights of the disabled. A statement issued by the panel said the meeting "should be considered as a first step toward resolving the issue of cluster bombs in South Lebanon."
"We hope that an international conference on cluster bombs will be held in Lebanon soon ... where affected countries would take part," the committee said.
The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh, Information Minister Tarek Mitri and an array of MPs, ambassadors and representatives from local and international NGOs and the UN.
According the program manager of UN Mine Action Coordination Center- South Lebanon (UNMACC-SL), Chris Clark, seven different bodies specialized in de-mining currently operate in the South, including 865 Lebanese civilians who have been trained and equipped to deal with cluster bombs.
Clark said in an interview with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees website that by the end of 2008 UNMACC-SL will have addressed the issue of unexploded cluster bombs in populated areas to a large extent.
Since the end of the summer 2006 war, some 215 civilian casualties have been registered including at least 20 deaths.
As for the de-miners themselves, 53 were wounded, including 14 fatalities.
BEIRUT: Speaker Nabih Berri called Monday for a global campaign to condemn "Israel's" use of cluster bombs against Lebanon during the summer 2006 war and demanded that the government take responsibility for de-mining efforts, as well as compensating victims' families. Following a workshop on mines and cluster bombs organized Parliament's Human Rights Committee, a series of recommendations were issued calling for a global strategy to resolve the issue of cluster bombs in South Lebanon. The plan aims to provide full support to wounded civilians, including emergency services, medical care and rehabilitation.
Berri also called on the international community to hold "Israel" responsible for its use of cluster bombs and force the Jewish state to hand over maps of targeted areas.
"Even after the UN Security Council approved Resolution 1701 "Israel" continued its assault and dropped more than 1 million cluster bombs in the last three days of the war," he added.
On the subject of financial aid to clear cluster bombs and other unexploded ordnance, Berri hailed donations made by late United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan and thanked his son, Sheikh Khalifah bin Zayed bin Sultan, for his continuing support for Lebanon's de-mining projects.
He also urged Arab countries, international organizations and the United Nations to offer assistance to help in de-mining efforts.
The special rapporteur on disability for the UN's Commission for Social Development, Sheikha Hassa bint Khalifa bin Ahmad al-Thani, asked media outlets to sponsor a public awareness campaign in collaboration with non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
"We aimed in a series of documentary films and individual testimonials to encourage the media to promote the rights of the disabled and not only report on conflicts and politics," she said.
The sheikha also demanded that "Israel" hand over maps of where it dropped cluster bombs in the last three days of the war.
The Human Rights Committee also urged the Lebanese state to sign international agreements banning the use or production of cluster bombs and preserving the rights of the disabled. A statement issued by the panel said the meeting "should be considered as a first step toward resolving the issue of cluster bombs in South Lebanon."
"We hope that an international conference on cluster bombs will be held in Lebanon soon ... where affected countries would take part," the committee said.
The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh, Information Minister Tarek Mitri and an array of MPs, ambassadors and representatives from local and international NGOs and the UN.
According the program manager of UN Mine Action Coordination Center- South Lebanon (UNMACC-SL), Chris Clark, seven different bodies specialized in de-mining currently operate in the South, including 865 Lebanese civilians who have been trained and equipped to deal with cluster bombs.
Clark said in an interview with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees website that by the end of 2008 UNMACC-SL will have addressed the issue of unexploded cluster bombs in populated areas to a large extent.
Since the end of the summer 2006 war, some 215 civilian casualties have been registered including at least 20 deaths.
As for the de-miners themselves, 53 were wounded, including 14 fatalities.
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