§ Lord Juddasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their evaluation of the outcome of the Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) (or Inhumane Weapons) Convention Second Review Conference in Geneva; what implications this conference has for future British policy towards explosive remnants of war and other matters; and what action they will be taking in response to the conference. [HL2487]
§ Lord BachThe Review Conference of the UN Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) was successful in establishing a way ahead for discussions on a number of important and complex issues. By agreeing mandates for a group of governmental experts (GGE) to discuss ways and means to address the issue of explosive remnants of war and to explore the issue of anti-vehicle mines, the CCW has the opportunity to address humanitarian and military considerations in detail. We hope that the work of the GGE will allow the meeting of states parties to the CCW in December 2002 to agree to pursue formal negotiations on these matters.
Our policy towards explosive remnants of war will continue to seek to minimise the post-conflict risk to civilians at the same time as maintaining essential capability for our forces. To this end, we will play an active and positive role in the discussions of the GGE and any subsequent negotiations.