Global Courant
Germany opposes sending cluster munitions to Ukraine, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on July 7th.
Berlin’s reaction comes a day after US officials said Washington is planning to supply Kiev with such munitions.
Human rights organizations also oppose the delivery of such munitions.
Minister Baerbock said that Germany, as part of the 111 countries that have signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions, opposes their delivery to Ukraine.
The United States is not a party to this convention.
Asked to comment on the statements of officials in Washington, Baerbock told reporters that “I have passed on the media reports. For us, the convention of the Oslo agreement still applies”.
Baerbock referred to the Convention on Cluster Munitions that was signed in the Norwegian capital in 2008. This convention prohibits the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of cluster munitions.
The White House said the issue of sending cluster munitions to Ukraine “is under review.” US President Joe Biden will attend the NATO summit next week, which is expected to be dominated by the war in Ukraine.
Human Rights Watch has called on Russia and Ukraine to stop using cluster munitions and asked the US not to supply Kiev with such munitions. This organization said that cluster munitions have been used as weapons by Russian and Ukrainian forces, which have killed Ukrainian civilians.
Cluster munitions are rockets and bombs that explode in the air over a target and release many small explosive devices.
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