Intervention by Minister María Paula Mac Loughlin

October 28

Mr. Chair:

The Argentine Republic abstained in draft resolution L.41 "Implementation of the Convention on Cluster Munitions".

The Argentine Republic does not possess the prohibited ammunition and continues to advocate the total prohibition and without exception of this type of weapons, or its significant reduction without discrimination.

As is known, the Argentine Republic, to date, has not signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

Argentina participated actively in the entire negotiating process in order to achieve the adoption of an international instrument to totally prohibit such weapons and that would meet high humanitarian standards. However, in the opinion of our country the adopted text was not sufficiently ambitious and, in particular, its articles 2 and 21 are considered contrary to the objective of the total prohibition and the principle of non-discrimination. The situation described has not changed.

However, taking into account that the Argentine vision is to promote the total prohibition, consistent with the national policy on the matter, my country attends as an Observer in the meetings of the States Parties to the Convention.

Thank you very much