The 1st Review Conference on the Convention on Cluster Munitions, being held 7-11 September in Dubrovnik, was opened by its chairman, Prime Minister Zoran Milanović. The conference gathered more than 400 representatives from 80 countries, the United Nations, European Union and numerous NGOs. The high-level segment is to be chaired by Deputy Foreign Minister Joško Klisović, while the Croatian delegation is being headed by Assistant Foreign Minister Jasna Ognjanovac.
Within the CCM and related international agreements Croatia has built a reputation of a country that is exceptionally active in global humanitarian disarmament and systematically advocates resolving the issue of mine contamination in order to enable the implementation of development projects for the benefit of local communities.
The 1st Review Conference marks the fifth anniversary of the CCM coming into force. By adopting relevant documents, the states parties will confirm their commitment to the CCM goals. Also expected to be adopted is a Dubrovnik Action Plan, which will outline concrete goals for the next five-year period.
On the fringes of the conference, Klisović held talks with Virginia Gamba, Director and Deputy to the UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, who thanked Croatia for its efforts in organizing the conference as well as its engagement in disarmament, expressing hope that Croatia would continue to take active part in all UN’s future activities in the area.
The CCM represents an important international achievement, stemming from the 2008 Oslo Process. The Croatian parliament ratified the convention on 5 June 2009, which then came into force 1 August 2010. It currently has 95 states parties and 22 signatory states.