Draft Resolution sponsored by the Lao People's Democratic Republic

THE SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE ASIA PACIFIC PARLIAMENTARY FORUM

Recalling APPF Resolution APPF/RES/1 adopted at the Sixteenth Annual Meeting of the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum held from 20^th to 24^th January, 2008 in Auckland, New Zealand;

Welcoming the UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/63/71 adopted on 2^nd December, 2008;

Being concerned about the extensive socio-economic impacts posed by unexploded cluster munitions long after the conflict is over;

Reiterating the urgent need to put an end to the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of cluster munitions, thus preventing and reducing the impact of these weapons on the civilian population;

Welcoming the adoption of the Convention on Cluster Munitions by the Diplomatic Conference on Cluster Munitions held from 19^th to 30^th May, 2008 in Dublin, Ireland;

Resolves to:

1.            Welcome the signing of the Convention on Cluster Munitions held on 3^rd December, 2008 in Oslo, Norway;

2.            Commend states that have already signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions; and encourage other states that have not done so to consider signing it;

3.            Encourage parliamentarians to participate in international efforts to ensure that the Convention on Cluster Munitions enters into force as soon as possible;

4.            Call upon parliamentarians to involve in the national process to formulate and adopt national legislation to prohibit assistance to third parties or countries in the use, production, and transfer or stockpiling of cluster munitions;

5.            Call upon all member states to provide assistance to those countries affected by cluster munitions in order to address their impact.