Lithuanian Parliament backs country's exit from Cluster Munitions Convention
Photo: Lithuanian Defense Minister Laurynas Kasciunas (Getty Images)
On Thursday, July 18, the Lithuanian parliament voted to withdraw from the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which bans the production, stockpiling, use and transfer of these weapons, Reuters reports.
The Lithuanian government said that further membership would limit its defense and make deterrence less effective.
The motion was supported by 103 out of 141 deputies.
"Conventions are important when all countries adhere to them. The problem is, Russia, in its aggression against Ukraine, is not adhering. It would be a mistake for a country, which is preparing to defend itself, to state which abilities it would not use... With this vote, we are making defense of Lithuania stronger,” says the Lithuanian Defense Minister Laurynas Kasciunas before the vote in parliament.
Convention on Cluster Munitions
This is an international treaty that prohibits the use, production, transfer, and stockpiling of cluster munitions.
Cluster munitions are a type of weapon that scatters many small explosive submunitions (bomblets) over a large area. These submunitions often do not explode on impact, becoming unexploded ordnance (UXO), which poses a serious threat to people even years after the conflict.
Cluster munitions pose a disproportionate threat to civilians. UXOs can explode when they are accidentally stepped on or hit, killing and maiming people, especially children.
Earlier, Lithuanian Defense Minister Laurynas Kasciunas announced the country's withdrawal from the Convention on Cluster Munitions.
