27 July 2015

Slovakia Renounces Cluster Bombs

Slovakia Deposit 599X350

Mr. Richard Galbavy Deputy Permanent Representative Permanent Mission of the Slovak Republic © UNTC, 24 July 2015

Slovakia deposited its instrument of accession to the Convention on Cluster Munitions on 24 July 2015 at the United Nations’ headquarters in New York. Congratulations on becoming the 93rd State Party! The Convention will enter into force for Slovakia on 1 January 2016.

Slovakia has produced, exported, and imported cluster munitions in the past and has a stockpile.

The accession is the outcome of a five-point action plan adopted by the Parliament in 2014. The plan noted that “from the foreign policy point of view, it is undoubtedly beneficial … to accede.” It listed the factors behind Slovakia’s decision, such as pressure from the international community including Amnesty International Slovakia as well as the “strong normative impact” of the Convention. It warned that the “inflexible and vague approach of non-signatory countries is unsustainable and may result in unnecessary isolation and significant international pressure on several fronts (political, economic, defense, security).”

In April 2014, the Deputy Prime Minister stated that Slovakia was “determined to honor our obligation and seek the necessary resources” to destroy the stockpile of cluster munitions. The national action plan estimates that this implementation of the convention’s obligations will cost approximately €5.5 million in 2016–2023.

The only European Union members still outside the Convention are Estonia, Finland, Greece, Latvia, Poland and Romania. In addition, Cyprus signed the Convention in 2008 and must still ratify it to become a full State Party.