I am pleased to send greetings to the Fourth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, and I thank Zambia for hosting.  Zambia has been a longstanding proponent of universal membership from the beginning of the Oslo Process, and its ratification in 2008 was instrumental bringing the Convention into force in 2010.

Since the last meeting in Oslo, Andorra, Australia, Bolivia, Chad, Liechtenstein, Iraq, Nauru and Peru have ratified or acceded to the Convention, bringing the total membership to 83 States Parties.  I urge all remaining States to follow suit.  In that regard, I commend the contribution of the delegates from Africa at the Lomé Regional Seminar on the Universalization of the Convention, in May, which condemned the continued use of cluster munitions worldwide and urged all nations in the region to support the international ban.

It is particularly important to end the use of cluster munitions.  This Convention is a concrete example of how partnership in strengthening the rule of law can prevent suffering and save lives.  Almost half of the States Parties with reported stocks have fulfilled their obligations to destroy stockpiles, and Parties contaminated with remnants of cluster munitions are working to remove the risk to civilians and alleviate the suffering of victims.  To further these ends, I count on all signatories to establish a support structure to further assist with implementing the Convention

Please accept my best wishes for a successful and productive meeting.