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Japan finally eliminates its cluster munitions reserve

Before having signed the Convention Tokyo had 14 thousand such missiles at disposal

© AP Photo/Human Rights Watch

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Human Rights Watch has evidence of cluster bombs use in eastern Ukraine

TOKYO, February, 11. /TASS/. Japan has finished the elimination of its cluster munitions reserve in accordance with the international Convention of 2008, Defense Ministry of Japan reports.

The Defense Ministry of Japan declares that after the elimination of its cluster munitions reserve Japan is ready to support further international disarmament initiatives.

Before having signed the international Convention Tokyo had 14 thousand such missiles at the disposal of land and air self-defense forces. A cluster munition can include up to 200 minibombs. They stay active for a long period of time after having been dropped and can explode with an imperceptible touch.

The international Convention on Cluster Munitions was adopted and signed by 113 states in 2008. It obliges the countries to eliminate its cluster munitions reserve in 10 years, but allows to retain a limited number of cluster munitions for training and improvement or disposal techniques.

By the present moment the Convention is ratified by 90 state parties. India, Pakistan, Israel, China, Russia and the US have not signed the Convention.

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