The Berlin Conference on the destruction of Cluster Munitions is starting this morning, but the CMC delegation including the inspiring Ban advocates have already been very active in the last few days here in Berlin.

Media visit - Destruction facility

On Tuesday, a media trip was organised to Spreewerk Luebben (outside Berlin) to a plant that specialises in destroying cluster bombs. The trip was really well attended by a mix of German and international media. This was an opportunity for media to have a concrete idea of what stockpile destruction was all about. For the small CMC/Landmine.de delegation it was also great to "see it happen". The company operating the plant told us that they're not working at full capacity and would welcome any demand from a State that wishes to get rid of their stockpiles... Photos from this trip will be available shortly.

Non-signatories ambassadors meeting

On Tuesday afternoon, a meeting was organised with diplomats from non-signatory states to discuss the treaty and to keep the discussion going. Mauritius and Kuwait were both interested and positive about the Convention. Argentina and Greece attended but did not give any new or problematic signals. Russia told us "don't hold your breath" waiting for them to sign. Brunei also attended taking detailed notes.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/clustermunitioncoalition/sets/72157620301657885/

Civil Society Press conference

On Wednesday morning, a press conference was organised to both explain the issue of destruction but also to put the treaty under the spotlight again. The panel was composed of: Claudia Roth (Chair of the German Green Party - Bündnis 90/Die Grünen), Dr. Eva Maria Fischer (Spokesperson Handicap International Germany), Branislav Kapetanovic (Ban Advocate, Serbian cluster bomb survivor), Steve Goose (Director of Human Rights Watch's arms division, Co-Chair CMC), Sebastian Krumbiegel (German celebrity), Thomas Küchenmeister (Action Group Landmine.de / CMC-Germany).

The press conference mainly covered the German law and ratification process as most of the media present were from the German media. But the point was also made by Steve Goose that although the upcoming conference is mainly technical, political will is the most important thing needed to move ahead on destruction of stockpiles.
http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/europe/news/article_1485587.php/German_Greens_call_for_US_to_ban_cluster_bombs_ahead_of_Berlin_summit_

Public Action - Bundestag

On Wednesday afternoon, a public action took place in front of the Bundestag (German parliament). Minister of State Gernot Erler was accompanied by the Mozambican Foreign Minister Oldemiro Baloi (on an unrelated official visit in Germany). The whole CMC delegation was there and the Minister of State symbolically handed a copy of the German law on cluster munitions to Thomas Kuechenmeister on behalf of civil society.

In addition to representatives from the civil society and media, a lot of passers-by and tourists stopped to listen what the Ministers had to say. Francois de Keersmaeker , Director of Handixcap International Germany also said a few words.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/clustermunitioncoalition/sets/72157620457184644/
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/pictures/BER800.htm

Campaign meeting + official cocktail

The whole CMC delegation met on Wednesday afternoon to coordinate lobbying approach and to refine key messages for the conference. There is a clear enthusiasm and a lot of energy at hand so the next few days should be really fruitful.

This energy and lobbying enthusiasm was put to good use immediately after the campaign meeting when campaigners had a chance to meet delegates at the official cocktail in a huge Bavarian restaurant.

We will update you as the conference goes on.

The CMC Team
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