LUXEMBOURG SUPPORTS CM BAN, BUT WILL NOT ALLOW IT

C O N F I D E N T I A L LUXEMBOURG 000215 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/31/2017 TAGS: MOPS NATO PARM PREL LU SUBJECT: LUXEMBOURG SUPPORTS CM BAN, BUT WILL NOT ALLOW IT TO EFFECT NATO OPERATIONS REF: STATE 66596 Classified By: Acting Pol/Econ Chief, Jason Chiodi for 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Acting Pol/Econ Chief discussed points contained reftel with Michel Leesch, MFA Desk Officer for Political-Military & Non-Proliferation Affairs on 29 May. Leesch said that Luxembourg had a mandate from Parliament to negotiate an international instrument which would ban cluster munitions and that, accordingly, Luxembourg took part in both the Oslo and Lima meetings and would remain engaged on the issue. Luxembourg agrees with the US, however, that the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) is the best framework in which to negotiate this instrument. Leesch said that the GOL urged the US to "go as far as possible" on restrictions on the use of cluster munitions (CM) to aid Luxembourg's efforts to try to keep the issue within the CCW framework. ¶2. (C) Regarding the possible effect of a CM ban on NATO operations, Leesch took great lengths to stress that Luxembourg took its responsibilities as a founding NATO member very seriously and despite its opposition to CM, Luxembourg would not allow this opposition to interfere with its prior commitments as a NATO member. He specifically stated that neither the over flight of Luxembourg territory nor the use of Findel International Airport for shipments of CM would be effected by any such ban or restrictions. WAGNER