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Country Reports
Download PDF of country response to Human Rights Watch letter.
Moldova

Moldova

The Republic of Moldova signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions in Oslo on 3 December 2008. While the status of the ratification process is not known, Moldova stated that “by signing the Convention, the Republic of Moldova has sent a clear message to the international community regarding its intention to become a State Party in the future.”[1]

Moldova is party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) and ratified its Protocol V on Explosive Remnants of War on 21 April 2008.

Cluster Munition Ban Policy

During the June 2007 meeting of the CCW Group of Governmental Experts (GGE), Moldova aligned itself with a European Union proposal calling for the GGE to meet “to negotiate a legally-binding instrument that addresses the humanitarian concerns of cluster munitions in all their aspects by the end of 2008.”[2] Moldova consistently balanced its participation in the Oslo Process by also supporting negotiations on cluster munitions within the CCW.

While not an early supporter of the Oslo Process, Moldova attended the Wellington Conference on Cluster Munitions in February 2008 and subscribed to the Wellington Declaration, indicating its intention to participate in the formal negotiations in Dublin. At the same time, Moldova declared that “the best and most effective way to protect civilian populations from cluster munitions and to prevent their continued proliferation is to negotiate and adopt a legally binding instrument which prohibits the use, production, transfer and stockpiling of cluster munitions that cause unacceptable harm to civilians. To this end, together with like-minded States-Parties, Moldova supported the calls for a negotiating mandate for a CCW Protocol VI on Cluster Munitions.”[3]

In a statement during the first day of the Dublin negotiations in May 2008, Moldova expressed its support for the goals and principles of the Oslo Process, but emphasized its belief that the framework of the CCW remained the best and most effective method to regulate the use of cluster munitions, reiterating its view that military and humanitarian considerations should be balanced.[4] Moldova joined the consensus in adopting the convention on 30 May 2008.

Later, Moldova also attended the Sofia Regional Conference on Cluster Munitions in September 2008, but did not make any significant statements.

Use, Production, Stockpiling, and Transfer

In a letter to Human Rights Watch, Moldova stated, “The Republic of Moldova has never produced, used, nor does it plan to use, stockpile or transfer cluster munitions.” Moldova acknowledged, however, that it “inherited a limited stockpile from the former Soviet Union.” Moldova did not disclose details regarding the size, composition, or operational status of its stockpile, stating that as a result of Moldova’s signature of the convention, the stockpile was being “reassessed” by relevant authorities, along with the amount of funds that will likely be required for its destruction.[5]

In 2003, Moldova reported to the UN that it possessed eleven 220mm Uragan multiple launch rocket systems.[6] It is also believed to stockpile 9M27K 220mm rockets because Moldova reported the transfer of 860 9M27K rockets (each containing 30 high-explosive submunitions) to Guinea in 2000.[7]


[1] Letter from the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Moldova to the UN in Geneva, 2 March 2009.

[2] Statement delivered by Germany on behalf of the European Union, 2007 Session of the CCW GGE on Cluster Munitions, Geneva, 19 June 2007, www.eu2007.de.

[3] Statement of Moldova, Wellington Conference on Cluster Munitions, 18 February 2008, www.mfat.govt.nz.

[4] Summary Record of Opening Ceremony and Plenary, First Session: 19 May 2008, Dublin Diplomatic Conference on Cluster Munitions, CCM/SR/1, 18 June 2008.

[5] Letter from the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Moldova to the UN in Geneva, 2 March 2009.

[6] Submission of the Republic of Moldova, UN Register of Conventional Arms, Report for Calendar Year 2002, 1 July 2003.

[7] Submission of the Republic of Moldova, UN Register of Conventional Arms, Report for Calendar Year 2000, 30 May 2001. Moldova also transferred 13 Uragan multiple launch rocket systems to Yemen in 1994 but it is not known if this included rockets containing submunitions. bmission of the Republic of Moldova, UN Register of Conventional Arms, Report for Calendar Year 1994, 28 April 1995.