Holy See 'deeply concerned' by withdrawals from international weapons treaties (Holy See Mission)

The Holy See expressed deep concern regarding recent withdrawals from two international weapons treaties, according to Archbishop Christophe-Zakhia El-Kassis. Speaking at a recent United Nations General Assembly committee meeting, the apostolic nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations stated that these actions threaten decades of progress in humanitarian disarmament.

The withdrawals involve the 1997 Convention on Anti-Personnel Mines and the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions. Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland have withdrawn from the anti-personnel mines treaty, while Lithuania has also withdrawn from the cluster munitions treaty. The Archbishop noted that the Holy See is concerned about the humanitarian consequences of using explosive weapons in populated areas.

China, Russia, and the United States have not signed either of these treaties.