New Zealand assists Laos in clearing cluster munitions. Affirming her country’s continued efforts to ensure the ban of such weapons, New Zealand’s Disarmament and Arms Control Minister Georgina te Heuheu, announced a donation to Laos of US$855,000 for the further clearance of cluster munitions. These ordinances still affect 25% of the nation’s villages, even 30 years after their deployment. Minister te Heuheu stated that the aid is an example in action of New Zealand’s commitment to the enactment of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, whose goal is to eliminate all use, stockpiling, production and transfer of such weaponry worldwide.

Minister te Heuheu and New Zealand, many thanks and Providence bless your thoughtful actions and noble goals. Blessed be such exemplary caring in motivating similar actions worldwide to hasten the day when all beings can live in safety and harmony on Earth.