Soviet-made cluster bombs were destructed at Erdőkertes demolition range on 24 March. The explosion was watched by Brussels-based PMG diplomats, OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) and UN observers as well as military attachés accredited to Budapest.

The informal meeting of Brussels-based PMG diplomats was hosted by the Ministry of Defence in Budapest between 23 and 25 March. Following the meeting the EU diplomats travelled to Erdőkertes demolition range where they were shown the cluster bombs, bomb disposal equipment and the demolition site by the soldiers of the HDF 1st Honvéd Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Warship Battalion. Afterwards journalists, OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) and UN observers as well as military attachés accredited to Budapest watched the explosion of cluster bombs. It is of vital importance to destruct the cluster bomb stock because unexploded ordnance from cluster munitions can remain in the ground for decades, threatening the lives of civilians and hampering post-conflict reconstruction and development. The so-called Oslo-process led to the adoption of the Convention on Cluster Munitions in Dublin by 107 states on 30 May 2008 and to its signature in Oslo on 3 December 2008. 100 states have signed the Convention, and 17 have ratified it. Hungary openly carries out requirements and guidelines of the Convention. It prohibits the use, development, production, stockpiling, retention and transfer of cluster munitions. Hungary has not ratified the convention yet, however regarded it as binding. The HDF have volunteered to destruct the 41 old, Soviet-made anti-tank cluster bombs and the 248 anti-personnel cluster munitions between March and June 2011.

(Ministry of Defence, Press office)