More than 100 countries have agreed in Dublin to ban the use of cluster bombs by their armed forces.
The agreement, reached at about 8pm last night, imposes a comprehensive ban on cluster bombs and will offer significant help to victims and for clearance of affected areas.
The pact will be formally adopted tomorrow.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin welcomed the agreement, reached after 10 days of talks.
“This is a very strong and ambitious text which nevertheless was able to win consensus among all delegations. It is a real contribution to international humanitarian law. I am proud that Ireland has been able to play a central part in its adoption.”
However, the US, China and Russia are not party to the treaty, although British prime minister Gordon Brown said the UK would work to secure global support for the new convention outlawing their use.
Cluster bombs are responsible for the killing and maiming of thousands of civilians in war zones, with many deaths occurring years after the conflict has ended due to unexploded munitions.
Thomas Nash, co-ordinator of the Cluster Munitions Coalition, said: “This is an incredibly strong document as it will ban forever all cluster munitions. Because it has no transition period, it will ensure the destruction of stocks of cluster munitions.”
The main hurdle that was overcome yesterday was whether signatories to the new treaty could take part in operations with forces that still used cluster bombs, such as the United States, which is absent from the talks.