PREPARATORY COMMITTEE FOR UN SMALL ARMS CONFERENCE CONTINUES GENERAL DEBATE

Press Release
DC/2682

PREPARATORY COMMITTEE FOR UN SMALL ARMS CONFERENCE CONTINUES GENERAL DEBATE

The United States called for an integrated and comprehensive approach to the issue of proliferation of small arms and light weapons, as the Preparatory Committee for the United Nations Conference on the subject continued its general debate this morning.

He said that action should be undertaken in countries of origin, as well as in areas of conflict, among buyers, sellers and brokers, and with governments and non- governmental organizations. As a supplier nation, the United States recognized its special responsibility to maintain the highest standards of restraint and had implemented national legislation to better monitor the activities of arms brokers, without impeding their legitimate work.

The representative of India suggested that the deliberations of the 2001 Conference should strike a balance between a pure disarmament approach focused on control and reductions, and a contextual one sensitive to the priority areas that needed to be tackled first. States must take adequate measures to extend regulations and control over all manufacturing of small arms and light weapons.

The representative of Colombia said the Inter-American Convention against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives and Other Related Materials, which entered into force in July 1998, could be a constant point of reference for the 2001 Conference. The Convention contained several very important elements, such as the definition of illicit traffic and illicit production of firearms. It also specified marking weapons to facilitate their identification and tracking. It also had a provision for follow-up mechanisms.

Other types and calibre of weapons, more fatal in nature, ought to receive the attention of the international community, the representative of Egypt said. That question had been settled during the first General Assembly special session (1978), where nuclear disarmament was given utmost priority, followed by weapons of mass destruction, and then conventional weapons. Those were the guiding principles for the work of the international community, he said.

Statements were also made this morning by the representatives of Indonesia, Norway, Mexico, Venezuela, Thailand, Peru, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Russian Federation, Switzerland, Republic of Korea, Czech Republic and Cuba.

The Preparatory Committee will continue its general debate at 3 p.m. today.

Small Arms Preparatory Committee - 2 - Press Release DC/2682 AM Meeting 29 February 2000

Committee Work Programme

The Preparatory Committee for the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects met to continue its general debate this morning. The Committee began its first session on Monday, which is scheduled to end on Friday, 3 March. It has been requested by the General Assembly to decide, during the current session, on the dates and venue of the 2001 Conference, as well as the modalities for attendance by non- governmental organizations (NGOs) at future Committee sessions and at the Conference.

Statements

MAKARIM WIBISONO (Indonesia), on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, stated that the rules of procedure for the preparatory process and the Conference should ensure consensus on its recommendations and decisions. Future sessions of the Preparatory Committee should provide sufficient time for consideration of the issue. Therefore, two additional sessions of 10 working days each should be convened.

Since developing countries were most affected by the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, he said the venue for the Conference, as well as for future sessions of the Preparatory Committee, should ensure the widest participation of Member States, particularly those with limited representation. When considering the chairmanship of the Conference, cognizance should be given to the experiences of States that were most affected by the illicit traffic of small arms and light weapons. Also, NGOs, particularly those relevant to disarmament issues, should be allowed to participate.

GUNNAR LINDEMAN (Norway) said that in finding ways to control the proliferation of existing and new small arms, weapon-producing States should ensure greater transparency in the transfer of those arms. The development of international procedures for marking, registration and exchange of information on production, exports and licensing should be supported. Other important issues included efforts to mark weapons, safe stockpiling, arms brokering and end-user certificates. His country was also concerned with proper safeguarding and destruction of post-conflict stockpiles of small arms and light weapons.

The 2001 Conference should serve to raise awareness about one of the most severe humanitarian problems of the times, he continued. It should encourage synergies and complementarity among various national, regional and international efforts. Among other measures, the Conference should achieve substantive results in the areas of strengthened regulations and controls and increased cooperation and information-sharing among law enforcement authorities. The issue was a complex one, for which there were no easy solutions. Thus, a multi- disciplinary approach was needed and NGOs must be involved in the process. Many of those organizations were locally based and had direct access to individuals involved in the issue. They were also essential in implementing government programmes.

MARIA ANGELICA ARCE DE JEANNET (Mexico) said that combating arms proliferation was a priority in her country’s national development plan. Mexico had been actively involved in the negotiation on the protocol to the United Nations Organized Crime Convention, currently under way in Vienna. She said the trafficking and illicit trade in small arms had become a relevant issue because of the threat they posed. Noting the variety of initiatives to cope with the problem, she said the international community must act to end the trafficking. Recommendations to the 2001 Conference must take into account all the initiatives put forward.

The negotiations going on in Vienna must be considered by the Preparatory Committee. She said international cooperation in ending the illicit trade in small arms must be stepped up. Her Government shared the view that the Preparatory Committee should take up the rules of procedure of the Conference. There should be broader participation, with the involvement of NGOs. Her Government also agreed with strengthening the machinery for controlling illegal arms flows, and their manufacturer. The goal of the Conference should be the adoption an action plan, which would also call for coordination of national, regional and international measures to control, confiscate and eliminate such flows. The plan of action of the Conference should complement the recommendations that would emerge from the Vienna negotiations.

She added that criteria must be worked out and across-the-board measures taken to eliminate the excessive illegal small arms flows. She noted that the bulk of such flows stemmed from legal transfers. She stressed the need for controls and transparency in international small arms transfers. Strides made at the regional and subregional levels to deal with the problem should also be taken note of and included in the international action programme.

SAVITRI KUNADI (India) said her country was paying a heavy price as a victim of cross-border terrorism fueled by illicit transfers of small arms. Much of the trade in small arms and light weapons consisted of legal transfers to meet the legitimate needs of States. The 2001 Conference, while reiterating the principle of the legitimacy of such legal trade, should focus only on illicit sales, transfers, supplies and diversions. Ammunition and explosives should also be covered.

The scourge of the illicit flow of arms and weapons affected a large number of countries, she said, adding that it was time for the international community to reverse the trend, through a message of international resolve to prevent and combat such activities. That resolve should be reflected in a strong political declaration and an agreed programme of action, concluded on the basis of consensus. The deliberations of the Conference should strike a balance between a pure disarmament approach, which focused on control and reductions, and a contextual approach sensitive to the priority areas that needed to be tackled first.

States must take adequate measures to extend State regulation and control over all manufacturing of small arms and light weapons, she said. The next step would be identification of such specific measures as standardization of markings at the time of manufacture, a ban on the use or transfer of past stocks or unmarked small arms and light weapons, and the destruction of such stocks. Appropriate transparency and confidence-building measures could also be considered. She said it would not be productive for the scope of the United Nations Arms Register to be expanded, at present.

WILMER MÉNDEZ (Venezuela) said that small arms and light weapons had become the tools of choice in conflict situations. However, they were not the cause of those conflicts. The international community faced a problem in dealing with the issue of the proliferation of small and light weapons, due to the absence of standardized statistical data. That also affected efforts to deal with terrorism, drug trafficking, and organized and other forms of crime.

Convening the Conference created a platform for the international community to formally deal with the issue, he said. The Preparatory Committee had a fundamental role to decide on the tone of the 2001 Conference. The modalities should be considered for the attendance by NGOs working in countries that had been hardest hit by the phenomenon.

LEE FEINSTEIN (United States) said his country attached great importance to the question of the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, which it had raised in meetings and speeches with increasing regularity and urgency. It applauded international interest in the question and was building partnerships with other nations and regional organizations. It had established a partnership with Norway on the destruction of excess weapons. In December, a 10-point European Union-United States plan of action was adopted. The United States had provided technical assistance in border control and law enforcement to its neighbours in Latin America.

As a supplier nation, it recognized its special responsibility to maintain the highest standards of restraint and to keep its own house in order, he continued. To that end, the United States had implemented national legislation to better monitor the activities of arms brokers, without impeding their legitimate activities. Legislation had been adopted to make small arms exports more transparent. The United States had enhanced scrutiny of arms exports, paying special attention to cases where the type or number of requests for weapons indicated that they might be funneled to third countries, or siphoned into the black market.

Weapons collection and destruction was another priority, he said. The United States welcomed the important precedent the United Nations had set by undertaking the destruction of more than 18,000 weapons, left over from the Liberian civil war. The United States had participated in and contributed to that effort. It was also committed to working towards the destruction of such stocks of weapons worldwide.

The focus of the 2001 Conference should be on the kind of concrete and pragmatic measures contained in the two reports produced by the Government Panel of Experts, he said. He believed that the international community should pursue an integrated, comprehensive approach; in countries of origin and countries of conflict, among buyers, sellers and brokers, and with governments, as well as non-governmental organizations. The Conference should consider: further coordination and promotion of efforts to support the destruction of excess weapons and adequate stockpile security; greater transparency; strengthening the observance of embargoes established by the United Nations; development of model regulations, or standards, on the adequacy of firearms marking techniques; and procedures in partnership with the firearms manufacturers.

VORAVEE WIRASAMBAN (Thailand) said national measures were the most important mechanism to combat the problem of the proliferation of small arms and light weapons. As the problem was a transnational one, countries should cooperate on a regional basis, particularly in sharing intelligence information. At the international level, the Security Council must ensure the effectiveness of its arms embargoes, while Member States must respect the Council’s resolutions. The United Nations could monitor arms embargoes and promote other international efforts to address the problem. Simultaneously, arms producers or suppliers and arms users must share equal responsibility in combating the problem.

There must be clear distinction between illicit and legal transfer, trade and production of small arms and light weapons, he noted. Also, it was important to note that each region had unique characteristics. Therefore, the idea to include small arms and light weapons in the United Nations Register for Conventional Arms, or to create a new register at this stage of consideration, was premature. He said his Government supported the participation of NGOs in the preparatory, as well as in the Conference, process. Further, any decision on the venue must be made with consideration for countries that might be directly or indirectly affected by the problem of small arms and light weapons.

JUAN MIGUEL MIRANDA (Peru) said the worst aspect of the illicit movement of small arms and light weapons was that the victims of violence were often defenceless civilians. He was concerned over the interlinkage of violent actions, particularly when they involved drug trafficking.

States must take measures to reduce the destabilizing effects of the illicit trade in those arms and weapons, he continued. In that light, Peru had participated in devising a regional convention to control the manufacture and flow of arms and would be part of a consultative committee, to be convened in March this year, for promoting, facilitating and fostering cooperation on the convention. His country had also developed national legislation that governed the manufacturing of, and trading in, weapons not produced for use in war. With regard to global measures, he deemed it necessary for arms-producing States and those that were engaged in such exports to provide information on measures they adopted to impede the illicit flow of arms.

NASTE CALOVSKI (The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) said the 2001 Conference should address the legitimate trade in small arms and light weapons, as well. It should advocate transparency in the production, stockpiling and trade in those weapons. The accumulation of those weapons, their destabilizing effect and their easy availability should also be tackled by the Conference.

He said the Preparatory Committee should start work on the programme of action to curb illicit trade of small arms and light weapons -- to be adopted by the Conference -- based on provisions of General Assembly resolution 54/54 V. The programme could, in future, serve as a basis for an international instrument against the illicit trade in those weapons. That should be the main purpose of the Conference, he said.

Given the rich experience of the United Nations in organizing international conferences, he said it should not be a problem for the Secretariat to produce a paper on all organizational aspects of the Conference, including its date and rules of procedure. The Preparatory Committee, which is mandated to discuss those issues, could then deal with other substantive matters to be taken up by the Conference. Civil society bodies, including NGOs, should participate in the Conference.

A.A. ORLOV (Russian Federation) said that the Conference would be a major milestone in efforts to prevent the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. His country had taken a number of steps to restrict and regulate the movement and manufacture of small arms and light weapons, including foreign supplies of arms produced by the Russian Federation. The international community might find it useful to determine how to apply measures that had already been adopted to deal with the problem. The United Nations must shoulder the central responsibility, and the broadest participation by States must be ensured. The most important area of focus was on the black market trade in small arms and light weapons.

The serious destabilizing effects of the trade led to the escalation of conflicts, he continued. The Russian Federation would continue to pursue the situation in Kosovo and Albania, which constituted a regional, as well as international, threat. It would be useful for the international community to focus on border, customs and law enforcement controls of States engaged in conflict. Weapons should be produced solely by governments and by other officially designated manufacturers.

He said that initiatives to combat the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons should be undertaken with consideration for States sovereignty. The practice by which a group of States put forward an initiative and then other States were required to adhere to it should be avoided. The Conference should also tackle the subject of the liquidation of the stocks and reserves of those weapons and the issue of transparency, among other matters.

RAIMUND KUNZ (Switzerland) said the Conference should adopt a plan of action, reflecting the need for the curbing and destruction of illicit small arms and light weapons. His country had embarked upon several initiatives in recent years that could be incorporated into the plan of action, including firearms markings, information exchange and transparency. Firearms markings constituted a field where progress could be made as was evident in the current talks in Vienna on a protocol to the United Nations Transitional Organized Crime Convention.

His Government would like the Conference to move further afield, to ensure the control of illegal small arms flows. There should also be a follow-up mechanism, and regional and subregional initiatives should be taken into account to avoid duplication. Regarding the structure of the preparatory process to the Conference, he said inter-sessional meetings should be considered. Also, civil society organizations should be involved in the preparatory work. He thanked delegations that had supported the offer of his Government to host the Conference, and announced that Switzerland was today contributing $500,000 to a trust fund to cover expenditures related to the Conference.

SUH DAE-WON (Republic of Korea) said a broad plan of action should be developed, incorporating legally binding international norms, as well as an effective international cooperation mechanism. The plan should include reduction and preventive measures, as well as supply and demand aspects associated with excessive accumulation and illicit trafficking. Information exchanges were prerequisites to the preparation of the plan of action.

The objective of the 2001 Conference should be to mobilize the political will of the international community to combat the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, and to formulate a comprehensive plan of action to that end, he said. The programme of action should complement the protocol to the United Nations Transnational Organized Crime Convention, currently under negotiation.

The composition of the bureau of the Conference should be made up of representatives of countries particularly menaced by the problem of small arms and light weapons, or that had played an active and constructive role on the issue, he said. His delegation was open to suggestions on the venue and dates of the Conference. It also preferred three sessions for the Preparatory Committee, with the second and third being held early next June and in February/March 2001, respectively. His country also welcomed the participation of NGOs as observers.

AHMED ABOUL GHEIT (Egypt) said it was important to confirm that the State was the legitimate controlling authority in formulating legislation to control the spread of illicitly traded weapons. Also, countries engaged in manufacturing small arms and light weapons must stop providing the new technologies used for developing and producing such weapons. Those arms and weapons had a limited offensive military capacity and were not considered reliable in large-scale military operations. Therefore, other types and caliber of weapons, more fatal in nature, ought to receive the attention of the international community.

Those priorities had been settled during the first General Assembly special session (1978), where nuclear disarmament had been given utmost priority, followed by weapons of mass destruction, then conventional weapons. Those were the guiding principles for the work of the international community, he said.

He supported convening the 2001 Conference, as it was one of the means through which the international community could contribute to alleviating the plight of civil society, which was constantly subjected to atrocities committed during conflicts. This first session of the Preparatory Committee would shed light on several issues. Any results arising out of the preparatory and conference process should guarantee and reiterate the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter concerning the right of States to legitimate self- defence.

MIROSLAV TUMA (Czech Republic) said that there must be control over the production of military small arms and light weapons. However, that control did not extend to weapons for non-military markets, such as hunting and sporting weapons, and those specifically designed for personal defence. On the other hand, in certain exceptional cases the transfers of small arms and light weapons might counter the general intentions of the international community. Therefore, such transfers must be closely scrutinized on a case-by-case basis, taking into account foreign policy concerns.

His country had established a control system to oversee the transfer of those arms and weapons, based on legislation that met the requirements for transferring military weapons and those intended for non-military markets, he noted. Emphasis had been placed on coordination between all authorities dealing with small arms and light weapons. The primary responsibility of the Preparatory Committee was to formulate short- and medium-term priorities and to coordinate implementation of adopted measures by the responsible government authorities, producers, exporters and importers of small arms and light weapons.

ALFONSO VALDIVIESO (Colombia), speaking on behalf of the Rio Group, said leaders of their countries had reiterated their commitment to the preservation of peace and the search for a solution to conflicts in the region. The consolidation of the region as an area of peace was a common aspiration. Additionally, the member countries of the Group shared a commitment to promoting confidence-building measures and cooperation.

He said the Inter-American Convention against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives and Other Related Materials, which entered into force in July 1998, was an important contribution by the Latin American and Caribbean countries to the objective of preserving peace and international security. The Group was sure that the Convention would be a constant point of reference for the 2001 Conference. The Convention had several very important elements, such as the definition of illicit traffic and illicit production of firearms. It also specified the marking of weapons, to facilitate their identification and tracking, and required export, import and transit licenses or authorizations. The Convention also foresaw follow up mechanisms, especially the Consultative Committee that would soon hold its first session in Washington, D.C.

As regards the preparatory process of the 2001 Conference, he said the Rio Group supported the recommendations in the report of the Panel of Governmental Experts on Small Arms. Among the objectives of the Conference, he said collective strategies should be developed to combat the illicit traffic of small arms through the strengthening of national laws, control of distribution, sales and marketing. A culture of disarmament should also be promoted, to discourage the use of weapons among civilian populations.

RAFAEL DAUSA CESPEDES (Cuba) wished to defend the idea that, as the matter of the proliferation of small arms and light weapons was being discussed, the right to legitimate defence by States and the right to acquire arms for that purpose must be respected. Convening the Conference afforded an exceptional opportunity to analyse the cluster of programmes being undertaken to deal with illicit trade of such arms and weapons, and discussions should include

conventional and sophisticated weapons. The Conference would be the appropriate framework for States to work together on a multilateral level.

A political and policy statement on consensual elements, including on ammunition and explosives, could be worked out in that forum, and participants must examine the aspects concerning the causes of the illicit trade, he suggested. Alongside that, the Conference must pursue efforts to combat poverty and the consequences of conflict. The United Nations should play the foremost role in gathering and disseminating information on those issues. He felt that the Conference should be held at Headquarters, as it was the most appropriate place to ensure attendance by all States and for engaging in follow-up activities.

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