PREPARATORY COMMITTEE FOR 2001 CONFERENCE ON ILLICIT TRADE IN SMALL ARMS BEGINS GENERAL DEBATE

Press Release
DC/2681/

PREPARATORY COMMITTEE FOR 2001 CONFERENCE ON ILLICIT TRADE IN SMALL ARMS BEGINS GENERAL DEBATE

CORRECTION

On page 4 of Press Release DC/2681 issued 28 February, the statement of the representative of Algeria should read, as follows:

ABDELKADE MESDOUA (Algeria) said the Conference should focus exclusively on the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. While it was difficult to draw a clear demarcation between the legal and illicit trade, it would be dangerous and risky to deal with any aspect of the licit trade. The Conference should reaffirm the principles of the Charter, such as the right to State sovereignty and the right of a State to develop its own defence system for national security. The deliberations should result in the adoption of a political declaration and a plan of action to combat that illicit trade. All decisions should be adopted by consensus. In addition, the Conference agenda should include questions on the causes of the illicit trade. Moreover, the preparatory process should take place in New York to ensure continuity in the work. Further, the broadest participation should be ensured, particularly among those with limited representation.

Delegations should be given time to consider the proposals of the Preparatory Committee. The suggested dates for the future sessions were too close and would give little time for convening the proposed regional conference and studying its results. Furthermore, the proposed dates -– June/July 2001 -– for the Conference could also be reconsidered. Also, non-governmental organisations had made a positive and important contribution to the United Nations. Their participation in the deliberations would be useful.

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