PREPARATORY COMMITTEE FOR UN CONFERENCE ON SMALL ARMS TRADE CONCLUDES GENERAL DEBATE

Press Release
DC/2684

PREPARATORY COMMITTEE FOR UN CONFERENCE ON SMALL ARMS TRADE CONCLUDES GENERAL DEBATE

The representative of Sierra Leone this morning called for a ban on the sale of small arms and light weapons to countries sharing contiguous borders with areas of conflicts, as the Preparatory Committee for the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons concluded it general debate .

His country was witnessing intense horror, deprivation, wanton mass destruction and excessive suffering due in large part to the illicit trade in and proliferation of those weapons, he told the Committee. The maimings and killings were a direct consequence of the illicit transfer and supply of those arms to rebel forces and large numbers of unemployed youth.

The representative of Guatemala said that moral values and social harmony had been destroyed, and suffering inflicted on the people of Guatemala, as a result of the unlawful trade and unrestricted production of small arms, ammunition and explosives. Countries producing those arms should impose stricter controls on their manufacture, sale and registration. While arms-producing countries might not be directly threatened by the weapons trade, they were at risk from collateral problems.

The representative of Trinidad and Tobago described the effects of the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons on her country through its close link with the drug trade. The geographical location of Trinidad and Tobago made it a convenient trans-shipment point for use by narco-traffickers, who had introduced into society all the attendant evils of their trade. The increase in violent drug-related murders was directly linked to the increase in the quantity of those illegal weapons.

Other speakers this morning expressed the need for the Conference to also address the legal arms trade. Jamaica's representative noted that some attention should be directed to the relation between the legal arms trade and the illegal diversion. The representative of Mauritius said the objective of the Conference should be the formulation of the ways and means to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit arms trade. Furthermore, its scope should be widened, so that the legal arms trade could be considered, as increased transparency in arms transfers was instrumental in controlling arms flows.

Small Arms Preparatory Committee - 1a - Press Release DC/2684 AM Meeting ` 1 March 2000

The representative of Ghana said the Conference must focus on the illicit aspects of the small arms trade, recognizing that governments or registered dealers with government approval had, at one point, legally transferred many illegal weapons in circulation. It must address the issues of demand and supply, including the problems that led to the demand for weapons.

The representatives of Chile, Colombia, Togo, Pakistan, Haiti and the Philippines also made statements this morning.

The Preparatory Committee will meet again at 3 p.m. today to complete the election of its bureau.

2

Small Arms Preparatory Committee - 3 - Press Release DC/2684 AM Meeting 1 March 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 this morning to elect its remaining Vice-Chairmen and Rapporteur, and to resume its general debate. The Committee was requested by the General Assembly to decide on the dates and venue of the 2001 Conference and to make recommendations to the Conference for its programme of action. It is expected to conclude this first session on Friday, 3 March.

Statements

LUIS RAUL ESTEVEZ LOPEZ (Guatemala) stated that for many years his country had suffered from armed conflict and it was still buffeted by large-scale common criminality, in which small lightweight arms played an important role. The unlawful trade and unrestricted production of small arms, ammunition and explosives have undergone dramatic increases, resulting in political, economic and social problems. Moral values and social harmony had been destroyed and suffering had been inflicted on the people of Guatemala. Therefore, there must be a combined effort to put an end to the situation.

As part of the campaign, he continued, it was necessary that the countries producing those arms impose stricter controls on their manufacture, sale and registration. Such controls would not only benefit other countries, but also those taking such measures, because, while they might not be directly threatened by the weapons trade, they were at risk from collateral problems, such as the consumption of drugs. Also, he felt that subsequent sessions of the Preparatory Committee should be held later this year and early in 2001, to guarantee the success of the Conference.

ANUND PRIYAY NEEWOOR (Mauritius) called for an all-out effort to regulate the production and transfer of small arms and light weapons around the world, particularly to Africa. Human rights could not be promoted while killing machines continued to imperil human life. He welcomed regional efforts to curb the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, and noted that problems associated with their proliferation and trafficking were being addressed within the framework of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC). Several crucial initiatives had also been undertaken in Europe and the Americas, he said.

Noting that those arms were increasingly being associated with conflicts, he said the 2001 Conference represented a real opportunity for the international community to fully address the scourge. The Preparatory Committee should make concrete recommendations to the Conference. The objective of the Conference should be the formulation of the ways and means to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit arms trade. Its scope should be widened, so that the legal arms trade could be considered. Increased transparency in arms transfer was instrumental in controlling arms flows, he said.

JUAN LARRAIN (Chile) said his country attached great importance to the Conference. It associated itself with the statements made by Indonesia, on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, and by Colombia, on behalf of the Rio Group. He said the Conference should be held either in Geneva or New York to allow for maximum participation, particularly by those directly affected by the problem of small arms and light weapons. He thanked the Government of Switzerland for offering to host the Conference. He also supported the participation of non-governmental organizations.

The Conference must adopt a declaration that could reflect the political will of States to fight the problem of the illicit trade in small arms. The declaration could be accompanied by a plan of action or code of conduct stipulating that restrictions and embargoes on arms exports to specified countries should comply with objective and uniform criteria.

The instruments should take account of regional characteristics in combating the problem of illicit small arms trade. Recommendations emanating from the Vienna talks on a protocol to the Convention on the Illegal Manufacture and Trafficking in Small Arms, Ammunition and Explosives should also be drawn up. He also attached importance to information exchange, which should be embodied in the action plan. He did not support the adoption of a legally-binding instrument. It was not the best way to achieve the objective of the Conference. He also called for follow-up machinery.

ALFONSO VALDIVIESO (Colombia) stated that, due to national experience in which the wide availability and illicit traffic of small arms had aggravated existing conflict situations and generated more violence, his Government had been strongly motivated to fight tirelessly against the organizations that engaged in the illicit traffic of those weapons. The Government had dismantled several groups of weapons traffickers that were part of international networks and had confiscated an important number of warlike devices.

However, he stressed, national efforts only produced results if they were supported by compatible policies at the international level. Consequently, Colombia had supported its domestic efforts with a number of bilateral and multilateral activities and had been one of the first countries to call the attention of the international community to the problem of the illicit traffic of weapons.

He wished to present his country’s current ambassador to Geneva as a candidate for the chairmanship of the 2001 Conference -- a decision that would give an international dimension to the efforts by many Colombians to save lives from the threats posed by the illicit traffic of arms. The Conference should be held at a location that would allow wide participation by all countries, especially those that were affected by the traffic in small arms and light weapons. Further, non- governmental organizations should be allowed to participate, particularly those that were involved in disarmament matters, he said.

RICHARD PIERCE (Jamaica) said the activities of the Group of Governmental Experts in 1998 and 1999; the work of the Security Council; the negotiations in Vienna; the entry into force of the Organization of American States (OAS) Convention against the illicit manufacture of and traffic in firearms; among others, pointed to the large array of initiatives that were at the disposal of the Preparatory Committee. The objective of the Conference should be to increase cooperation at the subregional, regional and international levels to combat illegal trafficking in small arms and light weapons. There must be agreement on measures to be taken, as well as concerted efforts to raise awareness of the problem and the political will to work for a solution.

He stated that, while the Conference would be addressing the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, some attention would have to be directed to the question of the legal arms trade and the illegal diversion of such weapons. Also, the question of a registration and marking system that would allow for weapons to be traced from manufacturer to owner across nations would need to be considered.

YAW O. OSEI (Ghana) said the 2001 Conference represented an opportunity to address the spread and abuse of small arms and light weapons, which were the true weapons of mass destruction and a major source of international insecurity. It was an opportunity to coordinate all existing efforts to achieve a global consensus on an adequate preventive mechanism to regulate the trade, and also convey a clear message to both potential purchasers and suppliers.

He said the Conference must focus on the illicit aspect of the small arms trade, recognizing that many illegal weapons in circulation at one point were legally transferred by governments or registered dealers with government approval. It would have to address both the demand and supply, and also the problems leading to the demand, if the Conference was to have a meaningful impact on the trend. That would require governments to muster the political will and use the three sessions of the Preparatory Committee to agree on a framework and measures to halt the flow of small arms to abusers. The framework should build on subregional and regional mechanisms already in place, whose effectiveness to date had been undermined by the absence of an international consensus on regulatory mechanisms.

Non-governmental organizations must be represented at both sessions of the Preparatory Committee and the Conference, he said. As the direct victims of those harmful trends, such representatives of civil society were better placed to assist in the development of the profile of the illicit arms trade -- its demand, supply, routes used by the non-State actors and their motivation.

He said the expectations of Member States, particularly the developing countries whose development in many instances had been held hostage to the effects of the illicit arms trade, were very high. The Conference should be an opportunity to, among other things: take stock of work done at the national, regional and international levels, as a guide; and encourage the development of binding codes of conduct at both national and regional levels towards eventually negotiating an international code of conduct on the arms trade. The Conference should also agree on a plan of action towards achieving the consensual approach that it might adopt.

His Government welcomed the offer by the Government of Switzerland to host the 2001 Conference and the resources it had placed at the disposal of the United Nations to facilitate participation by all Member States. It remained flexible on the issue, he said. What was critical was the selection of a location that would ensure the broadest participation of all Member States, in particular countries with limited representation.

KODJO MENAN (Togo) said that consensus seemed to be emerging on the procedural questions that the Preparatory Committee faced. But, it must be vigilant regarding the substantive issues. The associated resolutions, including one by the General Assembly (resolution A/54/54 V) and reports by the Secretary- General presented in collaboration with a Group of Governmental Experts and a Panel of Experts (documents A/52/298 and A/54/258), in addition to other United Nations documents, lay the basis for discussions on the proliferation of small arms and light weapons. The scope of recommendations to the Conference must expand on United Nations efforts for disarmament, particularly in the area of small arms, and those could be used to strengthen and reinforce national, subregional and regional initiatives.

She said that Togo was concerned about the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons and was ready to make its modest contribution. The country had already developed laws to combat proliferation and illicit ownership of light weapons. It was also in discussion with neighbouring countries on measures to curb the illicit trade and was party to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) moratorium on the importation, exportation and manufacturing of light weapons. Also, as host to one of the three regional disarmament centres, the Government would like to launch an appeal to the international community to demonstrate their commitment to curbing the illegal arms trade and provide the centres with financial and logistical support.

ALAMGIR BABAR (Pakistan) said that while discussing the issue of the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, participants must be cautious when viewing the relationship between small arms and conflicts. A solution to the issue would be elusive if the causes of conflicts were not also discussed. Those causes were multiple -- ranging from political, ethnic and religious factors to economic underdevelopment. The international community would need to adopt an overarching approach that addressed both the symptoms and causes of the problem. Furthermore, any prescription for those problems must take into account the inherent rights of self-defence and self-determination, as enshrined in the United Nations Charter.

The Preparatory Committee had an extremely important role to play in charting the course of the Conference and that was complicated, because it would be moving into mainly uncharted terrain, he noted. In that light, the United Nations Disarmament Commission guidelines on conventional arms control/limitation and disarmament could serve as a useful resource document. Also, the scope of the Conference should be tightly focused on aspects of the illicit trade of small arms and light weapons. To give the Preparatory Committee sufficient time for its work, two additional sessions should be held during the first half of 2001, and those should be held in a place that would ensure the widest possible participation, as should the Conference.

GAILE A. RAMOUTAR (Trinidad and Tobago) said the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons had affected her country through its close link with the drug trade. The geographical location of the country made it a convenient trans- shipment point for use by narco-traffickers, who had introduced into society all the attendant evils of their trade. The increase in violent drug-related murders was directly linked to the increase in the quantity of those illegal weapons.

Trinidad and Tobago supported the convening of the Conference, which provided an opportunity for the elaboration of concrete measures to address the problems of illicit trade in, and the accumulation and uncontrolled proliferation of, small arms and light weapons.

The Conference should be results-oriented and should elaborate a plan of action leading to the adoption of legally-binding norms to be observed by States, she said. The recommendations of the Group of Experts would prove useful to the discussions. The Preparatory Committee would benefit from the experience of States. The guidelines for conventional arms control, limitation and disarmament adopted by the 1999 United Nations Disarmament Commission should form part of the deliberations.

She agreed with the proposal for convening two additional session of the Preparatory Committee of 10 days duration each. She also favoured the scheduling of the sessions in the earlier part of 2001, as well as inter-sessional meetings. She said the need for broader participation in determining the future sessions of the Preparatory Committee and the Conference itself must be taken into account. Organizations of civil society, including non-governmental bodies, should participate in the preparatory process, as well as in the Conference, as they would make invaluable contributions.

BERTRAND FILS-AIME (Haiti) said his country was a co-sponsor of the relevant General Assembly resolutions relating to the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons and it welcomed the proposed Conference. There was no dearth of ideas to ensure its success. Regional and subregional initiatives on the topic should be taken into account. His delegation reiterated its support for the recommendations of the Group of Experts. The experts had emphasized regional and subregional efforts to deal with the problem; the mobilization of political will at the international level; and public awareness of the problems associated with the illicit small arms trade.

He said the Conference should not be limited to the illicit arms trade. The multi-dimensional aspects of the problem should be dealt with, including such issues as non-interference in the internal affairs of States, and the sovereign right of States. Political will would be required to deal with the problem of the illicit small arms trade. Such issues as the production, acquisition, transfer and operation of those involved in the trade should also be examined.

He welcomed the offer of the Government of Switzerland to host the Conference. He also encouraged the participation of non-governmental organizations in the preparatory process, as well as in the Conference itself.

FELIPE MABILANGAN (Philippines) said collecting firearms was important in post-conflict situations. That was done in her country whenever a political and peaceful solution had been achieved after armed insurrections, to prevent the flow of additional arms. But, that political solution was frail because of the easy availability of small arms, particularly from outside sources. Over the years, several proposals to address the issue had been inadequate in addressing the immediate problem of small arms in conflict and post-conflict situations. Other proposals held the promise of possibly eradicating the excessive presence and illicit movement of those weapons.

There had been requests for exercising caution when taking measures against the proliferation of arms, he noted. Also, attention had been directed to the legitimate right to self-defence and to the exercise of self-determination, as well as to the right of individuals to protect themselves, their families, property and freedoms. The objectives of his Government were compatible with those issues. He hoped that those concerns would be addressed during deliberations. He expressed satisfaction with the work done by the Secretary-General, the expert groups that had been created by the General Assembly and by non-governmental organizations. He also stressed that States facing the blight of the proliferation of small arms could also play an important role in the deliberations.

ALLIEU IBRAHIM KANU (Sierra Leone) said his country was witnessing intense horror, deprivation, wanton mass destruction and excessive suffering, due in large part to the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons and their proliferation. The mutilations, maimings and killings were a direct consequence of the illicit transfer and supply of those arms to rebel forces and large numbers of unemployed youth.

He said the unemployed and uneducated youth and child soldiers viewed the possession of arms as a means of subsistence. The country had the unhappy experience of dealing not only with the Revolutionary United Front rebels, but with those unemployed who engaged in terror and armed robbery. That was why Sierra Leone welcomed the convening of the Conference, which should focus on, among other issues, the quelling of the continued illicit production, sale, transfer and distribution of those weapons. That goal could lead to the beginning of securing peace for posterity.

The Conference should build on the existing conventions and protocols, both regional and subregional, to put an embargo on the illicit production and distribution of small arms and light weapons. In the West African subregion, the ban had not been effectively complied with, as certain of Sierra Leone's neighbours clandestinely granted access through their territories, and even purchased weapons, for groups that wreaked havoc on defenceless civilians. The Conference could consider a ban on the sale of small arms and light weapons to countries sharing contiguous borders with areas of conflict. The international community must put in place mechanisms to control the sale and purchase of precious metals emanating from the areas of conflicts. He urged the Preparatory Committee to reflect on the proposition.

* *** *