SMALL ARMS CONFERENCE CONCLUDES HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT WITH CALLS FOR ACTION ON SUPPLY, DEMAND SIDES OF PROLIFERATION ISSUE

United Nations Conference on the

Illicit Trade in Small Arms

7^th Meeting (AM)

SMALL ARMS CONFERENCE CONCLUDES HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT WITH CALLS

FOR ACTION ON SUPPLY, DEMAND SIDES OF PROLIFERATION ISSUE

Over the course of its five-day ministerial segment, the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects heard delegations call for measures to curb the illicit trade in such weapons while reaffirming the legitimate right of States to own them for national security purposes.

The two-week Conference, scheduled to conclude on 20 July, was convened to address the increasing threat to human security from the spread of small arms and light weapons and their illegal trade by General Assembly resolution 54/54 V of

15 December 1999.  It was expected that delegations would complete their work with the adoption of a Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects.

Small arms and light weapons -- of which there was one for every 12 people on earth, as stated by Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette -- facilitated and prolonged armed conflicts and contributed to other problems, such as drug trafficking and organized crime.  Their illicit proliferation, speakers stressed, presented a threat to regional and international peace and security, as well as development.

It was stated by many that the problem could not be solved by individual nations.  While national measures were necessary, more efficient global measures, accompanied by regional and national efforts, could help stem the illegal flow of small arms.  Among the regional initiatives highlighted were the Inter-American Convention against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives and Other Related Materials and the West African Moratorium on the Manufacture, Import and Export of Small Arms.

Delegations expressed their commitment to work towards a consensus on a comprehensive strategy to eradicate the illicit trade.  The draft programme of action, said several speakers, was balanced and represented a sound basis for negotiations.  The Conference should adopt well defined measures at the national, regional and international levels to combat the illicit trade and not merely describe the problems faced. 

Many speakers supported measures such as marking and tracing weapons at the point of production, and the establishment of information databases and registers to help combat the problem.  In that connection, it was stated that the time had come for producer countries to assume special responsibility for the international flow of arms.  Essential for success was cooperation among all States. 

In efforts to dispel any misconceptions about what the Conference was and was not about, several speakers spelled out the scope of the debate.  It was stressed by one speaker that the Conference was about the fundamental right of people, particularly children, not to be gunned down in cold blood by weapons illicitly acquired, transferred and used in the world’s various battlefields.  Those battlefields, he noted, were not only found in conflict areas, but also in urban areas of many countries.

The Conference, noted one speaker, was not about taking guns away from the civilian population for hunting or other legal purposes -– a fear expressed by more than one State.  It was also not about interfering in national sovereignty or domestic laws on gun ownership.  “We should not allow ourselves to be blown off course by the unfounded fears spread by powerful lobbying organizations”, said one speaker. 

France’s Minister of State for Cooperation and La Francophonie stated this morning, "Let us give a concrete and bold response to the challenge before us.  I know the road ahead will be fraught with pitfalls because of diverging views, in this case, the singular interests of the host country, but the ball is in our court."

The worst part of the story, said Nepal's representative, was that children find themselves caught up in every aspect of the violence wrought by the widespread availability of these weapons, as helpless victims, agile handlers or as addicted killers.  They get explosives and munitions when they need food and medicine, and they get guns when they should have been given books, pencils and paper.

The Conference, he said, should test the power of States' commitments to the rights of the child and the virtues they attached to a responsible, non-violent society by promoting transparency in the arms trade and controlling illicit trade and transfers.  "Far-reaching steps are necessary to prevent our investment in the future from evaporating in the flash of a hand-grenade blast."

Statements were made this morning by high-level government officials of Uruguay, Mauritius, South Africa, France, Cameroon, Dominican Republic, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Botswana, Gabon, Niger, Guinea and Angola. 

In addition, the representatives of Portugal, Paraguay, Monaco, Ghana, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Panama, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Israel, Malawi, Yemen, Belize (on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)), Azerbaijan, Vanuatu, Albania, Nepal and El Salvador spoke, as did the representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The observer for Palestine and the representatives of Armenia and Azerbaijan exercised their rights of reply.

The Conference will meet again at 10 a.m. on Monday, 16 July, to hear the views of non-governmental organizations on the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons.

Background

The United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects met this morning to conclude its high-level ministerial segment, which began on Monday.  For background, see Press Release DC/2782 of

5 July.

Statements

HEBERT J. FIGOLI, Commanding Officer, Administrative Support Command, Army of Uruguay:  Uruguay has updated legislation on the import, acquisition and transfer of all types of weapons.  The Ministry of Defence and the Customs Department verify export registration and issue the necessary documentation for owning weapons.  Current legislation forbids civilians from owning war material.  The nature of our legislation is intended to create an adequate balance between the legitimate right of citizens to acquire weapons and the duty of the State to exercise the necessary controls.  The State participates in all processes dealing with the responsible ownership of weapons in the country.  Uruguay is party to the Inter-American Convention on the Manufacture of Small Arms, Ammunitions, Explosives and Other Related Materials, which was signed in 1997, and whose instrument of ratification was deposited this morning.

Uruguay’s hope is that, as a result of this Conference, concerted actions will be taken to minimize the number of illicit weapons.  In this connection, the responsibility of exporting countries acquires particular importance.  Exercising maximum control would reduce the availability of these weapons to irresponsible parties.  The deepening of the integration process in the countries of our region should lead to intensified coordination of actions aimed at monitoring and controlling our border areas.  The topic of small arms is intimately linked to terrorism, drug trafficking and organized crime. 

Our country continues to provide support for United Nations peacekeeping operations, and encourages the activation and implementation of programmes for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) of ex-combatants.  In order to guarantee the execution of actions broached at the international level, follow-up mechanisms must be established.

ANIL KUMARSINGH GAYAN, Minster for Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation of Mauritius:  Prior to and following the cold war, Africa has been and continues to be the continent where the illicit trafficking in small arms has fuelled conflicts and hampered sustainable development.  At the recent Summit of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in Lusaka, heads of State and government considered the issue and expressed their concerns.  Their hope is that the programme of action under consideration will ensure more effective arms control in Africa, focus on preventing the illicit traffic, reduce surplus arms and strengthen export-control measures.  These steps are all consonant with the Bamako Declaration, and we are pleased to see several of that document’s suggestions included in the draft action plan of this Conference.  We also hope that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) moratorium banning the import and manufacture of small arms will be renewed and will become permanent.

The Conference must also examine ways of taking action against illegal traffickers who allow these weapons to fall into the hands of armed gangs, terrorists or organized criminals.  States must enact legislation to impose heavy penalties and ensure confiscation of their illegal assets.  The widespread availability of small arms, converging with the devastating effects of the AIDS pandemic and protracted conflicts that have decimated the adult male population in Africa, has practically ensured that large numbers of children are now bearing these weapons.  No country can ignore the future of these children.

My delegation considers the draft action plan before us to be a well balanced and well defined approach to the problem.  Like other delegations, we hope it will be adopted without major amendments.  We support the European Union’s stand on the necessity for manufacturing countries to supply all relevant information on their legal transfers of small arms and light weapons.  Although we understand the domestic and constitutional concerns of some countries, we believe that collective international efforts are the only way to overcome this scourge.

VINCENT JOSEPH MATTHEWS, Deputy Minister of Safety and Security of South Africa:  South Africa’s policy on small arms proliferation focuses on the introduction of stricter control measures on the transfer of such weapons to government end-users.  It also focuses on the eventual removal of factors that fuel the demand for these weapons, such as unemployment, poverty and lack of education.

Our objective is to reduce the number of illegal small arms and light weapons in circulation and to reduce the flow of illegal weapons into our region and country.  Through an ongoing cooperative effort with Mozambique to find and destroy arms caches there, we have since 1996 managed to destroy more than 14,000 small arms, 7,000 anti-personnel mines, 17,000 hand-grenades, mortars and projectiles, and over 4 million rounds of ammunition.

We believe the draft programme of action strikes a delicate balance among differing views and is both practical and implementable.  We agree with the letter and spirit of this document, because we are convinced that action can only be achieved through a comprehensive and sustainable approach based on the real needs and possibilities as identified by affected regions.

Africa does not have the time to engage in endless discussions of options for future control measures.  Africa cannot wait for the future in the hope that prevention will work.  Africa has only one opportunity to combat and eradicate this scourge.  That is why we need the kind of measures proposed in this draft programme of action.  It was to serve the present crisis in affected countries that this Conference came into being, and it is fitting that its recommendations speak directly to their needs.

NUNO BRITO (Portugal):  Small arms are today’s real weapons of mass destruction, with vast numbers of the weapons illegally held outside governmental control worldwide.  Portugal has adopted the Code of Conduct on Arms Exports, the Joint Action on the European Union Contribution to Combating the Destabilizing Accumulation and Spread of Small Arms and Light Weapons, and the Council Resolution on Combating the Excessive and Uncontrolled Accumulation and Spread of Small Arms and Light Weapons as part of the Union’s Emergency Aid, Reconstruction and Development Programmes.

We believe that the draft programme of action should include some of the proposals of the European Union.  The programme of action must enable us to engage all available resources to tackle this problem in an integrated manner.  The follow-up process must draw on experience gained in different actions in various parts of the world.  An effective response will require complementary efforts at the national, regional and global levels.

In the context of the follow-up, sufficient technical and financial resources must be secured so that countries affected by this problem can free themselves once and for all from this scourge. The cooperation of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in this process is also important, because their active engagement in the field provides an important added value to the global combat against the uncontrolled accumulation of small arms.  Only by working together can we really solve the problem, mainly by collecting and destroying the small arms and light weapons that circulate in excess, causing unnecessary suffering to innocent people.

CHARLES JOSSELIN, Minister of State for Cooperation and Francophonie of France:  We agree with the European Union that this Conference will make it possible to adopt an ambitious and concrete action plan.  Of necessity, that plan will have to be based on a multidimensional approach.  Our perspective in the search for solutions must be very broad, and the solutions we identify must foster both the restoration of peace in areas with major tensions, and the restructuring of legitimate military systems, criminal justice systems and police forces.  More fundamentally, the solutions we consider and propose must make it possible to overcome the culture of violence.

Our approach must also be broadened to include efforts being undertaken in the field of disarmament, peacekeeping and peace consolidation, the fight against organized crime, and the promotion of development.  We must act simultaneously on several levels -– regional, national and, within the United Nations framework, global.  A regional approach should yield a better understanding of the difficulties encountered in high-tension areas and in post-conflict situations.  Above all, the regional approach will allow us to meet the aspirations of local populations.  The goal of security and stability and the need for citizens to trust their respective States are major prerequisites for any attempts at ensuring sustainable development.

France carries out its activities essentially within the European framework, which provides for measures to achieve transparency and restraint, as well as for financial and technical assistance to States most severely affected by illicit trafficking.  Our policy on small arms is based on a dual approach:  prevention based on enhanced monitoring of licit and illicit flows of small arms, and a complementary reduction effort based on small arms collection activities and DDR.  Together with Switzerland, we have also undertaken efforts to pursue elaboration of an international instrument for tracing small arms and light weapons.  The purpose of this initiative is to make it possible to trace, track and identify the routes of these weapons in a cooperative and confidential framework.

Let us give a concrete and bold response to the challenge before us.  Let us be determined.  Let us be responsible.  I know the road ahead will be fraught with pitfalls because of diverging views, in this case, the singular interests of the host country, but the ball is in our court.

GENARO VICENTE PAPPALARDO (Paraguay), speaking on behalf of his country’s Ministry of Defence:  In the international arena, Paraguay has signed a number of instruments, including the Inter-American Convention on the Manufacture and Illicit Traffic in Firearms, Ammunitions, Explosives and Other Related Materials, which was signed in November 1997.  We also signed the Convention on Transnational Organized Crime in Palermo last December.  It is essential for States to adopt immediate measures to combat the illicit trade in firearms.  Within the context of the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), a great deal has been done, including the creation of a working group on firearms and ammunitions.  Bilaterally, we have signed agreements with neighbouring countries.

Paraguay supports measures imposed on manufacturing countries, as well as measures for the marking and tracing of weapons, which will help to control the trade.  Information exchange, the control of arms depots and the destruction of confiscated weapons are among the other measures which could contribute to combating the problem.  Paraguay expresses its firm determination to continue cooperation to prevent the illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons because of the negative effects of these weapons on States and on the well-being of peoples.  Paraguay is not a producer of arms and, since 1997, has gradually reduced the import of firearms for the use of its civilian population.  This year, imports were reduced to zero.

JACQUES BOISSON (Monaco):  All of us have been upset, revolted even, to see children with small arms and light weapons in the front rows of combatants.  We have all been overwhelmed with compassion at the damage these weapons inflict on the most vulnerable.  The illicit trade in weapons is an outrage.  All efforts to combat it are hampered by lack of international cooperation and lack of information.  An international exchange of information could be developed within existing multilateral institutions like the International Customs Union and International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL).  Even when the legal sale and possession is allowed by countries, a system of shared and transparent rules and procedures is always possible.  Arms trading is very often carried out by brokers, many of whom are perfectly honest.  But brokering is often badly regulated.  Strict and consistent national control, matched with a system of international registration, would lessen the risks.

When violence is everywhere, mere good intentions and voluntary measures will not be enough.  Binding mechanisms are necessary.  The joint initiative of France and Switzerland for tracing can be used as a model for other States.  It is also a good idea to consider international courts and global jurisdiction when prosecuting large-scale criminals dealing in small arms and light weapons –- an activity which should be defined as a crime against humanity.  Until we can take such radical measures, we should at least adopt interim but powerful provisions like embargoes and moratoria on all small arms and light weapons.

NANA EFFAH-APENTENG (Ghana):  In Africa, we have witnessed the harsh effects of conflicts on regional peace.  These conflicts are often instigated by non-State actors, given the easy availability of small arms and light weapons.  There is evidence of the direct involvement of sovereign governments in the acquisition of these weapons by non-State actors.  The phenomenon of child soldiers with its negative socio-economic effects, particularly on women, can hardly be over-emphasized.

The Government of Ghana, working jointly with the Government of Canada, has hosted a subregional workshop aimed at building on the Mali Moratorium and establishing a framework to keep children out of conflict.  This was followed by a similar meeting in Winnipeg, Canada.  While we may have been spared domestic civil strife in Ghana, we have had to grapple with the fallout from nearby conflicts, notably, the proliferation of arms.  Regulatory processes have been introduced for limited amnesty for the voluntary surrender of arms illegally acquired.

The ECOWAS Moratorium covers the import, export and manufacture of light weapons and proposes a code of conduct.  Similar initiatives have been taken in southern and eastern Africa.  These various subregional efforts culminated in the OAU-sponsored meeting in Bamako, Mali, where member countries agreed on a Common African Position on the Illicit Proliferation, Circulation and Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons.  It represents Africa’s coordinated response to this challenge to its peace, security and development.

KIM CHANG GUK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea):  A number of disarmament-related conventions and mechanisms are already in place, but there they are not fairly implemented.  Interfering in others’ internal affairs and encroaching on the right to self-defence on the pretext of preventing the illicit trade in small arms should never be tolerated.  In order to ensure just and effective global disarmament, the application of double standards should be put to an end in the field of disarmament.  Also, the discussion of the small arms issue should not distract attention from nuclear disarmament.

There is no more urgent task for humankind than realizing nuclear disarmament at the earliest.  Today, deliberations on the disarmament issue in the conventional weapons field are progressing at a relatively fast pace.  However, no progress has yet been achieved in the discussion on nuclear disarmament.  This is contrary to the urgent demand of the majority of Member States for complete elimination of nuclear weapons.  Therefore, we strongly urge States to take legally binding parallel steps to turn nuclear disarmament into a United Nations process, and set a timetable for the complete abolition of nuclear weapons. 

RAMON A. MORALES (Panama):  We agree with the position expressed earlier in this debate on behalf of the Rio Group:  preventing the criminal proliferation and trade in small arms and light weapons will not be viable without the open and honest participation of arms manufacturing and exporting countries.  This is, indeed, one national effort that could truly stem the flow of these weapons.  But any such actions must be accompanied by complementary efforts at international, regional and local levels.  All our actions must also be consonant with the tenets of the Charter, particularly the responsibility to ensure the territorial integrity of States. 

This debate has revealed no conflict over the right of citizens to bear arms for their own security or for sporting activities.  There seems to be little disagreement on the legitimate trade in small arms.  There have been clear recommendations for the control of brokers and for marking and tracing.  The problem appears to be the possible refusal by some States -– stemming mainly from singular political motivations -- to pursue and enact controls on the arms trade.  It is well known that the illegal arms trade favours certain dictatorships, organized criminal activity and extreme political movements.  Experts have called the trade a sort of vicious circle that requires the purchase of more and more illegal weapons to combat tensions initially sparked by the purchase of illegal weapons. 

We must adhere to the mandate of this Conference and deal with the small arms issue in all its aspects.  We must also realize that globalization and new technologies have added to the difficulty to our struggle.  Only by addressing these issues, as well as money laundering, drug trafficking and exploitation of natural resources, can we truly make a difference.  The efforts of the United Nations system remain indispensable in this regard. 

MOHAMADOU YOUSSIFOU, Minister-Delegate to the Minister of External Relations in Charge of Relations with the Islamic World of Cameroon:  This Conference is the culmination of a movement that has been afoot in the United Nations for many years.  It should be seen as the starting point for concerted international action to combat the illicit small arms trade.  It is estimated that there are 500 million of these weapons circulating in the world.  Unfortunately, 90 per cent of its victims have been civilians.  Its devastating consequences on security, stability and development have to be faced every day.  While no country is spared, African countries have paid the heaviest prices. 

Central Africa is the main target for arms traffickers.  While my country has enjoyed relative peace due to its geographical location, it has had to face insecurity and banditry associated with arms trafficking.  To counter that threat, the Government has promulgated legislation to govern the buying, selling and transfer of small arms.  These efforts have met with tangible success, but the problem is clearly a transboundary one.  Any national efforts have to be part of coordinated international action.  The scope of the phenomenon and the scale of its consequences demand a commensurate response.  We expect this Conference to enhance and continue national efforts and lead to the adoption of an effective action programme. 

Many of the conflicts raging in Africa today would have lost steam if they had not been fuelled by the influx of small arms.  We are confident that marking and registration, together with international information exchange, could enhance the responsibility of producer countries and help identify networks through which weapons flow.  We need mechanisms that will empower the international community to mobilize itself against this scourge.

ALOUNKEO KITTIKHOUN (Lao People’s Democratic Republic):  While nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction continue to threaten the survival of all humankind, in recent years the problem of small arms and light weapons has emerged as a new reality.  The illicit trade in these weapons brings huge profits to dealers and causes deaths, injuries, displacement and suffering, mostly to civilians.  It also poses a great danger to regional and international peace.

Taking onto account the different conditions and priorities of each country and region, we believe that efforts should be made at national, regional and global levels to bring about a comprehensive solution.  We stress that States have the primary responsibility for solving this complex problem.  Moreover, it is essential that arms-producing States should limit the trade in small arms and light weapons to government-authorized, registered and licensed dealers. 

The illicit small arms trade has close links with drug trafficking and transnational crime.  In this context, different measures and problem-solving approaches need to be attempted.  Disputes and conflicts could also be overcome by addressing their root causes.  To avoid such confrontations, States must build mutual trust, promote better mutual understanding, and expand economic cooperation for development in as many fields as possible.  We would like to stress that our focus on the new phenomenon of the illicit trade in small arms must not sidetrack the international community from the issue of elimination of nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction.

ANIBAL SANCHEZ, Under-Secretary for Defence and Internal Affairs of the Dominican Republic:  The Dominican Republic is a nation in the Caribbean which shares a border with Haiti.  It is no stranger to the issue that has brought us here.  Statistics testify to the great number of small arms and light weapons that cross our borders for different purposes.  Drug traffickers, terrorists and traffickers in human beings are among those directly or indirectly linked to this scourge.  Our country joins with the international community in the search for joint solutions for the illicit trade in these weapons. 

The Dominican Republic is one of the countries in Latin America where the safety and security of its citizens are among the main objectives of the Government.  The illicit trade contributes immensely to social instability and to undermining the quality of life of the people.  Numerous steps have been taken by the Government to fight the problem, such as establishing strict controls on our borders, training personnel, encouraging education at all levels and creating job opportunities for the unemployed, all of which contribute to crime prevention.

Legislators in my country are involved in updating our domestic laws to take into account our present situation.  We fully support the draft programme of action to fight and eliminate the illicit trade.  This effort will contribute in the future to finding a solution to this great scourge, for the benefit of our peoples and global security. 

ILINKA MITREVA, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia:  The destabilizing accumulation of small arms and light weapons has become a threat to international peace and security.  This Conference should provide the necessary momentum for addressing this problem and underscoring the seriousness of the threat these weapons pose to individuals, families and communities.  The Conference is also a manifestation of the international will to end this scourge. 

The issue before us has been a particular concern for the Republic of Macedonia and the border region.  The illicit trade in small arms jeopardizes security and stability in our country and in the whole of Europe.  The problem has increased in intensity since the civil unrest in Albania and the conflict in Kosovo.  According to some reports, only 24 per cent of the nearly 700,000 outstanding small arms have been retrieved.  We, therefore, welcome recent United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) regulations concerning arms in that region.  Because we stand at the crossroads of regional illicit arms trade routes, we have proposed detailed plans for their collection and destruction within the framework of the Stability Pact.

Lasting peace and stability cannot be achieved without establishing control over the enormous quantities of small arms that have accrued within our borders.  It is crucial, therefore, to put in place an overall collection-oriented national action plan.  At the same time, the illicit trade in small arms is closely connected to other criminal activities such as drug trafficking, money laundering and corruption.  A large degree of the responsibility for stopping that trade falls to States, but regional cooperation is also essential.  Regional measures we deem critical include effective border control and intensive information exchange.  Certainly, this Conference will not solve all aspects of the problem.  But once we agree on a programme of action and begin implementing its recommendations, positive and concrete results will follow.

YEHUDA LANCRY (Israel):  The main focus of our deliberations should be to prevent the uncontrolled flow of arms, ammunition and explosives, which encourages indiscriminate attacks by terrorists and criminal organizations.  The illicit trade in such weapons can be prevented if we take the proper action.  This includes adoption by all States of a clear and explicit political commitment to bar the entities under their jurisdiction from transferring those arms to terrorists and to withhold assistance from outside elements involved in this traffic.

In our region, we remain perpetually at risk due to the dangerous deviation from the accords signed between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.  On 7 May, the Israeli Navy seized a fishing boat packed with weapons headed for terrorist groups operating in the territory controlled by the Palestinian Authority.  The smuggling operation originated in neighbouring countries.  Events of recent months have exposed the true purpose of these weapons:  to attack Israel’s civilian population.  We call upon our neighbours and all countries in the region to stop the flow of arms from their territory to terrorist groups.

The menace of the illicit small arms trade can be reduced if countries make a firm decision to stop it.  They can start by imposing measures to control the circulation of arms within their territory, as well as the transfer of arms to others.  Israel is willing to work with other countries in our region to limit the illicit spread of small arms and light weapons.  This is, after all, a transnational problem, exploited mainly by terrorists and criminal organizations.

YUSUF M. JUWAYEYI (Malawi):  Malawi has not been spared the destructive consequences of the proliferation of small arms and weapons, and Malawians continue to undergo crime and violence.  We are, therefore, anxious to see the adoption of a comprehensive package of far-reaching measures leading to a new global culture of zero tolerance for the illicit trade in these dangerous weapons.  There cannot be any lasting political and social stability, much less meaningful economic development, in the regions most affected by small arms, without the active involvement of every Member State.

The laundering of proceeds from all forms of crime by international criminal networks feeds the illegal arms trade.  Criminal syndicates have seized the opportunity to exploit the apparent global disorder brought about by increasing international deregulation and liberalism.  Invariably, these arms peddlers and brokers will have well protected and politically powerful liaisons in high political circles.  Malawi is working closely with the other SADC member countries to implement a range of measures for monitoring and facilitating cross-border operations within the subregion.

At the national level, a comprehensive review of the Firearms Act is under way.  Malawi is also implementing a Police Reform Programme of which human rights and small arms-related training is a significant element.  We fully support the proposal for a Destruction of Arms Day.  Arrangements are under way to dispose of large stockpiles of firearms.  Firearms-recovery operations have proved to be an invaluable method of controlling the proliferation of small arms.  Rich nations have a moral duty to assist the poor countries in building capacity to develop effective law-enforcement mechanisms, methods and techniques for detecting the flow of illicit arms and the criminal networks involved.  It will not be enough to agree to a programme of action if nothing much is happening to implement practical ways to control the illegal weapons trade.

EDWIN J. BATSHU, Deputy Police Commissioner of Botswana:  It is estimated that nearly 1,300 people worldwide are killed daily with illicit military weapons.  The most prolific and proficient killers have relied not on high-tech weaponry, but on cheap, readily available and easy-to-use small arms.  Low-tech weapons like assault rifles, hand-grenades and machine guns have been responsible for an appalling global death toll.  Indeed, worldwide deaths caused by this problem are eclipsed in sheer numbers only by the devastating effects of the AIDS pandemic. 

The source of the illicit trade is legally traded weapons.  Millions of legally produced small arms and light weapons end up in the hands of individuals and small groups in conflict-ridden regions of the globe.  Our efforts should be targeted at strengthening national mechanisms to pinpoint the origins of these weapons and to curtail their numbers.

The draft action plan under consideration clearly outlines measures that States can undertake at the national level to address the illicit trade in small arms.  The proposals included therein are in line with the recommendations of the heads of State and government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).  We would add that States should prevent the manufacture, stockpiling, transfer and possession of these arms within a respective State’s jurisdiction.

Botswana’s efforts to solve the problem include the Arms and Ammunition Act, administered by the Commissioner of Police.  The act regulates manufacture, import, export, sale, transfer, storage and safe storage of arms and munitions.  Botswana also has a Central Arms Registry which records all information relating to arms and ammunition.  No person is allowed to own or purchase arms except in accordance with the licensing procedures of the Commissioner of Police.

However, because we are located in a region which has seen an accumulation of small arms, we have not been spared criminal activity.  It is only fitting, then, that the call of those most affected by this scourge should ring the loudest.  We support the Bamako Declaration and are grateful that it has contributed towards shaping the draft action plan.  The international community should actively engage, support and fund the efforts of the OAU to address the illicit trade in small arms.

ABDALLA SALEH AL-ASHTAL (Yemen):  The goal is to prevent any further increase in the traffic in small arms.  It is a problem which relates not only to the illicit trade, but to all issues connected with the legal trade.  All States must adopt laws making the illicit trade punishable by law.  We must adopt the programme of action and develop ways and means to implement the ideas contained therein.  We must also muster the necessary political will.  There have been too many victims.  We cannot deny the link between the illicit trade and other problems, such as organized crime, drug trafficking and terrorism.

On the draft programme of action, Yemen would like to stress the following points.  First, while we recognize the need to adopt arrangements for international cooperation to cope with this problem, we must stress the paramount responsibility of governments themselves for determining ways of coping with the problem.  Secondly, Yemen has consistently taken a position on the issue of disarmament.  The impact of small arms and light weapons is limited compared to that of weapons of mass destruction.  They are just one of the ingredients in political and military conflicts.  Thirdly, we must commit the resources needed for countries that are especially affected by small arms and light weapons.  We might even establish a world fund for financing least developed countries to help them deal with the problem. 

Small arms are fairly available in Yemen and can be found in many places. However, there is a legal framework governing the ownership of arms and regulating their import.  Illegally owned arms are confiscated, and individuals voluntarily surrender their weapons.  The media is used to convince people to hand over their weapons.

MARTIN MABALA, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Francophonie of Gabon:  The ease of acquisition, use and transport of low-cost small arms makes them available to everyone, including the children so often recruited as soldiers in armed conflicts.  In face of that threat, several initiatives on subregional and regional levels have been taken all over the world.

In case of Central Africa, I would like to underline the role of Gabon’s President who, as an international mediator in the Congolese crisis, took part in the first public ceremony of arms destruction, held on 27 April in Brazzaville. In his tireless efforts for a durable peace in Central Africa, he has always pleaded for a subregional synergy in the area of prevention and solution of conflicts.

In the framework of the Permanent Advisory Committee of the United Nations for matters of security in West Africa, Gabon and its partners have implemented confidence-building measures for the peaceful solution of security matters, including the illicit flow of small arms and light weapons.  Several meetings have been organized in this connection, the last one in 1999 in N’Djamena, Chad, where the leaders of Central Africa have decided to undertake action to combat the proliferation of small arms, including exchange of information between security services on the illicit trade and joint border patrols.  Those initiatives ultimately led to the Bamako Conference and its Declaration.  But all of those action would be in vain if they are not strengthened by global cooperation.  Gabon believes that the adoption of the programme of action will reflect our political will to engage ourselves resolutely in the fight against the illicit small arms trade.

STUART W. LESLIE (Belize), speaking for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM): In our region, we cannot contemplate solutions to the illicit trade in arms without addressing, at the same time, measures to control the illegal drug trade. The meeting should adopt a comprehensive strategy that will take into account the unique characteristics and challenges that the phenomenon presents in different regions.  The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean organizes policy review workshops and seminars involving law enforcement experts, government representatives and members of civil society.  The Centre has established the Inter-American Drug Abuse Commission, and there will be a joint seminar on small arms for the Caribbean subregion in Trinidad and Tobago next week.

Because of our geographical location, Belize is a potential transit point for trafficking in illicit arms and drugs to Central America, North America and the Caribbean.  We have joined international efforts against such activity specifically through the Organization of American States (OAS).

The CARICOM emphasizes the urgent need for meaningful cooperation between States and regions to effectively stem the flow of illegal weapons.  Effective regulation of the legal trade in small arms and light weapons is central to any strategy to control the illegal arms flow. 

DJBRINA MOUMOUNI, Secretary-General, Cabinet of the President of the  Niger: Last September, global leaders at the Millennium Summit expressed their desire to address the issue before us.  This Conference was convened as an expression of international commitment and intent.  As such, it must provide hope to the millions around the world suffering from this problem.  Indeed, Africa is the continent most devastated by the spread of illicit weapons.  Fallout from the scourge includes drug trafficking, mass displacement, slow economic development and recovery, and the exacerbation of conflicts.  The Niger has not escaped that fallout, and has suffered armed rebellion for some years now.

We hope this Conference will produce an action plan which identifies steps to be taken at the national, regional, subregional and international levels.  We believe that if the plan is to be realistic and applicable, it must not only enjoy wide agreement, but must build on the experiences of all regions and communities, particularly those most affected.  Our efforts should focus on regional and subregional efforts, and we should strive to ensure a comprehensive follow-up mechanism.

However, our efforts cannot be effective without adequate resources.  We support the recommendation of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to set up an international fund for the collection of arms.  Our Government has established a pilot arms collection project, with an emphasis on community collection activities, as well as the promotion of collection initiatives in regions of conflict.  While we have had some assistance for the UNDP, Finland, Denmark and others, we would urge greater assistance.  Finally, it is my hope that the Conference will adopt a realistic plan of action which includes specific political commitments, strengthens Security Council resolutions aimed at curbing the illicit trade, and leads to the elaboration of a binding legal instrument.

DOURA CHERIF, Ministry for the Presidency in Charge of National Defence of Guinea:  The proliferation of small arms and light weapons is a security problem, a problem of protecting human rights, development and stability.  It is, above all, a political problem whose solution requires the unconditional commitment of States.  The struggle for peace in conflict zones must nowadays go hand in hand with the struggle against the proliferation of small arms and light weapons. Disarmament operations in post-conflict situation must go hand in hand with enforcement of security and a true policy of reintegration.  This conviction led to the adoption of the Bamako Declaration.

In August 2000, Guinea set up a National Commission to Combat the Proliferation of and Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons.  The Commission has drawn up a national Plan of Action, which it intends to implement with international support.  A law on small arms and light weapons has also been implemented.

On marking of arms and ammunition, the Commission favours a marking at the time of manufacture.  Guinea supports developing regulatory provisions to promote better practices for arms manufactures, the establishment of cooperatives and other groups for monitoring, and definition of purchasing conditions.  Regarding stockpile management, we propose improvement of the operational capacity of national structures through training.  The persistence of rebel attacks in our country has made this Conference an event of particular importance to my Government.  My delegation is convinced that the undertaking will not be easy, as we are fighting against a complex and uncontrolled international market. 

YASHAR ALIYEV (Azerbaijan):  Regrettably, the problem of small arms and light weapons is more than relevant to the South Caucasus region.  Flows of those weapons hamper international efforts to achieve peaceful conflict settlements and contribute to the increased mistrust and tension between neighbouring States. Azerbaijan has repeatedly drawn attention to the large-scale illegal arms transfers to Armenia which preceded that country’s armed aggression against my country.  The territories occupied by Armenian armed forces, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region, are now centres for illegal arms transfers and terrorist and smuggling activities.

My country stands firmly for international cooperation to eradicate the illicit trade.  It participated actively in the adoption of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Document.  Three weeks ago, Azerbaijan hosted a workshop on ”Small Arms and Light Weapons:  Practical Challenges for the Implementation of Current Undertakings in the OSCE and the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council”, jointly organized by the Governments of my country and Switzerland.

It is our firm belief that the fundamental principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter -- respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of all States, as well as the right of States to self-defence -– should underpin our joint efforts to cope with this scourge.  Our programme of action should be balanced, realistic and implementable.  Extensive information exchanges, coupled with appropriate verification techniques, will enhance the effectiveness of measures to combat illegal transfers of weapons.

ALFRED ROLLAND CARLOT (Vanuatu):  Vanuatu has learned from its past experiences -- the rebellion on Espiritu Santo, the 1987 incitement to mutiny, and the takeover of the Vanuatu Military Headquarters by a rebellious group of soldiers.  The devastating effects of small arms could be measured in terms of destabilizing small communities with limited resources, thus contributing to political and social unrest.

From as far east as Samoa to as far west as Papua New Guinea, the Pacific islands have experienced and long recognized the dangers posed by small arms.  Pacific island leaders have, indeed, been cooperative in dealing with the small arms issue, and have continued to address these issues.  In October 2000, they approved a development model legislation to facilitate the implementation and enforcement of the common regional approach to weapon control.  Vanuatu welcomes and supports the initiatives taken by Australia, Japan and New Zealand to help Pacific island countries establish strategies to overcome the problems of small arms in our region.

GASPAR SANTOS RUFINO, Vice-Minister for Defence of Angola:  the Bamako Declaration contained the common African position on the issue.  It highlighted the serious concern regarding the devastating consequences of small arms and light weapons, which threaten the stability and development of Africa.  At the same time, Africa does not fail to recognize the progress achieved in each of our countries in our efforts to contain, reduce and control the proliferation of arms.

African leaders, in analysing the causes of the proliferation and illicit trafficking of small arms, suggest that Member States and the suppliers should be more transparent in their conduct and go beyond national interests.  This means, so far as possible, to impose limits on the legal production of certain basic goods, to exercise rigorous control of their circulation, and even to destroy surplus production of goods.  It should be possible to do this with small arms and light weapons, as they are not basic goods and will not be missed by our people. 

Angola knows the terrible consequences that small arms and light weapons carry for people and the economy of a country.  In Angola, men with guns in their hands have opposed the legitimate Government for many years.  It should be clear that it is imperative to destroy surplus arms, regulate their production in the legislation of manufacturing countries, and sell them to legally constituted and authorized entities.

AGIM NESHO (Albania):  The uncontrolled spread of small arms and light weapons is a destabilization factor for the security of our region.  For 10 years, our region has been involved in armed conflicts.  The region is also attractive to elements of organized crime who exploit it for the illicit trade.

In March 1997, Albania was faced with a grave institutional crisis which led to the destruction of army barracks and seizure of arms by the civilian population, with 549,000 weapons falling into their hands.  The new Government has made serious commitments to tackle this delicate issue.  Since 1998, among other things, Albania has begun to implement the project “Weapons in Exchange for Development”, with the assistance of the UNDP.

The Albanian Government has enforced border-control measures to prevent the transfer of small arms and light weapons to neighbouring countries.  Recently, it has taken several measures that have resulted in preventing arms trafficking to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.  We think that fighting the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons requires greater cooperation between all countries of our region.  The Task Force that has been set up in the framework of the Stability Pact is producing encouraging results, thanks to such regional cooperation.

DURGA P. BHATTARAI (Nepal):  Only last month, we stood together in this very hall to elaborate a global strategy to fight the scourge of HIV/AIDS.  Today, we have again gathered to commit ourselves to curbing another horrendous global threat:  the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons.  At a time when we are struggling to find a teacher for every 30 children or a doctor for every 30,000 people, the world has been flooded with 500 million small arms and light weapons  –- one for every 12 persons.  As a result, many societies have been devastated by incalculable human suffering and social upheaval.  The worst part of the story is that children find themselves caught up in every aspect of the violence wrought by the widespread availability of these weapons, as helpless victims, agile handlers or as addicted killers.  They get explosives and munitions when they need food and medicine, and they get guns when they should have been given books, pencils and paper. 

When they grow up, these children find that they have become misfits, lacking skills to make a living in a world that has turned peaceful while they were mired in violence.  If we look at this problem closely, one of the focuses of a plan of action becomes obvious.  This Conference should test the power of our commitment to the rights of the child and the virtues we attach to a responsible, non-violent society by promoting transparency in the arms trade and controlling illicit transfers.  Far-reaching steps are necessary to prevent our investment in the future from evaporating in the flash of a hand-grenade blast.

While the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons has been a perennial problem for many countries, it has emerged as a major curse for the poorest ones.  We believe that the international community must invest in creating an environment where people feel secure without guns.  Reducing the global supply of illicit arms is only one part of the solution.  Efforts must be complemented by a reduction in demand.

GUILLERMO MELENDEZ-BARAHONA (El Salvador):  In the 1980s, Central America was rife with conflicts.  Today, we have undergone radical changes -- but our efforts have been impeded not only by old challenges, but also new ones.  Many of those efforts have been negatively impacted by the destabilizing effects of the spread of small arms and their buildup during times of conflict.

For Central America, and El Salvador in particular, solving these problems has become a priority.  Due to our unique geographical position and a general lack of resources, we feel it is time to act to avoid shifting resources to security efforts when they could be better used on other fronts, such as spurring economic growth or ensuring sustainable development. 

The illicit trade in small arms can also be linked to an increase in other forms of illegal activities.  Given that reality, we are pleased to see the active participation of civil society in efforts to raise awareness of the problem.  We hope that such actions will lead to initiatives and policies within the framework of the inter-American system to address the widespread proliferation of small arms.

We agree that the illicit small arms trade has become an international problem requiring a global response.  In our country, while there has been some success at arms-collection efforts, the accumulation during times of unrest is still affecting us.  We have initiated programmes to exchange consumer goods for arms and to control firearms and munitions.  An Interpol subregional office for the region has also been established.  The work of the United Nations in this area is critical.  The plan of action to be adopted at the conclusion of this Conference will enhance our own national initiatives.

ETIENNE KRUG, Director, Department for Injuries and Violence Prevention of the World Health Organization (WHO):  The WHO is concerned about the spread of violence and, therefore, concerned about the widespread availability of small arms.  Small arms make perpetrating violence easier.  The ready availability of small arms has been associated with higher small arms-related mortality rates.  Research has shown that relative to other weapons, small arms tend to be more lethal.  When small arms are involved in assaults or suicide attempts, the outcome is often worse than when they are absent. 

The WHO is committed to make its contribution, within its health mandate, to the implementation of the programme of action being discussed.  WHO’s expertise in the collection and interpretation of data for policy-making related to all types of health problems could usefully inform the current process on small arms.  In that context, the WHO has compiled data on small arms injuries and deaths in a report entitled, “Small Arms and Global Health”.  It is clear from the report that data are lacking from most regions of the world.  To complete information where it is lacking, the WHO will conduct surveys during the coming years.

The second area of work of the WHO is focused on health-system response.  Many lives can be saved by the provision of adequate treatment for victims of small arms violence.  The WHO will work with Member States to strengthen pre-hospital and hospital care for victims of small arms injuries and injuries in general.  Many lives can also be improved by providing adequate physical and psychological rehabilitation.  Although curbing the excessive availability of small arms remains an integral part of solving the problem of violence, other individual, community and global risk factors for violence need to be taken into account to fully understand and address this complex issue.

MARCH MALLOCH BROWN, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP):  The 2001 Human Development Report, released this week, shows that no fewer than two thirds of the 30 lowest-ranking countries have suffered conflicts and crises over the last decade, in which small arms have played a dominant role.  That is a clear call to action from the UNDP.  We have long recognized how conflict can restrict recovery and undermine longer-term development.  That is why crisis prevention and recovery is one of our core practice areas for the new millennium, and why small arms is one of our key service lines within it.

Conflicts have multiple causes, but in the developing world they are nearly always exacerbated or fuelled by some combination of poverty, discrimination and the inability of governments to provide basic human security for their citizens.  And when rule of law is replaced by the barrel of a gun, there is little opportunity to recover and rebuild.  Many speakers at this Conference have called attention to the supply problems in the illicit trade and manufacture of these weapons.  But we cannot afford to neglect the equally pernicious demand side of the equation.  And that is where UNDP’s main contribution lies.

From the “Weapons for Development” programme in Albania to an initiative to demobilize, disarm and reintegrate former combatants into civil society in the Republic of the Congo, the UNDP already has a strong track record.  We are now working on similar initiatives in Kosovo, El Salvador, the Solomon Islands, and, on a regional basis, in West Africa.  We will shortly launch programmes in the Niger and Somalia.  In all of these, we carefully tailor our work to local needs and circumstances.  These are complex and often expensive undertakings, but in the long term they are more than cost-effective.

Building on these successes, the UNDP is now embarking on a much larger, three-year Weapons Collection, Management and Destruction Programme, together with our Trust Fund partners, including Switzerland, Belgium, Norway, South Korea and the United Kingdom.  The programme has three primary service lines:  helping countries collect and destroy illicit weapons in post-conflict situations; helping address the demand for small arms by providing jobs, security and assistance with reintegration and reconciliation, rather than offering cash for weapons; and helping countries control the illicit flow of small arms.

We believe that UNDP’s integrated and comprehensive approach to small arms  -– working within a clear development mandate –- offers a unique track record of success and enormous opportunities for the future.  Because without addressing the root causes of conflict and creating institutions capable of managing change and transition and providing real support and opportunities to the poor, the sad but inescapable fact is that efforts at lasting disarmament will not be successful.

Right of Reply

The observer for Palestine said she wanted to reply to the statement made earlier by the representative of Israel, which contained much false information. Israel was the only State officially regarded by the United Nations as being an occupying Power.  Israeli occupiers and settlers were being transferred into the occupied Palestinian territories, including Jerusalem.  That was a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention and relevant Security Council resolutions.  Israel also armed its settlers illegally, thus turning them into an armed militia. 

The United Nations, she continued, had always condemned the measures and practices of the occupying force and had called on Israel to disarm the settlers. During the violence that has occurred since September 2000, Israeli forces had been unleashing violence against Palestinians in the occupied territories and used illegal weapons.  The arms were illegally circulated to many illegal groups.  That showed how Israel had used small arms and light weapons, as well as heavy weapons, to combat Palestinians, trying to kill them and displace them from their territories.

The representative of Armenia, exercising his right of reply, said that although the representative of Azerbaijan had claimed that Armenia received illegal transfers of small arms and light weapons, the facts indicated the contrary.  Reports of the United States Arms Controls and Disarmament Agency stated that Azerbaijan received three-and-a-half times more conventional arms than national ceilings allowed. 

He was also opposed to singling out certain principles of the United Nations Charter, because that document should be seen as a whole, and one principle was not more important than another.  It would be more of a contribution to the process of addressing the problem of small arms and light weapons, as well as to the peace process in and around the Nagorno-Karabakh region, if Azerbaijan would analyse the actual causes of the conflict.

In exercise of right of reply, the representative of Azerbaijan said it was unfortunate that once again the Armenian delegate had attempted to mislead the Conference into believing that Armenians were “good guys” innocent of armed aggression in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.  It was not a mystery to anyone that Armenia had, indeed, led armed aggression against his country.  Moreover, Armenia was occupying 20 per cent of Azerbaijan, and its aggressive actions had left more than 1 million homeless. 

The Conference was certainly an appropriate place to address an issue that was such an acute problem for his country, particularly since the Nagorno-Karabakh region had been repeatedly mentioned in resolutions of the Security Council and the Assembly.  He added that Azerbaijan had been forcibly drawn into full-scale war with Armenia, in which a wide variety of weapons and munitions had been used.  In 1997, Armenian accumulation of weapons inside Azerbaijan had clearly exceeded international limits.  It was a well established fact that Armenia had acquired

$1 billion of United States weaponry.

The representative of Armenia said that, unlike Azerbaijan, he would try not to burden the Assembly with details irrelevant to the work before it.  He would like to stress that no international document, not of the United Nations, the OSCE, or any other international body, identified Armenia as a State which had committed aggression against any other State.  He also said that the representative of Azerbaijan had identified as an “established fact” the purchase of $1 billion in United States weaponry.  Unfortunately, this was yet another attempt to mislead this august body.  In fact, an investigation had found that allegation to be untrue. 

He associated himself with all other delegations calling for changes in specific paragraphs of the draft action plan to present transfers of small arms and light weapons to non-State parties.

The representative of Azerbaijan, exercising his second right of reply, said high officials of the country supplier had recognized the illegal delivery of arms to Armenia.  In its resolution 853, the Security Council had expressed concern about the deterioration of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.  In other words, Armenia was directly involved in the conflict.  The Organization of Islamic States had several times adopted resolutions establishing that Armenia was the aggressor against Azerbaijan.

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