PRESS CONFERENCE ON SMALL ARMS BY CO-PRESIDENT OF EMINENT PERSONS GROUP ON SMALL ARMS

PRESS CONFERENCE ON SMALL ARMS BY CO-PRESIDENT

OF EMINENT PERSONS GROUP ON SMALL ARMS

Despite the setbacks of the last two sessions of the Preparatory Committee on Small Arms, the current session would end with a good politically binding document which would provide Members States with a framework for dealing with

the problem of small arms, Michel Rocard, former Prime Minister of France and

co-President of the Eminent Persons Group on Small Arms, told correspondents this morning.

Speaking at a Headquarters press conference, Mr. Rocard said there had been three important changes in the recent past, which provided reasons for optimism. These were the signing of the Bamako Declaration by 52 African nations at the African ministerial conference on small arms last year, the European Union unanimously accepting a decision on how small arms trafficking should be tackled, and a softening of the positions of the United States and Russia on some aspects of the problem.  The United States did not want a legally binding document, but was now prepared to accept a politically binding one, while the Russian delegation had indicated that it would not support those opposed to any sort of action on trafficking.

Describing what he meant by a good document, the former Prime Minister said that this would be a document that was not legally binding, but would have important follow-ups and contain a system for markings and brokering of small arms which would make tracing easier.  It would provide a framework which allowed States to harden national legislation with regard to the exports, allow for penalization of crimes, and encourage the collection of illegal arms for destruction.  He hoped above all that the document would allow for information sharing between States in order for the system of markings to be effective.

Addressing the issue of Africa being the most-affected continent with regard to the trafficking of small arms, Sola Ogunbanwo, a member of Nigeria’s delegation to the Preparatory Committee, said that Africans were especially interested in measures which would address the collection and destruction of weapons in post-conflict situations.

“Africa is ravaged by conflicts, and we know that there is a connection between small arms, conflict resolution, conflict prevention and post-conflict actions.  And this action on collection and destruction of weapons requires funds, so international support is very important.  This was why African States were interested in a United Kingdom proposal for an international fund for the destruction of weapons”, he added.

He also said another area of interest for Africans was tracing, because there was so much illicit trafficking of arms on the continent, adding that since the problem of small arms was do with supply and demand, it was time for the suppliers, who were invariably Europeans, and the recipients, who were in the main developing countries, to get together to solve the problem.

Responding to a question on whether a legally binding treaty on small arms was possible in the future, Mr. Rocard said that there was no consensus for such a treaty at the moment, but that was not a reason to give up all hope of solving the problem of small arms.  He added that even existing treaties which were legally binding were often unenforceable, since there was no international police force to do the enforcement.  There were already systems in place, especially with regard to markings which make identification easier.  The outcome document of the Committee’s current session would probably simply express the wish that a good system for exchange of information be established.  He hoped that collective pressure would be brought to bear on those who refused to cooperate with this politically binding document.

Dr. Ogunbanwo said that the power behind a politically binding document should not be underestimated.  He hoped the Conference on the Illicit Trade of Small Arms, which is being held in July, would agree on a framework on marking and brokering for the future.

On the issue of what the Committee intended to do with those States that sell small arms, Mr. Rocard said that the responsibility of dealing with such countries was not the responsibility of one person, but of the whole world. Control of small arms was a responsibility of States, as had been stated by the Secretary-General.  There were many other issues connected with the trafficking of small arms, but the focus at the moment was on inter-State cooperation, which would go a long way to solving the problem.

Asked what kind of system was envisaged to deal with arms traffickers, manufacturers and recipients, Mr. Rocard said they did not envisage any system, but instead relied on a diplomatic game which would diminish the reluctance of States opposed to tackling the issue, and encourage and support the optimism and will of those countries that wanted to solve the problem.

Dr. Ogunbanwo said that there were already attempts being made to sanction those found guilty of illicit arms trading, such as the decision adopted by the European Union. In the document currently being considered by the Committee, there was also mention of the possibility of expanding the mandate of Interpol to provide information on illicit trafficking of arms.

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