DISARMAMENT ‘DOUBLE STANDARDS’, SMALL ARMS THREAT AMONG ISSUES RAISED, AS FIRST COMMITTEE CONCLUDES GENERAL DEBATE

Fifty-eighth General Assembly

First Committee

10^th Meeting (PM)

DISARMAMENT ‘DOUBLE STANDARDS’, SMALL ARMS THREAT AMONG ISSUES RAISED,

AS FIRST COMMITTEE CONCLUDES GENERAL DEBATE

Double standard in disarmament, by which some countries had to disarm while others did not, was inexcusable, and policies of no-first use of nuclear weapons were not good enough, the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) was told today, as it heard from its final three speakers in its general debate.

Jean C. Alexandre (Haiti) stressed that the total elimination of nuclear weapons was the only way to assure that they were never used, and he called on the nuclear-weapon States to work towards eliminating their arsenals, as they had promised under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

Despite the general global expectation that the events of 11 September would strengthen multilateralism, he said unilateral doctrines that divided the world were being adopted instead.  Additionally, the importance of the United Nations was being called into question.  That was worrying, given the fact that international hotbeds of tension were becoming explosive, and terrorism was striking out at people of all ages, genders, and nationalities.

Highlighting the importance of preventing terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction, Lubomir Ivanov (Bulgaria) said one way to combat such a threat was to strengthen export control regulations.  In addition, to counter the current sluggish pace of global non-proliferation and disarmament, he suggested that the relevant international instruments be utilized more effectively, made more universal, and strengthened to a point where they could ensure that States parties complied with their obligations.

Regarding small arms and light weapons, he said their accumulation and proliferation challenged stability throughout the world, exacerbated political and ethnic tensions, and undermined international efforts to promote post-conflict rehabilitation.  For that reason, his Government had established an inter-agency body to monitor the implementation of the 2001 Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects.  With the help of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United States, his country had destroyed over 100,000 small arms and light weapons.

Similarly, Idd Beddel Mohamed (Somalia) said that, while discussion in the Committee had focused on weapons of mass destruction and terrorism, rather than on small arms and light weapons, his country and continent had suffered infinitely more from the latter.  Their uncontrolled spread was having a direct negative impact on peace, security and sustainable development throughout Africa.  In Somalia, the widespread availability of illicit small arms created dire security risks and sowed the seeds of violence. 

Thus, the destruction of such weapons was critical in Somalia, but it could not solve the problem alone.  A child soldier, for example, might be ready to give up his or her gun, but only if jobs were available.  Somalia’s serious financial constraints handicapped its disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programme, as well as its weapons collection and destruction.  He, therefore, called on development partners to assist Somalia in ensuring the collective dream of eradicating the small arms menace. 

The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. Monday, 20 October, to begin heavy introduction of draft resolutions.

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