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UN Conference on Small Arms
Reaction & Comment
UN Press Release
'Small Arms Conference concludes with consensus adoption of action programme,' UN Press Release DC/2795, July 21.
"Convinced of the need for a global commitment to a comprehensive approach to promote the prevention, reduction and eradication of the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons as a contribution to international peace and security, the states participating in the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects resolved to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade by undertaking a number of measures at the national, regional and global levels. Those measures were contained in the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, which was adopted by the Conference without a vote and as orally amended, in the afternoon of Saturday, 21 July. ...
The representative of the United States said that his delegation had noted during informals that it would have been preferable to take the text back to Washington for final review but under the circumstances, he understood why that could not have been done. Still, he was under instruction to consider the text 'ad referendum' until such a review by his Government could be undertaken. His delegation would consider it as such. ...
The Chairman of the Preparatory Committee, Carlos Dos Santos (Mozambique) said that all participants had done a great service to the citizens of their countries. Representatives had shown that even where strong differences existed, objectives promoting a common good could still be achieved. Indeed, that was the value of the United Nations. As a representative of an affected country and region, he would leave the hall with the feeling that the Conference would make a contribution to those peoples and countries that was reflective of the concerns expressed by African leaders in the Bamako Declaration. He could also leave the Conference believing that implementation of the elements of the Action Programme would begin immediately and with sound conviction.
In closing remarks, many delegations and representatives of regional groups paid tribute to the fortitude the President had shown in guiding the Conference to a successful conclusion. Delegations also acknowledged the efforts of Carlos Dos Santos (Mozambique), Chairman of the Preparatory Committee, for providing the Conference with a balanced and comprehensive draft which had focused the negotiations. Delegations also expressed gratitude to Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs, Jayantha Dhanapala, and other members of the Secretariat.
Many delegations felt that the successful conclusion of the Conference was not the end of the international community's work, but the beginning of a complex process to address the myriad challenges posed by the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. The true success of the Conference would be the effectiveness with which states implemented the provisions of the Programme of Action. One speaker noted that governments had made a commitment to consider all aspects of the small weapons problem, particularly brokering, tracing and the provision of financial and technical assistance. There was no turning back: the way the international community perceived these challenging and serious issues had been forever changed.
Another speaker noted that the Conference had been about the people most affected by the illicit small arms trade, and it was they who were most responsible for achieving agreement. Many said that there was no way to imagine the sadness African delegations felt at having to set aside their noble and important concerns in order to reach consensus. Others expressed dismay that the view of the overwhelming majority, on issues related to the control of arms used by citizens and the transfer of such weapons to non-state actors, had been held hostage by the 'singular interest' of one delegation. ..."
Conference President
Statement by Ambassador Camilo Reyes of Colombia, President of the Conference, July 21.
"The Conference has taken a significant step forward today in addressing one of the most urgent problems of international peace and security, the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. The national delegations were, at the end, able to put aside their many differences and reach a consensus on all parts of a Programme of Action to combat this collective threat. All parts, that is, except for two of the most important, and for which there was overwhelming support.
While congratulating all participants for their diligence in reaching this new consensus, I must as President also express my disappointment over the Conference's inability to agree - due to the concerns of one state - on language recognizing the need to establish and maintain controls over private ownership of these deadly weapons, and the need for preventing sales of such arms to non-state groups.
The states of the region most afflicted by this global crisis, Africa, had agreed only with the greatest of reluctance to the deletion of proposed language addressing these vital issues relating to the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. They did so strictly in the interests of reaching a compromise that would permit the world community as a whole to proceed together with some first steps at the global level to alleviate this common threat. They did so, moreover, without in any way compromising their commitments to continue their efforts to address this problem, a problem that must be addressed - as the title of the conference demands - in all, and I repeat, all its aspects. This position is supported by many states outside the region and it is also the view shared by the President of this Conference.
As requested by several delegations, I shall include my statement today in the Conference Report that will be sent to the General Assembly. I hope that this statement will help future efforts both within civil society and among all states to address the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects, until the conscience of humanity is at long last satisfied that all that can be done, has in fact been done, to alleviate this global tragedy."
UN Secretary-General
Statement by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, July 21.
"The Secretary-General warmly welcomes the news today that the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects was able to reach a consensus on many important first steps in alleviating this grave threat to international peace and security and to human security. He praises these steps as essential in building norms and in implementing collective measures against this global scourge.
The Secretary-General congratulates the Conference's President, Ambassador Camilo Reyes, of Colombia, for his patient and ultimately successful efforts to forge a consensus among the many diverse views and interests represented at this important event. He also congratulates those states, particularly from Africa - the region most afflicted by the problems associated with this illicit trade - that demonstrated their willingness to compromise during these deliberations in order to begin this historic process of constructive global action to combat this common challenge - recognizing its multi-faceted complexity.
Welcoming the constructive participation at this Conference by individuals and groups from civil society from across the globe, the Secretary-General also calls upon all the peoples of the United Nations to support and encourage their leaders in government both to consolidate today's gains and to take additional steps to address this threat. He notes in particular the great potential benefits for all states from improved controls over both the uncontrolled private ownership of military-standard weapons and, even more critical, the transfer of such arms to non-state groups. He looks forward to the implementation of the agreed measures and the follow-up to the Conference in which the United Nations will play a major role."
Source: Secretary-General congratulates conference on 'important first steps' to combat small-arms scourge,' UN Press Release SG/SM/7896 (DC/2796), July 21.
Russia
'Apropos Results of the UN Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons,' Russian Foreign Ministry Statement, Document 1399-26-07-2001, July 26.
"... The progress and contents of the general discussion at the Conference demonstrated the serious concern of the international community with the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons and the negative implications of that dangerous phenomenon for the humanitarian, human rights, economic and environmental spheres.
The final document approved by the Conference by consensus...is a generally sensible compromise that reflects the positions of many countries and meets Russia's interests. At the same time some delegations have voiced their disappointment with the fact that the document has failed to take account of a number of far-reaching proposals and ambitious plans for control over the spread of small arms and light weapons; however, their adoption would have exceeded the mandate of the Conference as approved by the UN General Assembly.
On the whole the Conference gave an important impetus and set key signposts for further efforts to step up the struggle against the illicit trafficking in small arms and light weapons both at the national and at the regional and international levels."
IANSA Press Release
'Opportunity squandered to introduce tougher arms controls,' International Action Network on Small Arms Press Release, July 21.
"IANSA today welcomed the agreement of an action program by the UN Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons as a basis for future international action to reduce the proliferation and misuse of small arms. However, activists noted that certain delegations had worked actively to water down the document and narrow its scope, limiting its contribution to promoting human security.
'The Conference has squandered a golden opportunity to commit itself to pro-active measures needed to tackle gun violence around the world,' said IANSA coordinator, Sally Joss, speaking at the end of the two-week conference in New York.
After lengthy and sometimes acrimonious negotiations, consensus on the Program of Action was achieved six hours after the deadline of July 20, and only when African delegations agreed to drop a crucial clause of the document calling for small arms not be traded to non-state actors, under intense pressure from the United States.
'It is tragic that the serious concerns of countries that have witnessed the most vicious atrocities at the hand of rebel groups and militias were so callously dismissed by the United States, which opposed this clause,' said Loretta Bondi, Fund for Peace. The United States and Middle Eastern countries, among others, have shown themselves to be 'brothers in arms,' consistently blocking agreement on concrete actions to reduce the human suffering caused by the unrestricted flow of guns around the world. 'When this whole process began we were aiming for a clear international plan of action. Instead this has been eroded to the lowest common denominator, and the framework that remains falls short of what is so urgently needed.' observed Sally Joss.
During the two weeks of the conference, fifteen thousand people around the world died from gun violence by the estimated 550 million guns in circulation. Thousands more were injured, traumatized and suffered as victims of human rights abuses. The UN conference was the first global meeting to tackle at an international level the humanitarian crisis caused by the availability of guns.
IANSA is particularly concerned that a number of critical commitments have been left out of the final program of action - measures which would have a real impact in preventing guns falling into the wrong hands. These include:
'It is particularly disheartening to know that there were strong commitments for international agreements on brokering and the marking and tracing of weapons in the earlier drafts of the document. But an intransigent minority have blocked the inclusion of these commitments in the final document,' explained Joss.
However, significant progress has been achieved on a number of key areas, including the impact of guns on development, health and humanitarian issues - particularly the needs of women, children and the elderly; a commitment to carry out more effective post-conflict disarmament and de-mobilization programs; the need for greater security of weapons held by states; and the destruction of surplus and illicit weapons. Despite these commitments, most action is to be taken forward 'within existing resources' and it is of paramount importance that countries and the UN prioritise funds to implement these measures.
Members of IANSA and other non-governmental organizations will monitor governments' progress on the implementation of, and adherence to the program of action. At the same time, IANSA will continue to press for international initiatives inside and outside the UN and will urge governments to support regional and national programs to tackle small arms. 'The small arms campaign has gained incredible momentum at this conference. We are not going to stop until there are comprehensive measures to prevent guns ending up in the wrong hands. No single country is going to de-rail this process,' added Sally Joss. ..."
Source: IANSA website, http://www.iansa.org.
© 2001 The Acronym Institute.