Summary: 2 August 2001: Statement by H.E. Jean De Ruyt on behalf of the European Union on small arms (New York)
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union.
The countries of Central and Eastern Europe associated with the European Union Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, the associated countries of Cyprus, Malta and Turkey and Iceland and Liechtenstein, EFTA countries belonging to the European Economic Area, align themselves with this statement.
Mr. Chairman,
I would first like to congratulate you on your initiative in organizing this open debate at the Security Council and for thus giving us the opportunity to comment on a subject, which is of particular concern to us, namely the question of small arms. Over 500 million light weapons and small arms are estimated to be currently in circulation around the world. In armed conflicts 8 out of 10 victims are civilians and many of them are women and children. How can we ignore this scourge, which fuels
conflicts and seriously destabilizes civil society? Public opinion in each of our countries expects us to take action. None of our countries can resolve this problem alone. That is why we need to act together.
At the start of the Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons held last July, Belgium's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister declared that it was essential to be able to achieve concrete results in a number of what we consider to be priority areas: the implementation of export controls and export principles, the development of an international instrument on marking and tracing, as well as on brokering, specific action concerning stockpile management and the
destruction of surpluses, and a particular emphasis on disarmament, demobilization and the reintegration (DDR) of ex-combatants.
Even if it was not possible for the European Union to obtain at the Conference everything it considered essential for effectively controlling illicit trafficking in small arms, in particular referring to exportation principles applied in the framework of OSCE as well as the European Code of Conduct on arms export and the EU joint action on small arms and light weapons, the final text contains important elements relating to marking, tracing, export controls, stockpile management, DDR and
assistance for the world's most affected areas, mainly Africa.
Furthermore, we are very gratified by the decisions to organize in 2006 at the latest a review conference to examine the implementation of the Action Programme and to hold biennial meetings to evaluate the progress made at national, regional and global level that will ensure a follow-up to the Conference. This follow-up is vital for ensuring that joint action against this illicit trafficking is effective in the long term.
Lastly, the follow-up opens the way for the preparation of negotiations concerning marking, tracing and brokering. This kind of initiative is of particular importance for the European Union, which has already commenced important work along these lines.
Mr. Chairman,
The Action Programme asserts that the illicit trade in light weapons prolongs conflicts and involves elements that touch on conflict prevention and settlement as well as on development. The participating States have therefore decided to prevent, control and suppress all aspects of the illicit trade in light weapons, "laying particular emphasis on regions of the world where conflicts are ending and where there is an urgent need to resolve serious problems posed by the excessive and destabilizing
accumulation of light weapons".
The Action Programme also provides for the application of DDR programmes comprising measures for the collection and destruction of light weapons, in particular in post-conflict situations, and for the inclusion, whenever appropriate, of specific provisions for such programmes in peace agreements.
At the regional level, there are also a number of measures aimed at strengthening moratoria on the transfer and manufacture of light weapons and support for DDR programmes, especially in post-conflict situations.
Lastly, at the global level, the participating States have undertaken to encourage, particularly in post-conflict situations, the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of ex-combatants into civilian life.
Mr. Chairman,
In this regard, we have undertaken to encourage your Council to study, on a case-by-case basis, the possibility of including, if need be, relevant provisions concerning disarmament, demobilization and reintegration in the mandates and budgets for peace-keeping operations. The incorporation of these measures in a global strategy is, in our view, an effective and coherent way of supporting peacekeeping efforts and, above all, of guaranteeing their durability.
The European Union considers it essential that all the efforts made to hold this Conference should be followed by concrete effects and that the States which have to contend with post-conflict situations can be helped and supported by international decisions and measures taken in compliance with the Action Programme.
As we have already said, none of our countries can resolve the problem of the illicit traffic in light weapons and small arms alone. The European Union will welcome with enthusiasm any initiative that will make it possible to enhance the follow-up to the Conference, as well as introduction of the measures already taken and those which will enable all the actors concerned to strengthen their capacity to combat this trade in an effective and lasting way.
Mr. Chairman, thank you.
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