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Pacific States Committed to Combating Illegal Arms Trade Says Forum Chief - UN Security Council - Global Policy Forum Pacific States Committed to Combating
BBC
Illegal Arms Trade Says Forum Chief
October 17, 2002
The Pacific Islands Forum countries are strongly committed to the United Nations programme of action on combating the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons.
Fiji's permanent representative to the United Nations and chairman of the Pacific Islands Forum group, Amraiya Naidu, made this comment in New York yesterday (16 October), while speaking on the thematic discussion of the First Committee on conventional weapons.
"The international community must now focus on ensuring full and effective implementation of the programme of action," said Mr Naidu. He said the forum group members have already taken significant steps towards the implementation of this programme.
UN member states agreed by consensus to the adoption of the programme of action, which provides a comprehensive and dynamic framework for member states to follow in combating the illicit small arms trade at the national, regional and international levels.
Mr Naidu said in this respect, the Pacific Islands Forum group welcomes again the tabling of the resolution "The Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All its Aspects", which gives essential backing to the implementation of the programme of action.
"We are also pleased that Japan will host in 2003 a small arms workshop for Pacific Islands countries," said Mr Naidu.
"Japan and Australia are coordinating closely to ensure that this workshop brings practical, tangible security and governance benefits to the Pacific Islands region.
"Japan's workshop will build on the workshop hosted by Australia in 2001, which focused on the development of national legislation and the implementation of effective procedures to safeguard small arms stockpiles in regional countries."
Mr Naidu said the United Nations will continue to play a key role in overseeing the implementation of the programme of action and in ensuring its recommendations are carried out in the field.
An example of the UN's welcome pro-activity in this area was the recent assessment mission to Papua New Guinea, led by the Department for Disarmament Affairs, which identified some practical steps to advance weapons disposal and to consolidate the peace process in Bougainville.
Similarly, he said, the secretary-general's report on small arms, represents a timely contribution to international efforts to combat the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, usefully identifying ways in which the Security Council can help to control and eradicate the illicit small arms trade.
"As the report identifies, in two areas in particular - inclusion of disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration activities in peacekeeping mandates, and rigid enforcement of UN arms embargoes - the council can make a practical and positive impact on international efforts to combat the illicit small arms trade."
Mr Naidu said in the lead-up to the biennial meeting on small arms in mid-2003, the Pacific Islands Forum countries urged member states to renew their efforts to implement the UN programme of action.
He added that we must maintain a strong collective resolve to address effectively the governance, humanitarian and security dimensions of the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons.
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