|
|
|
|
|
INTERVENTION BY H.E. MSGR. CELESTINO
MIGLIORE Tuesday, 8 July 2003
Madame Chair,
We are on the threshold of a new and, perhaps, long process
in the area of disarmament, starting from the 2001 Conference on Illicit Trade
in Small Arms and Light Weapons and based on the Programme of Action to Prevent,
Combat and Eradicate Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its
Aspects adopted unanimously at the end of the aforementioned Conference after a
long and arduous debate. Although the Programme of Action contains a number of measures to be
implemented at the national, regional and global levels, it represents but a
first step in the long process aimed at eradicating the illicit trade of small
arms and light weapons. Taking into account that the ultimate goal uniting us in this area is the
protection of the life and dignity of each and every human person, the Programme
of Action represents a significant challenge for the international community,
since we all know the deep effects of this illicit trade on the development of
peoples, on education, on environment, on health conditions, and on life. In tackling the problem of illicit trade of small arms and light weapons we
have to face its complexity, acknowledging that this problem is multidimensional
and multidisciplinary. In light of this, it is important to call for and to
accomplish concrete forms of action in both supply and demand of this illicit
trade. On the supply side, the Programme of Action gives us an initial plan, by
underlining that these concrete actions should be directed at strengthening the
mechanisms for prevention, reduction, accountability, and control — such as the
creation of systems of marking, tracing, and record-keeping; the regulation of
brokerage activity; the identification and destruction of stocks of surplus
weapons. On the demand side, the Programme of Action gives us some instruction, urging
us to develop and implement educational and awareness activities aimed at
promoting a culture of peace and life, through, among other things, the
involvement of different protagonists in civil society. Madame Chair, Our meeting is directed to exchange information on the initiatives undertaken
by States on the above-mentioned issues during the first two years of the
implementation of the Programme of Action. In this exercise, we all have the
responsibility to contribute to better define the road map of the Programme of
Action in order to take further steps in the process aimed at preventing and
combating the illicit trade of small arms and light weapons. As our discussions continue, my Delegation would hope that attention will
also be focused on two issues: The first is to address the issue of State responsibility of arresting
illicit arms transfers, for it is States which have the capability of reducing
and eliminating the death and destruction that result from the availability and
use of small arms and light weapons. The second is to begin, without any undue delay, the process of discussing a
comprehensive, legally binding agreement on international arms trade that will
reduce and eventually eradicate the illicit traffic of small arms and light
weapons. Thank you, Madame Chair.
|
 |