64TH UNGA/FIRST COMMITTEE THEMATIC DEBATE:

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 USUN NEW YORK 001009 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CD CDG PARM PREL UNGA SUBJECT: 64TH UNGA/FIRST COMMITTEE THEMATIC DEBATE: CONVENTIONAL ARMS - PART 1 USUN NEW Y 00001009 001.2 OF 004 ¶1. (U) The UN General Assembly First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) conducted its thematic debate on conventional weapons from October 23 to 28. The issues of the illicit trade Small Arms and Light Weapons (SA/LW),an Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) for conventional weapons, and developments on the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) were brought up by most delegations. ¶2. Pakistan speaking as Chair of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (U) Pakistan welcomed the adoption of the protocol on explosive remnants of war, which was the first international instrument to address post-conflict and humanitarian problems caused by unexploded and abandoned ordinance . It noted the addition of Kazakhstan and the UAE to the Convention in 2009, that 12 states had recently joined CCW Protocol V, and nine more had ratified Protocol I. It called on states that had not ratified the CCW to do so. ¶3. Sweden speaking on behalf of the EU (U) The EU stated that the illicit spread and accumulation of SA/LW were key to fueling armed conflicts, contributing to terrorism and organized crime, delaying post conflict reconstruction and curbing development. The EU called for a multilateral effort to improve and strengthen the UN program of action to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in SA/LW. It supports the universalization and implementation of the Ottawa convention on anti-personnel landmines and the convention on cluster munitions. ¶4. Australia (U) Australia noted that it played a role in the development of the convention on cluster munitions and was the first country to sign the treaty. It urged all states to ratify this convention. Australia said it supports the Ottawa convention on anti-personnel landmines and called on states to comply with mine clearance and stockpile obligations. It supports the UN program of action against SA/LW and an ATT. ¶5. Japan (U) Japan noted the link between disarmament, humanitarian concerns and development. It supports the convention on cluster munitions and the land mine treaty and urged countries to ratify them. It introduced, with South Africa and Colombia, a draft resolution on SA/LW and urged states to support the UN program of action on SA/LW. ¶6. Norway (U) Norway stated that it was committed to humanitarian disarmament, and called attention to its engagement in eliminating landmines, cluster munitions and the illicit trade in SA/LW. It called for more involvement of civil society in the issue and for armed violence to be considered USUN NEW Y 00001009 002.2 OF 004 along with the UN millennium development goals. It supports an ATT and the protection of civilians as a mandate for peacekeeping missions. ¶7. Mexico (U) Mexico supports an ATT to eliminate irresponsible transfers of SA/LW. It called on states and civil society to work together towards the strictest possible controls on conventional weapons transfers. It supports the conventions on antipersonnel landmines and cluster munitions. ¶8. Argentina (U) Argentina stated that the stockpiling and illicit transfer of SA/LW has caused increased crime and conflict. It advocated increased dialogue between countries and called for a multilateral solution to the problem. ¶9. United Kingdom (U) The UK said it supports the ban on antipersonnel landmines and said it was working on clearing sites in the Falkland Islands. It also supports the cluster munitions convention but has been disappointed in negotiations on the issue and that the UN register of conventional arms transfers does not include a category on SA/LW. ¶10. Mozambique (U) Mozambique said supports UN action against the illicit trade in SA/LW and measures to prevent arms from entering conflict zones. Mozambique stated that it has strengthened its domestic law to better regulate arms in its country. It supports the ban on antipersonnel landmines and pointed out regional action taken by the Southern African Development Community on the issue. ¶11. Angola (U) Angola called for combating the proliferation of and illicit trade in SA/LW and has taken steps at the national level to reduce the arms left in its country from conflict. Angola called it the "largest problem" in the country. Angola also supports an ATT. ¶12. Chile (U) Chile urged countries to work towards the universalization of the treaties on antipersonnel landmines and cluster munitions. It noted that there is a climate of confidence and transparency in the region because of the work of the South American Defense Council. It noted the importance of civil society's involvement in work in the field of disarmament. It supports an ATT and action against the illicit trade in SA/LW. ¶13. Turkey USUN NEW Y 00001009 003.2 OF 004 (U) Turkey supports efforts to combat the illicit trade in SA/LW and called attention to the links between this trade and terrorism. It called for strengthening controls on arms transfers. It supports the antipersonnel landmine ban and efforts in the CCW to reach a protocol on cluster munitions. ¶14. Indonesia on behalf of the NAM (U) The NAM reaffirmed the sovereign right of states to acquire, manufacture, export, import and retain conventional arms for self defense. It is concerned by efforts to restrict this trade and called for arms reductions by the industrialized nations. It opposes the illicit trade in SA/LW and supports the UN program of action. It supports the antipersonnel landmine ban. The NAM took note of the CCW negotiations on cluster munitions, and that the cluster munitions convention was open for signature. ¶15. Indonesia (U) Indonesia stated that SALW have wreaked havoc on societies around the world. It supported strengthening the program of action and the international instrument on marking and tracing. It stated that an ATT should respect states rights to acquire and posses conventional arms. Indonesia noted its support for universalization of the cluster munitions convention. ¶16. Laos (U) Laos noted that it is the country most affected by the explosive remnants of war. It introduced, along with Ireland, a draft resolution on cluster munitions. ¶17. Venezuela (U) Venezuela said opposes the illicit trade in SA/LW, noting that that such trade leads to an increase in crime. Venezuela noted that the draft resolution on an ATT weakened the ATT open-ended-working group, and it opposed any action that prevented countries from defending themselves. It asserted that it was threatened by planned U.S. bases in Colombia. ¶18. Finland (U) Finland noted the negative effect that the illicit trade in SA/LW has on development, supported the UN program of action on SA/LW, and advocated an ATT. ¶19. Cuba (U) Cuba said there was an imbalance in conventional weapon production and trade between the developed and the developing world. It supports the UN program of action on SA/LW but also supported legitimate acquisition of SA/LW for self defense and to maintain territorial integrity. It stated USUN NEW Y 00001009 004.2 OF 004 that it could not renounce anti-personnel landmines because it needed them to defend against aggression by the U.S. ¶20. Canada (U) Canada supported the UN program of action on SA/LW and work towards an ATT. It noted that it has ratified all five protocols to the CCW and that it supports the bans on cluster munitions and antipersonnel landmines. ¶21. Republic of Korea (U) ROK noted that the excessive accumulation of SA/LW and judged that their illicit trade prolongs armed conflicts and is closely liked with organized crime, terrorism and drug trafficking. It supported adding SA/LW as the eighth category of the UN register. It supports the ban on antipersonnel landmines and efforts in the CCW to reach a protocol on cluster munitions. ¶22. Slovakia (U) Slovakia supported national reporting under CCW to promote transparency and the adoption of an ATT. ¶23. South Africa (U) South Africa noted that it will destroy its cluster munitions ahead of the schedule prescribed in the cluster munitions treaty and was pleased with the treaty's victims assistance provision. It noted the importance of combating illicit trade in SA/LW and also the illicit trade in ammunition. ¶24. Thailand (U) Thailand noted that the illicit trade in SA/LW supports organized crime and terrorism. Thailand supports the UN program of action against SA/LW, an ATT, and the ban on antipersonnel landmines. Rice