L1 US EoV

Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)

Conference on Disarmament

General Assembly First Committee

UN Disarmament Commission

Special Session on Disarmament

Explanation of vote

Draft Resolution L.1.

The illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects

US Delegation

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

It is with great regret that the United States Delegation has voted “no” on L.1/Rev.1, “ The illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects.” Our Government strongly supports the substantive measures and activities proposed in the draft. However, the estimated cost of nearly $1.9 million for activities not previously budgeted, communicated to delegations in an unacceptably late manner through the associated PBI, L.56, left our Delegation no option but to oppose this draft as a matter of fiduciary discipline.

Mr. Chairman,

All here know that the United States is an active participat and leader in the fight against the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects, and that we shall continue to do so. We view as particularly promising the “marking and tracing” exercise that would take place over the next two years, as it would complement the existing program for marking and tracing small arms and light weapons in the United States. United States policy on maintaining budget discipline at the United Nations, however, is equally well known.

Mr. Chairman,

Even though steps have been taken to reduce costs, the nearly $1.9 million in projected costs identified in the PBI on L.1/Rev.1 are neither allocated for in the draft 2004-2005 biennial UN budget, nor offset by reductions in programs of far less priorirty than combating this menace. In a world of competing priorities and limited resources, choices must be made. To date, however, the necessary choices have not been made, wither to pare down the activities called for in L.1/Rev.1 to a more manageable level, to find offsetting savings in other programs that, however worthy, are of a lower priority, or to do a little of both. Indeed, Mr. Chairman, the entire process leading up to a disappointing end for this draft resolution in the First Committee deserves to be the subject of considered analysis at a later date.

Mr. Chairman,

As is well known, it is longstanding United States policy to oppose unfunded financial mandates that increase the global UN budget. Unmanaged, L.1/Rev.1’s activities would do precisely that. The United States, therefore, intends to work vigorously in the Fifth Committee to ensure that ths draft resolution becomes “revenue neutral.” We hope that other delegates will join us in this endeavor, for there are few priorirites higher within the international community than combating the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects. Working together, Member States can provide the full political support and the fullf unding that this critical issue rightly deserves, and still keep faith with the need to maintain budget discipline.

Mr. Chairman,

Our Delegation wishes to express its appreciation to the delegations of the primary sponsors of L.1/Rev.1 – South Africa, Japan, and Colombia – for their dynamic flexibility in searching for ways to surmount the challenges posed by a PBI process in serious need of improvement, The United States vote today in no way reflects on the stewardship of the resolution by these delegations. On the contrary, our four delegations spared no effort to try and find a way to brng about a consensus on this matter in the First Committee. In the end, there simply was not time enough remaining in the current session to craft a solution satisfactory to all delegations. Our Delegation looks forward to working in the Fifth Committee with the delegations of the sponsors of L.1/Rev.1 and with other delegations to resolve the financial questions surrounding this draft resolution in a manner that will ermit the United States to join in a consensus when the draft comes before the General Assembly for adoption.

Mr. Chairman,

I wish to take this opportunity to thank you for the excellent and efficient running of the Committee. We appreciate the efforts you have undertaken to revitalize the Committee. We thank also the Secretariat and the Bureau for their support to you and to the Committee.