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Disarmament Index
by Topic 2009
Conventional Weapons
For other topics, please see the Disarmament Index by Topic
or Country.
Ammunition
Sri
Lanka
H.E. The Honourable Ratnasiri Wickramanayake, Prime Minister
26 September 2009
“The threat posed to maritime security through the
transportation of large consignments of sophisticated equipment
and lethal cargo to provide logistical support to terrorist
groups requires our urgent attention. In recent years Sri
Lanka has experienced the most unprecedented and dangerous
forms of maritime terrorism. Our Navy has successfully confronted
and interdicted the movement of virtual floating warehouses
of arms and ammunition, which posed a grave through to the
security and stability of our nation and to our region. At
the global level, this phenomenon calls for a revision of
existing laws pertaining to boarding and search of vessels
in the high seas.”
“We need a comprehensive legal framework to address
all aspects of safety and security of maritime navigation,
going beyond the current concerns on Weapons of Mass Destruction
(WMD). This would make a distinct contribution to security
global peace and security.”
Armed
Violence and Development
Arms
Trade Treaty
Angola
H.E. Mr. Assunçaõ Afonso dos Anjos, Minister
for External Relations
28 September 2009
“It is worthwhile adding that the Security Council
should continue to fund UN operations for peace and security
in Africa and support the efforts of African states in combatting
drug trafficking, illicit arms trade, piracy and terrorism.”
Antigua
and Barbuda
H.E. The Honourable Winston Baldwin Spencer, Prime Minister
and Minister for Foreign Affairs
25 September 2009
“Antigua and Barbuda is in full support of a legally
binding Arms Trade Treaty that will prevent the illegal international
transfer of arms and which will govern the trade in conventional
arms according to common international standards.”
Austria
H.E. Mr. Michael Spindelegger, Federal Minister for European
and International Affairs
26 September 2009
“An Arms Trade Treaty would be an important step in
this regard. To contribute to speedy negotiations, Austria
will host an international conference in Vienna in February
next year.”
Bulgaria
H.E. Mrs. Rumiana Jeleva, Minister for Foreign Affairs
26 September 2009
“We reiterate our strong commitment for a legally binding
international Arms Trade Treaty.”
Costa
Rica
H.E. Mr. Óscar Arias Sánchez, President
24 September 2009
“And I ask you as well to approve the Arms Trade Treaty,
which is known to this organization, and which seeks to prohibit
the transfer of arms to States, groups or individuals, when
sufficient reason exists to believe that those weapons will
be used to weaken human rights or International Law. I assure
you that these two initiatives will make us safer, and certainly
more developed, than the costly machinery of death that currently
consumes our budgets.”
Liechtenstein
H.E. Ms. Aurelia Frick, Minister of Foreign Affairs
26 September 2009
“Important negotiations are ahead of us. We will ...
continue discussions on the Arms Trade Treaty.”
Norway
H.E. Mr. Jonas Gahr Støre, Minister for Foreign Affairs
29 September 2009
“However, while nuclear weapons pose a threat of mass
destruction, actual destruction of mass proportions do indeed
happen every year, by small arms, cluster munitions and landmines.
Norway is committed to humanitarian disarmament, motivated
by the unacceptable harm these weapons cause to civilians.
We urge all states to accede to the Convention on Cluster
Munitions and to join intensifying efforts to control small
arms and arms trade.”
Papau
New Guinea
H.E. The Honourable Samuel Abal, MP, Minister for Foreign
Affairs, Trade and Immigration
29 September 2009
“In the case of small arms, the global debate has focused
on curbing their use. However, the supply side of weapons
is never comprehensively discussed! We therefore support a
proposed Arms Trade Treaty, which is still under negotiations
and which will deal with one of key elements of the arms issue.”
Slovakia
H.E. Mr. Miroslav Lajcák, Minister for Foreign Affairs
26 September 2009
"Slovakia also calls for early start of substantive
negotiations on the Arms Trade Treaty, which is essential
for reducing the unacceptable human cost resulting from the
proliferation of conventional arms."
Cluster
Munitions
Austria
H.E. Mr. Michael Spindelegger, Federal Minister for European
and International Affairs
26 September 2009
“2. Second, I welcome the growing support for the Convention
on Cluster Munitions. Austria ratified the Convention in April
this year. We appeal to all states to sign and ratify as soon
as possible.”
Belgium
H.E. Mr. Yves Leterme, Minister for Foreign Affairs
26 September 2009
“Belgium also spared no efforts to push for the conclusion
of the Convention on Cluster Munitions.”
Lao
People’s Democratic Republic
H.E. Mr. Thongloun Sisoulith, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister
for Foreign Affairs
26 September 2009
“In conjunction with arms reduction and nuclear disarmament,
the issue of explosive remnants of war known as cluster munitions
or Unexplored Ordinance (UXO) continues to threaten and pose
serious obstacles to the socio-economic development and poverty
eradication effort in more than 80 countries across the world.
Among these, the Lao PDR is the most affected country, the
cluster munitions victims in the Lao PDR accounts for 50%
of the global cluster munitions victims which is about 300
victims recorded annually in the course of 30 years after
the war ended.”
“In light of the adverse impact imposed by the cluster
munitions, the Lao PDR attaches great importance to the Oslo
Convention on banning and eradicating cluster munitions. In
this context, we welcome and commend those countries which
have signed and ratified the Oslo Convention and we hope that
other countries which have not done so would follow suit in
order to allow this Convention to enter into force as soon
as possible.”
New
Zealand
H.E. Mr. John Key, Prime Minister
25 September 2009
“Looking back, I am proud of the role New Zealand
was able to play in the negotiation of the Convention on Cluster
Munitions. The government attaches priority to passing legislation
to enable us to ratify this very significant treaty.”
Niger
H.E. Mrs. Aichatou Mindaoudou, Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Cooperation and African Integration
28 September 2009
“Our most recent initiative has been the ratification
of the 14th of May 2009 of the cluster munitions convention
in Dublin, a formality which has made Niger one of the very
first countries to do so, thus accelerating it’s entry
into force. We believe that this is a gesture, which, even
though it may seem minor, takes on its full meaning when we
look at the very difficult road toward complete disarmament.
For us this initiative, along with ratification by our country
of the convention on small arms and light weapons…this
is an important contribution toward disarmament at our level.”
Norway
H.E. Mr. Jonas Gahr Støre, Minister for Foreign Affairs
29 September 2009
“However, while nuclear weapons pose a threat of mass
destruction, actual destruction of mass proportions do indeed
happen every year, by small arms, cluster munitions and landmines.
Norway is committed to humanitarian disarmament, motivated
by the unacceptable harm these weapons cause to civilians.
We urge all states to accede to the Convention on Cluster
Munitions and to join intensifying efforts to control small
arms and arms trade.”
San
Marino
H.E. Mrs. Antonella Mularoni, Minister for Foreign Affairs
28 September 2009
"Finally, the protection of human rights is strictly
connected with the need to guarantee every human being and
every population the possibility to live in peace and justice.
It is therefore necessary to give new momentum to the disarmament
process. In this regard, an important step was taken last
year by adopting the Convention on Cluster Munitions, an instrument
that will prove essential to protect the affected populations
from these weapons having devastating effects on civilians.
The Republic of San Marino attaches great importance to this
Convention, focused on human dignity and the interests of
victims, hopes that the Convention will quickly enter into
force, and therefore calls upon the states which have not
yet ratified it to do so as soon as possible."
Spain
H.E. Mr. José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero,
President of the Government
24 September 2009
“The new multilateralism has been essential in order
for us to take some steps forward in the area of disarmament
and armaments control, such as the prohibition of anti-personnel
landmines and cluster bombs.”
Conventional
Weapons
Bulgaria
H.E. Mrs. Rumiana Jeleva, Minister for Foreign Affairs
26 September 2009
“Bulgaria supports the implementation of the UN Programme
of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons and appreciates
the work done so far regarding the Protocols of the Convention
on Certain Conventional Weapons.”
Central
African Republic
H.E. Mr. Faustin Archange Touadera, Prime Minister
25 September 2009
“The issue of regional control over conventional weapons
is all the more apposite for the fact that it is the most
effective way of stemming the proliferation of illegally armed
groups and tackling cross boarding crime. Central Africa’s
peace and security are hampered by this recurrent problem.”
New
Zealand
H.E. Mr. John Key, Prime Minister
25 September 2009
“We will also continue to address the humanitarian
harm of conventional weapons.”
Qatar
His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Amir
23 September 2009
“It is clear to us that the serious crises of the world
have been exacerbated when influential nations in the international
order decided, in previous situations, to transfer tackling
the most important issues of war, peace and progress, from
the United Nations framework to another setting. Such was
the case with regard to the context of conventional and nuclear
arms, security agreements and arrangements that cover the
broad spectrum from the outer space to policy and economics.”
Slovakia
H.E. Mr. Miroslav Lajcák, Minister for Foreign Affairs
26 September 2009
"Slovakia also calls for early start of substantive
negotiations on the Arms Trade Treaty, which is essential
for reducing the unacceptable human cost resulting from the
proliferation of conventional arms."
Sri
Lanka
H.E. The Honourable Ratnasiri Wickramanayake, Prime Minister
26 September 2009
“The threat posed to maritime security through the
transportation of large consignments of sophisticated equipment
and lethal cargo to provide logistical support to terrorist
groups requires our urgent attention. In recent years Sri
Lanka has experienced the most unprecedented and dangerous
forms of maritime terrorism. Our Navy has successfully confronted
and interdicted the movement of virtual floating warehouses
of arms and ammunition, which posed a grave through to the
security and stability of our nation and to our region. At
the global level, this phenomenon calls for a revision of
existing laws pertaining to boarding and search of vessels
in the high seas.”
“We need a comprehensive legal framework to address
all aspects of safety and security of maritime navigation,
going beyond the current concerns on Weapons of Mass Destruction
(WMD). This would make a distinct contribution to security
global peace and security.”
Landmines
Austria
H.E. Mr. Michael Spindelegger, Federal Minister for European
and International Affairs
26 September 2009
“1. First, I appeal to all States to make the Mine
Ban Conference in Colombia in December a success and in particular
to ensure improved victims' assistance.”
Belgium
H.E. Mr. Yves Leterme, Minister for Foreign Affairs
26 September 2009
“At the same time, in our efforts for non-proliferation
of weapons of mass destruction we should not forget the weapons
that currently cause death on a massive scale. I am particularly
referring to the anti-personnel mines. Belgium is hoping that
the 1999 Convention on the prohibition of these weapons will
be strengthened during the review conference scheduled to
take place in Cartagena, Colombia, at the end of this year.”
New
Zealand
H.E. Mr. John Key, Prime Minister
25 September 2009
“We will work for a robust, action-oriented outcome
later this year at the second Review Conference of the Anti-Personnel
Landmine Convention.”
Norway
H.E. Mr. Jonas Gahr Støre, Minister for Foreign Affairs
29 September 2009
“However, while nuclear weapons pose a threat of mass
destruction, actual destruction of mass proportions do indeed
happen every year, by small arms, cluster munitions and landmines.
Norway is committed to humanitarian disarmament, motivated
by the unacceptable harm these weapons cause to civilians.”
Spain
H.E. Mr. José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero,
President of the Government
24 September 2009
“The new multilateralism has been essential in order
for us to take some steps forward in the area of disarmament
and armaments control, such as the prohibition of anti-personnel
landmines and cluster bombs.”
Tajikistan
H.E. Emomali Rahmon, President
23 September 2009
“Tajikistan supports the striving of the international
community to achieve comprehensive prohibition of anti-personnel
mines, and meets its commitments with regard to the Ottawa
Convention by providing to the UN Secretary-General the information
concerning the mine risk on annual basis.”
“The first International conference to address the
issues of consequences of mining was held in Dushanbe in June
2009.
“Over a long period of time Tajikistan has experienced
the consequences of mining. We believe that Central Asia must
be free from mining threat, and we call upon the international
community to make its contribution to achieve this noble goal.”
Small
Arms and Light Weapons
Angola
H.E. Mr. Assunçaõ Afonso dos Anjos, Minister
for External Relations
28 September 2009
“It seems important to emphasize that the strategy
of conflict prevention and resolution, particularly the mandate
of peacekeeping missions, cannot be separate from measures
to combat organized and transnational crime and the relationship
between the illegal exploitation of natural resources and
illegal trade in small arms.”
Antigua
and Barbuda
H.E. The Honourable Winston Baldwin Spencer, Prime Minister
and Minister for Foreign Affairs
25 September 2009
“Mr. President, transnational crime has burdened our
societies with social and financial costs that we cannot afford
to bear. Crime prevention and small arms control is a priority
for my government. Our geography has placed us at a major
trans-shipment point for transnational organized crime networks,
trafficking in arms and narcotics.
“In recent years the level of gun violence and gun
related crimes has escalated significantly, placing further
pressure on an already fragile economy. This has led to insecurity,
fear and loss of life in our societies, hampering our development
efforts and threatening the general peace and stability of
the region. We need greater cooperation from countries as
well as the support of the UN system to eliminate this threat
to hemispheric and international peace and security.”
Austria
H.E. Mr. Michael Spindelegger, Federal Minister for European
and International Affairs
26 September 2009
“3. Third, we have to counter the illegal proliferation
of small arms and light weapons.”
Bahamas
H.E. Theodore Brent Symonette, MP, Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister for Foreign Affairs
25 September 2009
"An increased level of criminal activity is creating
new challenges for the Bahamas, a phenomenon shared with other
countries in our region [...] Illicit trafficking in narcotic
drugs and small arms and light weapons, are major contributing
factors to this phenomenon. The Bahamas is not a producer
of illicit drugs. Neither The Bahamas nor the other member
States of CARICOM are manufacturers or suppliers of small
arms and light weapons. Yet, illicit drugs and light weapons
account overwhelmingly to violent crime in our societies."
Bulgaria
H.E. Mrs. Rumiana Jeleva, Minister for Foreign Affairs
26 September 2009
“Bulgaria supports the implementation of the UN Programme
of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons and appreciates
the work done so far regarding the Protocols of the Convention
on Certain Conventional Weapons.”
Grenada
Hon. Peter David Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigration
29 September 2009
“In our region, small arms proliferation is as lethal
as nuclear weapons. So while we welcome the unanimously adopted
Security Council Resolution No. 1887 on nuclear disarmament,
shepherded by President Obama, we in the Caribbean call for
an agreement on small arms trade.”
Guinea
H.E. Alexandre Cécé Loua, Minister for Foreign
Affairs and Guineans living abroad
28 September 2009
“Poor political and economic governance and its corollaries,
corruption and impunity, drug trafficking and consumption,
the proliferation of small arms and light weapons [...] has
considerably weakened the authority of the state.”
“In Africa, the illicit and uncontrolled circulation
of small arms and light weapons remains a source of instability
for States and insecurity for its people.”
Jamaica
H.E. The Honourable Kenneth Baugh, Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade
26 September 2009
“We must increase our efforts to counter transnational
organized crime, narco trafficking and the illicit trade in
small arms and ammunition, which threaten the rule of law
and democratic governance in many countries and fuel the spread
of international terrorism.”
Kenya
H.E. The Honourable Raila Amollo Odinga, Prime Minister
25 September 2009
“The continuing inflow of refugees, small arms and
light weapons is the major source of insecurity in our country.”
Nepal
H.E. The Right Honourable Madhav Kumar Nepal, Prime Minister
26 September 2009
“We also view with equal seriousness the growing menace
of the proliferation of small arms which threaten peace, order
and human security.”
Niger
H.E. Mrs. Aichatou Mindaoudou, Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Cooperation and African Integration
28 September 2009
“For us this initiative, along with ratification by
our country of the convention on small arms and light weapons…this
is an important contribution toward disarmament at our level.”
Nigeria
H.E. Chief Ojo Maduekwe, Minister for Foreign Affairs
28 September 2009
“Let us not forget that there are weapons still being
produced which have killed more people than nuclear arms.
I speak, in particular, about the production and illicit export
of Small Arms and Light Weapons to regions like my own, where
they become weapons of mass destruction - destroying lives,
property, economies and dreams - as well as the undermining
of national and regional efforts at development.”
“We are all aware of the close link between small arms
and organized crime, drug trafficking and, in the case of
Nigeria, piracy and oil smuggling in the Niger Delta. The
proliferation of small arms in West Africa is fast turning
the region into a major transit point for illicit drugs, thus
also facilitating the growth of criminal syndicates, some
with enough fire-power to challenge a nation's military force.
This is why we continue to call on the international community
to demonstrate commitment to check this menace by implementing
existing initiatives, as well as develop new and legally-binding
ones, where necessary, geared toward achieving the goal of
preventing, combating and eradicating illicit trade in small
arms and light weapons, and regulating the transfer of conventional
weapons in general. The full implementation of the United
Nations Programme of Action on Small and Light Weapons would
be a very good beginning.”
Norway
H.E. Mr. Jonas Gahr Støre, Minister for Foreign Affairs
29 September 2009
“However, while nuclear weapons pose a threat of mass
destruction, actual destruction of mass proportions do indeed
happen every year, by small arms, cluster munitions and landmines.
Norway is committed to humanitarian disarmament, motivated
by the unacceptable harm these weapons cause to civilians.
We urge all states to accede to the Convention on Cluster
Munitions and to join intensifying efforts to control small
arms and arms trade.”
Papau
New Guinea
H.E. The Honourable Samuel Abal, MP, Minister for Foreign
Affairs, Trade and Immigration
29 September 2009
“A continuing major concern that Papua New Guinea has
is the increase in global conflicts heightened by the illicit
trade and use of small arms and light weapons which continue
to cause untold suffering to millions around the world. Papua
New Guinea is no exception!”
“In the case of small arms, the global debate has focused
on curbing their use. However, the supply side of weapons
is never comprehensively discussed! We therefore support a
proposed Arms Trade Treaty, which is still under negotiations
and which will deal with one of key elements of the arms issue.”
“In Papua New Guinea we have seen that the presence
of small arms and light weapons threatens stability of communities.
My Government has prioritized the need to comprehensively
address this through commissioning the 2005 National Gun Summit
Report which will be implemented soon.”
Saint
Lucia
H.E. Mr. Rufus George Bousquet, Minister for External Affairs,
International Trade and Investment
28 September 2009
“It matters little if we are rich but insecure in our
homes and our country, and that is why, in recent years, the
issue of small arms and light weapons has emerged as a major
source of concern to us. Small developing states like Saint
Lucia continue to be threatened by the disturbing spread of
small arms. The illicit introduction of these weapons into
our societies has created a heavy burden in our region which
has seen the emergence of an unacceptable level of gun violence,
worsened by the social distress caused by the economic and
financial crisis.”
“In this connection St. Lucia reiterates its support
for the implementation of relevant General Assembly resolutions
on the “Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons
in all its Aspects,” most recently, Resolution 63/72
of 2nd December 2008. St. Lucia also wishes to express its
continual support for the full implementation of the International
Instrument to Enable States to identify and Trace, in a Timely
and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons
(the International Tracing Instrument).”
Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines
H.E. Mr. Camillo Gonsalves, Chairman of the Delegation
29 September 2009
“The unholy trinity of exogenous assaults on our developmental
prospects posed by globalization, climatization and stigmatization
cannot be ignored. Nor can the security threats engendered
by the illicit trade in firearms and narcotics. We in Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines find ourselves unfortunately located
between the supply and demand of these poisons and weapons,
and their deleterious effects rip holes in our cohesive social
fabric. The Caribbean, which produces not one single firearm
and one single kilo of cocaine, is awash in drugs and guns,
and is now the sub-region with the world’s highest per
capita murder rate. Our plight cannot be ignored.”
Samoa
H.E. The Honourable Tuila’epa Lupesoliai Sailele
26 September 2009
“Wars are futile and serve no useful purpose. They
would not end unless disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation
and the illicit small arms and light weapons are brought under
effective control.”
Sierra
Leone
H.E. Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, President
24 September 2009
“A final critical threat to future stability of nations
around the world is the increasing proliferation of small
arms and light weapons which, as former Secretary General
Kofi Annan recently emphasized, are tantamount to weapons
of mass destruction in slow motion, possessing the capability
of destabilizing countries and entire regions.”
Tajikistan
H.E. Emomali Rahmon, President
23 September 2009
“We support the leading role of the UN in combating
illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, and hope that
important measures for coordination of further steps in this
direction will be developed at the next meeting to be convened
for consideration of the Program of Action.”
Togo
H.E. Mr. Kodjo Menan, Chairman of the Delegation
29 September 2009
“Togo reiterates the wish to see this present session
of the General Assembly session to reinforce the process of
realizing the project that aims to negotiate a treaty on the
trade of small arms following the example of what ECOWAS has
done on this issue.”
Trinidad
and Tobago
H.E. The Honourable Patrick Manning, Prime Minister
26 September 2009
“One of the most significant problems facing the global
community is organized transnational crime of increasing strength,
including terrorist activity, as well as the illegal traffic
of drugs, arms and persons. This activity has a most corrosive
effect on our small societies, fuelling, for example, trafficking
in small arms and light weapons, with troubling consequences.
In CARICOM, we have been pooling our resources in the fight.
There is now unprecedented cooperation among the legal and
security systems of our countries, but we need more resources
in our struggle with this menace.”
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