Transcribed Statement of the Ambassador of Switzerland: H.E. Mr. Chrisitian Faessler

8/2/01

Mr. President,

since this is the first time that my delegation has the privilege of speaking under your presidency, may I take this opportunity to extend my congratulations to you and assure you of the Swiss delegations every support to you as you carry out your functions. Sir, it is my honor to address the conference today on behalf of the French and Swiss delegations on the subject of the seminar on the traceability, marking, and registering of small arms and light weapons. The seminar, organized jointly by the Swiss and French governments will be held on the 12 th and 13 th of March this year at the Geneva International Conference Center. The main aim of the seminar is to proceed to an informal exchange on the subject of traceability, marking, and registering of small arms and light weapons with an eye to the United Nations Conference on Small Arms which will be held in New York in July this year. On the first day of the seminar, specialists on the subject will be addressing some of the technical aspects of the matter. The presentations will then be followed by an informal discussion involving a few representatives from industry and from Non-Governmental Organizations. The second day will be given over to an in-depth discussion between governmental experts on the political, legal, and technical implications of an international regime for the traceablility, marking, and registering of small arms and light weapons.

Mr. President,

I would like to draw the attention of representatives here to the fact that the invitation issued jointly by the French and Swiss governments to this seminar was recently submitted to states taking part in the Conference on Disarmament and to permanent missions in Geneva and New York. The copy of the invitation has been placed this morning in the individual pigeonholes of delegations attending the Conference on Disarmament.

I thank you sir.