PRESS RELEASE
STATEMENT BY
CHIEF ARTHUR C. I. MBANEFO, AMBASSADOR/PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF NIGERIA TO
THE UNITED NATIONS AT THE SECURITY COUNCIL ON SMALL ARMS: THREATS TO PEACE AND
SECURITY IN WEST AFRICA - NEW YORK
18 MARCH
2003
Mr.
President,
I wish to thank you on behalf of the Nigerian delegation for
your initiative in organizing this important Workshop. It affords the Security
Council an excellent opportunity to fully address the menace posed by small arms
in West Africa. We look forward to a successful and fruitful conclusion of the
Workshop under your able guidance.
Mr.
President,
The problem of illicit trade in small arms and light weapons
is of particular concern to Nigeria because it constitutes a major impediment to
peace, stability, security and economic development of many developing countries
especially in Africa. These arms continue to have devastating consequences on
the African continent considering their capacity to fuel, intensify and prolong
conflicts. You are, no doubt, aware of the millions of lives lost as well as the
humanitarian crisis created in the region as a result of their illicit use. I
need not mention the destruction, in catastrophic proportions, of economic and
social infrastructure in the continent as direct results of the illicit use of
these weapons. We know how long and how expensive it often is to put up such
structures.
The West African sub-region has more than a fair share of
these conflicts. These conflicts have been fueled by illicit and free
circulation of these weapons in the sub-region.
The greatest difficulty in the control of the proliferation
of small arms is the fact of its easy accessibility to non-State actors. This
was an issue that dogged the outcome of the General Assembly debate on small
arms and light weapons in 2001. My delegation, therefore, believes that for an
adequate and effective control of the proliferation of this class of weapons,
efforts must be made to legally control the sale of these weapons to non-State
actors.
Illicit trade in small arms has always obstructed the
implementation of arms embargoes imposed by the Security Council. The recent
establishment of independent panel of experts and monitoring mechanisms by the
Council to promote compliance with arms embargoes is welcome.
While in West Africa, this measure will be useful in
controlling the illegal cross-border movement of small arms into conflict areas,
it, however, is ineffective in controlling and eliminating those arms that are
already inside the areas of conflict. We, therefore, emphasize the need for
effective DDR programmes mandates which include weapons collection, disposal and
destruction.
In order to trace the flow of small arms and light weapons
from source, it is necessary to identify points of diversion into illicit
networks. Tracing the movement of these weapons will help to promote awareness
and accountability in arms transfers and will deter their illicit transfer to
non-State actors. We welcome the recommendation of the Secretary-General to
develop an international instrument to enable states to identify and trace
illicit small arms and light weapons that enter their countries in order to
effectively control such inflows. We hope that the on-going work of Group of
Experts on tracing small arms will ultimately lead to a legally-binding
international agreement on the subject.
As an additional measure in ensuring success in this regard,
it is important that licensed manufacturers apply appropriate and reliable
marking on each small arm and light weapon as an integral part of the production
process, as stipulated in the Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light
weapons. Efforts should be put in place to ensure that the UN Protocol Against
Manufacturing and Trafficking in Firearms, which was successfully concluded in
2001, will complement the Programme of Action in this vital area, when it enters
into force.
Mr.
President,
Recent studies have shown that arms brokering plays a
significant role in illicit arms trade. The establishment of an effective
international regime to control the practice has, therefore, become necessary.
We call on member States to fully abide by their commitment to enhance
international cooperation and exchange of information as a prelude to the
establishment of such a regime. This position was underscored in the 2000 Bamako
Ministerial Declaration containing Africa’s common position on small arms.
This is connected with the issue of licensing and end-user
controls. We believe that developing effective national, regional and
international controls on export licensing and end use are crucial elements in
ensuring that this trade remains under government control and is not diverted to
illicit markets or end users. In this regard, my delegation urges the Security
Council to encourage States that have not already done so to introduce the use
of authenticated end-user certificates as a means of monitoring the export and
transit of small arms.
It is equally important for the council to intensify efforts
in investigating and identifying the link between illicit trade in small arms
and light weapons and the illicit exploitation of natural and other resources.
The determination of this linkage and efforts to control the use of the proceeds
of illegal resources to fund illicit arms trade has significantly brought the
conflicts in the West African sub-region to a successful end. Such investigation
should of necessity apply to all areas of conflict in the West African
sub-region where there are often inter-linkages between one conflict situation
and another.
Mr.
President,
The ECOWAS Moratorium on the Importation, Exportation and
Manufacture of Small Arms and Light Weapons in West Africa has been in existence
since 1998 following its renewal two years ago. ECOWAS Member States will
continue their best effort to ensure the success of the moratorium. It is
unfortunate that conflict situations have persisted in the West African
sub-region in spite of the moratorium. ECOWAS Member States need the cooperation
of the international community to implement the Moratorium. My delegation,
therefore, wishes to, once again, call on the international community to support
the implementation of the Moratorium. In order to succeed, it is important that
the Moratorium is fully respected by all States, both within and outside the
sub-region. We also urge other regions to follow the example of ECOWAS by
imposing similar moratorium in their respective regions.
Mr.
President,
Nigeria has always believed in conflict prevention measures
and pursuit of negotiated solution to conflicts as most effective means of
solving the small arms problem. The international community should pay
particular attention to the need for adoption of these measures as best
strategies for peace. Connected to this is the need for the creation of good
political atmosphere that will enhance harmonious relationship and a sense of
belonging in our countries. Emphasis in this regard should be on promoting
structures and processes that strengthen democracy, human rights, rule of law
and good governance as well as economic recovery and growth as means of
eliminating conflicts and guaranteeing durable peace. The task of the Security
Council in this regard is quite enormous and calls for genuine commitment and
concerted action on the part of the Council.
Mr.
President,
I cannot conclude this statement without expressing our
gratitude to the Secretary-General for his bold initiative in establishing the
Coordinating Action on Small Arms (CASA) as a mechanism for harmonization of
activities of UN agencies to promote the implementation of the Programme of
Action. CASA has a special role to play in promoting and coordinating assistance
to West African States, especially those most severely affected by small arms
proliferation. We also note, with satisfaction, the recent establishment of
Small Arms Advisory Service (SAAS) to provide advisory services and formulate
programmes on small arms for implementation. As these two bodies rely on
extra-budgetary resources to fund their activities, we call on member States in
a position to do so to make voluntary contributions to them to enable them
fulfill their mandates.
I thank you.
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