Statement by H.E. Andrew Goledzinowski, Chargé d’Affaires, Australian Mission to the United Nations Secuirty Council regarding Central African Region: Impact of illicit arms trafficking on peace and security, as delivered on 19 March 2010.
(as delivered)
Mr President
I commend you on your timely initiative in holding this open debate on the impact of illicit small arms trafficking on peace and security in the Central African region.
We all come to this debate with our own regional and geographic perspectives. But equally we share a common purpose, as reflected in Article I of the United Nations Charter to “maintain peace and security, and to that end: to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace….”
The achievement of these goals involves the building of confidence between nations, and the development of an effective international security system. In part, this requires concerted international effort to prevent the excessive accumulation and proliferation of conventional weapons, including the eradication of the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons.
But regional solutions for regional problems are also critical. In this regard Australia recognises and commends the efforts being made in Africa to bring about sustained peace and security. These efforts include the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Convention on Small Arms, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Firearms Protocol, and the Nairobi Protocol on Small Arms.
As our Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith, said today in a speech at Sydney University, it is difficult to imagine making progress on global issues, including disarmament, without working closely with African countries and the African Union.
In our own region Australia, in partnership with the UN Officer for Disarmament Affairs, hosted a Pacific regional meeting last year to further the goals of the UN Programme of Action. In doing so, we recognised that national security cannot be achieved in isolation from regional or global security, and the importance that confidence-building between states and effective collective action plays in the pursuit of these goals.
Mr President
Regional arms control arrangements, including in Africa and the Pacific, are important examples of collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to peace and security. They also underpin, in practical and informative ways, the broader international security framework, including key UN initiatives such as the Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons and the prospective Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) that seek to prevent the illicit or irresponsible transfer of arms.
It is in these broader international security frameworks that all member states can contribute to strengthening cross-regional security. We as UN members have valuable opportunities this year to build on regional arms control initiatives and to further strengthen international measures. The Fourth Biennial Meeting of States (BMS4) on the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons (New York, 14-18 June), and the first Preparatory Committee meeting on the Arms Trade Treaty (New York, 12-23 July) provide us with an opportunity to buttress existing regional efforts and to make real international progress.
Broader efforts in the General Assembly should not be ignored either. In this regard I am pleased to confirm that once again Australia, together with the Republic of Korea, will run a resolution on preventing and combating illicit brokering at UNGA 65. This resolution encourages states to implement the domestic controls necessary to counter illicit trafficking and recognises the key role of regional and subregional cooperation in countering this threat.
Mr President
We believe we all share the same goal. UNIDIR identified it in the context of the ATT in its summary report of the regional seminar for countries in Central, Northern and Western Africa but it is applicable across the entire arms control agenda. We must work towards freeing people from fear.
We look forward to working with other member states to further advance this objective and the goals of the UN POA on SALW, and the ATT. The UN membership’s continued and active support for these initiatives will send a strong message to would-be proliferators on the strength of international resolve to stop the illicit and irresponsible trade in conventional weapons, particularly in small arms and light weapons. In doing so, we will be living up to our UN obligations to the maintenance of peace and security.
Thankyou