Statement / by the President of the Security Council

Statement [on the item entitled "Small arms"]
Statement made on behalf of the Security Council, at the 4048th meeting, 24 Sept. 1999, in connection with the Council's consideration of the item entitled "Small arms" / President, Security Council

Notes with grave concern that the destabilizing accumulation of small arms has contributed to the intensity and duration of armed conflict; also notes that the easy availability of small arms can be a contributing factor to undermining peace agreements, complicating peace-building efforts and impeding political, economic and social development; is deeply concerned that countries involved in, emerging from, or close to protracted armed conflicts are particularly vulnerable to violence resulting from the indiscriminate use of small arms in armed conflict; emphasizes that the prevention of illicit trafficking is of immediate concern in the global search for ways and means to curb the wrongful use of small arms, including their use by terrorists; emphasizes the importance of regional cooperation in tackling the issue of illicit trafficking in small arms; calls for effective implementation of arms embargoes, imposed by the Council in its relevant resolutions; calls for measures to discourage arms flows to countries or regions engaged in or emerging from armed conflicts; requests the Secretary-General to develop a reference manual for use in the field on ecologically safe methods of weapons destruction in order better to enable Member States to ensure the disposal of weapons voluntarily surrendered by civilians or retrieved from former combatants.

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Statement made by the President on behalf of the Security Council at the 4048th meeting, 24 Aug. 1999.