Statement [made on behalf of the Security Council, at the 6288th meeting, 19 Mar. 2010, in connection with the Council's consideration of the item entitled "Central African region"]

Is gravely concerned about the illicit manufacture, transfer and circulation of small arms and light weapons (SALW) and their excessive accumulation and uncontrolled spread in many regions of the world, particularly in the subregion of Central Africa; underlines the vital importance of effective regulations and controls of the transparent trade in SALW in order to prevent their illegal diversion and re-export; reiterates that Member States should comply with existing arms embargoes and export bans and take necessary steps to effectively implement these measures imposed by the Council in its relevant resolutions; calls on the States of the subregion to strengthen efforts to establish mechanisms and regional networks among their relevant authorities for information sharing to combat the illicit circulation and trafficking in SALW; encourages the Committees in charge of monitoring arms embargoes in Central African countries and neighbouring countries, consistent with their mandates, to establish channels of communication, with the Economic Community of Central African States, its Member States, and with the UN Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa; supports the action of the UN Missions present in the subregion, consistent with their mandates, to assist disarmament processes in the framework of DDR Programmes.

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