South Africa introduced a draft resolution on Illicit Traffic in Small Arms to the UN General Assembly’s First Committee on Disarmament in New York, last night. South Africa, which introduced the resolution on behalf of 74 co-sponsors, emphasised the need for a co-ordinated approach, particularly through the United Nations, in preparation for global action to address this scourge. It also underlined the importance of regional indigenous initiatives to deal with illicit trafficking in small arms, in ways mos t suitable to each affected region of the world. To this end, South Africa pointed out the importance of the UN Secretary-General’s broad-based consultations which would provide the 2001 United Nations Conference on the illicit trade in small Arms and ligh t weapons with information on the magnitude And scope of the problem.
South Africa also welcomed the practical measures undertaken by Member States to destroy surplus weapons in accordance with the recommendations made by the Secretary-General in his reports on Small Arms. It also encouraged Member States, who had not yet done so, to take appropriate national measures to destroy these surplus weapons and to make this information available to the Secretary-General.
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
Pretoria
29 OCTOBER 1999