World Forum on the Future of Sport Shooting Mailing List
________________________________________
Note: The small arms/firearms issue is becoming a focal point, not just of
the UN, but other international organizations as well.
______________________________________________________________________
U.S.-EU STATEMENT OF COMMON PRINCIPLES ON SMALL ARMS AND LIGHT WEAPONS
Date : December 17, 1999
The United States and the European Union agree that the problem of the
destabilizing accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons demands
the urgent attention of the international community.
They agree that a comprehensive approach is needed, addressing human
security, development, law enforcement, disarmament and arms control, and
legitimate national and collective defense requirements.
Both are committed to seeking urgent, concrete, and practical responses
through global, regional and national measures. Their approaches include
stemming the flow of illicit trafficking, confronting those aspects of the
legal trade that contribute to the destabilizing accumulation and spread of
small arms and light weapons, and dealing with the root causes of conflict
that fuel the spread of small arms.
To better address these issues, the U.S. and the EU will expand their
cooperation, coordinate their activities, and reaffirm the common principles
governing their conduct.
The EU pledges cooperation with the U.S. Comprehensive Initiative on Small
Arms and Illicit Trafficking. The U.S. pledges cooperation with the EU on
small arms, including support for the objectives and principles of the EU
Joint Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons adopted in December 1998,
consistent with U.S. policy and domestic legislation.
They agree that the UN conference on the illicit trade in small arms and
light weapons in all its aspects should undertake concrete and tangible steps
to combat the destabilizing accumulation and spread of small arms and light
weapons.
They agree on the goal of concluding the Protocol to Combat the Illicit
Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components, and
Ammunition by 2000, which will serve as a key element in international
efforts to combat illicit firearms trafficking.
Recognizing the special responsibilities that arms exporting states have, the
U.S. and the EU affirm their commitment to observe the highest standards of
restraint in the transfer of small arms and light weapons. They reaffirm
support for the OSCE Principles Governing Conventional Arms Transfers. With
respect to policies on small arms and light weapons the U.S. welcomes the
EU's adoption of the EU Code of Conduct on arms exports and the principles
contained in its criteria, which the U.S. endorses.
The U.S. and the EU agree on the importance of effective national controls
for arms brokering.
The U.S. and the EU underline the importance of preventing the unauthorized
retransfer of small arms and light weapons.
They will explore appropriate and effective measures of transparency in the
transfers of small arms and light weapons.
The U.S. and the EU will work to improve their cooperation and coordination
with third countries, and to that end, they will focus urgent attention on
practical disarmament measures in potential conflict and post-conflict
situations where the problems are most severe, in particular in Africa. They
will also pursue measures to address the problem of the destabilizing
accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons in the Balkans.
The U.S. and the EU resolve to encourage and support states to ensure the
security of stockpiles of small arms and light weapons and to coordinate
respective activities designed to assist countries to collect and destroy
surplus weapons. They will contribute to reducing and ending the excessive
and destabilizing accumulation and uncontrolled spread of small arms, taking
into account requirements for legitimate national and collective defense, and
participation in peacekeeping operations under the UN Charter and internal
security.
'The U.S. and the EU welcome the interest of the NGO community in this field,
and encourage them to continue their important efforts, which complement the
work of governments.
In furtherance of the above-mentioned principles, the U.S. and the EU agree
to identify areas for coordinated action.
U.S. - EU ACTION PLAN ON SMALL ARMS AND LIGHT WEAPONS
In support of the principles agreed by the United States and the European
Union and to advance their common objectives, the U.S. and the EU will take
the following steps:
1. Establish a working group on small arms and light weapons for regular
exchanges at the expert level. The working group will promote increased
cooperation and information sharing and evaluate progress achieved by the
U.S. and the EU on small arms issues. The group will meet at least once
during each EU Presidency.
2. Work together to address the problem of illicit trafficking in firearms,
including the completion by 2000 of the Protocol to Combat Illicit
Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and
Ammunition now being negotiated in Vienna as part of the Convention Against
Transnational Organized Crime, complementing other efforts to prevent the
destabilizing accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons.
3. Coordinate efforts to provide assistance, in particular, where the problem
of the destabilizing accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons
is most severe.
4. Promote support for the observance and the enforcement of the Economic
Community of West African States' (ECOWAS) moratorium on the import, export
and manufacturing of small arms in West Africa.
5. Promote the observance of UN Sanctions governing arms transfers to areas
of conflict in Africa. Work together in the UN and in other fora to
strengthen enforcement of arms embargoes established under the UN Security
Council, including working together to tighten controls on sources of
financing that help sustain arms flows and violent conflict in Africa.
6. Cooperate in considering measures to combat illicit arms brokering and
measures to prevent the unauthorized retransfer of small arms and light
weapons.
7. Promote the inclusion in UN peacekeeping mandates and other relevant
missions of effective measures to deal with the collection and destruction of
small arms and light weapons, and to coordinate assistance provided for this
purpose.
8. Cooperate with appropriate bodies of the UN for more effective
coordination of assistance in areas severely affected by small arms problems.
9. Work together in regional fora, such as the OSCE and EAPC, in efforts to
contribute to combating and preventing the destabilizing accumulation and
spread of small arms and light weapons, including stockpile management and
security.
10.Coordinate their planning for a successful outcome to the UN international
conference on the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its
aspects with a view to achieving tangible results at the Conference,
including an Action Plan for the international community to deal with the
small arms problem.
United States Mission to the European Union
40, Boulevard du Regent
B-1000 Brussels, Belgium
Telephone: 32-2-508-2774
Fax: 32-2-512-5720
Part 2:
World Forum on the Future of Sport Shooting Mailing List
________________________________________
Press Release - The Small Arms Working Group (see below)
17 December 1999
Contact:
Tamar Gabelnick (FAS), 202-675-1018
Kate Joseph (BASIC), 202-785-1266
Loretta Bondi (HRW), 202-612-4321
US and EU to Tackle Small Arms Trade Together
NGOs Welcome Initiative, but Call for Less Talk, More Action
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. and EU governments agreed today to work together to
stop the spread and misuse of small arms. The joint initiative, adopted at
the semi-annual US-EU Summit in Washington Friday, was welcomed by arms
control and human rights NGOs as an important first step. But NGOs called on
governments to quickly translate these ideals into action.
Joint Statement and Joint Action Plan Must Move Beyond Words
Small arms and light weapons, often ignored in traditional arms control
arrangements, still fuel the majority of conflicts around the world. The
inter-governmental Joint Statement on Small Arms and the Joint Action Plan
are the first joint ventures to stem the flow of these weapons to countries
where they may be used to abuse human rights or to fuel civil conflicts. The
documents bring the US and EU closer to a harmonized policy of restraint in
small arms transfers.
Toward Common Controls on the Small Arms Trade
The US government endorsed the principles of the EU Code of Conduct on Arms
Exports, a common arms sales restraint regime adopted by the EU last year.
Although a welcome sign, the US endorsement applies only to small arms, but
should cover all arms transfers. NGOs also insisted that:
The US implement its laws by cutting off arms to human rights abusers or
regional aggressors;
The EU echo the US Secretary of State's commitment stop arms transfers to
conflict regions;
The US and the EU share information on arms export licence refusals.
Kate Joseph of BASIC said, "The US and the EU account for around 80% of all
the world's arms exports. Common efforts like these will go a long way toward
keeping small arms out of the wrong hands, but declarations of intent aren't
enough."
Common Controls on Arms Brokers
The EU-US Declaration also calls for stronger controls on arms brokering
agents. Arms brokers often operate outside the law, and have recently
supplied arms for genocide in Rwanda and human rights abuses in Sierra Leone.
Although the US has placed tough restrictions on all brokers operating in the
US, and all US brokers working overseas, the EU has yet to follow suit. NGOs
called on:
EU Member States to adopt similar laws;
The US to share information on how the law is working with their European
counterparts.
Joint Action on Small Arms
The likely establishment of a transatlantic working group on small arms and
light weapons deserves a warm welcome. The working group will improve
co-operation between the US and EU, and governments and NGOs in crisis
regions. Rachel Stohl of CDI said, "Countries like Sierra Leone need
practical help to take these weapons off the streets and out of the hands of
abusive forces and child soldiers. Tamar Gabelnick of FAS said, "The US and
the EU could start by setting up a dedicated small arms fund for projects on
the ground."
The Small Arms Working Group includes the British American Security
Information Council, the Center for Defense Information, Federation of
American Scientists
and Human Rights Watch.
------------------
"Quis custodiet ipsos custodes" RKBA!
________________________________________
Note: The small arms/firearms issue is becoming a focal point, not just of
the UN, but other international organizations as well.
______________________________________________________________________
U.S.-EU STATEMENT OF COMMON PRINCIPLES ON SMALL ARMS AND LIGHT WEAPONS
Date : December 17, 1999
The United States and the European Union agree that the problem of the
destabilizing accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons demands
the urgent attention of the international community.
They agree that a comprehensive approach is needed, addressing human
security, development, law enforcement, disarmament and arms control, and
legitimate national and collective defense requirements.
Both are committed to seeking urgent, concrete, and practical responses
through global, regional and national measures. Their approaches include
stemming the flow of illicit trafficking, confronting those aspects of the
legal trade that contribute to the destabilizing accumulation and spread of
small arms and light weapons, and dealing with the root causes of conflict
that fuel the spread of small arms.
To better address these issues, the U.S. and the EU will expand their
cooperation, coordinate their activities, and reaffirm the common principles
governing their conduct.
The EU pledges cooperation with the U.S. Comprehensive Initiative on Small
Arms and Illicit Trafficking. The U.S. pledges cooperation with the EU on
small arms, including support for the objectives and principles of the EU
Joint Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons adopted in December 1998,
consistent with U.S. policy and domestic legislation.
They agree that the UN conference on the illicit trade in small arms and
light weapons in all its aspects should undertake concrete and tangible steps
to combat the destabilizing accumulation and spread of small arms and light
weapons.
They agree on the goal of concluding the Protocol to Combat the Illicit
Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components, and
Ammunition by 2000, which will serve as a key element in international
efforts to combat illicit firearms trafficking.
Recognizing the special responsibilities that arms exporting states have, the
U.S. and the EU affirm their commitment to observe the highest standards of
restraint in the transfer of small arms and light weapons. They reaffirm
support for the OSCE Principles Governing Conventional Arms Transfers. With
respect to policies on small arms and light weapons the U.S. welcomes the
EU's adoption of the EU Code of Conduct on arms exports and the principles
contained in its criteria, which the U.S. endorses.
The U.S. and the EU agree on the importance of effective national controls
for arms brokering.
The U.S. and the EU underline the importance of preventing the unauthorized
retransfer of small arms and light weapons.
They will explore appropriate and effective measures of transparency in the
transfers of small arms and light weapons.
The U.S. and the EU will work to improve their cooperation and coordination
with third countries, and to that end, they will focus urgent attention on
practical disarmament measures in potential conflict and post-conflict
situations where the problems are most severe, in particular in Africa. They
will also pursue measures to address the problem of the destabilizing
accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons in the Balkans.
The U.S. and the EU resolve to encourage and support states to ensure the
security of stockpiles of small arms and light weapons and to coordinate
respective activities designed to assist countries to collect and destroy
surplus weapons. They will contribute to reducing and ending the excessive
and destabilizing accumulation and uncontrolled spread of small arms, taking
into account requirements for legitimate national and collective defense, and
participation in peacekeeping operations under the UN Charter and internal
security.
'The U.S. and the EU welcome the interest of the NGO community in this field,
and encourage them to continue their important efforts, which complement the
work of governments.
In furtherance of the above-mentioned principles, the U.S. and the EU agree
to identify areas for coordinated action.
U.S. - EU ACTION PLAN ON SMALL ARMS AND LIGHT WEAPONS
In support of the principles agreed by the United States and the European
Union and to advance their common objectives, the U.S. and the EU will take
the following steps:
1. Establish a working group on small arms and light weapons for regular
exchanges at the expert level. The working group will promote increased
cooperation and information sharing and evaluate progress achieved by the
U.S. and the EU on small arms issues. The group will meet at least once
during each EU Presidency.
2. Work together to address the problem of illicit trafficking in firearms,
including the completion by 2000 of the Protocol to Combat Illicit
Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and
Ammunition now being negotiated in Vienna as part of the Convention Against
Transnational Organized Crime, complementing other efforts to prevent the
destabilizing accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons.
3. Coordinate efforts to provide assistance, in particular, where the problem
of the destabilizing accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons
is most severe.
4. Promote support for the observance and the enforcement of the Economic
Community of West African States' (ECOWAS) moratorium on the import, export
and manufacturing of small arms in West Africa.
5. Promote the observance of UN Sanctions governing arms transfers to areas
of conflict in Africa. Work together in the UN and in other fora to
strengthen enforcement of arms embargoes established under the UN Security
Council, including working together to tighten controls on sources of
financing that help sustain arms flows and violent conflict in Africa.
6. Cooperate in considering measures to combat illicit arms brokering and
measures to prevent the unauthorized retransfer of small arms and light
weapons.
7. Promote the inclusion in UN peacekeeping mandates and other relevant
missions of effective measures to deal with the collection and destruction of
small arms and light weapons, and to coordinate assistance provided for this
purpose.
8. Cooperate with appropriate bodies of the UN for more effective
coordination of assistance in areas severely affected by small arms problems.
9. Work together in regional fora, such as the OSCE and EAPC, in efforts to
contribute to combating and preventing the destabilizing accumulation and
spread of small arms and light weapons, including stockpile management and
security.
10.Coordinate their planning for a successful outcome to the UN international
conference on the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its
aspects with a view to achieving tangible results at the Conference,
including an Action Plan for the international community to deal with the
small arms problem.
United States Mission to the European Union
40, Boulevard du Regent
B-1000 Brussels, Belgium
Telephone: 32-2-508-2774
Fax: 32-2-512-5720
Part 2:
World Forum on the Future of Sport Shooting Mailing List
________________________________________
Press Release - The Small Arms Working Group (see below)
17 December 1999
Contact:
Tamar Gabelnick (FAS), 202-675-1018
Kate Joseph (BASIC), 202-785-1266
Loretta Bondi (HRW), 202-612-4321
US and EU to Tackle Small Arms Trade Together
NGOs Welcome Initiative, but Call for Less Talk, More Action
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. and EU governments agreed today to work together to
stop the spread and misuse of small arms. The joint initiative, adopted at
the semi-annual US-EU Summit in Washington Friday, was welcomed by arms
control and human rights NGOs as an important first step. But NGOs called on
governments to quickly translate these ideals into action.
Joint Statement and Joint Action Plan Must Move Beyond Words
Small arms and light weapons, often ignored in traditional arms control
arrangements, still fuel the majority of conflicts around the world. The
inter-governmental Joint Statement on Small Arms and the Joint Action Plan
are the first joint ventures to stem the flow of these weapons to countries
where they may be used to abuse human rights or to fuel civil conflicts. The
documents bring the US and EU closer to a harmonized policy of restraint in
small arms transfers.
Toward Common Controls on the Small Arms Trade
The US government endorsed the principles of the EU Code of Conduct on Arms
Exports, a common arms sales restraint regime adopted by the EU last year.
Although a welcome sign, the US endorsement applies only to small arms, but
should cover all arms transfers. NGOs also insisted that:
The US implement its laws by cutting off arms to human rights abusers or
regional aggressors;
The EU echo the US Secretary of State's commitment stop arms transfers to
conflict regions;
The US and the EU share information on arms export licence refusals.
Kate Joseph of BASIC said, "The US and the EU account for around 80% of all
the world's arms exports. Common efforts like these will go a long way toward
keeping small arms out of the wrong hands, but declarations of intent aren't
enough."
Common Controls on Arms Brokers
The EU-US Declaration also calls for stronger controls on arms brokering
agents. Arms brokers often operate outside the law, and have recently
supplied arms for genocide in Rwanda and human rights abuses in Sierra Leone.
Although the US has placed tough restrictions on all brokers operating in the
US, and all US brokers working overseas, the EU has yet to follow suit. NGOs
called on:
EU Member States to adopt similar laws;
The US to share information on how the law is working with their European
counterparts.
Joint Action on Small Arms
The likely establishment of a transatlantic working group on small arms and
light weapons deserves a warm welcome. The working group will improve
co-operation between the US and EU, and governments and NGOs in crisis
regions. Rachel Stohl of CDI said, "Countries like Sierra Leone need
practical help to take these weapons off the streets and out of the hands of
abusive forces and child soldiers. Tamar Gabelnick of FAS said, "The US and
the EU could start by setting up a dedicated small arms fund for projects on
the ground."
The Small Arms Working Group includes the British American Security
Information Council, the Center for Defense Information, Federation of
American Scientists
and Human Rights Watch.
------------------
"Quis custodiet ipsos custodes" RKBA!