FOR PERSONAL, NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY
Eminent Persons Group
Press Release
April 23, 2002

EPG Releases 2001 Annual Report

I commend the EPG for its tireless efforts in striving for an ambitious and far-reaching outcome of the UN Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects and an effective follow-up to it. I convey to the Group my deep appreciation for its commitment and tireless labor in combating the excessive and destabilizing accumulation of small arms and light weapons and its illicit trade.

Kofi A. Annan, United Nations Secretary-General

PRESS RELEASE

Washington, D. C., 23 April 2002. Today, the EPG released the 2001 Annual Report summarizing the Group’s diplomatic efforts in conjunction with the preparations for the 2001 UN Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects. An independent commission of 22 international personalities under the co-chairmanship of Salim Ahmed Salim, the former Secretary-General of the OAU and Alpha Oumar Konare, the President of the Republic of Mali, EPG supports the UN Secretary-General’s calls for a global small arms nonproliferation regime. (On 5 November, Dr. Salim succeeded former French Prime Minister Michel Rocard.)

Throughout the year, the EPG cooperated closely with the Secretary-General, the President of the U.N. conference and assisted members of the EPG serving on national delegations. The Group consulted extensively with the governments of the People’s Republic of China, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, the United States, Brazil, Canada, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Norway, Sweden and Turkey.

Meetings of secretaries-general of major movement-based NGOs, a coalition of NGOs and States, industry and States and a convocation of the EPG in New York to coincide with the conference were also held.

The media campaign consisted of hosting four international press conferences, including three UN Headquarters press conferences, regular updates for the media on the status of the preparatory process, a letters to the editor campaign and making members of the EPG and NGOs from affected parts of the world available to the media.

The objective of the EPG in 2001 was to advance the Secretary-General’s vision of a global small arms nonproliferation regime. It was the Group’s goal within the Paris process to advance cooperation among manufacturers, governments and NGOs in support of industry self-regulation based on voluntary measures in the areas of marking, tracing and norms for transfer under international law, with the objective of eradicating the potential for diversion from the legal trade to illicit traffic.

EPG heightened its profile on non-governmental and governmental levels of small arms action, as a result of which it occupied a unique position during the preparatory process and at the conference, which on marking and tracing greatly impacted upon conference outcome. The central role of the EPG was widely recognized, with members of the Group actively engaged at all levels of decision-making. Harnessing political will into continued political will in support for implementation of the Programme of Action will be in the forefront of the Group’s mission in 2002.

EPG is credited with being first in constructively engaging industry on a common platform. Prior to the Paris process, most NGOs had kept their distance from industry. In contrast, EPG highlighted the need to engage those engaged in the licit trade, if one is serious in eradicating the potential for diversion to illicit traffic.

EPG’s opening to industry and to NRA was not without political costs, as several NGOs and some governments took exception. There was, in some quarters, concern about the Group’s perceived proximity to key producing and exporting States, even though it was the EPG, which consistently decried the lack of substantive preparations for the conference on account of intransigence or inertia. At the same time, industry and States were concerned that NGOs might push them beyond the point, where they can realistically be expected to deliver. The cooperative atmosphere of the first meeting of the Paris process on June 26 helped alleviate these concerns.

The first meeting of the Paris process revealed the need for the coalition to occupy the middle ground at the conference in order to advance a meaningful compromise position on marking, tracing and norms for transfer under international law. It revealed on the part of industry a willingness to engage constructively on realistic and cost-effective measures aimed at eradicating the potential for diversion from the licit trade. Industry’s willingness to live up to its responsibility in ensuring end-use was welcomed by NGOs. As the dialogue between industry and NGOs progressed, key producing and exporting States signaled their support.

It was unfortunate that some made the Paris process out to undercut the Franco-Swiss initiative. Critics on the Left and the Right notwithstanding, given the lack of political will, which will continue to impede certain measures for time to come, the Paris process provides a realistic approach in the short-term, without precluding future movement on binding agreements.

Although advanced integral to the conference, the Paris process sidestepped the contentious issue of binding agreements by providing a discreet venue for understanding and cooperation among major supplier and recipient States, governments, manufacturers and NGOs. This was made palatable by recognition that this subordinated venue helped deflect contention, which was potentially threatening conference consensus. On the other hand, obtaining industry commitment to measures, which governments remain opposed to, helped infuse conference deliberations with new momentum. Irrespective of whether State control will be advanced integral to conference follow-up, or as part of the companion industry dialogue, future supply for illicit traffic can be substantially curtailed. In so doing, the efficacy of the EPG approach will be validated.

EPG’s objective has been achieved, capping a two-year effort to position the Group in the center of global efforts to advance the Secretary-General’s vision of a nonproliferation regime. As the Secretary-General states: "The Programme of Action foresees a role not only for governments, but very much counts on the action of civil society in taking measures to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. I am grateful for everything the Eminent Persons Group has done in this regard and I truly appreciate the Group’s commitment to carry forward this important work."

An electronic copy of the EPG 2001 Annual Report can be requested from: albrechtmuth@hotmail.com