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Eminent Persons Group - Press Release
October 11, 2002

Small Arms
UN Security Council Open Session on Small Arms

EPG Calls For Action To Enhance Transparency In Small Arms Exports

United Nations Headquarters, October 11. The EPG this date renewed its call for action to enhance transparency in small arms exports as an important confidence-building measure in joint efforts to help eradicate their illicit proliferation pursuant to the Programme of Action (A/Conf.192/15) adopted by last year’s UN Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects. In a letter addressed to HE Mr. Martin Belinga-Eboutou, (Cameroon) the President of the Security Council, the Group expressed its hope that the Council will avail itself of today’s session on small arms to advance transparency in small arms transfers, especially to regions in conflict.

Said HE Mr. Salim Ahmed Salim, former Secretary-General of the OAU and Co-Chair of the EPG: "I am encouraged by ongoing consultations with key manufacturing/ exporting States and commercial manufacturers, who will be meeting on 6 November 2002, and hope for agreement on an export transparency measure which, in cooperation between supplier and recipient States, will provide data on small arms exported to Africa. That, in furtherance of the G-8 Summit Statement in Calgary would prove a true testament to the universal support for African concerns and the Bamako Declaration of OAU."

Members of EPG, convened by Dr. Salim in executive meeting at Headquarters on 8 October 2002, support the UN Secretary-General’s call for enhanced transparency in small arms exports, as appropriate, as it is affirmed in the Secretary-General’s Report on Small Arms. (S/2002/1053) The Secretary-General states: "Transparency in armaments and other confidence-building measures in the military and security domains can help States, particularly those in and near conflict areas, to promote security and stability and reduce regional tensions."

The informal EPG message to the Security Council points out that the Programme of Action encourages, where appropriate and on a voluntary basis, measures to enhance transparency with a view to combating the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects. Similar calls, the EPG message states, are contained in the OAU Bamako Declaration, the OSCE Document on Small Arms and the Report on the Workshop on Export, Import and Brokering of Small Arms and Firearms: Identifying the Problems, Partnerships for Solutions, hosted by the Manufacturers Advisory Group (MAG) of the World Forum on the Future of Sport Shooting Activities, which speaks on behalf of American and West European commercial manufacturing interests.

Said Albrecht Muth, the EPG Executive Director: "NGOs and governments are concerned that the follow-up to the UN Conference is long on recommendations, but short on implementation. In the words of Secretary-General Annan, it is time to match the rhetoric of concern with action. Support for enhanced transparency in small arms exports is an important indicator for commitment to the Programme of Action and will provide a basis for reasonable expectations for next year’s biannual review conference."

The EPG calls on manufacturers and manufacturing/ exporting and importing States to continue ongoing consultations on the feasibility of an industry-based database for small arms exports in time for next year’s biannual review conference.

At Paris, on 26 June 2001, manufacturers stated their willingness "to make available for public scrutiny information on the manufacture, the marking of weapons, transfers and procurement of small arms." This willingness of manufacturers to cooperate on transparency in exports is affirmed by the Naples report, which states: "Industry and representatives of the sport shooting community should continue to gather relevant, non-proprietary data on production, trade, economic effects and holdings of firearms, and should cooperate with other organizations in the development of relevant, reliable data."

The EPG welcomes the important initiative taken by the Government of Indonesia in hosting with the Government of Japan and the United Nations the Regional Seminar on Small Arms, Light Weapons and Transparency in Armaments in Jakarta, Indonesia, in January 2003.

Contact: Chris Mullaney, tel. (202) 625.2037