OSCE focuses on combating illicit trafficking of small arms, light weapons by air

VIENNA, 21 March 2007 - The OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) held a special meeting today to discuss ways of combating the illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons (SALW) by air.

"The topic of illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons by air is new on the international security agenda, and the OSCE aspires to play a role in this field," said Minister Plenipotentiary Spyros Attas, who chairs the FSC on behalf of Cyprus. "Dealing with this problem is part of the OSCE strategy which aims to address threats to security and stability in the 21st Century."

The Forum for Security Co-operation is the OSCE's main decision-making body dealing with politico-military security.

The event brought together experts from OSCE participating States, as well as representatives of the air transportation sector and international organizations. They discussed developing a mechanism to exchange information on regulations and national legislation on import and export controls relating to the air transport sector, and the possibility of developing a "best practice guide".

Ambassador Marc Perrin de Brichambaut, the OSCE Secretary General, added: "The illicit trade in SALW is interconnected with the spread of terrorism, regional conflicts, failing states and organized crime. In order to tackle this issue, we need to see a close involvement of government officials from export and import control departments, customs and defence, as well as the private sector and international organizations."

Participants noted that military supplies for most of today's conflicts are typically small arms, light weapons and related ammunition, and that in most cases they are illegally transported by air to conflict regions around the globe, especially to Africa.

Research has shown that transporting arms to an illicit or illegitimate destination by air usually involves a complex web of commercial arrangements: illegal or grey-zone arms transport flights rarely fly directly to their destinations. Actors wishing to escape controls benefit from differences in national regulatory systems and make sure the arms are delivered via circuitous routes involving multiple landings, re-fuelling stops, falsifying aircraft markings, or possibly even multiple changes of aircraft and providing falsified documents.

Much illicit trafficking of SALW by air, according to experts, is done with the assistance of government officials who provide the necessary over-flight, landing and other authorizations, as well as owners of temporary cargo space and aircraft parking slots, and companies that provide airport and ground services. Illegal or controversial air transportation activities thus typically involve several sets of transport companies and a large number of actors in different locations.

Illicit transportation of small arms and light weapons by air was also on the agenda of last year's 14th OSCE Economic Forum. It was noted that the globalization of civil aviation and air cargo industries over the past several years has made it more difficult for national authorities to enforce adequate security and monitoring measures on the transport of goods. It was also noted that a number of countries do not have the accountability, technology, training, and resources to properly regulate the private air cargo market.