OSCE meeting takes stock, seeks way forward in fight against small arms and light weapons

VIENNA, 22 September 2009 - The OSCE remains at the forefront of global initiatives to combat the threat of small arms and light weapons (SALW) but further efforts are needed to address gaps to curb proliferation, said speakers at a meeting that started in Vienna today.

The two-day meeting, organized by the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC), brings together experts from the 56 OSCE participating States, as well as representatives from international and non-governmental organizations and think tanks dealing with SALW, to review the OSCE Document on SALW and its supplementary decisions with a view to exploring possible further normative actions.

Keynote speaker Ambassador Pablo Macedo, Chair-Designate of the 2010 UN Biennial Meeting of States on Programme of Action on SALW, said that the OSCE commitments on SALW were "an example for the international community".

"The OSCE Document became a benchmark in our efforts to combat trafficking small arms and light weapons, and we recognize its significance," he said. "Trafficking in small arms and light weapons is an element of destabilization. It exacerbates conflicts, it fuels organized crime, it endangers the rule of law and it contributes to the violation of human rights and international humanitarian law. "

He encouraged participating States to undertake a "far-reaching, future-oriented and ambitious" review that addressed challenges such as legally binding instruments on SALW and dealing with munitions, controlling national and private exchanges of armaments to prevent diversions into the illicit market and regulating possession of arms by civilians.

"It is important to understand that only under an approach of shared responsibility will we take concrete steps to properly control the trade of arms and weapons to avoid irresponsible transactions and combat illicit trafficking," said Macedo.

"The OSCE Document on Small Arms and Light Weapons is globally respected and is one of our key normative pillars - and the SALW issue is important for the OSCE because a significant number of producers and exporters are OSCE participating States," said FSC Chairman, Ambassador Ian Cliff of the United Kingdom. "The review that we are embarking on today will give us the opportunity to keep the OSCE at the forefront of the international effort to deal with SALW problems."

Deputy Permanent Representative Eleni Sourani, representing the Greek OSCE Chairmanship, added: "We are looking forward to an open discussion with a critical evaluation of the current OSCE Documents and decisions on SALW that will result in the agreement of a roadmap for the way forward before the Ministerial Council in Athens in December."

The FSC meets weekly in Vienna to discuss and take decisions regarding military aspects of security in the OSCE area, in particular confidence- and security-building measures.