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E-048/00
March 8, 2000

OAS MEETING STUDIES ILLEGAL FIREARMS PROBLEM

 

With concern growing over the proliferation of illegal guns, the Organization of American States (OAS) has signaled it will work more closely with the United Nations to tackle the problem stemming from the illegal flow of small arms and light weapons.

This was the focus of a daylong meeting at the OAS March 7 , chaired by Dominican Republic Ambassador Flavio Darío Espinal, who heads the Organization's Committee on Hemispheric Security.

Ambassador Espinal described cooperation with other agencies as critical, since "the problems we face are problems facing other regions too. Illegal trafficking in firearms and its implications for public safety and security, violence and peace, affects not only the countries of this hemisphere but also other regions. And even as they affect other regions, they have implications for our region."

Convened under a mandate from last year's OAS General Assembly, Tuesday's meeting aimed to engage discussion with other agencies and regions of the world to come up with new approaches to stem the rising illegal flow of small arms and light weapons. Transparency in legitimate movement of conventional weapons was also discussed.

Ambassador Espinal stressed that the meeting provided the OAS with useful information on how the subject was being handled outside of the hemispheric forum. In addition to OAS member state representatives and experts, top United Nations experts involved in the preparations for next year's UN Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons also made presentations.

A Canadian proposal for an OAS declaration focusing on responsible transfers of small and light arms is to be given further study after consultations with the member states, the Hemispheric Security Committee chairman said.

For Antigua and Barbuda Ambassador Lionel Hurst, the main problem In the Caribbean surrounds the illegal importation of guns. "It's a real problem--a serious problem that threatens to undermine our security."

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