Finland and the EU support enhanced UN action against illicit trade in small arms

Press release 199/2006
26 June, 2006

A review conference of the UN Programme of Action to address the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, adopted in 2001, will be organised in New York City on 26 June - 7 July. The conference will review the implementation of the programme and consider further action. The EU has a significant role in promoting the implementation of the programme and in negotiations for further action. Finland, as the incoming EU President, will chair the conference during the second week in July.

The UN member states adopted the Programme of Action in 2001 and committed to reducing illegal small arms and violence caused by their use. The key objective of the programme is to increase awareness and international cooperation. The programme deals with both criminal activities as well as  conflict situations. The review conference will pay attention to the relation between the spread of illegal small arms and development. The countries and organisations emphasising the regulation of civilian weapons control urge states to develop regulatory measures based on their own national legislations.

More than two thousand delegates are expected to attend the conference. Over 200 non-governmental organisations have been registered.

The Finnish delegation will be led by Ambassador Kari Kahiluoto at Finland's Permanent Mission in Geneva. The delegation also includes experts from the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of the Interior, non-governmental organisations, and the weapons industry.

Further information: Ambassador Kari Kahiluoto, Finland's Permanent Mission in Geneva, +41 79 703 4117, Director Laura Kansikas-Debraise, Unit for Arms Control, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 40 551 6534, the conference site at http://www.un.org/events/smallarms2006/index.html