[118332] in Cypherpunks
U.N. Discusses Gun Control Measure
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Anonymous)
Sat Sep 25 02:36:15 1999
Date: Sat, 25 Sep 1999 08:04:16 +0200 (CEST)
Message-Id: <199909250604.IAA23449@mail.replay.com>
From: Anonymous <nobody@replay.com>
To: cypherpunks@toad.com
Reply-To: Anonymous <nobody@replay.com>
U.N. Discusses Gun Control Measure
By PETER JAMES SPIELMANN Associated Press Writer
UNITED NATIONS (AP) - In a bid to curb civil wars, ethnic massacres and terrorism, the U.N. Security Council on Friday discussed an initiative by the U.N. chief to implement greater gun-control measures around the world.
At the end of the first ministerial debate on small arms, council members called for new measures to discourage arms from reaching conflict zones and also called for effective implementation of arms embargoes.
``Small arms and light weapons are primary tools of violence in many conflicts taking place in the world,'' Annan told the council.
``The proliferation of small arms, ammunition and explosives has also aggravated the violence associated with terrorism and organized crime.
``Even in societies not beset by civil war, the easy availability of small arms has in many cases contributed to violence and political instability,'' he said.
With at least 200 million firearms are owned by American citizens, U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright announced the United States would refrain from sellings arms to war zones not already covered by arms embargoes.
``We encourage other nations to establish and observe such moratoria,'' she said. ``We have passed laws making it illegal for traffickers subject to American law to broker illicit deals anywhere. We ask others to crack down on brokering as well.''
British Foreign Minister Robin Cook told the Council: ``It is a tribute ... that nuclear weapons have never been used for half a century, and that chemical weapons have rarely been used.
``However, over the same period the assault rifle has become the weapon of mass killing. ... Over the last decade alone, conflicts fought with only small arms have killed over 3 million people, mostly civilians,'' Cook said.
``Five million dollars will buy approximately 20,000 assault rifles - enough to equip the army of a medium-sized state,'' he noted.
The ministers met to discuss a report by Annan which recommended among other things:
-Better enforcement of U.N. arms embargoes on nations and regions in conflict.
-Nations should require arms manufacturers to put serial numbers and identification marks on weapons so the diversion of legitimate sales into the black market can be monitored.
-Nations should share information on the registration of guns and on legal transactions, in order to trace black market deals
