U.S.-EU STATEMENT OF COMMON PRINCIPLES ON SMALL ARMS AND LIGHT WEAPONS
December 17, 1999
The United States and the European Union agree that the problem of the
destabilizing accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons
demands the urgent attention of the international community.
They agree that a comprehensive approach is needed, addressing human
security, development, law enforcement, disarmament and arms control,
and legitimate national and collective defense requirements.
Both are committed to seeking urgent, concrete, and practical
responses through global, regional and national measures. Their
approaches include stemming the flow of illicit trafficking,
confronting those aspects of the legal trade that contribute to the
destabilizing accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons,
and dealing with the root causes of conflict that fuel the spread of
small arms.
To better address these issues, the U.S. and the EU will expand their
cooperation, coordinate their activities, and reaffirm the common
principles governing their conduct.
The EU pledges cooperation with the U.S. Comprehensive Initiative on
Small Arms and Illicit Trafficking. The U.S. pledges cooperation with
the EU on small arms, including support for the objectives and
principles of the EU Joint Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons
adopted in December 1998, consistent with U.S. policy and domestic
legislation.
They agree that the UN conference on the illicit trade in small arms
and light weapons in all its aspects should undertake concrete and
tangible steps to combat the destabilizing accumulation and spread of
small arms and light weapons.
They agree on the goal of concluding the Protocol to Combat the
Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and
Components, and Ammunition by 2000, which will serve as a key element
in international efforts to combat illicit firearms trafficking.
Recognizing the special responsibilities that arms exporting states
have, the U.S. and the EU affirm their commitment to observe the
highest standards of restraint in the transfer of small arms and light
weapons. They reaffirm support for the OSCE Principles Governing
Conventional Arms Transfers. With respect to policies on small arms
and light weapons the U.S. welcomes the EU's adoption of the EU Code
of Conduct on arms exports and the principles contained in its
criteria, which the U.S. endorses.
http://www.usia.gov/cgi-bin/washfile/display.pl?p=/products/washfile/latest&f=99121716.wlt&t=/products/washfile/newsitem.shtml
December 17, 1999
The United States and the European Union agree that the problem of the
destabilizing accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons
demands the urgent attention of the international community.
They agree that a comprehensive approach is needed, addressing human
security, development, law enforcement, disarmament and arms control,
and legitimate national and collective defense requirements.
Both are committed to seeking urgent, concrete, and practical
responses through global, regional and national measures. Their
approaches include stemming the flow of illicit trafficking,
confronting those aspects of the legal trade that contribute to the
destabilizing accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons,
and dealing with the root causes of conflict that fuel the spread of
small arms.
To better address these issues, the U.S. and the EU will expand their
cooperation, coordinate their activities, and reaffirm the common
principles governing their conduct.
The EU pledges cooperation with the U.S. Comprehensive Initiative on
Small Arms and Illicit Trafficking. The U.S. pledges cooperation with
the EU on small arms, including support for the objectives and
principles of the EU Joint Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons
adopted in December 1998, consistent with U.S. policy and domestic
legislation.
They agree that the UN conference on the illicit trade in small arms
and light weapons in all its aspects should undertake concrete and
tangible steps to combat the destabilizing accumulation and spread of
small arms and light weapons.
They agree on the goal of concluding the Protocol to Combat the
Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and
Components, and Ammunition by 2000, which will serve as a key element
in international efforts to combat illicit firearms trafficking.
Recognizing the special responsibilities that arms exporting states
have, the U.S. and the EU affirm their commitment to observe the
highest standards of restraint in the transfer of small arms and light
weapons. They reaffirm support for the OSCE Principles Governing
Conventional Arms Transfers. With respect to policies on small arms
and light weapons the U.S. welcomes the EU's adoption of the EU Code
of Conduct on arms exports and the principles contained in its
criteria, which the U.S. endorses.
http://www.usia.gov/cgi-bin/washfile/display.pl?p=/products/washfile/latest&f=99121716.wlt&t=/products/washfile/newsitem.shtml