Support of the International Community for the Implementation of a Moratorium in West Africa on Import, Export and Manufacture of
Light Weapons

Helga Hernes
Ambassador, Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

 

Excellencies, Ladies end Gentlemen, let me begin by saying how honoured I am to be here today and say a few words on a subject of great concern to all of us, namely the proliferation of small arms and efforts to control this dangerous trend. Prime Minister Bondevik stated the government’s support for the moratorium in his keynote address this morning. I myself was present at Mali’s one-year celebration of the Flamme de la Paix in Timbuktu in March last year, and I am certain I am not the only one in this room to have participated in this joyous event. Norway has expressed its approval and admiration for the initiative to create a moratorium on small arms in West Africa both in words and in deeds, and we have contributed substantial funds for the purpose. We have every intention of following up our financial support through diplomatic and political support as well. When it comes to the Norwegian position, I would like to point out that we will, of course, fully respect an eventual moratorium in West Africa. We have expressed our support through our participation in the Wassenaar cooperation and will continue to do so.

I assume that all of us in this room admire the valiant efforts by the government of Mali, well knowing that the hardest tasks are still ahead of us. I use the words ‘us’ and ‘we’ advisedly in this context, because I was asked to speak about the support of the international community, which represents the most universal ‘we’. We are gathered here at a conference organised by a consortium of NGOs with high-ranking representatives from governments from many parts of the world, the United Nations, the academic community and other NGOs present. Our common efforts to stem the uncontrolled flow of small arms from one area of conflict to another will need concerted thought and action on the part of all of these diverse actors. The task ahead of us is demanding in every way – conceptually, intellectually, politically and organisationally. Each of us will have his or her role to play and I will confine myself to say a little about what governments can do in this respect, both when it comes to the notion of a regional moratorium in one geographic area of the world and when it comes to the problem of small arms in general. As I will try to show, the two are not really that different, because more and more of us are concluding that a regional approach, such as the one launched by President Konaré, is the most viable one.

Governments will first need to agree on an agenda. In the most general of terms this is not difficult. I think most of us can agree that we should do all we can to reduce and perhaps in the distant future even eradicate illicit transfers. After all 50 per cent of all transfers are said to be illegal. Even though some government officials might at times be involved in clandestine activities, most legitimate governments will see it in their interest to support such a goal. That does not mean that it is easy to control such transfers. I therefore use the term ‘reduce’ advisedly. This will take time and resources on everybody’s part. lt is a long-term strategy. Secondly, we should increase transparency in regard to legal transfers. It is to hope that more and more governments will be willing to be open about their own exports and imports. The number of countries willing to follow a policy if transparency is growing slowly but steadily. Thirdly, we should make concerted efforts to reduce the number of arms in war-torn societies, especially at the end of protracted armed conflict. This goal could become part of peace implementation plans, of peacekeeping operations, of all forms of peace-building policies both on the part of governments and intergovernmental organisations. Schemes for demobilisation and reintegration of combatants, collection and destruction of small arms, enhancing law enforcement capabilities and reforming the security sector in general are part and parcel of this. What is admirable about the Malian moratorium proposal is that it addresses all these three fundamental aspects. Governments should therefore seek to support regional efforts such as this one.

I am often asked which is the best forum for this kind of work. My answer is simple: There is no one single arena, organisation, forum or institution that can handle all aspects of this intractable problem as it unfolds today in our societies. The multiple issues raised by the problems created by the excessive accumulation and unlawful use of small arms require a comprehensive approach. This complex problem will have to be pursued in different fora, searching for solutions to partial problems, and then pursue a coherent comprehensive strategy. This will put great demands on our capacities for coordination, concerted action, consensus-building and so on. lt is neither feasible nor desirable that all aspects of the subject be dealt with in one setting alone. We will continue to work with like-minded countries in all parts of the world and pursue the various humanitarian developmental human rights, humanitarian law and security concerns in whichever forum is best for the issue at hand.

Let me, however, end by repeating that this work will not be done by governments alone. lt will be necessary to forge networks of cooperation from the communal level straight up to the international one. Organisations such as NISAT can play a vital role in such endeavours. We are therefore very gratified to be able to participate here today at a gathering of so many concerned individuals, governments and organisations.

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