Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-03-15-Speech-4-186"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2001-03-15"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Uncontrolled trade in light weapons2
dcterms:Language	"nl"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20010315.10.4-186"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2001-03-15-Speech-4-1872
lpv:speaker	lp:Johan Van Hecke2
lpv:spokenAs	substitute; Temporary committee on the Echelon interception system (2000-07-06--2001-09-05)3 vice-chair; Members from the European Parliament to the Joint Parliamentary Assembly of the Agreement between the African, Caribbean and Pacific States and the European Union (ACP-EU) (1999-09-14--2002-01-14)3 member; Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3 unknown; Christelijke Volkspartij (1999-07-20--2001-09-30)3 member; EPP-ED (1999-07-20--2002-09-17)3 substitute; Committee on Regional Policy, Transport and Tourism (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3
lpv:translated text	"Mr President, since the end of the Cold War, the distribution of light weapons has become a worldwide issue; this is a phenomenon which is fomenting both street crime in our part of the world and civil wars in the Third World. The UN Conference is therefore more overdue than premature. I am of the opinion that the European Union must take the lead in New York. The 1998 European code of conduct can serve as a template for a worldwide agreement on the export and transfer of weapons. This code has proved its usefulness but is deficient in two important areas. First of all, it is not legally binding. Europe must press for an international agreement which is binding. Secondly, no provisions have been made for monitoring the end users of exported weapons. In Africa, for example, Togo and Burkina are officially known as end users of weapons from Bulgaria while, in reality, these weapons are being channelled to Liberia and to the rebels in Sierra Leone. Europe must call for the stricter monitoring and penalisation of transfer countries of this kind. The distribution of light weapons is, in fact, not only a problem in the Third World. In Europe and North-America too, the possession of weapons is on the increase. Half of all American families possess a firearm. Although these are often legal weapons, they cause just as much damage, as was once again demonstrated last week in California. That is why the UN Conference must also pluck up the courage to broach the subject of legal small weapons, and Europe must be able to argue for a total ban on the advertising of firearms. Mr President, the UN Member States are facing a difficult dilemma: either they opt for the arms industry and economic interests, or they choose human safety, stability and peace. We are very much counting on the Swedish Presidency to set the right tone at the preparatory meeting, and on the Belgian Presidency to make the right choices during the conference."@en1

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