HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam has called on countries and relevant sides to address the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, Ambassador Đặng Đình Quý, Việt Nam’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, said on Wednesday.
Addressing a meeting of the UN Security Council (UNSC) on small arms and light weapons and peace-keeping operations, Quý said countries hold the biggest responsibility.
He also called for stronger regional and international cooperation in settling issues, and suggested the UNSC use the latest situations in concerned countries to solve the problems.
The root cause of conflicts should be addressed first, he said, stressing the observance of international law, the elimination of injustice and inequality, and the building of trust, friendship and cooperation between countries.
The ambassador reiterated countries’ legitimate rights to procuring, producing, transferring and owning small arms and light weapons for the purposes of national defence and security.
Delegates shared the view that illicit transfer and misuse of these weapons continue to initiate, sustain and exacerbate armed conflict and impact security, stability, and socio-economic development in many areas in the world, especially Africa.
Over the past two decades, the UNSC has adopted resolutions to tackle issues regarding small arms and light weapons, including Resolution 2117 (in 2013) and Resolution 2220 (in 2015).
Many said the UNSC need to further integrate the fight against illegal small arms and light weapons into conflict prevention, peace-keeping operations, post-conflict reconstruction, anti-terrorism and cross-border crime combat.
UN peace-keeping missions should increase the control and management of weapons, and support to countries in reintegration and post-conflict reconstruction, they said. — VNS