Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Tra, Deputy Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN. (File photo: VNA) The 8th biennial meeting of states to consider theimplementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate theIllicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (PoA) kickedoff on June 27.
In her remarks, Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Tra, DeputyPermanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, shared other states’ concernabout multifaceted impacts of illegal activities related to small arms andlight weapons on global security, stability, and development.
She highly valued recent efforts, including the PoA implementation,to prevent the illicit trade in small arms, pointing out the necessity toaugment international cooperation on the basis of each state’s demand andresources, including in helping with capacity building.
Apart from ensuring states’ leading role in preventing,combating and eradicating the illicit trade, international cooperation in thisarea also needs to take into account their right of self-defence, the diplomatnoted.
Tra re-affirmed Vietnam’s commitment to fully implement thePoA, adding that it has been building a legal framework that covers themanagement of small arms and light weapons and also taking part in relevantregional mechanisms.
At the five-day meeting, participants voiced concerns overthe illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, which has a role to play in prolonging conflicts and worsening the crime situation in the world, thus negativelyaffecting international peace and security.
They stressed their countries’ commitment to fully andeffectively implement the PoA.
In the PoA, adopted by all UN member states in 2001, theyagreed to improve regulations on small arms, enhance the management over stockpiles,ensure weapons are properly marked, strengthen cooperation in weapon tracing, andencourage the engagement in international cooperation at regional and globallevels./.
VNA
