Ammar Hijazi, Palestinian Observer, January 12, 2006, The Preparatory Committee for the United Nations Conference to Review Progress Made in the Implementation of the Programme of Action  to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, UN, New York, January 9-20, 2006

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.  Allow me first to begin by congratulating you and the members of the bureau in chairing this important meeting and wishing you success in facilitating the discussions of the Preparatory Committee.  Second, I would like to point out that my delegation fully associates itself with the statement made by Morocco on behalf of the member states of the Arab League.  In the interest of time, I will make my comments brief and limit them to a few important issues that we believe deserve the review and attention of the upcoming review conference in June.  We believe it is of crucial importance to review the implications of underdevelopment and poverty on the illicit trade of small arms and light weapons around the world.  The social and economic conditions produced by underdevelopment and abject poverty produce fertile grounds for a host of illicit trades.  It is very important to note that in order to combat the illicit trade of small arms and light weapons we must fight the factors that either cause or encourage it.  Additionally, the convening members must address the indiscriminate policies of countries that feed civil wars, drug-lords and other sources of conflict in the world.  These conflicts are not just fueled by illicit trade.  Instead, individual countries that make a policy choice of selling weapons to countries mired in civil war or other conflicts also fuel violence and contribute to the problem at hand.  

Mr. Chairman, when implementing the program of action, we must keep in mind that this program of action and the serious international efforts to implement it are directly related to relevant international law instruments, including international humanitarian law.  In this regard, we point to countries that gravely violate the Fourth Geneva Convention.  This is particularly relevant to occupying powers who do not respect their obligations toward international law and who use excessive force against the civilian population including the extrajudicial execution of persons.  Hence, we believe that the review conference should afford due attention to three important issues: 
1.	Implementing the plan of action cannot be in contravention of existing international laws and provisions, especially international humanitarian law.
2.	The plan of action and its implementation mechanisms must not adversely affect the rights of peoples to self-determination and self-defense.
3.	The conference should also give attention to the issue of human suffering caused by the misuse of small arms and light weapons.

Related to the issue I just discussed, Mr. Chairman, is the atmosphere of hostility, tension and perpetual conflict that has been imposed on Palestinian people in particular, and the Middle East in general due to the presence of belligerent occupation that transgresses upon the rights, lives, property, land and sovereignty of others.  This atmosphere makes the region susceptible to illicit trade of small arms and light weapons.  We must point out that the arming and protection of militias, including settlers, that reside unlawfully in an occupied land must be addressed here as these militias and settlers are involved in causing untold suffering and violence amongst the defenseless and occupied civilian population.  These militias own small arms that are state sanctioned and at times state funded.  In turn, these weapons only feed the ongoing conflict on the ground and perpetuate the occupation.  

Finally, Mr. Chairman, the plan of action must be addressed in its comprehensive context, which includes other important agreements and conventions on disarmament which also require implementation.  All these issues, combined and separate, are essential contributors to the fueling of illicit small arms trade and the devastating effects these small arms and light weapons have on entire societies and all these issues deserve the attention and action of the upcoming review conference.  Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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