From Catholic News Service

Small-arms trafficking blocks poor nations' development, says nuncio

By Catholic News Service

UNITED NATIONS (CNS) -- Illegal trafficking in small arms and light weapons stirs up the civil unrest in poor countries that blocks their social, political and economic development, a Vatican diplomat told the United Nations.

A legally binding treaty needs to be negotiated to stem illegal trading in small arms, said Archbishop Celestino Migliore, Vatican nuncio to the United Nations.

Negotiation of such a treaty "would have to involve developed and developing countries, exporting, importing and transit states, military industries, nongovernmental organizations and civil society," he said.

"The illicit trade in small arms and light weapons is a threat to peace, development and security," he said.

"Arms cannot be treated as if they were commercial goods like any other," he said.

Archbishop Migliore addressed the U.N. General Assembly in New York June 28. The Vatican has observer status at the United Nations, which means it can address U.N. bodies but cannot vote.

Illegally traded small arms and light weapons end up not only fomenting internal strife in poor countries but also promoting terrorism and organized crime such as human trafficking and drug smuggling, said the archbishop.

"The Holy See therefore supports those who call for a common approach in order to combat, not just the illicit arms trade, but activities related to it like terrorism, organized crime and the illicit trade in drugs and precious stones," he said.

The archbishop criticized the "scandalous impact" of small-arms trade "on the weakest in society, especially children."

In many countries children suffer "a twofold effect, from exposure to danger on one hand, and being press-ganged into service as child soldiers," he said.

Regarding children who are victims of armed conflict, the Vatican favors "their reunification with their family, their reintegration into society and their appropriate rehabilitation," Archbishop Migliore said.

The Vatican favors the Declaration on Armed Violence and Development signed by 42 countries in Geneva June7, he said.

The signers "commit themselves to promoting the integration of small-arms control into development frameworks," he said.

The 42 signers represented countries from Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America. The United States did not participate in the conference, which was sponsored by the Swiss government and the U.N. Development Program.

The two-page declaration said the signers would seek to develop better methods to stem the illegal flow of small arms and light weapons.

The declaration also favored measures to prevent violence that are "linked to programs providing nonviolent alternative livelihoods for individuals and communities."

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