Illegal trade of small guns, light weapons affects int’l peace, security: Vietnamese ambassador
Ambassador Pham Hai Anh, Deputy Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN), has raised his concern about the negative consequences of the illegal trade in small guns and light weapons that makes conflicts prolong and causes negative impacts on peace efforts and socio-economic development.
Hanoi (VNA) – Ambassador Pham Hai Anh, Deputy PermanentRepresentative of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN), has raised his concernabout the negative consequences of the illegal trade in small guns and lightweapons that makes conflicts prolong and causes negative impacts on peaceefforts and socio-economic development.
Addressing the UN Security Council’s virtual Arria-formulameeting on “The threat to international peace and security posed by the illicittrade in small arms and light weapons” on September 16, Anh affirmed Vietnam’ssupport for regional and international cooperation efforts to complementnational efforts, especially in coordination of activities and resources and expertiseand experience sharing. He emphasized the need for an approach appropriate tothe specific situation and location at the national and regional levels, andcalled for support of Africa's efforts to address the region's problems.
The Vietnamese representative said that it is necessary toboth ensure the fight against illegal weapon trade and avoid negative impactson the national capacity to safeguard national defence and security, even in thetransitional and post-conflict periods as in many places at present.
Speaking at the event, representatives of UN agencies and scholarssaid that the illegal trade and transfer of weapons remains complicated in manyparts of the world. They stressed the importance of fully implementing relevantinternational treaties, documents and cooperation frameworks, including the UNProgramme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in SmallArms and Light Weapons (PoA) and related resolutions of the UN SecurityCouncil./.
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A UNSC meeting in New York (Photo: Xinhua/VNA) 
