Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the Conclusion of Negotiations on a Draft International Instrument on Identifying and Tracing Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons (Provisional Title)

June 18, 2005

The Government of Japan welcomes the conclusion of negotiations on a Draft International Instrument on Identifying and Tracing Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) (provisional title) on June 18 (New York time: June 17) at the Third (Final) Meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group established to draw up the Instrument.
The issue of SALW used in post-Cold War conflicts as major weapons to kill and wound many people is an urgent matter to be addressed by the international community. In response to the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in SALW in All Its Aspects adopted in 2001, consultations have been continued since June 2004 to create an international instrument on identifying and tracing illegal SALW.
Japan, which has been so far actively exerting efforts to solve the SALW issue, hopes that the control of illicit SALW will be strengthened through the International Instrument on Identifying and Tracing Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons (provisional title) (political instrument).