Ukraine is pursuing a responsible arms trade policy and exercising effective state control over the export of weapons. This announcement was made at a July 10 plenary meeting of the UN Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons by Leonid Rozhen, First Deputy Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, who heads the Ukrainian delegation. UNIAN reports, quoting Ukraine’s permanent representation at the UN, that Mr. Rozhen emphasized the importance of coordinating the efforts of states under UN aegis to combat the illegal trafficking in armaments. Among specific directions of international cooperation, the leader of the Ukrainian delegation cited the improvement and strict observance of UN Security Council sanctions, international cooperation among the border security, customs, and law enforcement bodies of various states, and establishment of viable systems of domestic control. The conference is expected to adopt on July 20 its Action Program aimed at the preventing, combating, and eradicating the illicit trade in arms. But, the BBC reports, conference participants showed some differences on the first day of discussions. Iran calls for banning arms sales to all entities but states. US Undersecretary of State John Bolton said the US would oppose any UN illicit trade restriction plan which would restrict licit trade or violate the constitutional right of US citizens to own and bear arms.
