UN General Assembly
1996

means to stem the proliferation of small arms in the Sahelo-Saharan region. Indeed, our countries, which are not arms producers, have become lucrative markets for the war industry. Where did these weapons come from? What are their transit points? An answer to these questions, in my delegation’s view, would make it possible to find ways and means to guarantee that the people of the affected countries enjoy a safe environment conducive to pursuing development. Besides the support of other countries in the Sahelo- Saharan region, Mali’s initiative was also backed by other regions during the forty-ninth and fiftieth sessions of the General Assembly, namely through the adoption of resolutions 49/75 G and 50/70 H. Mali’s initiative helped give rise to our Organization’s now-famous concept of micro-disarmament, which seeks to draw the attention of the international community to the disastrous consequences of small weapons, particularly in the developing countries, where they are used mostly to fuel conflicts. A better-structured and more united international order seems today to be the very precondition for international peace and security. Development is one of