UN General Assembly
2001

No part of the world has been spared the illicit trafficking in and circulation of small arms. But the developing countries, in particular those on the continent of Africa, are paying the highest price for the proliferation of small arms from the standpoint of their security, stability and development. That is why the Economic Community of West African States moratorium on the manufacture, import and export of small arms, adopted in Abuja in October 1998, which was extended for three years on 5 July, as well as the Programme for Coordination and Assistance for Security and Development, should receive substantial financial support from the international community. 36 In this context, the Niger reaffirms its support for the proposal of the United Kingdom to create an international fund, to be managed by the United Nations Development Programme, for the collection of small arms. If it is effective, that fund will help to support regional and national projects for the collection and destruction of small arms in exchange for development projects. In this regard, I am pleased to