The issue of traceability is not just about the tracing the weapon or ammunition at the point of production, but tracing through a chain. There is a danger in blaming the producer, whose products may end up as illicit arms flows through no fault of his own. There is thus a need for administrative systems to address the lines of supply. Hence this is legitimately on the UN agenda. It is legitimate for the international community to ask for evidence of progress.
Illicit traffic has a close relationship to crime and to terrorism.
Although there are lessons to be learned from what has been done in the area of the control of drugs, we should not presume a particular relationship between drugs and light weapons traffic. Also, there are many types of illicit traffic in weapons, including missiles. Eavis and Greene concluded the seminar by saying that this is an emerging agenda for the international community. Eavis noted a significant change in the EU over the past year in its attitude to discussing licit and illicit arms trafficking. EU programmes may provide a critical mass for moving beyond principles to action and there is a need to learn from these initiatives.