1999D0730 — EN — 16.11.2004 — 005.001

This document is meant purely as a documentation tool and the institutions do not assume any liability for its contents

►B COUNCIL DECISION of 15 November 1999 implementing Joint Action 1999/34/CFSP with a view to a European Union contribution to combating the destabilising accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons in Cambodia (1999/730/CFSP) (OJ L 294, 16.11.1999, p.5)

Amended by:









▼B

COUNCIL DECISION

of 15 November 1999

implementing Joint Action 1999/34/CFSP with a view to a European Union contribution to combating the destabilising accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons in Cambodia

(1999/730/CFSP)







THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to Joint Action 1999/34/CFSP of 17 December 1998 on the European Union's contribution to combating the destabilising accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons ( 1 ), and in particular Article 6, in conjunction with Article 23(2) of the Treaty on European Union, Whereas: (1) The excessive and uncontrolled accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons poses a threat to peace and security and reduces the prospects for sustainable development; whereas this is acutely the case in Cambodia; (2) In pursuing the objectives set out in Article 1 of Joint Action 1999/34/CFSP, the European Union envisages operating within the relevant international forums to promote confidence-building measures and incentives to encourage the voluntary surrender of surplus or illegally-held small arms, the demobilisation of combatants and their subsequent rehabilitation and reintegration; whereas this Decision is intended to implement Joint Action 1999/34/CFSP; (3) The European Union considers that a financial contribution and technical assistance would pursue the aims of influencing public opinion in favour of civilian disarmament, consolidating and developing civil society involvement in the process of weapons collection and disposal of arms collected and/or rendered surplus through demobilisation; (4) The European Union intends therefore to offer financial support and technical assistance in accordance with Title II of Joint Action 1999/34/CFSP, Whereas: HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:







Article 1

1. The European Union shall contribute to promoting the control, collection and destruction of weapons in Cambodia.

2. For this purpose, the European Union shall:

(a) assist the government of Cambodia in the development of appropriate laws and regulations on the ownership, possession, use, sale and transfer of arms and ammunition,

(b) assist the government of Cambodia and the police and security forces to develop guidelines for improved record-keeping and security for weapons held by them,

(c) assist the government of Cambodia and the police and security forces in developing procedures for voluntary surrender of small arms and for identifying and destroying surplus small arms, particularly in connection with planned demobilisation and restructuring of armed forces,

(d) support civil society programmes to raise public awareness on problems related to small arms and light weapons and further to develop civil society cooperation with the weapons collection and destruction process, in particular by supporting activities by NGOs.

Article 2

1. In order to carry out the objectives specified in Article 1, the Presidency will appoint a Project Manager based in Phnom Penh.

2. The Project Manager will perform his tasks under the responsibility of the Presidency in accordance with the terms of reference set out in the Annex.

3. The Project Manager shall report regularly to the Council or its designated bodies through the Presidency assisted by the Secretary General/High Representative for the CFSP.

4. In carrying out his activities, the Project Manager will cooperate, as appropriate, with local missions of Member States and the Commission.

Article 3

1. The financial reference amount for the purposes referred to in Article 1 shall be ►M5 EUR 1 375 565 ◄ .

2. The Council notes that the Commission will direct its action towards achieving the objectives and priorities of this Decision by proposing or implementing appropriate Community measures.

Article 4

This Decision shall take effect on the date of its adoption.

It shall expire on ►M5 15 November 2005 ◄ .

Article 5

This Decision shall be reviewed six months after the date of its adoption.

Article 6

This Decision shall be published in the Official Journal.

▼M4









ANNEX

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE PROJECT MANAGER (2004)

1. The Project Manager, in cooperation with the Cambodian Armed Forces, will continue the work related to record keeping and the management and security of weapons stocks and to developing policies, guidelines and practices in this area. To that end, the Project Manager will monitor the projects previously implemented in Military Region 2 (Kampong Cham), Military Region 4 (Siem Reap) and Military Region 5 (Battambang). In close cooperation with the Ministry of National Defence he will ensure that the relevant authorities are involved in defining and implementing a further project in Military Region 1 (Stung Treng). If funds are available he will, under the same conditions, organise a project in a further military region and continue, at national level, the efforts regarding training, systems development and the recording of arms. Following the implementation in 2003 of a pilot project related to record-keeping and the management and security of weapons stocks for the National Police, the Project Manager will, if funds are available, in close cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior, implement a further project on record keeping, stockpile management and the security of weapons. If such a project is implemented, he will ensure that the relevant authorities are closely involved in its implementation and in continuing to develop policies, guidelines and practices in this area, building on the experience gained in the implementation of the pilot project in 2003.

2. The Project Manager, with the support of relevant experts, will continue to assist and promote the Government's programme of larger and smaller public ceremonies for the destruction of collected weapons and, where appropriate, of surplus weapons held by the army and police and security forces (in particular in the context of any demobilisation programme). The Project Manager shall also continue to assist the Government in searching for and destroying weapons left hidden in weapons caches during and at the end of the period of armed conflict. The Project Manager will continue to supervise and monitor the implementation of voluntary weapons surrender programmes (including Weapons in exchange for Development), through small-scale projects being implemented by local NGO's in several provinces, in particular by cooperating with national and international development agencies in organising public awareness activities on small arms in the target areas of these development agencies. The Project Manager may also, if necessary and only to a limited extent, lend support for capacity building of the National Commission for Weapons Management and Reform and educational projects on the new Arms Law when it comes into force.

3. The Project Manager will allocate financial aid to support activities by non-governmental organisations in Cambodia, including the coalition Working Group for Weapons Reduction in Cambodia, such as awareness training, information sharing and education and training programmes related to small arms and light weapons. These activities may take place in selected regions in Cambodia, as agreed between the Project Manager and the relevant organisations. Particular attention will be paid to strengthening the coordination and budgetary cooperation among such organisations in as far as their work relates to the mandate of EU ASAC.

4. The Project Manager will ensure that appropriate procedures are established for effective monitoring and evaluation of activities. To this end he will seek full cooperation from the Government of Cambodia and the police and security forces.

5. The Project Manager will encourage and assist other donors to support efforts to reduce and control small arms and light weapons and will stand ready, as appropriate, to carry out such projects with other donors within the limits of his powers under these terms of reference. Bearing in mind the European Union's vanguard position in this domain, he will ensure that he plays a pivotal role in international efforts and, where appropriate, will contribute to the management of projects supported by other donors. The Project Manager will draw up plans for the possible re-structuring of European Union support to reduce and control small arms and light weapons in Cambodia, in particular to allow for the continuation of work related to record keeping and the management and security of weapons stocks for the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces if other activities are ended in 2004.