Sixth annual report on the implementation of the Council Joint Action 2002/589/CFSP of 12 July 2002 on the European Union's contribution to combating the destabilising accumulation and spread of SALW
Date: 2007-12-11
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EU Member State, arms control, arms limitation, arms policy, arms trade, export monitoring, fight against crime, national law, personal weapon

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IV

(Notices)

NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES

COUNCIL

Sixth annual report on the implementation of the Council Joint Action 2002/589/CFSP of 12 July 2002
on the European Union’s contribution to combating the destabilising accumulation and spread
of SALW

INTRODUCTION

(2007/C 299/01)

Other relevant policies include the European Union Programme
for the prevention of armed conflict calling for development assis-
tance aimed at addressing the root causes of conflict, the Euro-
pean Union Programme for preventing and combating illicit
trafficking in conventional arms and the European Union Guide-
lines for children in armed conflicts.

adopted Joint Action
the Council
On 12 July 2002,
2002/589/CFSP on the European Union’s contribution to com-
bating the destabilising accumulation and spread of small arms
and light weapons. It calls for an annual review of the actions
taken within its framework. Five annual reports have been pre-
pared since then.

The EU is a major player and contributor in the fight against the
illicit spread and accumulation of SALW and their ammunition.
Further to the 2003 European Security Strategy, the European
Council adopted on 15-16 December 2005 an EU Strategy to
combat illicit accumulation and trafficking of Small Arms and
Light Weapons and their ammunition. This document underlines
the need for consistent EU policies in the areas of security and
development, while exploiting fully the means available to the EU
at multilateral and regional levels, inside the European Union and
through its external relations. It serves as political guidance for EU
activities in this field through the various instruments available
and for its Member States.

The EU remains at the forefront of the common fight and prac-
tical work to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in
small arms and light weapons in all its aspects and it is engaged
in the implementation of the UN Programme of Action (PoA) at
EU level. EU funding (through Member States, the EDF, Commu-
nity funding and CFSP budget resources) remains one of the main
sources of financial assistance to implement the UN PoA.

During the Review Conference of the UN PoA, the European
Union presented on 30 June 2006 a comprehensive overview of
its activities to support the fight against illicit small arms and light
weapons. Representatives from the EU Presidency (Austria), the
Council Secretariat/Office of the HR’s Personal Representative and
the European Commission presented the overall SALW policy
based on the new EU Strategy on SALW and ammunition and
explained how this is being translated into concrete activities
through various instruments.

The EU SALW Strategy continues to take into account Joint
Action 2002/589/CFSP which has been used as a basis for spe-
cific actions in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Balkans and most
recently in Ukraine. Since 1999 around EUR 14,5 million of CFSP
funds have been committed through decisions implementing this
Joint Action.

This report covers the Council Joint Action 2002/589/CFSP as
well as the EU Programme for preventing and combating illicit
trafficking in conventional arms adopted by the Council on
26 June 1997. It focuses on activities carried out during 2006. It
has been prepared by the Council Secretariat and includes national
contributions by Member States.

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This report is structured in three parts and an annex:

— Part I covers Member States’ efforts to address the problems

relating to small arms and light weapons;

the Interior, the Ministry for Economics Affairs and Labour and
the Ministry of Defence have been further strengthened. Meetings
involving these ministries are held on a regular basis.

— Part II deals with international implementation efforts;

BELGIUM

— Part III covers participation in the work of international and

regional organisations;

— The annex lists focal points for SALW at national level and

within the EU institutions.

In line with its international commitments, Belgium adopted on
8 June 2006 a new law on arms, (published in the Belgian Offi-
cial Journal (Moniteur Belge) on 9 June 2006) in order to better
control, in particular, civilian possession of SALW.

I. NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION EFFORTS

BULGARIA

AUSTRIA

Arms export controls have been greatly improved by the new For-
eign Trade Act 2005 and the subsequent Regulation of 2006.
After entry into force of the new Austrian Foreign Trade Act (FTA,
‘Außenhandelsgesetz’) in October 2005 the Foreign Trade Regu-
lation (FTAR, Federal Law Gazette II, No 121/2006) implement-
ing the FTA entered into force in early 2006. This implementing
legislation harmonises the granting of licences with the relevant
provisions of the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports and
makes it obligatory for Austrian traders. Furthermore, it defines
brokers and brokering activities in line with Council Common
Position 2003/468/CFSP on the control of arms brokering.

The Austrian War Material Regulation and the Ministry of Eco-
nomics and Labour’s list of military equipment other than war
material correspond to the EU Common Military List. The Aus-
trian list is constantly being updated in order to adapt it to the
wording on the EU Common Military List. Under the new FTA,
the items of the EU Common Military List are subject to a licence
requirement for export, transit and brokering. Intra Community
trade in goods on the EU Common Military List is — with certain
exceptions — subject to a monitoring procedure. Technical assis-
tance in connection with the development, production, handling,
operation, maintenance or other servicing, stockpiling, testing or
proliferation of conventional weapons systems with military
capability is not granted if such assistance contradicts restrictive
measures on the basis of EU Common Positions or EU Common
Actions, OSCE Resolutions or binding resolutions of the United
Nations Security Council. Furthermore, a regulation passed by the
Minister for Defence enumerates war material and other weapons
which are taken into consideration for destruction. The list is
compiled on the basis of definitions of the EU and the OSCE.

Procedure

In the run-up to Austria’s EU Presidency cooperation and coordi-
nation between the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of

No new legislation was adopted. The mechanisms of national co-
operation, inter-ministerial and inter-governmental co-ordination
and the ways and means of information exchange between the
respective administrative and law enforcement agencies are stipu-
lated and defined by detail in the respective provisions of the
existing ‘Law on Control of Foreign Trade Activity in Arms and
Dual-Use Goods and Technologies’. Information on legislative
measures as provided in the 2002, 2003 and 2005 national
reports on the UN SALW Programme of Action still applies.

With an amendment of 9 May 2006 to the Law on Control over
Explosives, Firearms and Munitions, the European Firearms Pass
(EFP) was introduced. The EFP is an official document issued to a
person holding a permit to carry and use a firearm when s/he
passes from the territory of one EU Member State to that of
another. The EFP contains a number; expiry date; personal data of
the person; and the type, brand, model, category, calibre and serial
number of the firearm, as well as information on the type of fire-
arm the pass is issued for and on bans or permits in the EU Mem-
ber States concerned.

Although no changes have been introduced in the export control
system for the reporting period, a process of reviewing the exist-
ing export control legislation was launched in 2006 with a view
to Bulgaria’s accession to the EU on 1 January 2007. The main
objective of this review process was to grant coherence and com-
pliance with the EU provisions in the area of export control, as
well as to further improve its practical implementation. As a
result, the existing Law on Export Control in Arms and Dual-Use
Items was amended by the Bulgarian National Assembly (and
entered into force at the beginning of 2007). The ‘new’ Export
Control Law keeps all the established export control measures
regulating trade in arms and, in addition, enhances control mea-
sures for re-export, transit and brokering activities (strictly follow-
ing the EU Common position EC/468/2003). In accordance with
EU Common Position, for any brokering activity a registration of
the broker is required as well as an individual licence for each bro-
kering transaction.

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The structure of the Bulgarian export control system remains as
reported previously, with a strengthened interdepartmental infor-
mation exchange. Bulgaria adheres to the responsible policy in the
area of SALW control and implements the recommended mea-
sures established by the UN Programme of Action to prevent,
combat and eradicate the illicit trade in SALW to avoid illicit traf-
ficking and inappropriate re-export, with respect for human rights
in the country of final destination and for international peace and
regional stability. The measures are directed also to preventing the
use of arms for internal repressions, as well as for the purposes of
terrorism or organised crime.

Chief of Police. This specific licence is provided for citizens, under
conditions provided in the law. The conditions include, among
other things, the absence of any criminal record on the part
of the applicant, an investigation as to whether holding the
licence would endanger the applicant, the government or public
order and, finally, the condition passing of a governmental medi-
cal examination. The illegal manufacture, possession, stockpiling
and trade of SALW is governed by Law 113(I)2004. The Law pro-
vides for sentences of up to 15 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine
of 25 000 Cyprus pounds for violation of its provisions.

In 2006 the National Customs Agency organised several courses
and trained 50 customs officers in the field of combating illicit
arms trafficking with a special focus on SALW.

The Bulgarian Ministry of Defence has submitted the following
information relating to the national activities on SALW in 2006:

Within the Cyprus Police Headquarters, a special branch for keep-
ing records (national arms archive) has been established and an
electronic database facilitates the sharing of information on SALW
with other competent authorities in the EU, regional organisa-
tions and other countries.

— No changes in the systems of control, accountability and
safety of arms caches in the Bulgarian Army compared with
those previously reported;

CZECH REPUBLIC

— No changes in numbers of SALW and ammunition, reported

as Army surplus;

— No destruction of SALW and ammunitions took place

in 2006.

CYPRUS

The export, transit and retransfer of SALW are regulated by
Law 354/2002, ‘The Defence Export Regulations of 2002’, as
amended by Law 602/2004. The aforementioned Laws are
aligned with the European Code of Conduct on arms exports
and with Common Position 2000/C 191/01. The export, includ-
ing re-export, of SALW is controlled under the supervision of the
Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism and the transit and
retransfer of SALW comes under the authority of the Customs
and Excise Authority according to the provisions of the Customs
legislation.

The categories of weapons listed in the Annex to the Council Joint
Action of 12 July 2002 on the European Union’s contribution to
combating the destabilising accumulation and spread of small
arms and light weapons and repealing Joint Action 1999/34/CFSP
(2002/589/CFSP) are in service primarily with the Czech Repub-
lic’s Army and, to a lesser degree, with other security forces (Czech
Republic Police, Prison and Court Guards Service, Customs Ser-
vice, Security Information Service). Information on the numbers
of weapons held by these forces is not disclosed to the public; the
handling of such weapons (use, record-keeping, storage) falls out-
side the scope of the Arms Act (Act No 119/2002). Once the
weapons are removed from service with these forces, they become
subject to the Arms Act.

Possession of these categories of weapons for civilian use is sub-
ject to exemptions granted by the Czech Republic Police (Weap-
ons, Ammunition and Explosives Inspectorates at District Police
Headquarters) pursuant to Section 9 of the Arms Act.

The import, acquisition, possession and transport of SALW are
regulated by Law 113(1)/2004 ‘On Firearms and non-Firearms’.
The Law is aligned with European Union Directive 91/477 EC as
amended and with Common Position 2000/C 191/01.

The manufacture of certain SALW is
regulated by Law
113(I)/2004 (Part III, Article 7(I). Based on that Law, manufac-
ture by citizens or residents of the Republic, is prohibited, unless
they hold a valid licence for this purpose, which is issued by the

By 31 December 2006, arms permit holders in the Czech Repub-
lic received 627 permits to possess or carry this type of weapons.
110 new exemptions were granted to arms permit holders in
2006. Arms licence holders were allowed to possess or carry 791
weapons of this type (chiefly for use in film or theatre, or by pri-
vate security agencies). No new exemptions were granted to arms
licence holders in 2006. The Police are authorised to check the
measures taken by owners to prevent loss or theft and to ensure
safe handling of their weapons. The Police have adequate powers
for this purpose, including the right to carry out inspections at the
weapon owner’s home.

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in
Trade in these weapons is subject to different legislation,
particular the Foreign Trade in Military Material Act
(Act
No 38/1994). The trader must first obtain a permit from the
Licensing Authority at the Ministry of Industry, and then seek a
separate licence for each transaction. Each licence application is
considered also by the Ministry of the Interior, in the light of pub-
lic order and internal security considerations, and the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, in the light of foreign policy interests. In 2006 the
Czech Republic permitted non-commercial exports of 238 weap-
ons of this type, all of them to EU countries. In all cases the weap-
ons were exported to EU countries with their prior consent. No
prohibited weapon was exported on this basis to a non-EU coun-
try in 2006.

An amendment to the Act regulating foreign trade in military
material (Act No 38/1994 as amended) is currently being drafted,
with the aim of significantly strengthening the Czech customs
authorities’ power control.

DENMARK

The Danish Ministry of Justice administers the Danish weapons
and explosives legislation, which also includes the regulation of
small arms and light weapons.

identification number if the weapon is not marked by the manu-
facturer. The register also includes historical information which
makes it possible to locate information on previous owners of a
weapon.

Information on lost firearms etc. is also reported to the Schengen
Information System (SIS).

All Danish rifle associations are furthermore required to establish
their own weapons registers which must include information on
all firearms owned by the association and its members.

Recent legislative initiatives

There have been no legislative SALW -initiatives in 2006.

Pursuant to the provisions of the Danish weapons and explosives
legislation, weapons and ammunition may not be imported,
manufactured, acquired, possessed or carried without a licence
from the Minister of Justice or from the person authorised by the
Minister to issue such licences.

On 1 October 2004 a new act containing rules on transportation
of weapons between third countries (i.e. countries than Denmark)
entered into force. The rules ban transportation of weapons etc.
to countries covered by a UN, EU or OSCE arms embargo. Fur-
thermore, transportation between third countries that have not
issued the necessary export and import licenses is banned.

The legislation also stipulates that weapons or explosives of any
kind, including ammunition, may not be exported without a spe-
cific licence from the Minister for Justice. This provision also
includes small arms and light weapons.

The Minister for Justice has authorised the local police districts to
issue certain of the abovementioned licences concerning small
arms and light weapons (possession of firearms etc.).

Databases and registers

The Danish police has established a central electronic database
(The Police Weapons Register) in which all persons authorised to
possess firearms are registered on the basis of applications
received for firearms licences and registrations of purchases of
smoothbore shotguns, etc. The register also contains information
on lost and stolen weapons.

Furthermore, on 14 June 2005 the Danish Parliament adopted an
act introducing, among other things, regulation on arms broker-
ing. According to this act, without a licence from the Minister
for Justice, or from the person authorised by the Minister, a bro-
ker is prohibited from negotiating or arranging transactions that
involve the transfer of weapons etc., as defined in the Danish
weapons and explosives legislation, between countries outside the
EU. Furthermore, it is prohibited to buy or sell such weapons etc.
as part of a transfer between countries outside the EU, or for the
owner of the weapons etc., to arrange such a transfer. The ban
does not apply to activities carried out in another EU Member
State or outside the EU by Danish individuals residing abroad.
implements European Council Common Position
The act
2003/468/CFSP of 23 June 2003 on the control of arms
brokering.

Recent enforcement initiatives

The Police Weapons Register includes all relevant information
including category and type of weapon, manufacture, model,
marking (number), calibre and special characteristics. Each
weapon is registered under a specific identification number. The
the weapon be marked with the
police may order

that

To improve national measures for criminal investigation, the
Danish police have taken the initiative in 2006 in a national
SALW -project ‘Project Firearms’ regarding the tracing, updating
and registering of arms.

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ESTONIA

Newly enacted legislation, reviews of the practical functioning of existing
legislation

No new legislation on small arms and light weapons entered into
force in 2006.

The process of amending and adapting the Weapons Act (which
entered into force on 31.3.2002) was initiated in 2005 and was
concluded in early 2007. This Act establishes the legal bases and
procedure for the handling of weapons and ammunition, the
grant of permission for weapons and ammunition to be used for
civilian purposes, the use of weapons and ammunition for civil-
ian purposes and the removal of weapons and ammunition from
civilian use, the requirements for firing ranges and field firing
ranges, and the bases and procedure for the exercise of state
supervision in such areas.

In June 2006 Estonian Defence Forces destroyed 6 000 old pistols.

There is a Strategic Goods Commission established within the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is a licensing body which is com-
posed of the representatives of MFA, Ministry of Defence, Minis-
try of Economic Affairs and Communications, the Security Police
Board, Estonian Tax and Customs Board, and Estonian Law
Enforcement Board. The Strategic Goods Commission has always
considered the promotion of training relating to the topic of stra-
tegic goods to be very important. In the autumn term of 2006,
enhanced lectures on the international export control system and
strategic goods control in Estonia were held for the students of
taxation and customs of the Financial College of the Public Ser-
vice Academy.

FINLAND

The Firearms Amnesty legislation was approved by the Parliament
at the end of 2003 and it came into force on 1 January 2004. The
purpose of the legislation is to decrease the number of illegal and
unregistered weapons in Finland. Since the legislation entered into
force, it has been possible to surrender illegal small arms, ammu-
nition and explosives to the police without any legal conse-
quences if they have not been used in a criminal act. The total
number of firearms surrendered was approximately 4 000 dur-
ing the year 2006.

The owner of an illegal firearm can also apply for a licence to keep
the gun or to transfer it to another licence holder via the police.
Those arms that the owner does not wish to keep or transfer to
another licence holder are deactivated or rendered to the state.
Some of them are sold by the police in official public auctions to
collectors and other licensed arms holders.

FRANCE

Brokering

A law has been drafted establishing a prior authorisation system
for transactions by brokers and is to be examined by the parlia-
ment shortly. This control system will apply to persons resident
or established in France and will include legal penalties. Purchas-
ing and resale transactions carried out abroad by persons resident
or established, which escape the export control procedures, will
be subject to the same conditions.

A draft implementing decree for these provisions has also been
drawn up. The establishment of a prior control regime for trans-
actions by dealers will thus be added to the controls on natural or
legal persons acting as dealers.

Co-operation, co-ordination and exchange of
administrative and law enforcement agencies

information between

Embargos

In May 2006, a meeting of the National Coordination Group of
SALW Experts took place. The National Coordination Group of
SALW Experts includes the representatives of the ministries
involved with arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation
of SALW and the representatives of national non-governmental
organisations dealing with the issue. The group discusses inter alia
Finnish policy concerning SALW, implementation of the national,
regional and global provisions and regulations and bilateral assis-
tance to SALW projects. The group meets regularly under the
Ministry for Foreign Affairs and it has representatives from the
Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry
of Trade and Industry. The representatives from other authorities
(customs, border control, etc.) are invited to participate whenever
necessary. Non-governmental organisations are invited regularly.

A proposal for a law has been drafted to amend the penal code
and is to be examined by the parliament shortly. It defines an
embargo and provides for penal sanctions if there is a violation
of an embargo or restrictive measures.

Other initiatives

For several years, France has shown increased transparency in an
annual report to parliament on arms exports, which is distributed
not only in France but also abroad (embassies and international
organisations). The report presents national control practices, and
international exercises in the export control field in which France
participates. It also contains many statistics, including those on
exports of small arms and light weapons.

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GERMANY

GREECE

Regular meetings of the national coordination group for SALW
issues were organised by the national focal point. These meetings
bring together arms and export control experts from ministries,
administration, non-governmental organisations and industry in
order to address questions relating to small arms and light weap-
ons including their ammunition. The group discusses inter alia
German policy with regard to SALW in international and regional
fora, multilateral and bilateral assistance as well as the implemen-
tation of national, regional and global provisions and regulations.
The meetings are chaired by a representative of the Federal For-
eign Office.

Various initiatives were taken with regard to cooperation between
administrative bodies and law enforcement agencies at national
level. These covered newly enacted legislation, but also reviews of
the practical functioning of existing legislation. Training measures
were a regular part of such efforts. In 2006, these initiatives
included the following:

In order to implement the EU Common Position on brokering
(2003/468/CFSP), Germany has amended its export legislation.
Each individual case of arms brokering relating to war weapons
and other military equipment located outside Germany requires a
license. In principle the German law on arms brokering is based
on a territorial link, i.e. it is not applicable in cases without any
link to German territory. However, when German citizens located
in Germany engage into brokering abroad without any linkage to
German territory, this constitutes, however, a license requirement.

In order to implement the UN instrument to enable States to iden-
tify and trace, in a timely and reliable manner, illicit small arms
and light weapons, Germany has begun to introduce various mea-
sures with regard to national marking and tracing practices and
respective standards.

For exports of military SALW outside NATO, EU and NATO-
equivalent countries, Germany has continued to apply the
so-called ‘new for old’ principle so as to ensure that the recipient
whenever possible destroys weapons that are to be replaced by
the new consignment, rather than reselling them. In general,
exports of military SALW are not licensed to private end-users.

Germany signed the Council of Europe Convention on the Pre-
vention of Terrorism on 24 October 2006.

For 2006 the target set in the framework of crime policy was to
increase the confiscations of illegally possessed and traded SALW,
through the drafting of specialised, -targeted action plans by com-
petent Police Authorities.

A. Efforts focused on two directions:

1.

control of legal trade in arms, throughout all
(import, trade, possession, use);

its stages

2.

intensification of controls, in cooperation with other compe-
tent authorities, aiming at tracking down and confiscating
illegally imported, traded, possessed and used Small Arms and
Light Weapons.

a) Measures for controlling the legal trade in SALW:

— The Ministry of Public Order runs an electronic database,
which is the National Central Authority for information shar-
ing and is able to directly receive and forward information on
all legally traded and possessed weapons. This database is
constantly updated to include any changes in possession
status.

— All missing weapons — whether they are lost, stolen,
embezzled, tracked — are entered into this database in order
to be confiscated or used as evidence in criminal proceedings,
they have been identified in the event that they are tracked
down. This database gives the history of each arm/weapon,
from its import up to its end legal holder (arms records).

Furthermore,
exchange with other authorities inside and outside Greece.

facilitates SALW information

this database

— A minimum number of controls has been established for each
month in every enterprise that is legally activate in arms trad-
ing. Control data are cross- checked in the electronic database.

— The provisions of the applicable Law 2168/1993 and the
relevant Ministerial Decisions are strictly observed. These
regulations constitute the major regulatory framework in
Greece governing the issues of arms and weapons. This
Law has been harmonized with Directive 91/477/EEC and
the Schengen Convention. In some cases, this regulatory
framework includes even stricter provisions (Article 15 of
Law 2168/1993 and Article 272 of the Criminal Code, as
amended by Law 2928/2001).

— Legal trade in small arms and weapons in Greece (import —
export — trade and transit) requires a special license issued
by the competent authority, according to the provisions of
Law 2168/1993.

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— There is excellent cooperation with other prosecution
authorities in Greece (port and customs authorities, Body for
the Prosecution of Economic Crimes) as well as with the Mili-
tary Authorities, so as to share information with the compe-
tent authorities of the countries from which arms and
weapons are imported in or transported to Greece.

in legal proceedings and it is up to the competent courts to decide
upon their fate, according to Article 16 of Law 2168/1993.

HUNGARY

b) Measures for controlling the illegal trade in SALW:

The Hungarian licensing system has three tiers with fairly strict
procedures. This system includes the following procedural steps:

Since bilateral cooperation at regional and international level is
deemed to be indispensable for the prevention and suppression of
illegal trade in arms and weapons from one country to another,
Greece has signed police cooperation agreements with its neigh-
bouring countries and participate in international, regional and
bilateral organizations
(Adriatic — Ionian Initiative, SECI
EUROPOL — INTERPOL).

1. Activity Licence (i.e registration of traders).

2. Those registered traders planning to engage in business talks
with foreign partners have to obtain a Licence for Negotia-
tion in advance that allows them to proceed with negotiations
and to conclude a contract.

— Vehicles and persons entering Greece are checked at the

established points of entry.

3. Then, to perform a contract, the applicant has to obtain a

Contract Licence (authorisation of export/import).

— Constant controls are carried out at the land and sea borders
(in cooperation with port authorities) to prevent illegal
imports of weapons by persons who enter Greece illegally.

— Disclosed cases are thoroughly investigated, in order to detect
and dismantle networks that may be active in the illegal trade
in weapons and arms.

— Special measures are taken in areas with intense problems of
trading, possession and use of arms, in cooperation with local
communities and bodies.

At this stage, a procedure is under way concerning the amend-
ment of some provisions of the basic national legislation on arms
with a view to the introduction of certain new regulations, such
as on the recording of persons who act as mediators in arms
transactions (brokers — brokerage) and the definition of specific
activities which should be subject to control and licensing.

As regards marking:

The Hungarian Trade Licensing Office is mandated to issue all
licences relating to trade in military equipment including ammu-
nition and services. Licence applications are considered and
granted on a case-by-case basis. ‘Open’ or ‘general licences’ do not
exist in the Hungarian export control system for conventional
arms. Licences are issued following the approval of the Inter-
Ministerial Committee on Foreign Trade in Military Equipment
(hereinafter ‘the ICTME’). This body is responsible for policy guid-
ance. Representatives of all ministries and national authorities
concerned, including members of the intelligence services, sit on
the ICTME.

Government Decree 16/2004 (II.6.) incorporates regulations for
transit shipments, applying the same procedural rules as in the
case of exports. It means that all transit applications have to be
submitted in advance and are assessed with equal scrutiny, case-
by- case and against the same criteria as export applications. Only
companies established in Hungary are entitled to apply for transit
licences. The transit licences in the case of lethal military equip-
ment, live ammunition, explosives and other dangerous goods
require the responsible shipper to have an armed security escort
along the transit route: from the point of entry up to the point of
exit.

— In Greece there are no companies that produce weapons/arms
for commercial use. There is only one State Company which
produces arms for the Ministry of Defence.

The illegal manufacture, possession, trade, stockpiling or transfer
of SALW constitutes a criminal offence. Groups, companies and
individuals engaged in such activities are identified and
prosecuted.

— As regards the method of marking the producer country,
Greece supports the NATO STANAG 1 059 marking system.

Total number of confiscated arms/weapons by the Greek Police
in 2006: 1 179 (88 automatic rifles/rifles, 303 pistols, 114 hand-
guns, 674 hunting guns). Such arms/weapons constitute evidence

In order to control arms brokering and to avoid circumvention
of UN, EU or OSCE embargoes on arms exports, as well as of
the criteria set out in the European Union’s Code of Conduct on
Arms Exports, Government Decree 16/2004 (II.6.) takes into
account the recommendations and Best Practice Guidelines of
the relevant international organisations and Common Position
2003/468/CFSP on the control of brokering adopted by the
Council of the European Union on 23 June 2003.

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Article 2(2)(c) of the Government Decree states that ‘in order to
act as a representative, agent, broker or intermediary in respect of
military equipment or technical assistance, whether within or out-
side the territory of the Republic of Hungary, the licences required
are: activity licence, negotiating licence and contract licence’.

This means that Hungary controls brokering activities carried out
both inside and outside its territory, by brokers who are Hungar-
ian residents or established in the territory of the Republic of
Hungary.

As in the case of exports, in the case of brokering all applications
are assessed, inter alia, against the provisions of the European
Union’s Code of Conduct on Arms Exports. The Hungarian Trade
Licensing Office keeps records for a minimum of 10 years of all
persons and entities which have obtained a licence for brokering
activities. A register of arms brokers is also established, but the
registration or authorisation to act as broker under no circum-
stances replaces the requirement to obtain the necessary licence
or written authorisation for each transaction. When assessing
applications to act as brokers, the Hungarian Trade Licensing
Office takes into account the records of past involvements in illicit
activities by the applicant.

IRELAND

In 2006 the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
drafted new legislation on export controls, which was published
in January 2007. The new legislation once enacted will modern-
ise and strengthen Ireland’s strategic controls system as well as
ensuring full compliance with Ireland’s international export con-
trol obligations.

There is no specific national legislation on the transit of small
arms and light weapons. Under current Irish legislation, however,
the import, transit, re-transfer and export of small arms and light
weapons to and from EU countries must be licensed in accor-
dance with the Firearms Acts, 1925 to 2006 and the EC (Acqui-
sition and Possession of) Weapons and Ammunition Regulations,
1993. Exports of firearms to all countries are also subject to the
Control of Exports Act, 1983 and Orders made under that Act. At
present, the relevant Order is the Control of Exports Order, 2005,
which includes pistols and ‘component parts thereof’ in relation
to general military equipment.

With regard to the importation of small arms and light weapons,
an import licence granted by the Department of Justice, Equality
and Law Reform is required for an applicant not in possession of
a valid firearm certificate for the firearm in question. Where a
valid firearm certificate exists for the firearm proposed to be
imported, a prior consent (Article 11) document is required to
bring the firearm into the State, in accordance with EC Directive
91/477/EEC.

No small arms or light weapons are currently manufactured in
Ireland. It is an offence to manufacture firearms without being
registered to manufacture by the Minister for Justice, Equality and
Law Reform. Firearms present in Ireland would be marked in the
case of manufacture outside the State. Some older firearms may
not be marked, in which case An Garda Síochána (the national
police force) is responsible for marking them. Firearms dealers are
required to keep records of each transfer of a firearm for a mini-
mum of 5 years. Collection and disposal of small arms and light
weapons fall under the remit of An Garda Síochána and the Irish
Defence Forces. Stockpile management and security are under the
remit of the Department of Justice and the Department of Defence.

A wide range of amendments to the Firearms Acts, 1925-2000
were enacted by the Criminal Justice Act 2006.

Certain provisions of the Act relating to firearms have yet to be
commenced by the Minister, including those which provide for
3-year licences for legally held firearms, minimum standards for
the keeping of firearms by individuals and firearms dealers, and
minimum standards for firearms ranges. In addition, the Minister
may by Statutory Instrument declare specified firearms and
ammunition to be restricted. Applications for a restricted firearm
may be made to the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána subject
to compliance with certain conditions

ITALY

Co-operation, co-ordination and exchange of
administrative and law enforcement agencies

information between

In 2006, the ad hoc working group on small arms and light
weapons — established in Italy since June 2000 under the
co-ordination of
and
which includes representatives of relevant ministries, law enforce-
ment administrations and interested national industrial associa-
tions — met once.

the Ministry of

Foreign Affairs,

In order to export a firearm, there are varying legal requirements
depending on the destination. Should the applicant not be in pos-
session of a valid firearms certificate for the firearm to be exported
he must obtain an Authorisation for Export from An Garda
Síochána (the national police force). In addition, for exports to
Member States of the European Union, an export licence is
required from the Minster for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
In the case of exports to countries outside the EU, an export
licence is required from the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and
Employment.

Discussions were mainly focused on the preparation of the 2006
Review Conference of the UN Programme of Action (PoA) against
the illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons, on the
implementation of the multilateral instrument on marking and
tracing as well as on the implementation of the EU Common Posi-
tion regulating brokering activities. Due consideration was also
given to the debate in other relevant multilateral fora (UNGA First
Committee, OSCE, Wassenaar Agreement, G8).

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Newly enacted legislation

Italy ratified the UN Convention against Transnational Crime and
its Protocols (including the Protocol against the Illicit Manufac-
turing of and Trafficking in Firearms, their Parts and Components
and Ammunition) on 16 March 2006 with Law No 146/2006.
Italian law on firearms has been amended accordingly, in particu-
lar with regard to the storage of information relating to firearms
for no less than ten years and marking to indicate the country of
manufacture.

Other initiatives

In 2006, Italian armed forces destroyed the following small arms
and light weapons, identified as surplus:

— 770 Beretta pistols, mod. ‘34’;

— 93 697 Garand M1 rifles;

The Law on Arms Circulation provides that all transactions
involving small arms and light weapons require an export, import
or transit licence for strategic goods. The Strategic Goods Control
Committee issues these licences. An end-use certificate is one of
the preconditions for export and transit through the territory of
the Republic of Latvia. The requirements and conditions of the
certificate are drawn up in accordance with the requirements of
the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports and shall be required
as provided in the Law on Circulation of Strategic Goods.

The Law on Circulation of Strategic Goods (May 2004) is designed
to ensure control over the circulation of strategic goods in accor-
dance with national and international requirements for monitor-
ing their export, import and transit.

In total the police confiscated 569 firearms in 2006. With regard
to different offences, the police seized illegally acquired and
stored firearms — 16 pistols/revolvers, 16 carbines, 14 shot-guns,
2 small-calibre rifles, 1 pneumatic pistol, 2 self-made pistols.

— 37 390 FAL BM59 assault rifles;

LITHUANIA

— 8 231 miscellaneous.

Total: 140 088 small arms and light weapons destroyed.

LATVIA

No new legislation on small arms and light weapons was intro-
duced in 2006.

Some amendments to the existing legislation regarding more effi-
cient export controls are to be introduced in the near future. For
example, a new draft Law on Circulation of Strategic Goods will
define more precisely the control institutions, their responsibili-
ties and co-operation, as well as the terms used in the law, includ-
ing brokering. New regulations defining national
lists of
controlled goods as well as the order of issuing different types of
licences are to be passed as well.

The Law on Arms Circulation came into force on January 2003.
It regulates arms matters in the Republic of Latvia in accordance
with international requirements and harmonises national legisla-
tion in this respect, determining the rights and obligations of
physical and legal persons with regard to the circulation of arms
and weapons, their parts, ammunition, explosives, explosives
equipment, special devices and pyrotechnic products in the
Republic of Latvia and determining classification of these items
for the purpose of guaranteeing individual and public safety. The
Law has not been amended since 2003. Some additional legisla-
tive acts regulating the circulation of arms in Latvia were passed
in 2003 and 2004.

On 6 April 2006 the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania
amended the Law on the Control of Strategic Goods, which was
adopted on 29 April 2004. The amendment inter alia modified the
list of restrictions on issuance of licences and modified the defi-
nition of brokering (modification is highlighted). As of 1 July
2006, when the amended law entered into force, the brokering
denotes negotiations conducted or arrangement or performance
of transactions by natural and legal persons resident or registered
in the Republic of Lithuania and by subsidiaries of foreign legal
persons and other organisations during which the goods included
in the Common List of Military Equipment can be transferred out-
side the territory of the Republic of Lithuania, the territory of
another Member State of the European Union or a non-Member
State to any other non-Member State.

The Temporary Law on Voluntary Return of Weapons, Ammu-
nition and Explosives and Legitimation of Weapons and Ammu-
nition entered into force on 1 October 2006 and is valid until
31 March 2007. The Law grants amnesty from legal liability for
persons who decide to give up illegally owned arms, ammunition
and explosives. It establishes a legal framework to withdraw illicit
firearms, ammunition and explosives from civil circulation.

The list of countries under UN or EU arms embargoes was con-
stantly renewed. The current list is provided in the Resolution of
the Government of the Republic of Lithuania No 237 on the
Approval of the List of the States to which the Export or Transit
of the Goods Listed in the Common Military List is Prohibited and
for which Brokering in Negotiations and Transactions in the
Goods Listed in the Common Military List is Prohibited.

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The Law on the Control of Arms and Ammunition is in the pro-
cess of revision at the present time. Among other amendments,
full compliance with the Firearms Protocol will be attained.

LUXEMBOURG

No new legislation was introduced in 2006.

is

legal basis

The relevant
to be found in the Law of
15 March 1983 on arms and ammunition and in the Grand
Ducal Regulation of 31 October 1995 on the import, export and
transit of arms, ammunition and equipment intended specifically
for military use and of related technology. These are published in
the Mémorial, Luxembourg’s official gazette. The existing legisla-
tion is currently under review.

Prohibited arms

Article 4 of the Law of 15 March 1983 on arms and ammunition
prohibits the import, manufacture, conversion, repair, acquisition,
purchase, holding, storage, transport, carrying, transfer, sale or
export of, or trade in, certain types of arms and ammunition. Not-
withstanding that provision, however, the Minister for Justice may
in particular authorise:

a)

the import, acquisition, purchase, transport, holding, sale,
transfer or export of, or trade in, arms and ammunition con-
stituting antiques, works of art or decorative items or intended
to form part of a collection or display; authorisation may be
subject to the condition that the arm has been permanently
disabled;

b)

the import, acquisition, purchase, transport, holding, sale,
transfer or export of arms and ammunition for scientific or
educational purposes;

c)

the import, export or transit of arms from abroad which are
heading for another country.

Such authorisation may be subject to the condition that the arms
in question cannot be used for any purpose other than those
stated above.

register must also show the number and date of issue of the min-
isterial authorisation. It must be produced at the request of any
representative of the public authorities. Gunsmiths and arms deal-
ers may be required to supply the Minister for Justice with a copy
of their register. The maximum quantities of arms and ammuni-
tion which gunsmiths and arms dealers are allowed to hold in
stock are set by the Minister for Justice.

In the event of riots, suspicious gatherings or public order distur-
bances, the Minister for Justice may order the closure or evacua-
tion of any arms and ammunition shops or stores and the transfer
of their contents to a specified location.

Breaches of the Law of 15 March 1983 are punishable by impris-
onment for from eight days up to five years.

Export

If an arm is purchased in Luxembourg for export, the gunsmith
will apply to the Ministry of Justice for the seller to be issued with
a licence to export the arm, i.e. transport it from the place of pur-
chase to the border. Applications for export licences for arms,
ammunition and equipment intended specifically for military use
and for related technology have to be accompanied by an inter-
national import licence or end-use certificate. The Grand Ducal
Regulation of 31 October 1995, as amended, makes provision for
the form and content of those documents to be laid down by the
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Cooperation.

Under Directive 91/477/EEC on control of the acquisition and
possession of weapons (Article 11), Luxembourg notifies the
other Member States concerned of licences issued for export to
their countries.

The licensing office may require applications for transit of arms,
ammunition and equipment intended specifically for military use
and of related technology to be accompanied by a document in
which the competent authorities in the country from which the
goods come certify that export to the stated country of destina-
tion is authorised.

Applications for export or transit licences have to be accompa-
nied by an undertaking, signed by the applicant, to carry out the
export or transit operation in accordance with the licence appli-
cation. After each consignment of goods covered by an export
licence, the exporter has to provide the licensing office, within
three months, with proof that they have arrived in the authorised
country of destination and that the importer has had them cleared
for home use.

Luxembourg does not have any national marking system for use
in the manufacture and/or import of small arms. There is no arms
factory in the country. Gunsmiths and dealers in arms and ammu-
nition have to keep a register showing incoming and outgoing
arms, with the make, calibre and serial number of each arm
and the names and addresses of its supplier and purchaser. The

Such proof is provided either by a document issued by the import-
ing country’s customs authorities, showing that the exported
goods have been declared for home use, or by any other docu-
ment showing the goods to have been directly taken receipt of by
the authority qualified to do so in the importing country or by
any business acting for that authority.

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Destruction of arms

NETHERLANDS

The method used in Luxembourg (by its army, police and cus-
toms) is destruction of arms by severing. This is carried out by
their respective armouries. The cut-up metal is all placed in a con-
tainer and then transported by armoury staff to a steelworks,
where it is melted down in electronic blast furnaces, in the pres-
ence of witnesses. A record of the operation is then drawn up.

MALTA

Malta has taken adequate action to issue two new legal notices
L.N. 167/2006 and L.N. 168/2006. In the first legal notice the
division sought legal coverage as regards the importation and
exportation of equipment that might be related to capital punish-
ment, torture, or some other inhuman and degrading treatment.
In essence this legal notice prohibited technical assistance linked
to the repair, development, manufacture, assembly, testing, main-
tenance and all other sorts of technical support linked to the pro-
vision of such equipment. Furthermore, nobody was allowed to
import items listed in the first schedule attached to this legal
notice, irrespective of the origin of these items.

Moreover, no person was allowed to receive technical assistance
relating to these items irrespective of whether the request came
from an individual or an organization.

The export of these items was also made subject to an export
authorisation irrespective of the origin of these items. The export
of items that could be used for torture is allowed only when they
are to be exported to an EU Member State or to any of their affili-
ated territories, and if these items are to be used by members of
the EU or of the UN in peace keeping operations in a particular
destination. Still it was left to the discretion of customs to verify
the authenticity of this declaration, rendering the breaking of
these conditions punishable at law, with a fine totalling not more
than 5 000 Maltese Liri or imprisonment for a period of not more
than 5 years.

Legal notice 168/2006 adopted EU legislation 1330/2004 and
essentially incorporated it into the national Maltese legislation.
This regulation divides a list of military equipment into 22 sub-
categories, all of which are subject to an authorisation before the
same items are eventually exported. The list starts with, inter alia,
conventional equipment and ammunition (ML1-ML5), ground
vehicles and equipment (ML6), chemical and toxic agents (ML7),
energy materials, vessels of war, aircraft, electronic equipment,
high-velocity energy equipment, armoured and protective
equipment.

With respect to legislation on small arms and light weapons, in
2006 the Netherlands made no modifications.

POLAND

Legal measures

The Polish legal system pertaining to arms transfers contains no
specific provisions relating to Small Arms and Light Weapons
(SALW). The legal provisions in force — the Law of 29 Novem-
ber 2000, on foreign trade in goods, technologies and services of
strategic significance for state security, and the maintenance of
international peace and security (unified text, Journal of Laws of
2004, No 229, item 2315) — established a unified control sys-
tem of export, import, transit and related services concerning
dual-use goods and technologies, arms and technical assis-
tance (1). The Ministry of Economy is currently verifying it, with
the aim of introducing changes that will simplify and tighten the
export control system, and at the same time make it more favour-
able to exporters.

The provisions of the Law of 22 June 2001, on the implementa-
tion of business activity in the scope of production and trade of
explosives, weapon, ammunition, products and technolo-
gies used by Armed Forces and Police (Journal of Laws of 2001,
No 67, item 679 with subsequent amendments) were brought
into line with Directive 91/477/EEC of 18 June 1991 on control
of the acquisition and possession of weapons. The Law of 23 June
2006 on changes of certain laws in connection with the member-
ship of the Republic of Poland in the European Union (Journal of
Laws No 133, item 935) amended the stipulations of Article 3 by
adding a new Chapter 5 a, introducing the obligation for entre-
preneurs transporting arms and ammunition on the territory of
the EU to confirm transport permits and preliminary transport
permits. These documents accompany every transport of SALW
and ammunition to Poland from EU countries, from Poland to EU
countries, and during transit across the Polish territory. The goal
is to assure the authorities of the countries of origin and destina-
tion that the entrepreneur is authorised to perform activities con-
nected with trade in the kinds of arms and ammunition specified
in the documents.

On 13 June 2006 the Council of Ministers amended the annex to
the Ordinance of 23 November 2004 on bans and restrictions on
transfers of goods of strategic importance for the state security
(Journal of Laws of 28 June 2006, No 109, item 750). The
amended annex contains a list of States to which arms exports are
prohibited due to relevant UN and EU sanctions. The main
changes to the Ordinance include application of an arms embargo
to Uzbekistan and cancellation of sanctions against Afghanistan
and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In the case of these items and of dual-use equipment the divi-
sion takes care to process the application on its own merits and
law and also international
in full conformity with national
commitments.

(1) English version and related laws and regulations are available on the

Internet:
www.mgip.gov.pl/GOSPODARKA/DKE/English/Laws/ExportControl/.

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Administrative measures

Before obtaining a permit/concession for activities connected with
the production of or trade in arms and ammunition, entrepre-
neurs are obliged to attend training and pass appropriate exams.
The Ministry of Economy organised 31 workshops and courses
devoted to arms export control and the internal control system
for entrepreneurs trading in goods, technologies and services of
strategic importance, including SALW. A total of 672 persons
from 130 firms participated in training courses organised in
2006. The issues covered by the UN Programme of Action in
SALW and relevant EU documents were also included.

Although Poland has not exported Man-Portable Air Defence Sys-
tems (MANPADS) to date, steps were undertaken to fully imple-
ment the recommendations of the Wassenaar Arrangement
contained in the document ‘Elements for Export Controls of
MANPADS’ and procedures were adopted in view of their pos-
sible export in the future. Potential licence applications for export
of MANPADS will be processed in accordance with the above-
mentioned Law of 29 November 2000.

Adequate inventory management and accounting control proce-
dures have been implemented at all levels of responsibility for
stockpile facilities. A system of regular reporting and communi-
cation between these levels has also been organised. Each facility
is obliged to maintain the required records on all stored SALW
from the moment it takes control of them, through the various
movements of the stock, until it is expended or decommissioned.

Enforcement

The Polish customs regulations remained unchanged during the
reporting period. In 2006 the Customs Service further strength-
ened control of border crossings (road, maritime and airports) for
illegal trafficking in goods, including SALW. A number of new
X-ray scanners for cars and also trucks were installed. Special
attention was devoted to Poland’s eastern borders. These steps
allowed customs officers to expose and prevent illegal trafficking
in 42 small arms (rifles and pistols) and 145 728 items of
ammunition.

In 2006 the Border Guard Service disclosed attempts to smuggle
49 firearms, 1 755 items of firearms ammunition and 66 gre-
nades; of this number — 34 firearms and 685 items of ammuni-
tion were confiscated beyond the border crossing area. The value
of the smuggled weapons and ammunition amounted in total to
PLN 8 860. The Border Guard Service initiated 19 preparatory
procedures concerning smuggling attempts, 12 of them commit-
ted on the eastern border of the EU.

PORTUGAL

in 2005 of a coordination group composed of representatives
from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defence, the
Ministry of Internal Affairs, Portuguese Intelligence Services and
the Ministry of Finance contributed to better articulate the work
of all the entities involved.

Newly enacted legislation

The licensing of import and export of the categories of weapons
listed in the Annex to the Council Joint Action is primarily the
responsibility of the Ministry of Defence.

For each transaction involving small arms and light weapons, a
permit must be obtained from the Licensing Authority (at the
Ministry of Defence or at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, depend-
ing on whether the weapons are for military or civil use).

Each application is also considered by the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, in the light of foreign policy interests, including observa-
tion of the criteria enshrined in the EU Code of Conduct on Arms
Exports.

In 2006, a new legal framework entered into force covering the
production, repair, import, export, transfer, stockpile, circulation,
trade, licensing, acquisition and possession of small arms and
light weapons, their components and ammunition.

Law 5/2006 establishes a comprehensive regime, including crimi-
nal sanctions for illicit possession, trafficking and brokering for all
the categories of weapons listed in the Annex to the Council Joint
Action of 12 July 2002.

ROMANIA

No new legislation on small arms and light weapons was adopted
in 2006.

Information on the legal framework and legislative measures as
provided in national reports on the UN PoA on SALW still applies.
Romania has had adequate legislation and an appropriate admin-
istrative system to exercise effective control over the trade of small
arms and light weapons since 1993.

Co-operation, co-ordination and exchange of
administrative and law enforcement agencies

information between

Efforts to foster co-operation, co-ordination and exchange of
information between administrative and law enforcement agen-
cies in combating the accumulation and spread of SALW, as well
as preventing illicit trafficking have continued. The establishment

The national export control system for conventional arms con-
sists of a legal framework, national control lists, a national export
control authority and other public institutions, principles, proce-
dures,
licensing and
control activities, export control documentation, as well as coop-
eration and international assistance.

the authorisation process, registration,

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imports and other operations with
The control of exports,
conventional arms is regulated by Government Ordinance
No 158/1999 approved with amendments by Law No 595/2004.
Significantly, Romanian legislation contains provisions regarding
international arms brokering,
incorporating the provisions
stipulated in Common Position 2003/468/CFSP adopted by the
Council of the European Union on 23 June 2003. In the case of
brokering activities, all applications are assessed, inter alia, against
the provisions of the EU Code of Conduct on arms exports.

Furthermore, in accordance with the international instrument to
enable States to identify and trace, in a timely and reliable man-
ner, illicit small arms and light weapons, adopted by the United
Nations General Assembly on 8 December 2005, ANCEX has
established a register of transferred arms. This document com-
prises records of the exports and imports of SALW, with serial
number, type, quantity, origin and other relevant information
about the transfers.

including
All re-export operations with conventional arms,
SALW, are subject
the Government
Ordinance No 158/1999 approved with amendments by
Law No 595/2004.

to the provisions of

SLOVAKIA

As regards the national implementation of the EU Joint Action on
SALW and the EU Programme for Preventing and Combating
Illicit Trafficking in Conventional Arms, the following acts have
been adopted:

The first step that must be taken is, according to Romanian leg-
islation, to authorise companies to trade in conventional arms.
Licence applications are considered on a case-by-case basis.
Licences are issued taking into account the advice given by the
Inter-agency Council for the control of exports, imports and other
trade operations with military goods, which comprises represen-
tatives of all ministries and national authorities concerned, includ-
ing members of intelligence services.

Act No 179/1998 Coll. of 15 May 1998 on Trade in Military
Material and amending Trade Business Act No 455/1991
Coll. regulates inter alia the conditions for trade in military small
arms and light weapons, the conditions for brokering activities,
and the operation of state administration authorities in that con-
nection. During 2006 Slovakia has fully implemented all relevant
national legislative norms.

for

international

Permits
transshipment and non-
transit,
commercial activities with conventional weapons are granted on
a case-by-case basis.

In Romania, several ministries are involved in implementing the
national legislation and are represented in international activities
in the field of small arms and light weapons, but the National
Agency for Exports Control (ANCEX) remains the coordinating
authority in the field of exports control legislation. In coopera-
tion with the Counter-Terrorism and Arms Control Division
(Ministry of Foreign Affairs), ANCEX participates in all relevant
international activities.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administrative Reform —
General Inspectorate of Romanian Police (GIRP) — controls the
way in which natural or legal persons are granted authorisation
to obtain, possess, hold, bear and use firearms and ammunition.
At the same time, according to Law No 295/2004 regarding fire-
arms and ammunition, which has been harmonised with Direc-
tive 91/477 EEC, the GIRP holds a record of all legal bearers of
lethal and non-lethal weapons and updates the database of the
National Register of Weapons (www.politiaromana.ro).

There have been no major SALW initiatives in 2006, but the Gov-
ernment of Romania has continued to carry out important out-
reach work with companies and individuals operating within the
national defense industry in order to improve understanding of
and compliance with arms control legislation. ANCEX provides
this information for traders through its website (www.ancex.ro)
and runs various seminars and workshops on this topic.

The following national authorities are involved in the implemen-
tation process:

1. Ministry of Foreign Affairs;

2. Ministry of the Economy;

3. Ministry of the Interior;

4. Ministry of Defence;

5. Customs Authority;

6.

Intelligence Services.

An entitled person is obliged to refrain from trading in military
material to the extent that such trading would result in damaging
the foreign policy, security or trade interests or the international
commitments of the Slovak Republic, or in damaging the inter-
ests of international organisations and institutions to which the
Slovak Republic is a party, member or participant.

The violation of the Trade in Military Material Act may lead to a
fine of up to SKK 10 million and/or imprisonment for up to eight
years.

In 2006 Slovakia permitted the export of 7 908 SALW and 4 644
SALW were imported.

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SLOVENIA

In Slovenia, there are several ministries involved in the implemen-
tation of national legislation and international activities in the
field of small arms and light weapons. The Ministry of Foreign
Affairs remains the coordinating authority for the implementa-
tion and coordination of international activities in the field of
small arms and light weapons. The Ministry of the Interior con-
trols the exports and imports of small arms and light weapons,
and the Ministry of Defence is responsible for control over the
import and export of small arms and light weapons used for mili-
tary purposes.

Annual Reports on arms exports and imports are published on
the website of the Ministry of Defence. The Slovenian Police and
the Customs Administration are responsible for the control of the
state border and border crossings. They carry out direct control
over cargo crossing the state border. In 2006, the Police dealt with
238 criminal offences of illicit production of and trade in arms or
explosives (152 in 2005), and filed criminal complaints against
261 suspects (161 in 2005). In 2006, there were 22 cases of
criminal offences perpetrated by organised criminal groups, while
only 4 such cases were recorded in 2005. The Police detected
192 (127) criminal offences through its own activity. In 2006,
the Police destroyed 637 confiscated firearms; 72 items out of the
total quantity seized were donated to the National Museum of
Contemporary History.

There are regular meetings and inter-ministerial coordination in
the field of small arms and light weapons with each Ministry tak-
ing an active role according to its competences.

Slovenia adopted basic legislation in the field of small arms and
light weapons in the 1990s. A comprehensive overview of the
national legal framework concerning small arms and light weap-
ons was submitted to the UN in 2005 in the national report on
the implementation of the UN Programme of Action. Since then,
and specifically in 2006, no new legislation was adopted. Never-
theless, the Ministry of the Interior formally submitted to the Min-
istry of Justice an initiative for the amendment of Article 310 of
the Criminal Code — Illicit production of and trade in arms or
explosives, to include exterritorial applicability of the Criminal
Code in cases of alleged commission of criminal offence of this
type. The rationale of such a proposed amendment to the Crimi-
nal Code is that such a criminal offence may be committed if the
perpetrator unlawfully ‘brings’ weapons into the Republic of Slo-
venia and/or intervenes in the resale of weapons from abroad. The
proposed amendments to the Criminal Code are expected to enter
the governmental and parliamentary procedure in 2007.

SPAIN

The latest events related to new legislation and/or regulations are
as follows:

and the WA) in the Annex I to Royal Decree 1782/2004 of
30 July 2004, on the Regulation of Control of the Foreign
Trade of Defence Materials, Other Material and Dual Use
Goods and Technologies.

b)

In October 2005, the Spanish Parliament urged the Govern-
ment to issue, in one year’s time, a Law on Arms Trade. It
was to upgrade provisions in the aforementioned Royal
Decree 1782/2004 of 30 July 2004. The new Law should
comply with and make an explicit reference to the UN
Programme of Action (UN PoA) to prevent, combat and
eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in
all its aspects and related UNGA Resolutions, as well as the
Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in
Firearms, their Parts and Components and Ammunition,
supplementing the UN Convention against Transnational
Organized Crime (adopted by the UNGA on 31 May 2001),
better known as the ‘UN Firearms Protocol’.

Following that request from the Parliament, the Spanish cabi-
net approved on 29 December 2006 a proposal for a new
Law on Foreign Trade of Defence Materials and Dual Use
Goods. This proposal
is currently being examined and
amended by the Parliament, and it is expected to enter into
force by mid 2007.

The most notable aspects of the proposal can be summarised
as follows:

— In the first place, Spanish legislation on this matter con-
sists of a norm equivalent to a Law, which will establish
an instrument to exercise controls with greater efficacy.

— Secondly, the Law will up date the new regulations on
Foreign Trade of Defence Materials and Dual Use Goods
according to the commitments made by Spain in inter-
national fora and non-proliferation regimes.

— Thirdly, the new Law will broaden the scope of the con-
trols to all kinds of firearms, including arms for hunting
and sport shooting, their parts and components and
in compliance with Resolution 55/225
ammunition,
adopted by the UN General Assembly against the illicit
manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms, their parts
and components and ammunition.

a) On 12 January 2006, Order ITC/60/2006 was introduced to
update and incorporate the agreed changes in the control lists
into the related international munitions lists (i.e. the MTCR

— Fourthly, the Law will explicitly adhere to the eight cri-
teria of the European Code of Conduct on Arms Exports,
as well as the criteria adopted by the OSCE for the opera-
tions of small arms and light weapons.

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— Finally, the legislative texts include an explicit commit-
ment to promote and participate in the regional and
international processes geared to greater control of the
trade in weapons, especially the adoption of an Interna-
tional Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). In this regard, we must
recall that Spain was one of the 117 sponsors of the
project approved on 26 October.

c) Spain fulfilled during 2006 the internal ratification process
for the adoption of the ‘UN Firearms Protocol’, and on 9 Feb-
ruary 2007 deposited at the UNSG the instrument of acces-
sion on. The Protocol enters into force for Spain on 11 March
2007.

Training of administration, law enforcement agencies, judicial organs

Spanish law enforcement agencies continued to organise, as in
previous years, courses and workshops on the criminal handling
of firearms and explosives and on the application of information
technology to the control of weapons and explosives. These are
regular seminars organised in order to disseminate the rules and
legal provisions for preventing and combating illicit trafficking of
weapons and with the goal of recycling and updating police offic-
ers of the relevant agenciess on the subject.

Other initiatives or activities

In the legal framework of the ‘Convention regarding the establish-
ment of uniform regulations for the reciprocal recognition of
official proof marks on fire-arms’ of July 1969, and in accordance
with the provisions laid down by its Executive Authority, the
Permanent International commission for the proof of small-arms
(CIP.), the Spanish national Official Proof-House ‘Banco Oficial
de Pruebas de Armas de Eibar (BOPE)’, has marked all portable
weapons for civil use produced in Spain during the year 2006.
Marking of arms is one of the recommended actions to be taken
for future tracing and prosecution of the illicit trafficking of
SALW; the marking includes the following information: name of
the producer, trial number of the weapon, year of production
and BOPE’s marking signs and logos. In 2006 Spain produced
280 pistols, 22 942 rifles (this figures includes single rifle canons)
and 28 138 shotguns, which were all marked by BOPE. Moreover,
in 2006 BOPE destroyed 1 276 portable weapons (mainly pistols
and revolvers).

Co-ordinated by the Central Inspectorate for Arms and Explosives
of the Guardia Civil (Spain’s central agency for the administrative
control of firearms), the competent Spanish authorities seized
7 015 illegal firearms in 2006. At present, the Spanish authori-
ties have a total of 291 196 firearms of different kinds stockpiled
(bonded, seized and confiscated); 22 392 firearms will be auc-
tioned and 40 772 others destroyed in 2006.

During 2006, the Spanish authorities carried out 23 727 inspec-
tions of facilities where firearms and/or explosives are produced
or stored (including factories, commercial outfits, sports shoot-
ing facilities, private security companies, etc.); of that total, 8 071
inspections were carried out on facilities related to firearms and
15 656 inspections on facilities where explosives are produced or
stored.

Additionally, Customs and Tax officials paid several visits to ports
and airports as part of their programme to combat gun-running
during arms export.

SWEDEN

The legislation on small arms and light weapons was amended on
some points, inter alia, the information on contact details for
arms brokers in the national arms brokers register will no longer
be confidential.

According to a new ordinance that came into force on 1 July
2006, Swedish Customs are obliged to inform the Swedish Police
about all weapons that cross the Swedish border into Sweden.

Legislation on a time-limited firearms amnesty was approved by
Parliament at the end of 2006 and came into force on 1 March
2007. The amnesty was in force from 1 March to 31 May 2007.
The purpose of the legislation is to decrease the number of illegal
and unregistered weapons in Sweden.

EUROPEAN UNION

In 2006, the Safety Assessment for Foreign Air-carriers (SAFA)
Directive was implemented and three legislative proposals
addressing regulatory measures on the territory of the EU were
put forward:

— Updating of the EC Weapons Directive (91/477);

— Proposal for an EC Directive on Firearms to implement the

UN Firearms Protocol;

— Commission’s Communication on the security of explosives,
detonators, bomb making equipment and firearms in the EU.

II.

INTERNATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION EFFORTS IN 2006

AUSTRIA

OSCE

Austria supported the further implementation of OSCE docu-
ments on SALW as well as on stockpiles of conventional ammu-
nition. Austria organised a first presentation of the EU Strategy to
combat illicit accumulation and trafficking of SALW and their
ammunition at the Security Dialogue of the Forum for Security
Co-operation of the OSCE on 29 March 2006. The aim of this
effort was first of all to familiarise the participating States with the
regulatory framework and activities as well as with the EU’s
projects on SALW, and secondly to build the basis for enhanced
co-ordination and co-operation between the OSCE and EU, in
order to ensure that the strengths and differing capacities were
used in the most cost-effective way and to avoid duplication of
work.

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Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC)

Austria gave financial support to a project for the destruction of
small arms and light weapons (SALW) and MANPADS in Kaza-
khstan. The US-led project was launched in April 2006.

Project designed to strengthen governmental capacities and the
capacities of civil society for combating the proliferation of light
weapons in Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka (application of the
United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms).

The project for the destruction of small arms and light weapons
(SALW), MANPADS and ammunition in Ukraine, also financed
by Austria was further implemented in 2006.

Eastern and South-Eastern Europe

Belarus — EUR 55 370 — OSCE

United Nations

Strengthening capacities in the field of light weapons stockpile
management and security.

At the 61st UN General Assembly, Austria co-sponsored the fol-
lowing resolutions relevant to SALW:

Kosovo — EUR 94 543 — KOSSAC

‘Assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and
light weapons and collecting them’, ‘Problems arising from the
accumulation of conventional ammunition stockpiles’. Austria
voted in favour of the resolution ‘Illicit trade in small arms and
light weapons in all its aspects’

UNDP project named ‘KOSSAC’: Kosovo Small Arms Control
Initiative.

Ukraine — EUR 25 000

BELGIUM

Rehabilitation and protection of the area surrounding the ammu-
nition depot in Novobohdanivka.

Belgium supports several projects in the world in the area of
SALW, namely:

BULGARIA

Africa

South Africa — EUR 216 700 — Safer Africa

Project designed to increase and strengthen police law-
enforcement capabilities in South Africa by reducing light weap-
ons in risk areas.

Burundi — DRC — Rwanda — EUR 400 000 — RECSA-GRIP

Project named ‘Building support and capacities for the develop-
ment of National Action Plans on small arms and light weapons
in Burundi, Rwanda and the DRC’.

Latin America

Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala
— EUR 107 800 — Arias Foundation

Project designed to raise the awareness of the most vulnerable
members of society (young people) in the six countries of the
impact of firearms in their life through awareness-raising activi-
ties in secondary schools.

Brazil — EUR 70 467 — UNODC

Project designed to intensify the efforts by the Federal District
(Brasilia) community to prevent violence caused by drugs and the
proliferation of firearms.

Bulgaria financed a project for the destruction of 1 897 small
arms and light weapons which were illegally held by civilians and
subsequently confiscated by the Ministry of the Interior of Mon-
tenegro. Bulgaria donated USD 7 588 to the Ministry of the Inte-
rior of Montenegro for the completion of the project. The
destruction was completed on 28 February 2006.

In 2006 Bulgaria hosted an international seminar entitled ‘Export
Control of Dual-Use Items and Arms’: Industry Outreach (Sofia,
22-23 May 2006). The 2006 Sofia seminar was part of the con-
tinuing implementation of the Joint Action Plan of Hungary and
Bulgaria under the Australia Group outreach programme target-
ing non-participating States.

The Sofia seminar was an opportunity for an exchange of infor-
mation, experience and training in the form of presentations and
interactive discussions for participants from Albania, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Croatia, the FY Republic of Macedonia, and Serbia
and Montenegro.

Following its policy to assist NATO partners as much as possible
in dealing with the problems of security and defence, in 2006 Bul-
garia participated in 9 of the 10 current NATO/PFP Trust Fund
Projects. Five of these projects were dedicated to the collection
and destruction of SALW:

1. Trust Fund Serbia and Montenegro II for destruction of
1 320 620 APLs in Serbia and Montenegro: EUR 30 000.

2. Trust Fund Ukraine II for destruction of munitions, SALW

and MANPADS in Ukraine: EUR 25 000.

Asia

Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka — EUR 100 000 — Safer World

khstan: EUR 10 226.

3. Trust Fund for destruction of SALW and MANPADS in Kaza-

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4. Trust Fund Albania II for destruction of munitions for SALW

DENMARK

in Albania: EUR 25 000.

5. Trust Fund for clearance of 569 hectares of contaminated
land and disposal of unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Azer-
baijan: EUR 15 000.

The Danish law enforcement authorities participate in various
international and regional initiatives dealing with arms control
and arms trafficking issues.

The Bulgarian Ministry of Defence has submitted the information
that the tasks of the Bulgarian Armed Forces, participating in
peacekeeping operations in 2006, have not included the collec-
tion and destruction of SALW.

CYPRUS

Cyprus actively participates in the work undertaken in this field
by the UN and the OSCE.

Specifically, Cyprus provides reports to the UN for the implemen-
tation of the United Nations Programme of Action to prevent,
combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light
weapons in all its aspects. Furthermore, it has provided informa-
tion to the UNHCHR (based on decision 124/2004) concerning
‘the prevention of human rights violations caused by the availabil-
ity and misuse of SALW’.

Cyprus also provides information to the OSCE, concerning
national practices and procedures for the export of Conventional
Arms and Related Technology (FSC.DEL/269/06, 27.6.2006), on
Conventional Arms Transfers (FSC.DEL/432/06, 26.9.2006) and
on SALW (FSC.DEL/14/07, 24.1.2007).

CZECH REPUBLIC

The Czech Republic actively participates in the implementation of
the UN Programme of Action against the illicit trafficking of
SALW. In 2006, the Czech Republic contributed CZK 1 000 000
(USD 47 308,17 = EUR 34 910) to the activities of the Trust Fund
for the Consolidation of Peace through Practical Disarmament
Measures. This sum will be used to support the second phase of
the CASA database, which is being implemented from November
2006 to November 2007. One of the main goals of the CASA
database is to monitor the implementation of the UN Programme
of Action by individual UN Member States.

Interagency coordination in 2006 concentrated namely on the
preparation of the 2006 Review Conference of the UN Pro-
gramme of Action against the illicit trafficking of SALW and on
the implementation of the multilateral instrument on marking
and tracing. Due consideration was also given to the debate in
other relevant multilateral fora (UNGA First Committee, OSCE,
Wassenaar Arrangement).

The Czech Republic cooperated inter alia with national offices of
the Interpol in Lima and Wiesbaden concerning 147 cases involv-
ing 1 791 arms.

Since November 2006 the Danish police has participated in
Operation Crossfire II concerning arms smuggling within the
framework of the Baltic Sea Task Force.

Denmark is supporting the disarmament, demobilisation, reinte-
gration and rehabilitation of ex-combatants in Liberia through a
UNDP Trust Fund with a total of EUR 2,7 million (2004-2006).

Denmark is supporting the disarmament, demobilization, reinte-
gration and rehabilitation of ex-combatants in Afghanistan
through a UNDP Trust Fund with a total of EUR 1,1 million
(2005-2006).

ESTONIA

In 2006, Estonian soldiers in Iraq confiscated arms and ammuni-
tion during patrol operations in Iraq several times. Operations
were conducted in cooperation with the US and Iraqi land force
unit.

FINLAND

— Finland has supported the ECOWAS Small Arms Programme
(ECOSAP) with EUR 250 000 in 2006. A similar amount will
be disbursed in 2007 and 2008, bringing total Finnish sup-
port to EUR 750 000;

— Contribution to the OSCE mission in the Republic of
Moldova, covering destruction of surplus and outdated stocks
of ammunition (total EUR 160 000);

— Contribution to the OSCE SALW and Conventional Ammu-
nition Programme in the Republic of Tajikistan, Phase II cov-
ering restoration of ammunition magazines in six localities
(total EUR 100 000);

— Financial support to the UNDP-administered SALW -project
in Albania. The project started as a weapons-for-development
swap to recover the illegally owned ammunition and small
weapons stolen from army depots during the crisis in the late
1990s. The collection was made possible by amnesty laws
passed by the government. The scope of the project was later
widened to community policing development, aiming at
building trust between the law enforcement and public ser-
vice and common citizens. Finland funded the project until
2006 when it ended.

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Other initiatives

Albania (2006)

Finland contributed to the decommissioning process under the
Aceh Monitoring Mission (AMM) mandate by seconding 11
experts. Their expenses were about EUR 545 000. The decommis-
sioning of the Free Aceh Movement’s (GAM) armaments began on
15 September 2005 and was executed in four stages and con-
cluded by 31 December 2005. According to the Memorandum of
Understanding between the Government of the Republic of Indo-
nesia and GAM, GAM agreed to undertake decommission of all
arms, ammunition and explosives held by the participants of
GAM with the assistance of the Aceh Monitoring Mission. GAM
handed over to the AMM 840 arms which successfully underwent
the decommissioning process. The decommissioned arms were all
destroyed.

FRANCE

United Nations: in 2006 France contributed to the special fund of
the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament
in Africa in Lomé (UNREC) (EUR 77 000).

In 2006 Germany supported the NATO Partnership for Peace
Trust Fund for the destruction of SALW, MANPADS and ammu-
nition in Albania. Contribution: EUR 107 000.

Angola (2003-2006)

Germany supports the social and economic reintegration of
ex-combatants and their families in Angola. For the purpose of
sustainable reintegration, a community-based approach is taken.
Resettlement is combined with rural development and agricul-
tural programmes. The programme also involves reconstruction
of roads and thereby creates employment for the receiving com-
munities and the ex-combatants. Capacities of local governments
and administration are strengthened to develop and implement
programmes for reintegration. Overall budget: EUR 11 990 332.

ECOWAS: France participated in the support programme for
the control of light weapons in the ECOWAS Member States
(USD 260 000).

Burundi (2003-2007)

Tajikistan: between September 2005 and April 2006, a mission
of 4 French experts went to Tajikistan (training, supervision of
stock creation, control of operations to destroy unstable ammu-
nition) as part of operations carried out under the aegis of the
OSCE.

Ukraine: In May 2006, participation in the mission evaluating and
advising on the decontamination (destruction of surplus ammu-
nition stocks) of the Novobogdanivka site (Ukraine). From Sep-
tember to October 2006, training mission for bomb disposal
experts for the destruction of surplus ammunition stocks in
Ukraine (3 experts).

Lebanon: a security audit of the ammunition stocks of the Leba-
nese Armed Forces (LAF) was carried out in March 2006. Further
to the audit, the LAF was given training by army bomb disposal
experts.

GERMANY

Germany contributes to projects and activities in the field of
SALW including their ammunition in the framework of and in
cooperation with a variety of institutions and organisations. Most
of these activities are undertaken within a wider time frame than
the calendar year. Key initiatives in 2006 are listed below:

Germany supports the national demobilisation and reintegration
programme of Burundi. The project has four main components:
empowerment of communal reintegration structures, revitalisa-
tion of agricultural production, income generation and rehabili-
tation of infrastructure. Overall budget: EUR 15 940 000.

Cambodia (2006-)

Germany conducted an evaluation visit in December 2006 to
look into the problems of ammunition stockpiles and develop a
project proposal for implementation in 2007-2008 with regard
to improving the management and security of stockpiles as well
as the destruction of surplus ammunition.

Democratic Republic of Congo — DRC (2004-2007)

Germany supports the National Programme for Demobilisation
and Reintegration (NDRP). Following support for the national
‘Comité Technique de Planification et de Coordination’ (CTPC),
Germany has committed funds for a three year cooperation with
the ‘Commission Nationale de Démobilisation et Réinsertion’
(CONADER). Overall budget: EUR 2 500 000.

Afghanistan (2004-)

Democratic Republic of Congo — DRC (2005-2011)

Since 2004, Germany has been supporting the DD&R and DIAG
processes in Afghanistan by co-financing the disposal and destruc-
tion of surplus weapons and ammunition. Overall budget:
EUR 3 000 000.

Germany supports the social and economic reintegration of chil-
dren and youth formerly associated with fighting forces in the
Province Maniema in DRC. Overall budget: EUR 12 000 000.

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EAC (2004-)

Rwanda (2003-2007)

Germany supports the development of a political, legal and insti-
tutional framework within the East African Community (EAC) to
control the uncontrolled proliferation of SALW. Components of
the project with the Secretariat of the EAC include organisational
development to set up a Regional Focal Point on Small Arms
Control, harmonisation of policies and legislation, training, devel-
opment of systematic approaches to assess the problem of SALW,
and education and awareness-raising in cooperation with civil
society organisations in EAC Member States.

Greater Great Lakes Region (2003-2006)

Germany supports the Rwanda Demobilisation and Reintegration
Commission (RDRP) and the process of social reintegration of
ex-combatants in Rwanda. Overall budget: EUR 8 773 000.

Senegal (2005-2006)

Germany supported programmes for small arms awareness in the
Casamance region. The programme was based on a network of
various local NGOs that have developed a comprehensive strat-
egy to tackle the problem of the uncontrolled proliferation of
SALW. Activities started in 2005 with a coordination workshop
and with capacity building. The main focus was awareness rais-
ing among the population and government officials in the cross-
border region.

Germany contributed to the Trust Fund of the World Bank led
Multi-Country Demobilisation and Reintegration Programme
(MDRP) for the Greater Great Lakes Region. Overall budget:
EUR 9 900 000.

Sierra Leone (2004-2006)

League of Arab States (2004-)

Germany continued its cooperation with the League of Arab
States (AL) by providing assistance to SALW-related work at vari-
ous levels. Support was given for a meeting of SALW focal points
from the countries of the League. The translation of OSCE docu-
ments on SALW issues into the Arabic language continued. A
study visit to Berlin, Vienna (OSCE) and Geilenkirchen (German
Armed Forces Verification Centre) was organised for AL Secre-
tariat staff in October 2006. To give an example of concrete
cooperation with an AL Member State, in September 2006 Ger-
many organised a two-day training course on stockpile manage-
ment and security in Tunisia.

Liberia (2005-2007)

Germany supports education and vocational training for children
and youth affected by armed conflict including children formerly
associated with the fighting forces in Sierra Leone. Overall bud-
get: EUR 12 000 000.

South Eastern Europe/RACVIAC (2005-)

Germany continued to support SALW-related seminar work in
the regional centre for arms control. Concrete initiatives included
brokering and stockpile management.

Uganda (2005-2007)

Germany supports the National Focal Point on Small Arms to
implement the Ugandan Action Plan on Small Arms Control in
the areas of capacity building and awareness raising. In accor-
dance with the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms and
other regional agreements, the Ugandan government has created
a bureau for the coordination of small arms control.

Germany supports the national Demobilisation and Reintegra-
tion Programme (DDRR). The programme provides psychosocial
assistance to victims of war-related sexual abuse in Liberia
and supports the reintegration of homecoming refugees and
ex-combatants through labour-intensive rehabilitation of infra-
structure. Overall budget EUR 10 750 000

HUNGARY

Global measures

SADC (2004-)

Germany supports the Southern African Development Commu-
nity (SADC) in the implementation of the SADC Protocol on the
Control of Firearms, Ammunition and Other Related Material. As
part of this cooperation Germany has deployed an advisor on
peace and security issues to support the establishment of a
Regional Focal Point at the SADC Secretariat. The project includes
the following components: harmonisation of policies and legisla-
tion, capacity building, training of law enforcement agencies and
cooperation with civil society actors.

The Republic of Hungary has been involved in international nego-
tiations aimed at preventing, combating and eradicating the illicit
trade in SALW at both regional and international level. Hungar-
ian licensing policy strictly observes all UN Security Council
embargoes and other embargoes declared by the Organisation of
Security and Co-operation in Europe and the European Union and
supports moratoria such as that of ECOWAS.

Partnering with other countries Hungary has provided technical
and financial assistance to support the regional implementation of
the measures contained in the UN Programme of Action. It has
taken an active part in other activities carried out in the frame-
work of other organisations too, such as NATO’s Partnership for
Peace, Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe etc.

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Within the framework of the Organisation for Security and Coop-
eration in Europe (OSCE) Hungary has undertaken a number of
politically binding commitments in relation to SALW. The OSCE
Document on SALW provides a general framework to deal with
problems related to SALW, by setting out measures, norms and
principles in the following fields:

— Manufacturing, marking and record-keeping,

— Common export criteria and export controls,

— Management of stockpiles, reduction of surpluses and

destruction,

— Early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and

post-conflict rehabilitation.

Additional commitments dealing with specific aspects of the
SALW issue have been set out in the following OSCE documents:

— OSCE Principles for Export Controls of Man-portable Air

Defence Systems,

In accordance with the provisions of the OSCE Document on
SALW, Hungary exchanged information with OSCE participating
States before 30 June 2001 on:

— National procedures for the control of manufacture of small

arms,

— Relevant national legislation and current practice on export
policy, procedures, documentation and on control over
national brokering,

— General information on national stockpile management and

security procedures,

— Techniques and procedures for the destruction of SALW.

This information is updated as and when necessary, to reflect
changes in national legislation and procedures.

— OSCE Principles on the Control of Brokering in SALW,

Regional measures

— Standard Elements of End-User Certificates and Verification

Procedures for SALW Exports.

The OSCE Principles governing conventional Arms Transfers are
also relevant for the export control of arms, including SALW.

Hungary, together with Finland, the Russian Federation, Turkey
and the United States has co-sponsored a draft decision on har-
monising the elements of end-user certificates within the OSCE
framework. A decision on the issue was adopted on 17 Novem-
ber 2004.

In 2004 Hungary coordinated efforts within the OSCE to respond
to assistance requests from participating States relating to SALW
problems.

In accordance with the provisions of the OSCE document on
SALW, Hungary has exchanged information with OSCE partici-
pating States on national marking systems before 30 June 2001.
This information is updated, as and when necessary, to reflect
changes in national marking systems.

Hungary is committed to a plan of action designed specifically to
meet the needs of South Eastern Europe known as the Regional
Implementation Plan on Combating the Proliferation of Small
Arms and Light Weapons. The Regional Implementation Plan is
an initiative of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe. Since
November 2000 three annual consultation meetings have
brought key stakeholders together to review regional efforts to
stem SALW proliferation, learn lessons and develop practical
projects within the framework of the Szeged Small Arms Process
(SSAP). The Szeged Small Arms Process is an informal forum,
which allows governments, civil society and international organi-
sations to develop policies and practical projects that combat the
proliferation and misuse of SALW across South Eastern Europe.
The SSAP was jointly initiated by the Hungarian Ministry of For-
eign Affairs (MFA) and Saferworld, a London-based independent
foreign policy think tank at a conference in Szeged, Hungary in
November 2000. Since the adoption of the Stability Pact Regional
Implementation Plan in November 2001 it has been a comple-
mentary framework for co-operation between governments and
civil society.

International and Regional Cooperation

In accordance with the provisions of the OSCE document on
SALW, Hungary has exchanged information with OSCE partici-
pating States on an annual basis since 2002 on the category, sub-
category and quantity of small arms identified and/or seized and
destroyed on their territory during the previous calendar year, as
well as small on exports to, and imports from, other participating
States.

The Hungarian MFA organised together with the U.S. Department
of State, Bureau of Non-proliferation, Office of Export Control
Cooperation, an export control seminar for South Eastern Euro-
pean countries in Szeged, Hungary in June 2003. The conference
presented basic building blocks of an effective export control sys-
tem and provided an opportunity to discuss regional approaches
and concerns, the latter being mainly how to tackle SALW-related
problems in the region.

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In co-operation with the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of
Non-proliferation, Office of Export Control Cooperation, the
Hungarian MFA organised the Fifth International Conference on
Export Controls in Budapest, Hungary, on 15 to 17 Septem-
ber2003. (The conference was the fifth in a series of events known
as the ‘Oxford Process’.) More than 180 export control officials
from over 40 countries and representatives of the multilateral
export control regimes, industry and the NGO community par-
ticipated. One of the main topics of the conference was the dis-
cussion on new approaches to controlling conventional arms,
especially certain types of SALW such as MANPADS.

The most important recent event is also a result of international
co-operation. Hungary finished the reduction/destruction of
1 540 pieces of Strela-2 type MANPADS in February 2006. The
project was partly an American initiative and co-financed by
the USA.

For the purpose of identifying groups and individuals engaged in
illicit trade in SALW, the Hungarian Police co-operates with
INTERPOL, and EUROPOL and is a member of the SECI Regional
Centre for Combating Trans-border Crime to design a system for
South Eastern European countries to exchange information on
illicit SALW trafficking.

IRELAND

— EUR 500 000 for The World Bank’s Trust Fund for the Multi-
Country Demobilisation and Reintegration Programme for
projects in the Great Lakes region of Africa to deal with
ex-combatants.

— EUR 200 000 for the Partnership for Peace Trust Fund
towards the destruction of Small Arms and Light Weapons in
Ukraine and Albania.

In particular, Italy attended the following events:

— Workshop on SALW reduction and control in Bosnia and
Herzegovina, organised by UNDP (Sarajevo, 21 March 2006);

— Workshop on brokering activities, organised by RACVIAC,
the Netherlands and Norway (Zagreb,

OSCE, Germany,
29-30 March 2006);

— OSCE Special meeting on Small Arms and Light Weapons in
preparation for the UN Review Conference on the PoA
(Vienna, 17 May 2006);

— Workshop on MANPADS, organised by Israel (Jerusalem,

5-6 April 2006);

— Workshop on SALW export controls organised by NGOs
(Brussels,

Oxfam, Saferworld and Amnesty International
20 April 2006).

Other initiatives

In 2006, Italian armed forces participating in multilateral peace-
keeping operations collected and/or seized and destroyed the fol-
lowing small arms and light weapons:

In Iraq:

— 12 AK 47 assault rifles;

— 4 grenade launchers RPG;

— 4 rocket launchers;

— 1 light machine-guns;

— 1 mortar;

— 14 miscellaneous.

— EUR 89 000 funding for Safer Africa for a project to reduce

the proliferation of SALW in Africa.

Sub total: 36 small arms and light weapons destroyed.

— EUR 10 000 for IANSA towards attendance at the UN Con-
ference on the Programme of Action against the illicit traf-
ficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons, which took place
in New York in June-July 2006.

— EUR 10 000 for IANSA towards the improvement of the
IANSA website, which is a valuable resource for those work-
ing on issues related to small arms and light weapons.

ITALY

In Kosovo:

— 14 AK47 assault rifles;

— 28 rifles;

— 2 carbines;

— 1 rifle M59;

— 6 hunting rifles;

— 1 grenade launcher RPG;

In 2006, Italy actively participated in several regional and global
meetings aimed at exchanging information on national proce-
dures and identifying common solutions to problems related to
the illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons.

— 7 rocket launchers;

— 4 light machine guns;

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— 1 RPG 2;

— 2 mortars;

— 1 musket;

— 18 pistols;

— 575 miscellaneous

— OSCE Questionnaire on Policy and/or National Practices and
Procedures for the Export of Conventional Arms and Related
Technology;

— Regular reports on exports of arms and dual-use goods under

the Wassenaar Arrangement;

— National Report on Export Controls of MANPADS under the

Wassenaar Arrangement;

Sub total: 658 small arms and light weapons destroyed.

— UNIDIR, UNDDA and the Small Arms Survey Questionnaire

on illicit small arms brokering.

In Bosnia:

— 82 rifles;

— 9 rocket launchers;

— 115 miscellaneous.

Sub total: 207 small arms and light weapons destroyed.

Total: 901 small arms and light weapons destroyed.

LATVIA

In September 2006 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Repub-
lic of Latvia in cooperation with the US National Nuclear Safety
Administration organised a seminar for Latvian enterprises and
export controls officials: ‘Development of Export Controls from
EU and Global Perspective’. Participants were updated on the
existing legislation and procedures with regard to arms control in
the Republic of Latvia.

LITHUANIA

a)

International reporting obligations

Lithuania submitted the following national reports and question-
naires in 2006:

— Voluntary Report under the UN Programme of Action against

illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons;

— Information to the UN Register for Conventional Arms;

— Annual report under the EU Code of Conduct on Arms

Exports;

— Annual information on SALW imports, exports and SALW
identified as surplus and/or seized and destroyed under OSCE
document on SALW;

b)

International assistance

Lithuania has contributed EUR 10 000 for the OSCE/EU project
to clean the ammunition storage accident site in Novobogdanivka,
Ukraine.

LUXEMBOURG

From 2001 to 2004 the Luxembourg authorities funded a project,
run by the European Institute for Research and Information on
Peace and Security (GRIP), to strengthen an African NGO network
for conflict prevention and peace-building. The project includes
the establishment of a network of Central and West African NGOs
working on peace culture, peace-making and combating the
spread of small arms. The total contribution made to that project
amounts to EUR 223 000. In 2006 the GRIP was also awarded a
sum of EUR 15 000 as a voluntary contribution.

MALTA

Regional level

Malta participates in the submission of annual reports with regard
to OSCE Information Exchange on Small Arms and Light Weap-
ons, in accordance with the OSCE Document on SALW, as well
as OSCE Information Exchange on Conventional Arms Transfers
and Military Information. As an EU Member State, Malta regularly
participates in meetings of the EU Council Working Group on
Arms Exports Control, which inter alia include discussions and
negotiations on a review of the EU Code of Conduct on Arms
Exports.

Global level

Malta applies and implements in full, through its national legisla-
tion, the provisions of arms embargoes decided upon by the
United Nations Security Council and supports UN General Assem-
bly resolutions relating to conventional weapons issues, the illicit
trade in small arms and light weapons, transparency in arma-
ments and transparency of military expenditures. Malta also sub-
mits on an annual basis its national report in conformity with UN
General Assembly resolution ‘Transparency in Armaments’.

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In April 2005 Malta became a Participating State of the Was-
senaar Arrangement on Export Controls for Conventional Weap-
ons and Dual Use Goods and Technologies.

over the illicit production, illegal trade and uncontrolled availabil-
ity of small and light weapons, which prolong conflict, increase
levels of armed violence and undermine development and urged
all Member States to support the strengthening of the UN Pro-
gramme of Action on SALW.

Malta continues to follow with interest and fully supports the pro-
posal for a legally binding Arms Trade Treaty on the establish-
ment of common international standards for trade in all
conventional weapons,
to be negotiated within the United
Nations. With regard to brokering of SALW, Malta feels that fur-
ther substantive work is required in this area at the global level.
Brokering controls remain a high priority, since illicit arms bro-
kering and illicit trafficking of SALW are recognised as among the
main factors fuelling illegal world trade.

Malta also supports the full implementation of the 2001 UN Pro-
gramme of Action on SALW and will work towards a successful
outcome of the 2006 Review Conference of the UN Plan of Action
to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms
and Light Weapons in All its Aspects. Malta is committed to work
against the spread and misuse of small arms and light weapons
and welcomes the adoption of the International Instrument to
Enable States to Identify and Trace in a Timely and Reliable Man-
ner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons, at the UN General
Assembly’s 60th session and will work to ensure the future adop-
tion of having this International Instrument legally binding. Malta
also supported UNGA resolution 60/68 addressing the negative
humanitarian and development impact of the illicit manufacture,
transfer and circulation of SALW and their excessive accumula-
tion, which recognises the roles that women and women’s organi-
sations could play in small arms disarmament, demobilisation and
reintegration processes, the requirement that the needs of women
and girl combatants and dependants should be addressed in dis-
armament, demobilisation and reintegration programmes and the
commitment to promote and protect the rights and welfare of
children in armed conflicts.

NETHERLANDS

In 2006 the Netherlands contributed to the following institutions,
projects and other activities in the field of small arms and light
weapons (SALW) and ammunition.

— SaferAfrica, Sustaining Action project for the purpose of
combating the illicit small arms trade in South, West and East
Africa;

— Regional Centre for Small Arms (RECSA), implementation of
the Nairobi Declaration and Nairobi Protocol in the Great
Lakes region and Horn of Africa;

— Saferworld,

‘Reducing armed violence, enhancing human
security and creating the conditions for sustainable develop-
ment through controlling small arms’;

— Institute for Security Studies (ISS), country studies and cross-
border research in South, East and Central Africa for the pur-
pose of implementation and data transfer;

— IANSA, global outreach strategy for small arms reduction;

— Small Arms Survey, ‘core funding’;

— Dealing and Wheeling in SALW, documentary by Sander
Francken, financial contribution for the development and the
distribution of the documentary;

— Geneva Forum, ‘Building Peace and Security Partnerships’;

As an EU Member State, Malta forms part of the European Union
Strategy to combat illicit accumulation and trafficking of SALW
and their ammunition, adopted by the EU in December 2005.

— Asociacion para Politicas Publicas (APP), activities against the

proliferation of and illicit trade in small arms in Argentina;

Malta joined the other Heads of Government at the Summit of the
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), held
in Malta in November 2005, in adopting the Final Communiqué,
which inter alia refers to SALW and to the Arms Trade Treaty. In
their Final Communiqué, the Heads of Government of the Com-
monwealth noted the proposal for the development of common
international standards for trade in conventional weapons and
added their support to calls for work on an Arms Trade Treaty to
commence at the United Nations. With regard to SALW, the
Heads of Government expressed, inter alia, their deep concern

— Saferworld, ‘Biting the Bullet’ project;

— HALO Trust, collection and destruction of small arms, light

weapons and ammunition in Afghanistan;

— HALO Trust ‘Weapons & Ammunition Disposal Programme
to Angolan Civil

technical support

Angola, Phase 1’,
Disarmament;

— OSCE, project for the destruction and safe storage of SALW
and conventional ammunition in the Republic of Tajikistan;

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— UNIDIR, development of a ‘Security Needs Asessment

protocol’;

— UNIDIR, comparative brokering study, published in 2006;

— UNDP/Bosnia and Herzegovina, SALW and Ammunition

destruction;

— UNDP/Kosovo, ‘Kosovo Small Arms Control Initiative’;

— UNDP/BCPR Trustfund, general contribution to Service line 4

Small arms and light weapons;

— UNDP/BCPR Trustfund, Manu River Union Small Arms

Control;

— NAMSA/NATO PfP TF, destruction of small arms and light
weapons, MANPADS and ammunition in the Ukraine;

— NAMSA/NATO PfP TF, destruction of ammunition Albania.

POLAND

As in previous years, the Ministry of Economy has organised,
co-sponsored and participated in bilateral and international meet-
ings during which the principles and the experience of Poland in
the area of arms export control were presented. A number of
bilateral seminars and consultations on this subjects were held in
2006 including with Ukraine in January and August, Croatia in
March and November; Slovakia in April; Bulgaria, Serbia and
Montenegro in May; Bosnia and Herzegovina in June; Hungary in
September and Germany in October. During the meetings a whole
spectrum of matters related to the export control system were dis-
cussed. The Polish side provided a current overview of the national
export control legislation and system, also presenting political
considerations that are taken into account in the licensing pro-
cess. Special attention was given to the obligations associated with
Poland’s EU membership (key role of the EU Code of Conduct)
and the Wassenaar Arrangement (resolutions and provisions), and
also the UN Programme of Action in SALW. Experts involved in
the licensing process presented the functioning of the Polish
export control process with practical examples of inter-agency
co-operation.

Financial allocations were made for the construction of an inte-
grated border management system in January 2006, with the
Border Police establishing a ‘Communications and IT Office’ to
oversee its implementation. Border security has also been
improved by the purchase of additional IT equipment, training in
operational risk analysis, and the recruitment of 1 800 additional
Border Police staff.

Romania participates in various international and regional mecha-
nisms relating to SALW, including the OSCE, the UN PoA, and
the Wassenaar Arrangement.

In 2006, Romanian experts participated in the first session of the
UN Group of Governmental Experts to consider further steps to
enhance international cooperation in preventing, combating and
eradicating illicit brokering with SALW.

Reports on SALW transfers are submitted to the relevant organi-
sations and fora, but annual reports on conventional arms are also
publicly available on the ANCEX official website (www.ancex.ro).

SLOVAKIA

Regional level

Slovakia adheres to the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports and
as an OSCE member annually provides information on exports,
imports and surplus of SALW, including other relevant informa-
tion in this field in accordance with the OSCE Document on
SALW. In its export control policy, Slovakia observes the OSCE
Principles on Arms Transfers.

Global level

In the field of export control Slovakia observes international com-
mitments stemming from the respective UN Security Council
resolutions.

Slovakia is one of the signatories of the UN Protocol against the
Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, their Parts and
Components and Ammunition, supplementing the UN Conven-
tion against Transnational Organized Crime.

This year Slovakia will submit for the first time annual informa-
tion on export and imports of SALW to the UN register in accor-
dance with resolution 61/66.

ROMANIA

SLOVENIA

initiatives concerning SALW-related issues

In 2006, Romania participated in several regional and interna-
tional
such as
INTERPOL, EUROPOL, the Black Sea Economic Co-operation
Organisation (BSEC), the Central European Initiative (CEI) and the
South east Europe Co-operative Initiative (SECI) Regional Centre
for Combating Trans-border Crimes.

In 2005, Slovenia held the Chairmanship of the OSCE. Therefore,
most of Slovenia’s Small Arms and Light Weapons activities in
that period were focused on the OSCE framework. These activi-
ties continued throughout 2006. Consequently, the following
financial contributions include both 2005 and 2006.

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In 2005, the Slovenian government assigned EUR 100 000 for
the implementation of OSCE projects regarding the destruction of
surpluses of small arms and light weapons and conventional
ammunition. In 2006, the implementation of projects and the
expenditure of 2005 funds continued, while the government
assigned an additional EUR 15 025 for these purposes.

In 2005 and 2006, Slovenia’s expenditure in this field was
intended for the following projects:

1. Tajikistan: EUR 40 000 for the fitting out of small arms and

light weapons storage.

2. Tajikistan: EUR 19 808,12 for the destruction of 108 start-
ing rocket engines, financed jointly by Slovenia and Andorra
(total project value: EUR 36 990).

3. Azerbaijan: EUR 15 191,88 for phase I of the project of
destruction of melange rocket fuel; phase I has now been
concluded.

4. Ukraine: EUR 25 000 for the acquisition of UXO locators
and mine detectors, and EUR 15 025 for the acquisition of
UXO destruction devices. These projects are being imple-
mented as part of the process of eliminating the consequences
of the incident in the conventional ammunition storage in
Novobogdanovka, Ukraine.

In 2005 and 2006, Slovenia’s total expenditure for the above
projects was EUR 115 025. Some of the projects are still being
implemented, and the remaining funds amount to EUR 35 091.

On the occasion of the OSCE Ministerial Council in Brussels on 5
and 6 December 2006, Slovenia — in conjunction with the OSCE
Secretariat — presented the implementation of OSCE projects in
the field of small arms and light weapons, conventional ammu-
nition stockpiles and melange rocket fuel. Slovenia’s contribution
to the implementation and financing of these projects was pre-
sented as well. Slovenian representatives regularly participate in
the OSCE’s expert assessment visits in the countries facing prob-
lems in this area, while a representative of Slovenia’s Permanent
Mission to the OSCE acts as coordinator for issues concerning the
destruction of conventional ammunition surpluses within the
OSCE’s Forum for Security Cooperation.

SPAIN

In the field of small arms and light weapons, Spain actively par-
ticipates in the work of the UN, the OSCE, Wassenaar Arrange-
ment (WA) and the Parliamentary Forum on Small Arms and
Light Weapons.

Financial, technical and other assistance given to relevant programmes
and projects conducted by the UN bodies, other international or regional
organisations and NGOs

In December 2005 Spain signed a Memorandum of Understand-
ing with the Executive Secretary of the Economic Community of
West African States (ECOWAS) pledging to commit a minimum

sum of EUR 1 000 000 (to be disbursed during the period 2006-
2008) as a contribution to the activities and programmes of ECO-
WAS,
including support for the ‘Programme of Small Arms
Control in West Africa’ totalling EUR 750 000.

Financial, technical and other bilateral assistance given to other States,
especially those in affected regions

Spain continued with the technical assistance programme, initi-
ated in 2005, given by the Guardia Civil to Cape Verde authori-
ties (Ministry of Interior) on Firearms and Explosives control.

Co-ordination of practical measures with other Member States and with
the European Commission

Spain participated in the meetings that took place in Brussels in
the framework of the EU Directive on Firearms and the EU Direc-
tive on Explosives. Spain regularly uses the mechanism for con-
sultations with other EU Member States provided for in the EU
Code of Conduct on arms exports. All reports of loss or theft of
firearms are transmitted to the Liaison Office of the Judiciary
Police Service, which reports all relevant data to the Schengen
Information System (SIS). Spain takes part in the EU MEDA pro-
gramme with the aim of reinforcing border controls in Morocco;
the EU Coordination Office for Palestinian Police Support, and the
PAMECA Mission in support of the organisation and strengthen-
ing of the Albanese police.

In the framework of the EU ‘Althea Operation’ (Bosnia and Herze-
govina), Spanish forces deployed with the Combined Task Force
South (and integrated into EUFOR since 2004) collected the fol-
lowing material: 60 700 cartridges, 145 rounds (99 full, the rest
empty), 79 weapons, 730 hand grenades, 56 weapon grenades,
3 200 mines and about 6,1 kg of explosives.

In the framework of the ‘Joint Enterprise Operation’ (Kosovo),
Spanish forces collected 3 hunting rifles and 6 cartridges of related
ammunition.

SWEDEN

In 2006, Sweden supported various programmes related to
SALW, including the following:

— Agreement with UNDP/BCPR support projects, in coopera-
tion with OSCE, relating to SALW destruction in countries in
the OSCE region, such as Belarus (SEK 25 000 000; approx.
EUR 2 700 000),

— Funding to Small Arms Survey (SEK 1 000 000; approx.

EUR 107 000),

— Funding to Saferworld (SEK 800 000; approx. EUR 86 000),

— Funding to Viva Rio for project
(SEK 350 000; approx. EUR 37 500),

in Latin America

— Funding to IANSA (SEK 350 000; approx. EUR 37 500),

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— Support through OSCE for destruction of SALW in Tajikistan

(SEK 800 000; approx. EUR 86 000).

Southern Africa, Belarus, and Kosovo. Finally, the UK has entered
into a new funding arrangement with the Parliamentary Forum to
enhance parliamentary awareness and oversight of national small
arms controls.

The Swedish authority for development assistance, SIDA, also
contributed to SALW-related projects:

EUROPEAN UNION

— Funding to Arias Foundation for project in Latin America

(SEK 1 500 000; approx. EUR 161 800),

— Funding to Oxfam GB for West Africa Arms Control Pro-

gramme (SEK 6 000 000; approx. EUR 647 115),

— Funding to Saferworld for programmes in the Horn of Africa
approx.

region (SEK 3 200 000;

Lakes

and Great
EUR 345 000),

— Funding to UNDP/BCPR for support to ECOWAS Small Arms
approx.

10 000 000;

Programme

(SEK

Control
EUR 1 078 000),

— Funding to Unicef
EUR 204 960).

(approx. SEK 1 900 000; approx.

UNITED KINGDOM

The UK combats the supply, availability and demand for small
arms and light weapons through progressive policies and pro-
grammes. The FCO, DFID and MoD work together to implement
UK policy, which is supplemented by the GBP 13 million SALW
strategy (2004-2007) under the Global Conflict Prevention Pool.
In the past year the UK has supported programmes by UN agen-
cies and NGOs to collect, manage and destroy weapons and
ammunition; implement existing regional agreements; devise and
implement national action plans, and help build the capacity of
local civil society. UK-based NGO Saferworld has been a key part-
ner. The UK has also provided funds to Small Arms Survey to sup-
port policy-focused analysis on SALW control and armed violence
reduction and has supported global campaigning and advocacy
on small arms issues and the arms trade treaty, co-ordinated by
IANSA and the Control Arms Campaign. The UK has contributed
to the training of more than 2 000 law enforcement officials in
the Latin American region through UNLiREC. The UK has also
supported a progressive programme encompassing community-
based initiatives, small arms control and SSR run by Viva Rio in
Brazil. The UK continues to support the implementation of the
Nairobi Protocol, a sub-regional agreement in the Great Lakes and
Horn of Africa to combat SALW proliferation and abuse, through
the Regional Centre on Small Arms. In the last year the UK has
funded weapons and ammunition destruction and training in

In 2006, the EU Concept on DDR was adopted by the Council,
following the adoption of a policy framework on Security Sector
Reform (SSR), which combined the European Commission Com-
munication on SSR and the ESDP SSR Concept. Both documents
incorporate policies aimed at tackling small arms issues. SALW,
DDR and SSR have been identified as priority areas in post-
conflict situations.

Africa continued to be the continent which has attracted the great-
est attention and funding from the EU. The EU has contributed
EUR 17 million, consisting of: EUR 2 million to ECOWAS
(EUR 0,515 million CFSP and EUR 1,5 million EDF) in support of
the Convention on SALW and its implementation through
National Commissions; EUR 8 million (EDF) in Congo Brazzaville
for DDR programmes; and EUR 7 million which were provided to
UNICEF and ICRC for various measures ranging from DDR for
children to the protection of victims of armed conflicts (EIDHR).

South and East Europe: EUR 5,7 million (Pilot Projects and TAIEX),
for region-wide projects and specific support to Croatia, devoted
to building the administrative,
judicial and law enforcement
capacity of national authorities for internal stockpile management
of SALW and ammunition and for export controls, including civil
society awareness and education.

Ukraine: EUR 1,2 million (EUR 1 million CFSP, EUR 0,2 million
TACIS) was committed both to destruction of surplus SALW
through a NATO/NAMSA project and to train, and provide capac-
ity for, secure and safe handling of the ammunition depot in
Novoboghdanivka, in co-ordination with the OSCE.

Latin America: EUR 700 000 (CFSP) was provided to UNLiREC as
the final phase of a programme which began in 2001 and was
intended to combat the destabilising accumulation and spread of
small arms and light weapons in Latin America and the Carib-
bean, by training the trainers.

Asia: In Afghanistan EUR 26,2 million (ALA) was committed to
an ‘Ammunition Project’. The 5-year EU-ASAC project (CFSP) in
Cambodia was successfully completed.

The major instruments for EC assistance in the period 2007-2013
were programmed during 2006. The European Commission has
been pursuing the integration of issues relating to SALW into
Country and Regional Strategy Papers. The joint preparation of
National and Regional Action Plans offers partner countries the
opportunity to give the appropriate political and funding priority
to tackling these issues.

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III. PARTICIPATION IN THE WORK OF INTERNATIONAL AND

REGIONAL ORGANISATIONS

Among them the key event in 2006 was the First Review Confer-
ence of the UN Programme of Action on SALW (New York,
25 June-7 July 2006).

AUSTRIA

During Austria’s Presidency in the first half of 2006, the EU rein-
forced its leading role in the UN SALW process by taking a pro-
active stance at the Preparatory Meeting in January and the Review
Conference of the 2001 Programme of Action in June.

The EU succeeded in making its priorities — improved controls
over transfer of SALW, initiation of a UN process on ammuni-
tion, implementation of the Instrument on Marking and Tracing,
stepping up of UN action against illicit brokering, mainstreaming
small arms issues into development and poverty reduction strat-
egies and the continuation of a global follow-up in the UN frame-
work — the topics of the conference.

Bulgaria participated, as well, in the First Session of the UN Group
of Governmental Experts to consider further steps to enhance
international cooperation in preventing, combating and eradicat-
ing illicit brokering in SALW (Geneva, 27 November-1 Decem-
ber 2006).

With regard to the area of export control on SALW (incl. MAN-
PADS), the Republic of Bulgaria respects fully all its international
engagements/obligations deriving from its participation in and/or
membership of all international export control regimes and inter-
national Organisations, in particular UN and/or OSCE embargoes
and/or WA commitments.

In the run-up to the Review Conference Austria carried out EU
demarches in 42 States and asked for support for EU positions at
a number of bilateral meetings.

Bulgarian experts participated actively in the seminar organised
by Israel on MANPADS -Effective International Measures to
Reduce the Threat (Jerusalem, 5-6 April 2006) and the seminar
organised by Oxfam, Saferworld and Amnesty International on
SALW export controls (Brussels, 20 April 2006).

BULGARIA

Experts from the Customs Agency attended the workshop on bro-
kering activities, organised by RACVIAC, OSCE, Germany, the
Netherlands and Norway (Zagreb, 29-30 March 2006).

In 2006 Bulgaria co-sponsored the UNGA resolution 61/89
‘Towards an arms trade treaty: establishing common international
standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional
arms’, sharing the view that it is in the common interest of the
international community to put in place an effective Arms Con-
trol Treaty that would establish legally binding principles of trade
in conventional weapons.

In 2006 the Ministry of the Interior together with the US Trade
Department contributed to the preparation of a Law Enforcement
Training Course with a view to improving the implementation of
the provisions of the existing legislation on export control of arms
and dual-use goods and technologies.

In accordance with the OSCE Document on SALW, on 28 June
2006 Bulgaria submitted its annual information on SALW exports
and imports for the year 2005.

CYPRUS

In 2006 Bulgaria assumed the Chairmanship’s responsibilities of
the OSCE Forum for Security Cooperation (FSC) of the OSCE. The
Bulgarian Chairmanship of the FSC organised a Special Meeting
on SALW (Vienna, 17 May 2006). The meeting paved the way for
the preparation of the OSCE/FSC contribution to the UN Review
Conference on the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and
Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All
Its Aspects (New York, 26 June-7 July 2006). Furthermore, the
Chairman of the FSC delivered a report to the UN Review Con-
ference on the implementation of the OSCE Document on SALW
and related project activities in different OSCE participating States.

In 2006 Bulgaria participated in a number of international
conferences, courses, seminars and meetings relating to SALW
problems, organised by the UN, OSCE, EU, NATO and other
international and regional organisations.

[no information provided]

CZECH REPUBLIC

The Czech Republic actively participates in the implementation of
the UN Programme of Action against the illicit trafficking of
SALW. In 2006, the Czech Republic contributed CZK 1 000 000
(USD 47 308,17 = EUR 34 910) to the activities of the Trust Fund
for the Consolidation of Peace through Practical Disarmament
Measures. This sum will be used to support the second phase of
the CASA database, the implementation of which runs from
November 2006 to November 2007. One of the main goals of
the CASA database is to monitor the implementation of the UN
Programme of Action by individual UN Member States.

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Inter-agency coordination in 2006 concentrated namely on the
preparation of the 2006 Review Conference of the UN Pro-
gramme of Action against the illicit trafficking of SALW and on
the implementation of the multilateral instrument on marking
and tracing. Due consideration was also given to the debate in
other relevant multilateral fora (UNGA First Committee, OSCE,
Wassenaar Arrangement).

The Czech Republic cooperated inter alia with the national Inter-
pol offices in Lima and Wiesbaden on147 cases involving 1 791
arms.

Estonia submits annually reports to the UN Register on Conven-
tional Arms.

FINLAND

Finland participates actively in the work of international organi-
sations and regional arrangements on SALW-related issues. Fin-
land participates in the meetings and drafting of reports of the
UN, OSCE, NATO/EAPC and Wassenaar Arrangement. Finland
was also part of the group of government experts (GGE) on
brokering.

DENMARK

Participation in the work of international and regional organisations

In 2006, Denmark continued its participation in the SALW activi-
ties of the UN, including the Open-Ended Working Group on
Marking and Tracing Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons, the
UN SALW Programme of Action Review Conference, and in rel-
evant debates of the Security Council as a member thereof. Den-
mark also continued its participation in the activities of the
Wassenaar Arrangement and OSCE,
including seminars and
workshops and other initiatives related to SALW. Denmark also
participates in Nordic and Baltic co-operation in the area of arms
control and arms trafficking. Denmark is implementing the OSCE
Document on Small Arms and Light Weapons and the Wassenaar
Arrangement Best Practice Guidelines for Exports of Small Arms
and Light Weapons.

ESTONIA

In April 2006 Estonia arranged an arms control inspection to
Turkmenistan in the framework of the OSCE Vienna document.
Inspectors controlled whether data about existing arms, which
was provided by the inspected country, was correct. The inspec-
tion report was transmitted to all OSCE participating States.

Estonia is a participating country in the Wassenaar Arrangement.

Representatives of Estonia actively participated in a number of
international conferences, courses and seminars devoted to SALW
problems, organised by the UN, OSCE, EU and other international
organisations, as well as NGOs. The main event was the First
Review Conference of the UN Programme of Action on SALW.

The representatives of the Strategic Goods Commission also
actively participated in the work of the European Union’s work-
ing groups for export controls on conventional arms (COARM)
and dual-use goods (WPDUG). On Estonia’s initiative the best
practices of the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports were
complemented with a new format for notifying the refusal to
enter an arms broker into the registry.

— Secondment of an FSC Support Officer to the Conflict Pre-

vention Centre in the OSCE in charge of small arms issues;

— Financial contribution to Saferworld’s Biting the Bullet semi-
nar in May 2006 in Helsinki, as part of activities in support
of the preparations for the UN Review Conference on SALW
(total EUR 60 000);

— Financial support for a regional Small Arms Control Project
in Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua imple-
mented by IEPADES — Instituto de Enseñanza para el Desar-
rollo Sostenible. The project is aimed at reducing illicit Small
Arms trade at border zones of the countries mentioned above
(total approx. EUR 30 000).

— Financial contribution to Small Arms Survey for the 2006
the Small Arms Survey Yearbook (total

edition of
EUR 20 000);

— Financial contribution to UNIDIR’s (United Nations Institute
for Disarmament Research) SALW Assistance research (total
EUR 20 000);

— Financial contribution to IANSA (International Action Net-
work on Small Arms) in support of the Arms Trade Treaty —
related activities, (total EUR 15 000).

FRANCE

Since 2006 France has participated actively in the discussions of
the group of governmental experts on brokering set up by reso-
lution 60/81 on ‘illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in
all its aspects’.

For the second successive year, France, together with Germany,
tabled a draft resolution on the problems arising from the accu-
mulation of conventional ammunition stockpiles in surplus, in
the First Committee at the 61st UN General Assembly. This reso-
lution was adopted.

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In 2006 France launched an international initiative to combat the
illicit trafficking of SALW by air. It involved the Organisation for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the European Union,
the G8 and the Wassenaar Arrangement. The aim of this initia-
tive is to improve cooperation between States in controlling pri-
vate airlines suspected of being involved in arms trafficking in
breach of the United Nations embargoes whilst conducting a dia-
logue with the air transport industry on ways and means of
enhancing the traceability, transparency and security of this way
of transporting SALW and their ammunition. This initiative forms
part of the extended implementation of the action plan for com-
bating illicit trade in SALW and their ammunition, adopted by the
EU in 2005. The G8 summit in St Petersburg (2006) pledged its
support for this initiative. The OSCE also gave the initiative its
support at the ministerial summit in Brussels (December).

GERMANY

Germany participates actively in the work of international and
regional organisations as well as arrangements with regard to
small arms and light weapons including their ammunition. These
organisations and arrangements include in particular the UN,
OSCE, NATO and the Wassenaar Arrangement. Germany regu-
larly seconds experts to assessment and evaluation visits as well
as workshops and seminars organised within the frame of these
organisations. In 2006 such initiatives covered in particular Kyr-
gyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and the Ukraine.

Together with France, Germany tabled UNGA Res 61/72 entitled
‘Problems arising from the accumulation of conventional ammu-
nition stockpiles in surplus’. The purpose is to give more promi-
nence to the issue of ammunition and related stockpiles on the
international agenda. The absence of safe, efficient and effective
management and security of stockpiles is a major source for illicit
trafficking. The resolution contains the decision to convene a UN
Group of Governmental Experts on the issue of conventional
ammunition stockpiles in surplus in 2008.

In the frame of the OSCE, Germany continued to contribute in
particular to the development of OSCE Best Practice Guides in the
area of SALW and ammunition. First drafts of Best Practice Guides
on ammunition transportation as well as on marking, recordkeep-
ing and tracing of ammunition were tabled in 2006.

Germany continued to support efforts to develop standardised
formats for technical cooperation and training on stockpile man-
agement within NATO. In February 2006 Germany organised a
workshop in Geilenkirchen to further develop procedures for the
multilateral conduct of such initiatives. Together with Switzer-
land, the United Kingdom and the United States, Germany devel-
oped a multinational SALW training course, which was conducted
for the first time in Switzerland in the autumn of 2006 with par-
ticipants from more than 20 countries, and will be transferred to
the NATO School in Oberammergau as of 2007.

GREECE

Officers of the Greek Ministry of Public Order participate in meet-
ings and seminars on Small Arms and Light Weapons issues. An
officer also participates in the meetings of the Working Group of
the EU Council’s Technical Harmonisation Committee, in connec-
tion with the amendment of Directive 91/477/EEC on the con-
trol of acquisition and possession of weapons and its adjustment
to the provisions of Article 10 of the UN Protocol.

HUNGARY

The Hungarian MFA organised together with the U.S. Department
of State, Bureau of Non-proliferation, Office of Export Control
Cooperation, an export control seminar for South Eastern Euro-
pean countries in Szeged, Hungary in June 2003. The conference
presented basic building blocks of an effective export control sys-
tem and provided an opportunity to discuss regional approaches
and concerns, the latter being mainly how to tackle SALW-related
problems in the region.

In co-operation with the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of
Non-proliferation, Office of Export Control Cooperation, the
Hungarian MFA organised the Fifth International Conference on
Export Controls in Budapest, Hungary on 15 to 17 September
2003. (The conference was the fifth in a series of events known
as the ‘Oxford Process’.) More than 180 export control officials
from over 40 countries and representatives of the multilateral
export control regimes, industry and the NGO community par-
ticipated. One of the main topics of the conference was the dis-
cussion on new approaches to controlling conventional arms
especially certain types of SALW such as MANPADS.

The most important recent event is also a result of international
co-operation. Hungary finished the reduction/destruction of
1 540 pieces of Strela-2 type MANPADS in February 2006. The
project was partly an American initiative and co-financed by
the USA.

For the purpose of identifying groups and individuals engaged in
illicit trade in SALW, the Hungarian Police co-operates with the
INTERPOL and EUROPOL and is a member of the SECI Regional
Center for Combating Trans-border Crime to design a system for
South Eastern European countries to exchange information on
illicit SALW trafficking.

IRELAND

Ireland attended and actively participated in the United Nations
Review Conference on the Programme of Action against the illicit
trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons, which took place
in New York from 26 June to 7 July 2006.

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At the 61st UN General Assembly, Ireland co-sponsored several
resolutions on Small Arms and Light Weapons, including resolu-
tion 61/89 ‘Towards an arms trade treaty: establishing common
international standards for the import, export and transfer of con-
ventional arms’. In addition, Ireland voted in favour of a number
of other similar resolutions on Small Arms and Light Weapons.

LATVIA

[no information provided]

LITHUANIA

Ireland submitted annual reports to the United Nations Register
of Conventional Arms and reports to the OSCE on military
expenditure.

Lithuania participated in the Review Conference of the UN Pro-
gramme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons (26 June-
7 July 2006) and supported agreed EU positions with particular
emphasis on transfer controls and brokering.

Ireland is a member of the Wassenaar Arrangement and the
Department of Foreign Affairs and Department of Enterprise,
Trade and Employment participated in all meetings of the
Arrangement held in 2006.

ITALY

United Nations

In 2006, Italy attended the Review Conference of the 2001 UN
Programme of Action against the illicit trafficking of small arms
and light weapons, held in New York from 26 June to 7 July
2006. At the 61st UNGA Italy co-sponsored the following
adopted resolutions, which are relevant to small arms and light
weapons:

UN General Assembly First Committee

Lithuania participated in the proceedings of the First Committee
and voted in favour of the following SALW-related resolutions:

— Illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects

(No 61/66).

— Conventional arms control at the regional and subregional

levels (No 61/82).

Lithuania has co-sponsored resolutions on:

— Assistance to states for curbing illicit traffic in small arms and

collecting them (No 61/71).

— res. 61/71: ‘Assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in

small arms and light weapons’;

— Problems arising from the accumulation of conventional

ammunition stockpiles in surplus (No 61/72).

— res. 61/72: ‘Problems arising from the accumulation of con-

ventional ammunitions in surplus’;

— Transparency in Armaments (No 61/77).

— res. 61/77: ‘Transparency in armaments’;

— Towards an Arms trade treaty: establishing common interna-
tional standards for the import, export and transfer of con-
ventional arms (No 61/89).

— res. 61/89 ‘Towards an arms trade treaty establishing com-
mon international standards for the import, export and trans-
fer of conventional arms’;

Lithuania supports the legally-binding Arms Trade Treaty (ATT)
to ensure comprehensive and effective regulation of international
transfers of conventional arms. Lithuania will provide its response
to the UN Secretary General’s request for views.

— res. 61/101: ‘Strengthening of security and co-operation in

the Mediterranean region’;

Brokering

Italy also voted in favour of resolution No 61/66 (‘Illicit trade in
small arms and light weapons in all its aspects’).

OSCE

Lithuania nominated an expert to participate in the work of the
Group of Governmental Experts to consider further steps to
enhance international cooperation in preventing, combating and
eradicating illicit brokering in small arms and light weapons. The
experts meet in three sessions each lasting one week and will sub-
mit the report on the outcome of their study to the General
Assembly at its 62nd session.

In 2006, Italy continued to actively implement the OSCE docu-
ment on small arms and light weapons, adopted in November
2000. In that framework, Italy presented national updates to the
information exchange on major aspects of SALW (production,
marking, export controls, brokering, destruction techniques)
established by the above OSCE document.

Other forms of international cooperation

Regular Nordic-Baltic meetings on export controls are carried out.
The network of national experts who work with arms controls
enables cooperation between countries to be maintained.

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The Lithuanian Criminal Police Bureau works in cooperation with
other EU police institutions. Joint operations are carried out con-
stantly, inter alia, to assist investigations and prosecutions in rela-
tion to the illicit trade in SALW.

Lithuanian experts engage in cooperation with the representatives
of NGOs (Saferworld, IANSA), which are active in different aspects
of SALW issues, by means of information exchange through ques-
tionnaires, position papers, and attendance of workshops.

Bilateral agreements covering organised crime, drugs and terror-
ism have been signed with a number of countries (Germany,
Latvia and Poland). They also partly tackle cooperation between
countries of concern in relation to the illicit trade of SALW.

The Netherlands chaired the UN Governmental Group of Experts
on illicit brokering in SALW which completed its work in June
2007.

The Netherlands is a member of the OECD/DAC-CPDC network
taskgroup on Armed Violence and Poverty Reduction, to enhance
further integration of SALW/armed violence policy and program-
ming into development frameworks and SSR programmes. The
Netherlands participated in various workshops and meetings on
this issue.

LUXEMBOURG

A Dutch expert participated in the UN GGE regarding the UN reg-
ister on Conventional Arms.

In 2006 Luxembourg took part in the work of the following inter-
national and regional organisations, in particular:

United Nations

Luxembourg attended the United Nations Conference to review
progress in implementing the Programme of Action to prevent,
combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light
weapons in all its aspects, held in New York from 26 June to
7 July 2006.

United Nations General Assembly

In the First Committee at the General Assembly’s 61st session,
Luxembourg co-sponsored or voted in favour of the various reso-
lutions on SALWs and ammunition (61/89, 61/72, 61/71, 61/79
and 61/66).

OSCE

The OSCE received EUR 16 500 for humanitarian mine clearance
and destruction of dangerous surplus munitions stocks in
Ukraine.

MALTA

[no information provided]

NETHERLANDS

Together with the United Kingdom, the Netherlands organised a
Ministerial side event during the UN Review Conference of the
PoA on SALW.

The Netherlands signed the Geneva Declaration on Armed Vio-
lence and Development that during the Ministerial Summit in
Geneva on 7 June 2006. The Netherlands is also a member of the
Geneva Core Group to enhance the implementation of the Dec-
laration, which has developed a concrete action plan.

Within the framework of the continuing ‘Dutch/Norwegian Ini-
tiative on Small Arms Brokering’, the Netherlands contributed
financially and technically to the UNDDA (now UN-ODA) for its
broad based consultations on regulation of brokering activities
and financed two workshops in New York and Geneva.

The Netherlands submitted in 2006 the UNGA resolution on
Transparency in Armaments (61/77), which was adopted with no
negative votes.

OSCE Best Practices Guide: The Netherlands drafted best practices
on Ammunition destruction.

POLAND

Representatives of Poland actively participated in a number of
international conferences, courses and seminars devoted to SALW
problems, organised by the UN, OSCE, EU, NATO and other
international organisations. Specifically, Polish representatives
took part in the First Review Conference of the UN Programme
of Action on SALW and in the works of the Group of Govern-
mental Experts on the Illicit Brokering of SALW. The Polish del-
egation was also active within the Wassenaar Arrangement,
including a new working group for SALW and MANPADS trans-
port and brokering established in 2006.

The Ministry of National Defence gave a lecture on international
initiatives relating to SALW during the NATO course on Arms
Control Implementation in Oberammergau. Representatives of
the Ministry also participated in different workshops dealing with
standards of storage and control of SALW and munitions
warehouses.

In 2006 Poland contributed with a total of USD 276 333 to the
NATO/PfP/NAMSA Trust Funds. This includes USD 60 000 for
the first phase of the project (co-founded by the EU), aimed at
eliminating 1,5 million SALW and 133 000 tons of munitions in
Ukraine. (Another USD 60 000 was donated for the professional
reconversion of former armed forces personnel in Ukraine, and
USD 30 000 to Serbia and Montenegro for the same goal. Addi-
tionally, a sum of USD 66 333 was allocated for reintegration of
former military personnel in Bosnia and Herzegovina.)

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PORTUGAL

Portugal actively participated in the work of international organi-
sations and regional arrangements on SALW-related issues.

continued its active role as the outgoing OSCE Troika member,
the focus was on the First Review Conference of the UN Pro-
gramme of Action.

At the UN level, Portugal participated in the Review Conference
of the UN Programme of Action against the illicit trafficking of
SALW, held in New York from 26 June to 7 July 2006.

SPAIN

United Nations (UN)

At the 61st UNGA Portugal co-sponsored the following adopted
resolutions, which are relevant to small arms and light weapons:

1.

res. 61/77: ‘Transparency in armaments’;

In 2006, Spain continued its participation in the SALW activities
of the UN. As was proposed in different fora, Spain incorporated
Members of Parliament and civil society representatives into the
national delegation participating in the UN PoA SALW related
meetings that took place in New York.

res. 61/79: ‘Information on confidence-building measures in
the field of conventional arms’;

UNGA

2.

3.

res. 61/89: ‘Towards an arms trade treaty establishing com-
mon international standards for the import, export, and trans-
fer of conventional arms’;

4.

res. 61/101: ‘Strengthening of security and co-operation in
the Mediterranean region’.

Portugal also voted in favour of resolutions 61/66 (‘Illicit trade in
small arms and light weapons in all its aspects’) and 61/72 (‘Prob-
lems arising from the accumulation of conventional ammunitions
in surplus’).

In 2006, Portugal continued to actively implement the OSCE
document, adopted in November 2000, on small arms and light
weapons. In that framework, Portugal presented national updates
on aspects of SALW such as production, marking, export con-
trols, brokering and destruction techniques.

In the field of export controls, Portugal is a member of the Was-
senaar Arrangement and participated, through the Ministry of
Defence and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in various meetings
held by the group last year.

SLOVAKIA

In the field of small arms and light weapons, Slovakia participates
in the framework of different international fora, such as the EU,
UN, OSCE, NATO and Wassenaar Arrangement. It actively par-
ticipated in a number of international conferences, courses and
seminars devoted to SALW problems, held by organisations men-
tioned above and other international organisations; especially the
First Review Conference of the UN Programme of Action on
SALW.

SLOVENIA

In the field of small arms and light weapons, Slovenia participates
in the framework of different international fora, such as the
EU, UN, OSCE, NATO and Wassenaar Arrangement. Apart from
the activities in the OSCE framework, where Slovenia, in 2006,

In the framework of the 61st UNGA First Commission; Spain
co-sponsored the following conventional arms, SALW and
ammunitions related Resolutions:

— A/Res/61/66: ‘The illicit trade in small arms and light weap-

ons in all its aspects’,

— A/Res/61/71: ‘Assistance to States for curbing the illicit traf-
fic in small arms and light weapons and collecting them’,

— A/Res/61/72:

‘Problems arising from the accumulation of

conventional ammunition stockpiles in surplus’,

— A/Res/61/76: ‘Consolidation of peace through practical dis-

armament measures’,

— A/Res/61/79: ‘Information on confidence-building measures

in the field of conventional arms’,

— A/Res/61/82: ‘Conventional arms control at the regional and

sub-regional levels’,

— A/Res/61/89:

‘Towards an arms trade treaty: establishing
common international standards for the import, export and
transfer of conventional arms’.

OSCE

The Government of Spain approved on 15 September 2006
extra-budgetary contributions of a politico-military nature to
the OSCE, including the following projects: 1. Tajikistan. SALW
and CA Programme. Phase II: EUR 100 000; 2. Tajikistan. SALW
and CA stockpile and physical security: EUR 50 000.

Additionally, Spain continued its participation in an OSCE project
in Belarus related to stockpile management, destruction of
surplus, storage security conditions, ammunitions depots, etc.
of SALW and related ammunitions. This participation included
an extra-budgetary contribution of EUR 100 000 delivered in
July 2006.

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Participation in or organisation of
conferences

international

seminars and

SWEDEN

Spain supported and hosted the Regional Preparatory Meeting of
the Latin American and Caribbean States (GRULAC) for the
Review Conference of the UN PoA to Prevent, Combat and Eradi-
cate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its
Aspects that took place in the Training Centre of the Spanish
Agency for International Cooperation (AECI) in Antigua, Guate-
mala on 2-4 May 2006.

The GRULAC conference was organised by the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of Guatemala with the technical and financial assistance of
the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and
Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UN-LiREC),
the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Spain.

The Conference brought together delegations from most of the
GRULAC countries (28 countries from a total of 33 were present).
Representatives from some partners (Finland, Germany, UK
and Spain), Switzerland, US,
international and sub-regional
organisations (OAS, UNDP, DDA) and civil society (IANSA, Par-
liamentary Forum on SALW, CLAVE, IEPADES) were able to par-
ticipate during the open sessions of the conference; Ambassador
Prasad Kariyawasan, Chairperson elect for the UN 2006 SALW
Review Conference had the opportunity to intervene in the open
ceremony of the conference.

The key aim of the conference was to seek a common regional
approach in order to contribute a regional perspective to the work
of the Review Conference of the UN PoA on SALW held in New
York, from 26 June to 7 July 2006. The GRULAC was able to
agree on a reasonably ambitious document of consensus baptised
as the ‘Antigua Guatemala Declaration’.

Others

From 9 to 10 November 2006 Spain attended and supported the
Fourth Annual Meeting of the Representatives of the Parliamen-
tary Forum on Small Arms and Light Weapons that took place in
Montevideo (Uruguay) (EUR 30 000).

Up to twenty national Parliaments from European, Latin Ameri-
can and African countries from the European Parliament, together
with governmental
from Colombia, Spain,
Sweden, Finland, France, Germany and Norway, and intergovern-
mental organisations and institutions, the Inter-American Com-
mission against the Abuse of Drugs (ICAD), UNDP and UN-LiREC,
and several NGOs (SweFOR, IANSA, etc.).

representatives

As a State party to the 1969 Convention regarding the establish-
ment of uniform regulations for the reciprocal recognition of offi-
cial proof marks on fire-arms, a Spanish delegation participated
during its XVIII Plenary Session in Vienna where some Technical
Decisions were taken regarding the marking of firearms.

In the field of SALW, Sweden actively participated in the work
of
the NATO/PFF and the Wassenaar
the UN,
Arrangement.

the OSCE,

Sweden actively participated in the Baltic Sea Region Border Con-
trol Cooperation Project, which aims to combat transborder
criminal activities, such as illicit trade and illicit brokering of inter
alia SALW, in the Baltic Sea.

In May 2007, Sweden reported in the 8th optional reporting cat-
egory ‘Information on international transfers of small arms and
light weapons’, in the UN Register on Conventional Arms, on
exports of SALW from Sweden in 2006.

UNITED KINGDOM

The UK continued its programme of workshops by supporting
regional workshops in e.g. East Africa (Kenya). During these
workshops the UK encouraged both the regional groups and indi-
vidual countries to support common criteria and guidelines for
SALW transfers in their national reports, national statements and
interventions during the lead-up to the RevCon Conference in
June 2006.

The UK has also jointly chaired the ongoing OECD DAC process
to develop guidance on armed violence reduction for develop-
ment practitioners. A series of regional workshops will take place
in 2007, with the first planned for Guatemala in April.

EUROPEAN UNION

During the Review Conference of the 2001 UN PoA, the Euro-
pean Union presented on 30 June 2006 a comprehensive over-
view of its activities to support the fight against illicit small arms
and light weapons. Representatives from the then Presidency, the
Office of the Personal Representative of the High Representative
on non-proliferation and the Commission presented the overall
SALW policy based on the new EU Strategy on SALW and ammu-
nition and explained how this is being translated into concrete
activities through various instruments. The audience comprised
governments,
international organisations and SALW experts.
Members of the European Parliament also participated as part of
the Presidency delegation.

Despite the lack of results at the Review Conference of the UN
PoA, the EU reaffirmed in its closing statement that it would
remain at the forefront of efforts and continue to do practical
work to prevent, combat and eradicate illicit trade in small arms
and light weapons in all its aspects. It also underlined its engage-
ment in the implementation of the UN PoA at EU level. EU fund-
ing (through Member States, the EDF, Community funding and
CFSP budget resources) remains one of the main sources of finan-
cial assistance to implement the UN PoA.

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The Austrian Presidency, the Office of the Personal Representa-
tive of the High Representative on non-proliferation and the
Commission jointly presented the EU SALW Strategy as well as
other activities of the European Union with regard to small arms
and light weapons and explosive remnants of war at the 479th
in Vienna on
OSCE Forum for Security Cooperation (FSC)
29 March 2006. The Commission and the OSCE agreed and car-
ried out a joint assessment mission to the Novobohdanivka
ammunition depots (Ukraine). As a result of
this mission,
Ukraine’s Ministries of Defence, Foreign Affairs and Emergencies
welcomed the Commission’s encouragement to work on a com-
prehensive Ukraine Action Plan tackling the problems of surplus
weapons and ammunition in a transparent and comprehensive
manner. They also clearly saw the need to reflect this political pri-
ority in the EU-Ukraine Action Plan. The Commission and OSCE
accordingly formulated a common assessment of the problems
and the response needed in the case of the Novobohdanivka
ammunition depot. The EC then launched a project, including a
package of measures, in response to the needs identified. On
28 September 2006, Col. Claes Nilsson, OSCE/FSC Coordinator
for SALW, and Col. Anders Gardberg, Senior Military Adviser to
the Permanent Mission of Finland to the OSCE, gave presentations
on OSCE activities on SALW and stockpiles of Conventional
Ammunitions as well as on the possible role of the EU in the
OSCE SALW Working Group on Global Disarmament and Arms
Control.

The Commission has been actively engaged with EU Member
States, relevant authorities in third countries, international organi-
sations, academia, NGOs and civil society and in dealing with the
consequences and origin of illicit arms trafficking. Such traffick-
ing can be linked to the illicit trade in other commodities such as
minerals, oil, timber and diamonds. During its 2007 Chairman-
ship of the Kimberley Process, the Commission intends to work
towards improved implementation of controls which can prevent
or deter the use of diamonds to fund arms purchases by rebel
groups.

The European Commission participated in the EU-ACP Joint Par-
liamentary Assembly on 23 February 2006 in Brussels and on 20
to 23 November 2006 in Barbados in support of the Joint EU-ACP
Resolution on SALW. On those occasions it presented the EU
SALW Strategy as well as the rationale for assistance programmes
in developing countries.

From 2005 to June 2006, the European Commission was sup-
porting a wide-ranging research effort on ‘Strengthening Euro-
pean Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons and Explosive
Remnants of War’. This study, carried out by UNIDIR, includes
the widest assessment exercise conducted within the EU, cover-
ing SALW and ERW-related activities funded under different insti-
tutional architectures, and makes recommendations for future EU
action.

On 4 and 5 September 2006, the European Commission partici-
pated in the ‘First International Meeting on Illicit Arms Dealing in
the Great Lakes Region of Africa’ (GLR) which took place in
Nairobi, and which addressed the ‘Project on illicit arms dealing
in the GLR’ initiated by Interpol.

On 1 November 2006, the first EU-Western Balkans Interparlia-
mentary Forum on SALW was held in Belgrade as part of the EC
Pilot Project on SALW 2005 (EU-Western Balkans Support Plan).

Initiatives on illicit trafficking by air have been specifically sup-
ported by the European Union in the G8, Wassenaar Arrange-
ment and in the OSCE. On 13 September 2006, the European
Commission organised an informal seminar on the challenges
posed by the illicit transport of SALW by air. The seminar, mainly
intended for the Commission’s services, was open to EU Member
States, the European Parliament and the Council Secretariat. Two
NGOs (TransArms and Amnesty International) presented their
findings to the audience. The European Commission has sup-
ported a data base to gather information on these issues in South-
East Europe.

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AUSTRIA

Alexander Benedict
Federal Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Department II.8 — Global Disarmament, Arms Control, Export
Control, Multilateral Atomic Energy Issues and IAEA
Minoritenplatz 8
A-1014 Vienna
Tel.: (43-50) 11 50 33 54
Fax: (43-50) 11 59 53 54
E-mail: alexander.benedict@bmeia.gv.at
www.bmeia.gv.at

BELGIUM

Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs
International Security Division
Non-proliferation, Disarmament and Arms Control Directorate
Rue des Petits Carmes 15
B-1000 Brussels
Tel.: (32-2) 501 37 10
Fax: (32-2) 501 38 22
E-mail: werner.bauwens@diplobel.fed.be

BULGARIA

Dr Petio Petev
Director
NATO and International Security Directorate
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria
Alexander Zhendov Street 2
BG-1040 Sofia
Tel.: (359-2) 948 22 44
Fax: (359-2) 873 42 62
E-mail: int.security@mfa.government.bg

CYPRUS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Department for Multilateral Relations
Leoforos Proedrikou
CY-1447 Nicosia
Tel.: (357) 22 401152
Fax: (357) 22 661881, (357) 22 665313, (357) 22 665778
E-mail: ppapadopoulos@mfa.gov.cy

CZECH REPUBLIC

UN Department
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Loretánské námìstí 5
CZ-118 00 Praha 1
Tel.: (420-2) 241 82 324
Fax: (420-2) 241 82 026
E-mail: osn_sekretariat@mzv.cz

DENMARK

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark
Security Policy Department
Asiatisk Plads 2
DK-1448 Copenhagen K
Tel.: (45-33) 92 06 93
Fax: (45-33) 92 18 04
E-mail: sp@um.dk

ANNEX

ESTONIA

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
First Political Department
Tel.: (372-6) 37 71 00
Fax: (372-6) 37 71 99
E-mail: armscontrol@mfa.ee, stratkom@mfa.ee

FINLAND

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Political Department
Unit for Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-proliferation
P.O. Box 176
FIN-00161 Helsinki
Tel.: (358-9) 16 05 51 10
Fax: (358-9) 16 05 60 66
E-mail: POL-05@formin.fi

FRANCE

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Directorate of Strategic Affairs, Security and Disarmament
Division of Chemical and Biological Disarmament and Conventional
Weapons Control
Tel.: (33-1) 43 17 40 70
Fax: (33-1) 43 17 49 52
E-mail: Jean-Francois.Guillaume@diplomatie.gouv.fr

GERMANY

Federal Foreign Office
Division 241
Conventional Arms Control
Werderscher Markt 1
D-10117 Berlin
Tel.: (49-30) 50 00 42 72
Fax: (49-30) 50 00 542 72
E-mail: 241-0@diplo.de

GREECE

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Directorate of United Nations and International Organisations
Section of Non-proliferation, Disarmament and Arms Control
GR-Athens
Tel.: (30-210) 368 25 40
Fax: (30-210) 368 22 39
E-mail: d01@mfa.gr

HUNGARY

Security Policy and Non-proliferation Department
Arms Control and Non-Proliferation Section
MFA Hungary
Tel.: (36-1) 458 11 05
Fax: (36-1) 375 09 22
E-mail: bpnf@kum.hu

Contact persons:

Mr Zoltán PAPP (zpapp@kum.hu)
Mr Balázs GÉCZY (bgeczy@kum.hu)
Mr Szabolcs OSVÁT (szosvat@kum.hu)

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IRELAND

NETHERLANDS

National Point of Contact
Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Section
Department of Foreign Affairs
79 St Stephens Green
Dublin 2
Tel.: (353-1) 408 20 76
Fax: (353-1) 408 23 83

Desk Officer for Small Arms and Light Weapons
Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Arms Export Policy Division and Arms Control (DVB/WW)
P.O. Box 20061
2500 EB The Hague, Netherlands
Tel.: (31-70) 348 55 62
Fax: (31-70) 348 54 79

ITALY

POLAND

Counsellor Emanuele Farruggia
Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Division
General Department for Multilateral Political Affairs and Human Rights
Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Piazzale della Farnesina 1
I-00194 — Rome
Tel.: (39-06) 36 91 40 00
Fax: (39-06) 323 59 27
E-mail: emanuele.farruggia @esteri.it

LATVIA

Non-proliferation and Arms Control Division
Security Policy Department
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia
Brivibas blvd. 36
LV-1395 Riga
Tel.: (371-7) 01 64 56, (371-7) 01 61 56
Fax: (371-7) 22 72 26

LITHUANIA

Arms Control, Non-proliferation and Disarmament Division
Security Policy Department
J. Tumo-Vaižganto 2
LT-01511 Vilnius
Tel.: (370-5) 236 25 79
Fax: (370-5) 236 25 19
E-mail: dovydas.spokauskas@urm.lt

LUXEMBOURG

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ms Tessy Seidenthal
5 rue Notre-Dame
L-2240 Luxembourg
Tel.: (352) 478 24 69
Fax: (352) 22 19 89
E-mail: tessy.seidenthal@mae.etat.lu

MALTA

Mr Andrew Seychell
Assistant Commissioner of Police
Police Force General Headquarters
Floriana
Malta
Tel.: (356-21) 247 800
Fax: (356-21) 247 922
E-mail: andrew.seychell@gov.mt

Department of Security Policy
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Al. J. Ch. Szucha 23
PL-00-580 Warsaw
Tel.: (48-22) 523 92 06
Fax: (48-22) 523 93 03
E-mail: anna.tyszkiewicz@msz.gov.pl, dpb@msz.gov.pl

Division of International Operational Police Cooperation
Criminal Intelligence Bureau
National Police Headquaters, ul. Puławska 148/150
PL-02-514 Warsaw
Tel.: (48-22) 601 23 59
Fax: (48-22) 601 26 74
E-mail: ncbwarsaw@kgp.gov.pl

PORTUGAL

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Disarmament and Non- proliferation Unit
Largo do Rilvas
P-1399-030 Lisboa
Tel.: (351-21) 394 62 95
Fax: (351-21) 394 60 37
E-mail: dsd2@sg.mne.gov.pt

ROMANIA

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Counter-Terrorism and Arms Control Division
Tel.: (40-21) 319 68 57
Fax: (40-21) 319 23 63
E-mail: oncat@mae.ro

Additional point of contact:

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
National Agency for Exports Control
Conventional Arms Division
Tel.: (40-21) 311 11 93
Fax: (40-21) 311 12 97
E-mail: ancex@ancex.ro

SLOVAKIA

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Department of OSCE and Disarmament
Hlboka cesta 2
SK-833 36 Bratislava
Tel.: (421-2) 59 78 31 41
Fax: (421-2) 59 78 31 49
E-mail: obod@foreign.gov.sk

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SLOVENIA

UNITED KINGDOM

Ms Irina Gorsic
Arms Control and Non-proliferation Unit
Security Policy Division
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Prešernova ulica 25
SLO-1000 Ljubljana
Tel.: (386-1) 478 12 50
Fax: (386-1) 478 22 29

SPAIN

Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores y de Cooperación (MAEC)
Dirección General de Asuntos Internacionales de Terrorismo
No Proliferación y Desarme
Subdirección General de No Proliferación y Desarme
Luis Gómez Nogueira
Jefe de Área de Desarme
Calle Serrano Galvache, 26
E-28071 Madrid
Tel.: (34-91) 379 17 59
Fax: (34-91) 394 86 78
E-mail: luis.gomez@mae.es

SWEDEN

Department for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
S-103 39 Stockholm
Tel.: (46-8) 405 10 00
Fax: (46-8) 723 11 76
E-mail: UD-NIS@foreign.ministry.se

Philip Tissot
Deputy Head of Security Policy Group
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
King Charles Street
London SW1A 2AH
United Kingdom
Tel.: (44-20) 70 08 39 28
Fax: (44-20) 70 08 26 35
E-mail: Philip.Tissot@fco.gov.uk

GENERAL SECRETARIAT OF THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN
UNION

Office of the Personal Representative on Non-Proliferation
Rue de Loi, 175
B-1049 Brussels
Tel.: (32-2) 281 80 44
Fax: (32-2) 281 81 55
E-mail: secretariat.wmd@consilium.europa.eu
www.consilium.europa.eu/wmd

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Directorate General for External Relations
Mr Luigi Narbone
Tel.: (32-2) 298 73 21
Fax: (32-2) 295 05 80
E-mail: luigi.narbone@ec.europa.eu