Council Decision of 14 December 2000 implementing Joint Action 1999/34/CFSP with a view to a European Union contribution to combating the destabilising accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons in South Ossetia

Council Decision
of 14 December 2000
implementing Joint Action 1999/34/CFSP with a view to a European Union contribution to combating the destabilising accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons in South Ossetia
(2000/803/CFSP)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
,
Having regard to the Treaty on European Union and in particular Article 23(2) thereof,
Having regard to Council Joint Action 1999/34/CFSP of 17 December 1998 on the European Union's contribution to combating the destabilising accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons(1), and in particular Article 6 thereof,
Whereas:
(1) The uncontrolled accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons pose a threat to peace and security and reduce the prospects for sustainable development, particularly in South Ossetia.
(2) This Decision is intended to implement Joint Action 1999/34/CFSP and to make a financial contribution to local police forces, as part of a programme designed to make equipment available to them for the purpose of the collection and destruction of small arms and light weapons.
(3) The financial contribution will serve to influence public opinion in favour of civilian disarmament, consolidate and develop civil society involvement in the process of weapons collection and disposal and create an atmosphere of security, collective responsibility, reconciliation and trust between the population groups concerned.
(4) The financial contribution would reinforce the role of the European Union and that of the OSCE in the settlement of a conflict, particularly at a time when the OSCE Member States are preparing a contribution on small arms for the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in all its Aspects, which should be held in 2001.
(5) The Commission has agreed to take on certain duties necessary for the implementation of this Decision,