Statement by the delegation of Ukraine at the Sixth Biennial Meeting of States on the UN Programme of Action to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in SALW

Statement by the delegation of Ukraine at the Sixth Biennial Meeting of States on the UN Programme of Action to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects

(6 June 2016)

Mr. Chair,

On behalf of the delegation of Ukraine allow me to congratulate you and other members of the Bureau on your election.

Mr. Chair,

We continue considering the UN Programme of Action as one of the most important and universal tool in global efforts to combat the threat of illicit spread and misuse of small arms and light weapons.

Ukraine has continued implementing the PoA and ITI provisions to comply fully with its obligations under these documents. In particular, the production, possession and destruction of SALW is licensed and supervised in accordance with a number of national regulations. We attach particular importance to ensuring effective export control procedures that meet all standing international requirements. In this sphere Ukraine strictly adheres to the decisions taken by the UN Security Council, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the international export control regime Wassenaar Arrangement. The UN Security Council resolutions which impose sanctions regimes are guidelines for the adoption of the relevant legislation and regulations in Ukraine.

At the regional level, Ukraine cooperates closely with participating States of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in developing effective measures aimed at terminating and eradicating the illegal proliferation of SALW.

Mr. Chair,

Addressing the enormous destructive power of conventional armaments, including SALW, continues to be of the utmost importance for the international community especially in the context of regional security.

In this respect, we cannot avoid mentioning the continuing military aggression against Ukraine. The use of Russian regular military forces armed with modern types of conventional armaments and ammunition has significantly damaged the existing system of conventional arms control. It is also a great challenge for proper implementation of the PoA and achieving its universality.

Unfortunately, we continue to witness massive transfers by the Russian Federation of military goods, including SALW, to our territory, both to Crimea and the Eastern Ukraine, in total violation of the PoA provisions. Needless to mention about respecting by this State any nationally and internationally established export control and licensing procedures, securing effective customs and border controls. On the contrary, possessing powerful law enforcement machine, the Russian Federation totally ignores persistent calls of the international community to establish the effective border control and encourages the inflow of weapons and ammunition into the territory of Ukraine through state-controlled channels thus deliberately destabilizing not only sub-regional but entire European security and stability.

Among other things, such a situation poses deep concern regarding the proper implementation of the PoA which serves as the only universal international tool to address the illicit trade in SALW. We have no right to be blind to this situation.

Mr. Chair,

Finally, Ukraine commends your efforts in elaborating the draft of the outcome document of the meeting. We consider it as a good basis for further substantive discussion. I would like to assure you of my delegation’s full support to ensure a successful outcome of the BMS6.

Thankyou.