Jan 9, 2006 / 22:00 pm
In an address yesterday to the United Nations, Archbishop Celestino Migliore, permanent U.N. observer for the Holy See, called on the world body to more thoroughly analyze the reasons behind demand for small arms, so as to eradicate their illicit trade.
Archbishop Migliore’s address was given in New York to the "Preparatory Committee for the United Nations Conference to Review Progress Made in the Implementation of the Program of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in All Its Aspects."
The Archbishop began by saying that the upcoming conference is likely to be the most important such meeting to take place since the U.N.‘s 2001 adoption of the "Program of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate Illicit Trade in SALW in All its Aspects” itself.
He pointed out that the program is "having important repercussions on the promotion of disarmament, peace and post-conflict reconstruction, the fight against terrorism and large- and small-scale organized crime."