Vatican City, Jul 11, 2005 / 22:00 pm
Speaking to a group at the United Nations yesterday, the Vatican’s Archbishop Celestino Migliore, permanent observer to the U.N. called illicit arms trade a threat to peace, development and security and voiced the Holy See’s desire to bring it and related activities to an end.
The archbishop delivered yesterday’s speech to the "Second Biennial Meeting of States to Consider the Implementation of the Program of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All its Aspects."
"The illicit trade in small arms and light weapons”, Archbishop Migliore said, “is an obvious threat to peace, development and security…That is why the Holy See adds its voice to the calls for a common approach, not only towards the illicit trade in small arms but also to related activities.“
“Furthermore,” he added, “as well as considering the illicit offer of arms, we must also be mindful of the dynamics of the demand for arms."