Kuwait opposes conventional arms’ proliferation
NEW YORK: Kuwait has manifested special concern for combating proliferation of weapons, namely small and light caliber arms, through effective participation in debates at prominent quarters and supporting UN resolutions in this respect. Kuwait’s particular concern of these conventional arms’ deadly hazards was expressed by the second secretary of the Kuwaiti permanent mission at the UN Ibrahim Aldai, in his address to the first commission of the UN General Assembly during a session on disarmament and global security. Aldai expressed Kuwait’s unwavering advocacy of implementing relevant international treaties and commitments in this respect-aware that these weapons constitute a threat to regional and international security and peace.
The second secretary affirmed Kuwait’s commitment to partake, effectively, in any international multi-lateral effort, in harmony with the UN charter, to enable States acquire “legitimate defense capabilities,” aimed at facing diverse emerging threats emanating from the illegitimate arms trade. Kuwait acclaims implementation of the treaty for regulars arms trade, renews its emphasis on the necessity that its execution be compatible with the UN charter, respect for States’ legitimate rights for meeting their national security and defense requirements. The Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) is a multilateral treaty that regulates international trade in conventional weapons. It entered into force on December 24, 2014. He noted that globalization and technology development facilitated production of these weapons making them available to “non-States groups.”
Aldai called for cooperation and information swap among States to tighten control on borders to hinder delivery of these arms to terrorists. Citing an example of the enormous hazards of such conventional but deadly ordnance, he reminded the international community that Kuwait has suffered a lost from landmines left behind by the Iraqi forces that occupied the country (1990-1991). While expressing sympathy with countries that have lost many civilians due to the fatal mines, he urged for more efforts to locate and defuse these deadly ordnance. The Middle East has remained unstable due to a host of reasons such as “illegitimate inflow of light and small arms” into the region, he added. — KUNA