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212 联合国大会就打击轻武器违法交易达成协议
UN Conference Reaches Agreement on Combating Small Arms Trade
Breck Ardery
New York
21 Jul 2001 18:16 UTC
After negotiations that dragged into the early hours of Saturday morning, a United Nations conference has finally reached agreement on a program to combat the 1)illicit trade in 2)small arms and light weapons.
The two-week conference featured often 3)bitter 4)controversy over the position of the United States.
From the start, U.S. delegates made clear they would not support any document that banned the transfer of arms by governments to 5)insurgent groups. The United States argued such transfers are sometimes necessary when, for example, a government engages in 6)genocide and the 7)victims are trying to defend themselves.
The United States also refused to accept any language in the program that appeared to limit the right of civilians to own arms.
Critics claimed the U.S. position was the result of pressure from domestic gun-ownership groups, particularly the National Rifle Association.
Both of the elements objected to by the United States were removed from the final document. The document, which is not legally binding, was 8)adopted by 9)consensus and provides a broad outline on how to reduce the illegal traffic in small arms.
After the agreement, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Lincoln Bloomfield told reporters it is a good program of action. "It sets the basis for cooperative action to try to address some very serious problems caused by flows of illicit small arms and light weapons in areas of instability," he said. "This is a subject about which many of the participating states care a great deal. The United States cares a great deal."
One concession made by the United States was agreement to a follow-up conference within five years.
Although many delegates were disappointed that the program is not stronger, some say that at least the problem of illicit traffic in small arms has been put on the world 10)agenda. France's former Prime Minister Michel Rocard said it would be a mistake the call the conference a failure. "This beginning is very important because whatever happens following [the conference], the subject of small arms and light weapons is an international subject that is present on the table and will not be forgotten," he said.
Conference President Camillo Reyes of Colombia seemed to agree, saying the program of action will allow the international community to start working together to 11)eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. However, Mr. Reyes expressed regret that two sections of the proposed program could not be included because of the "concerns of one state."
(1) illicit[I5lIsIt]adj.违法的
(2) small arms n.轻武器
(3) bitter[`bItE(r)]adj.苦的, 痛苦的, 怀恨的
(4) controversy[5kRntrEv:sI]n.论争, 辩论, 论战
(5) insurgent[In5s:dVEnt]adj.起义的
(6) genocide[5dVenEsaId]n.有计划的灭种和屠杀
(7) victim[5vIktIm]n.受害人, 牺牲者, 牺牲品
(8) adopt[E5dRpt]vt.采用, 收养
(9) consensus[kEn5sensEs]n.一致同意, 多数人的意见, 舆论
(10) agenda[E5dVendE]n.pl.议程
(11) eradicate[I5rAdIkeIt]v.根除
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