UNITED NATIONS, (AFP) -France on Friday urged the United States to ease its opposition to regulation of small-arms sales in order to rescue from failure a United Nations conference on trade in weapons. (Read photo caption below). "There will be no result (from the conference) if there are no concessions made here and there," French Cooperation Minister Charles Josselin said in New York.
The United States has insisted that it will oppose any measure restricting the legal trade and ownership of small arms that the UN says cause the death of more than 1,000 people every day.
The two-week conference is scheduled to adopt a plan of action by July 20.
Diplomats said the first week of the conference had failed to bridge differences, with the United States insisting that several points in the plan to curb the weapons trade impinged on US internal affairs.
Josselin criticized Washington for "taking part in an international conference with the firm intention of not budging on any of the lines of its own position."
"We are prepared to take into account others' positions, but we would like that approach to be reciprocated," he told a press conference
John Bolton, US undersecretary of state for arms control and international security affairs, said at the outset of the conference that Washington opposed "measures that would constrain legal trade and legal manufacturing of small arms and light weapons."
Washington also opposed "the promotion of international advocacy activity by international or non-governmental organizations" and "measures that prohibit civilian possession of small arms."
Josselin said the US position was the result of a misunderstanding, asserting that the conference had no intention of banning ownership of small arms, only controlling their sale, especially illicit sale.
"The question of ownership of weapons by Americans only concerns Americans," he said.
France would be prepared to break with Europe on demands for markings on weapons, a position opposed by the United States, and agree to voluntary marking by weapons makers, he said.
"We would be happy if the weapons makers accepted the principle of markings," he said.
Small arms, defined by the Norwegian Initiative on Small Arms Transfers, are automatic rifles, grenades, submachine guns, high powered pistols and other weapons that a single person can easily transport and fire.
PHOTO CAPTION:
Members of the French deleagtion huddle in the General Assembly during the United Nations Conference on Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons at the U.N., Wednesday, July 11, 2001. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)