OWN CORRESPONDENT, New York | Thursday 10.30pm.
UNITED States Secretary of State Madeleine Albright has suggested establishing an international centre to curb arms transfers.
During a United Nations Security Council session devoted to Africa on Thursday she reminded the meeting of foreign ministers that the UN was overseeing work to draw up “responsible policies for arms transfer worldwide”.
“We should conclude these talks by 2000, and that should also serve as a target date to restrict the export of shoulder-fired missiles,” she said.
She warned that the traffic in arms was particularly dangerous in Africa and urged UN members to “curb arms transfers to zones of conflict in Africa” by taking a series of measures.
“We should seek to build international support over the next six months for a voluntary moratorium on arms sales that could fuel these interconnected conflicts.”
UN members should also “reinforce sanctions” against those countries principally responsible for the proliferation of arms and help African states to improve their arms control strategy. The United States was looking at how it could contribute to the initiative with training and equipment, she added.