NEWS RELEASES
CANADA TO SIGN CONVENTION AGAINST THE ILLICIT MANUFACTURING OF AND TRAFFICKING IN FIREARMSAND OTHER RELATED MATERIALS
November 13, 1997 No. 186
CANADA TO SIGN CONVENTION AGAINST THE ILLICIT
MANUFACTURING OF AND TRAFFICKING IN FIREARMS
AND OTHER RELATED MATERIALS
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced that Canada will sign this
week the Inter-American Convention against the Illicit Manufacturing of and
Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives, and Other Related Materials. The
Canadian delegation will be led by the Hon. Herb Gray, Deputy Prime Minister, at
an Organization of American States (OAS) Special General Assembly in Washington on
November 14.
"This convention addresses long-standing Canadian concerns about the free flow of
illicit firearms, ammunition and explosives in this hemisphere," said Mr.Gray.
"Curbing illicit trafficking will help in the battle against crime, drug
trafficking and terrorism. All nations in the hemisphere will benefit from
measures to dry up the excess in arms."
"Significant efforts were taken by Canada and its OAS partners to develop
appropriate mechanisms to address the illicit trafficking between countries," said
Mr. Axworthy. "All too often it is small arms, rather than the weapons systems
targeted by disarmament efforts, that cause the greatest bloodshed today where
innocent people become victims. In the hands of terrorists, criminals and the
irregular militia and armed bands typical of internal conflict, these are true
weapons of mass terror."
"The Convention will greatly assist Canadian law enforcement in the fight against
violent crime," said Andy Scott, Solicitor General.
Foreign Affairs is working in close consultation with the Department of Justice,
Solicitor General Canada and Revenue Canada.
The Convention is strongly welcomed by Latin American and Caribbean countries,
some of which are suffering from an excessive availability of weapons within their
borders. A multilateral approach would be essential in the fight against narco-trafficking and violent crime, all significant problems that impede economic and
social progress in the Americas.
Other signatories of the Convention include the United States, Mexico and most of
the other states in the Americas. Canada's adherence to this Convention will
assist in the implementation of Canada's firearms regulations.
"One of the ways we, as Canadians, will meet our obligations under the Convention
is by implementing universal registration of firearms to help us combat
smuggling," said Anne McLellan, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of
Canada.
The Convention requires countries to control the cross-border movement of
firearms, ammunition, explosives and other related materials through import,
export and transit authorizations, and to mark firearms at the time of manufacture
and import.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Debora Brown
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
Jean Valin
Canadian Firearms Centre
Department of Justice
(613) 946-1645
This document is also available on the Department of Foreign Affairs and
International Trade's Internet site: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca
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