Archbishop Celestino Migliore on Maintenance of international peace and security

(november 20, 2008) The dramatic consequences of the illicit global arms trade call the international community to redouble its commitment to create new control mechanisms. With the recent adoption of the resolution Towards an Arms Trade Treaty in the First Committee of the General Assembly, which lays down the first important step toward a legally binding instrument on arms trade and transfers, this debate is not only timely but vital to reinvigorating the efforts in global arms reduction, said Archbishop Celestino Migliore, Apostolic Nuncio Permanent Observer of the Holy See United Nations Security Council. He was speaking at the United Nations, New York on Wednesday, 19^th November at the debate on “Maintenance of international peace and security: Strengthening collective security through general regulation and reduction of armaments.” He lauded the initiative of the Security Council to address the issue of the regulation and reduction of armaments is interlinked with the continued worldwide problems of security and is gaining momentum around the world. He pointed to the fact that the lack of regulation and commitment to reducing global arms supply has created a world in which weapons are more easily obtainable than food, shelter and education and $1.3 trillion spent on arms to programs. The Archbishop expressed his anguish over of hundreds of thousands in the Democratic Republic of Congo, crying out for justice, peace, security and the ability to simply live in dignity on their own soil. The Holy See strongly condemns the massacres being committed under the eyes of the international community in the DRC and calls for all efforts to stop this human tragedy. He concluded saying that there is the need to develop a new security consensus which will assist in achieving the internationally agreed development goals, security and respect for human rights