Ambassador's Speech

Ambassador Jeanine Jackson’s Speech
at the Opening Ceremony of ACSS Seminar
on Small Arms and Light Weapons
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Theme “Enhancing Capacity for Tackling Small Arms and Light Weapons Proliferation in West Africa”
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Ouagadougou, December 4, 2006

On behalf of the Government of the United States of America I would like to thank the authorities, the invitees and all the participants for being here today and to welcome them to this workshop.

The theme of this regional workshop of Ouagadougou - ” Enhancing Capacity for Tackling Small Arms and Light Weapons Proliferation in West Africa” - is a burning issue and will certainly give the opportunity to fruitful discussions between the participants.  I feel confident that these discussions will contribute to the eradication of the Small Arms and light weapons proliferation in West Africa.
 
There is a great deal of concern around the world about weapons of mass destruction.  The threat of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, especially in the hands of terrorists, is very real.  But small arms and light weapons are also a threat throughout the world.  These weapons have been responsible for mass destruction and killing in many parts of the world, particularly in Africa.  Small arms are easily available and simple to use.  They have a disproportionate impact, killing far more than any other conventional weapon.

The people of Somalia, Sudan, DRC, Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, and northern Uganda know the destructive power of small arms when they come into the wrong hands.  Generations have been lost because of civil wars powered by these weapons.  According to conservative estimates there are about eight million small arms and light weapons in West Africa alone.

Armed conflicts are robbing Africa of the development that it deserves.  As long as arms are cheap and readily available, there is little hope of solving the deep and deadly problems that choke Africa, such as HIV/AIDS, which is at its highest levels in conflict zones.  Development can only go hand in hand with disarmament.  As leaders, it is our responsibility to shape national policies and practical measures to control the spread and destructive use of small arms and light weapons.   

Speakers and Participants,

The discussions you will have over the next few days are important for all of us.

I challenge you to tackle this problem for the good of the people of Africa.

Again, I welcome all of you to this workshop and thank the Africa Center for Strategic Studies and the Government of Burkina Faso for this important effort.

I wish you all the best during this workshop.

Thank you