A/RES/61/72 GA

United Nations A/RES/61/72 General Assembly Distr.: General 3 January 2007 Sixty-first session Agenda item 90 (s) 06-49875 Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 6 December 2006 [on the report of the First Committee (A/61/394)] 61/72. Problems arising from the accumulation of conventional ammunition stockpiles in surplus The General Assembly, Mindful of contributing to the process initiated within the framework of the United Nations reform to make the Organization more effective in maintaining peace and security by giving it the resources and tools it needs for conflict prevention, peaceful resolution of disputes, peacekeeping, post-conflict peacebuilding and reconstruction, Underlining the importance of a comprehensive and integrated approach to disarmament through the development of practical measures, Taking note of the report of the Group of Experts on the problem of ammunition and explosives,1 Recalling the recommendation contained in paragraph 27 of the report submitted by the Chairman of the Open-ended Working Group to Negotiate an International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons, namely, to address the issue of small arms and light weapons ammunition in a comprehensive manner as part of a separate process conducted within the framework of the United Nations,2 Noting with satisfaction the work and measures pursued at the regional and subregional levels with regard to the issue of conventional ammunition, Recalling its decision 59/515 of 3 December 2004 and its resolution 60/74 of 8 December 2005, by which it decided to include the issue of conventional ammunition stockpiles in surplus in the agenda of its sixty-first session, 1. Encourages all interested States to assess, on a voluntary basis, whether, in conformity with their legitimate security needs, parts of their stockpiles of conventional ammunition should be considered to be in surplus, and recognizes that the security of such stockpiles must be taken into consideration and that appropriate controls with regard to the security and safety of stockpiles of conventional _______________ 1 See A/54/155. 2 A/60/88 and Corr.2. A/RES/61/72 2 ammunition are indispensable at the national level in order to eliminate the risk of explosion, pollution or diversion; 2. Appeals to all interested States to determine the size and nature of their surplus stockpiles of conventional ammunition, whether they represent a security risk, if appropriate, their means of destruction, and whether external assistance is needed to eliminate this risk; 3. Encourages States in a position to do so to assist interested States within a bilateral framework or through international or regional organizations, on a voluntary and transparent basis, in elaborating and implementing programmes to eliminate surplus stockpiles or to improve their management; 4. Encourages all Member States to examine the possibility of developing and implementing, within a national, regional or subregional framework, measures to address accordingly the illicit trafficking related to the accumulation of such stockpiles; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to seek the views of Member States regarding the risks arising from the accumulation of conventional ammunition stockpiles in surplus and regarding national ways of strengthening controls on conventional ammunition, and to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session; 6. Decides to address the issue of conventional ammunition stockpiles in surplus in a comprehensive manner; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to establish a group of governmental experts to consider, commencing no later than 2008, further steps to enhance cooperation with regard to the issue of conventional ammunition stockpiles in surplus, and to transmit the report of the group of experts to the General Assembly for consideration at its sixty-third session; 8. Decides to include this issue in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session. 67th plenary meeting 6 December 2006

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