[dehai-news] (DPA) Air cargo operator code needed to stop illegal arms transfers to conflict areas in Africa


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From: Biniam Tekle (biniamt@dehai.org)
Date: Tue May 12 2009 - 08:47:23 EDT


   Group: Air cargo operator code needed to stop illegal arms - Summary
*Posted :* Tue, 12 May 2009 11:17:37 GMT *Author :* DPA
Stockholm - A joint code of conduct for air cargo transporters could help
stem illegal arms transfers to conflict areas in Africa, a Swedish-based
peace research institute said in a report released Tuesday. Often the same
companies that transport humanitarian aid for relief agencies are linked to
alleged arms trafficking, researchers at the Stockholm International Peace
Research Institute (SIPRI) said.

Their findings suggested that "90 per cent of the air cargo companies
identified in arms trafficking-related reports have also been used by major
UN agencies, EU and NATO member states, defence contractors and some of the
world's leading NGOs to transport humanitarian aid, peacekeepers and
peacekeeping equipment."

In addition to arms, questionable transports include "cocaine, diamonds,
coltan (columbite-tantalite) and other precious minerals," the SIPRI report
said.

Countries where such transports have been reported in recent years include
Angola, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea- Bissau, Liberia,
Sierra Leone, Somalia and Sudan.

The group recommended that the European Union "utilize its existing air
safety regulations to put companies involved in arms trafficking or
destabilizing commodity flows out of business."

It noted such a move could be implemented at relatively low cost.

Swedish International Development Cooperation Minister Gunilla Carlsson said
in a comment that the report "highlights a serious problem that needs
immediate action. The findings in the report are very disturbing."

Carlsson said Sweden would move to ensure that the recommendations were put
into place through Sweden's close contact with aid agencies and countries
that deploy peacekeepers.

The report, "Air Transport and Destabilizing Commodity Flows," suggested
that peacekeepers be offered more training so that they can "identify
suspect air cargo carriers."

"Our research shows that companies named in arms trafficking- related
reports have poor safety records. Safety regulations represent their
Achilles heel," co-author Mark Bromley said.

The researchers noted that "air and maritime transport actors are far easier
to trace than arms brokers, drug cartels or resource smugglers," citing that
aircraft and vessels as well as associated companies must be registered.

The Swedish parliament created SIPRI as an independent foundation in 1966.

SIPRI has for decades tracked global arms spending and publishes regular
reports on its findings.

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