Japan calls for reduction of small arms... .c Kyodo News Service TOKYO, June 8 (Kyodo) - A two-day international conference on small arms opened Thursday in Tokyo, with Japan calling for substantial measures to cut the number of such weapons. ''The problem of small arms is one of the most disturbing legacies of the war-plagued 20th century,'' said Yukiya Amano, deputy director general for arms control and scientific affairs at the Foreign Ministry, reading a message from Foreign Minister Yohei Kono. The ministry organized the Asia Regional Workshop on Small Arms in Tokyo, which is being held at a Tokyo hotel. Representatives from 31 governments, the United Nations and nongovernmental organizations are taking part in the workshop, which is part of Japan's efforts to prepare for the U.N. Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects in 2001. ''In many regional conflicts and civil wars that have erupted since the end of the Cold War, we have seen that small arms and light weapons, especially assault rifles, have been the weapons of choice,'' Kono's message said. ''Even after a conflict has been settled, excessive availability of small arms often continues to threaten public order, thus hindering post-conflict nation-building efforts,'' it said. The foreign minister also called on countries of the European Union, members of the Organization of American States, and African states, which have taken ''a number of significant steps to tackle the issue,'' to share their ''valuable experiences and lessons'' with Asian countries. -- Given that Asian countries mostly have virtual gun bans, I fail to see what advice they could offer. Steve. -------[Cybershooters contacts]-------- Editor: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Website & subscription info: www.cybershooters.org
