§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will take steps in intergovernmental fora to establish the best means for preventing Russian exports and existing stocks of small arms from falling into irresponsible hands; and what is their response to the 2003 report on this matter by Saferworld and others. [HL1922]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanImproved international export controls are key to preventing small arms falling into irresponsible hands. The UK is 109WA working through its transfer controls initiative to build global consensus on such controls for small arms and with key states on concrete improvements to their controls. We are engaged with Russia and other countries of the former Soviet Union on this issue in intergovernmental fora including the UN, G8, the Wassenaar arrangement and the OSCE, as well as bilaterally.
Russia has signed up to the OSCE's small arms and light weapons (SALW) document which requires the adoption of a series of principles to improve national controls over the export of SALW and for states to exchange information on legislation and current practice on export policy and procedures. Russia is also party to the Wassenaar arrangement's Best Practice Guidelines in the Exports of SALW that the UK was instrumental in securing in December 2002.
The 2003 report, Beyond the Kalashnikov is a balanced report and has been a helpful development in SALW transparency for the region. The report is available on the Small Arms Survey website: www.smallarmssurvey.org/OPs/OP10RussianFederation.pdf.