australia’s international manpads initiative
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AUSTRALIA’S INTERNATIONAL MANPADS INITIATIVE. Mr Don Smith Executive Officer Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Canberra. MANPADS – An International Threat Australia’s Response. Introduction A clear and present danger International efforts to address the threat - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
AUSTRALIA’S INTERNATIONAL MANPADS
INITIATIVE
Mr Don SmithExecutive Officer
Department of Foreign Affairs and TradeCanberra
MANPADS – An International ThreatAustralia’s Response
• Introduction
• A clear and present danger
• International efforts to address the threat
• Implementation of existing Agreements
• Australia’s response
• Conclusion / next steps
MANPADS – An International ThreatIntroduction (3)
• States can legally develop, produce, hold and use MANPADS under international law
• Around 500,000 missiles, but fewer than 100,000 complete units, have been produced to date.
MANPADS – An International ThreatIntroduction (4)
• Need to prevent terrorists and other unlawful non-state groups acquiring MANPADS to target civilian aircraft
• Over 40 mainly military aircraft hit by MANPADS since 1970’s, causing 25 crashes and over 600 deaths worldwide
• Frequent media reports about MANPADS attacks in conflict zones in Iraq and Afghanistan
MANPADS – An International ThreatA Clear And Present Danger (5)
• As hijacking becomes more difficult (post Sept-11), MANPADS attacks become more attractive
• We know terrorist groups want access to MANPADS
• The portability and concealment potential of MANPADS makes them a significant threat in the hands of trained operators
MANPADS – An International ThreatA Clear And Present Danger (6)
• Strategic MANPADS attacks might kill hundreds of people and have substantial economic and political costs
• Such attacks would also impact on regional stability
MANPADS – An International ThreatA Clear And Present Danger (7)
• Sept 11 attacks cost insurers nearly US$21 billion
• The 2002 Bali bombings wiped 10% off the Indonesian share index and prompted the finance ministry to seek an extra US$363 million in November 2002
MANPADS – An International Threat International Efforts To Address The Threat (1)
• International frameworks to address the threat from the illicit use of MANPADS already exist
• Ongoing action at the global, regional and bilateral levels to address the threat
MANPADS – An International ThreatInternational Efforts To Address The Threat (2)
United Nations
• Two Australia-sponsored UNGA resolutions in 2004 and 2005 adopted by consensus
MANPADS – An International ThreatInternational Efforts To Address The Threat (3)Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls for
Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies
• 2002 Elements for Export Controls of Man-Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS)
– Revised in December 2003
• The Wassenaar Elements are accepted as the benchmark for MANPADS controls
MANPADS – An International ThreatInternational Efforts To Address The Threat (4)
G8
• G8 Leaders’ declaration at Birmingham, 1998
• G8 Leaders’ declaration at Kananaskis, 2002
• G8 Action Plan on MANPADS, Evian, 2003
• G8 Secure and Facilitated International Travel Initiative Action Plan, 2004
MANPADS – An International ThreatInternational Efforts To Address The Threat (5)
OSCE, OAS, ICAO
• OSCE Forum for Security Cooperation Decision No. 7/03 on MANPADS, 2003
• OAS Recommended Guidelines for Control and Security of MANPADS, 2003
• ICAO Resolution A35-11, 2004
MANPADS – An International ThreatInternational Efforts To Address The Threat (6)
APEC
Existing APEC decisions on MANPADS
• APEC Leaders’ Declaration, Bangkok, 2003
• APEC Guidelines on Controls and Security of MANPADS, Santiago Ministerial Meeting, 2004
• APEC Joint Ministerial Statement, Busan, 2005
MANPADS – An International ThreatImplementation of Existing Agreements (1)
• Main vulnerabilities are in storage and transhipment as illicit production is not currently a significant part of the problem.
• Many thousands of MANPADS are unaccounted for worldwide.
MANPADS – An International ThreatImplementation of Existing Agreements (2)
• Key issue now is to implement existing international commitments
– Stockpile management – Effective export/transfer controls,
including of associated technology and training
MANPADS – An International ThreatAustralia’s Response (1) – The Announcement
• On 6 December 2005 Mr Downer announced Australia’s international MANPADS diplomatic initiative– takes a ‘whole-of-government’ approach
involving policy and technical agencies
MANPADS – An International ThreatAustralia’s Response (2) – The Objectives
• Raise profile of the threat with policy makers, industry and security agencies
• Strengthen controls over transfers, storage and use of MANPADS
• Identifying areas for technical assistance and capacity building
MANPADS – An International ThreatAustralia’s Response (3) – The loci of action
• As Wassenaar Plenary Chair this year (2006), Australia will promote the benchmark Wassenaar MANPADS export control and stockpile management standards through targeted outreach to non-member states
• As APEC Chair in 2007, our focus will be on the Asia-Pacific region
MANPADS – An International ThreatConclusion / Next Steps (1) – Australia’s activities
• Australian-organised international MANPADS seminar New York (2 Nov 2006)
• Other regional capacity-building activities.
MANPADS – An International ThreatConclusions / Next Steps (2)
• Heighten international profile of the MANPADS threat through
– Industry and business engagement
– Increased diplomatic efforts to address the threat
MANPADS – An International ThreatConclusion / Next Steps (3)
• Strengthened domestic and international information sharing arrangements
• Implementation of international agreements and commitments
• Identification of capacity building opportunities to boost capabilities, including in needs identification and gap analysis
MANPADS – An International ThreatConclusion / Next Steps (4)
• These measures will go some way to restricting MANPADS availability, particularly the more modern and capable weapons.
• However, older, unaccounted weapons in illicit hands will continue to present a threat and will require vigilance by governments and information-sharing to counter these threats.