But the glass ceiling is only a small part of the issue.

We will then establish a small working group to consider the issue.

The issue is much more evident in small and medium sized urban centres

The issue of the treatment of small economies was of particular concern to Jamaica.

In conclusion, and as the former Foreign Minister of Japan said, the issue of small arms and light weapons is a multidisciplinary issue.

I will therefore briefly expound on a certain aspect of the issue of small arms.

The issue of Council reform must therefore also be viewed from the perspective of small States.

(h) The issue of drug trafficking and money laundering in small island Non Self Governing Territories

Finally, it would be wrong to address the issue of the protection of civilians in armed conflict without raising the issue of illicit small arms and light weapons.

The main issue was that over time the number of votes of developing countries had become excessively small.

Small arms kill at least 500,000 people per year, and United Nations conferences on this issue have still not produced a legally binding instrument on small arms transfers.

The issue of small arms and light weapons should not be viewed as a light one, as some suggest.

In recent years, the Security Council has often held special deliberations on the issue of small arms and light weapons, and emphasized the importance of that issue in seeking solutions to regional conflicts.

Nevertheless, this issue deserves the Council's sustained attention, given that small arms and light weapons continue to threaten international peace and security.

With the League of Arab States, the OSCE is working on the issue of small arms and light weapons and election monitoring.

An issue of particular concern is the fact that the large majority of the population is in illegal possession of small arms.

The Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects remains the key global instrument in dealing with the issue of small arms.

The Philippines pointed out last year that the Security Council and the General Assembly are both seized of the issue of small arms.

It is imperative to ensure that a more comprehensive approach to the small arms issue be pursued at the 2005 and 2006 meetings.

Incidents of insecurity often arose from inter ethnic conflicts, exacerbated by illicit small arms and light weapons, a priority issue for the Government.

The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela considers that the issue of small arms and light weapons is of the utmost importance.

The issue of brokering remains essential in our efforts to deal effectively with the destabilizing effects of illicit small arms and light weapons.

Moreover, an issue of particular concern is the fact that the large majority of the population is in illegal possession of small arms.

Let me focus on a few points that my Government considers to be important in addressing the issue of small arms and light weapons.

China supports the United Nations in playing a lead role in international efforts to seek solutions to the small arms and light weapons issue.

We encourage the Security Council to devote a share of its attention to the issue of illicit brokering in small arms and light weapons.

The interaction between the Security Council and the General Assembly on the issue of small arms and light weapons should also be looked at.

Here, I cite the Alliance of Small Island States as a successful example on the issue of climate change and other UNCED related matters.

It is therefore necessary that the protection and security of small States remain a very pertinent issue among the concerns of the United Nations.

It can plan for the long term benefits of the country and in the process, evict millions of people that's just a small technical issue.

I am privileged and truly grateful for the opportunity afforded me to express my Government's position on the issue of small arms and light weapons.

It can plan for the long term benefits of the country and in the process, evict millions of people that's just a small technical issue.

It means small.. very small

It means small, very small

For that reason, Solomon Islands, as a member of the Alliance of Small Island States, urges the Group of Eight to reconsider the issue, because the environment has an impact on the physical survival of small island developing States.

The issue of whether or not the instrument should be legally binding should not be a wedge issue anymore, taking into account the fact that the illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons is already criminalized in many jurisdictions.

We also believe it should cover ammunition, given that that issue is so closely linked to the use and misuse of small arms and light weapons.

In our view, the issue of small arms and light weapons deserves to be further highlighted in the follow up to the High level Panel's report.

If the blockade were only a bilateral issue between Cuba and the United States, it would already be a very serious matter for our small country.

The guiding light in the United Nations process to tackle the small arms issue comes from the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, adopted in 2001.

Issue

Land mines are an economic development issue, a human rights issue and an environmental issue.

The issue of small arms is a complex problem, given its dimensions of public safety, armed conflict and humanitarian issues, depending on the region or subregion concerned.

Increased interaction between the Council and the General Assembly would allow for creative approaches to the small arms issue from a broader peacebuilding and human security perspective.

Several speakers emphasized that the current rule for graduation from least developed country status, an issue of critical importance to small island developing States, requires re examination.