My delegation wishes to thank you, Sir, for convening this very important debate.

Mr. De La Sablière (France) (spoke in French) My delegation thanks you, Sir, for having organized the debate on Security Council reform that has begun today.

Mr. Savua (Fiji) My delegation would like to thank you, Mr. President, for convening this important meeting today.

Mr. Benmehidi (Algeria) (spoke in French) Mr. President, my delegation would like to thank you for organizing this open debate on small arms.

Mrs. Taylor Roberts (Jamaica) My delegation wishes to thank you, Mr. President, for convening today's meeting at the request of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations group.

Mr. Zinsou (Benin) (spoke in French) My delegation thanks you, Mr. President, for having convened this open meeting of the Security Council to allow us to consider developments in the situation in the Middle East, including Palestine.

My delegation thanks you, Sir, for the opportunity to discuss agenda item 9, Report of the Security Council , and agenda item 117, Question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council and related matters .

Mr. De Rivero (Peru) (spoke in Spanish) My delegation would like to thank you, Mr. President, for having convened this open Security Council debate to take up once again an issue of crucial importance for the international community the illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons.

Mr. Menon (Singapore) Mr. President, the Singapore delegation would like to thank you once again for leading this effort towards the 2005 summit, including organizing this series of meetings to discuss the report of the Secretary General as a whole and then in clusters.

AOSIS appreciates this opportunity to share our views on the Secretary General's report and wishes to thank you, Sir, for organizing these consultations, which we believe are timely, in the lead up to the High level Meeting of the sixtieth session of the General Assembly.

Mr. Berruga (Mexico) (spoke in Spanish) Mr. President, my delegation would like to thank you for convening this public meeting, and we would like to thank the Secretary General for his report to the Council on the ways it could help resolve the matter of illicit trafficking in small arms and light weapons.