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.