EPG emphasized that: 1. 300 manufacturers in 64 countries produce small arms, of which well over 500 million are in circulation, half of them illegally. Half of licitly traded small arms end up supplying illicit traffic. China, France, Russia, UK, US and Germany alone are responsible for 85% of the global arms trade. 2. Small arms are the weapons of choice in most conflicts in the world today and are responsible for some 200,000 civilian deaths per year, mostly children. While the majority of small arms originate in industrialized countries, the majority of the victims can be found throughout developing countries. 3. Conflicts are being fueled by irresponsible and reckless profiteers to control precious natural resources which, rather than being a means for political and economic empowerment of the many, end up fueling the engines of war to enrich the few. Members of EPG welcome and strongly support Secretary-General Annan’s continuing personal efforts in moving the issue forward. In particular, members are heartened by the Secretary-General’s Report on illicit trafficking in small arms (A/55/323). The Report confirms EPG’s own findings that, given recognition of leakage/diversion from the licit trade as a major supply source for illicit trafficking, a cross section of UN member States supports a comprehensive approach.   Within this context, members of EPG also welcome and strongly support the Bamako Declaration on an African Common Position on the illicit Proliferation, Circulation and Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons and the Brasilia Declaration of the Regional Preparatory Meeting of the Latin American and Caribbean States for the 2001 UN Conference. These documents, being reported out of recent meetings provide important first steps towards the advancement of a goal-oriented outcome. In the months, ahead, EPG will expand upon the congruence of views among member States to advance the Coalition. Adopted, for the members, in Bamako, the 19th day of December 2000, the two co-chairs:  HE Mr. Alpha Oumar Konare   HE Mr. Michel Rocard