MOSCOW. June 9 (Interfax) - The initiative of many non-governmental organizations, which appeal for stricter control or even a ban on exports of light weapons, small arms and cluster munitions, is unable to protect civilian population, Rosoboronexport General Director Anatoly Isaikin said in an interview published by Vedomosti on Saturday.
"The ban on exports [of light weapons, small arms and cluster munitions] would be senseless and would not bring the desired results," he said.
"Such weapons are sold freely in many countries and conflict zones. The latest conflicts in Iraq and Libya showed how rapidly governmental stocks of such weapons were looted and spread far outside of national borders with nobody able to stop them," he said.
It is not possible to ban exports and use of cluster munitions either, the expert said.
"True, dud cluster munitions threaten civilian population, but dud artillery munitions, mines and air bombs present the same threat," he said.
Isaikin called useful the agreement on international arms trade principle under consideration at the UN. "Its goal is to block all channels through which weapons may be distributed illegally or gotten by terrorists and people in conflict zones," he said.
Russia has solved the problem of weapon consignees, Isaikin said.
The country has the monopoly supplier of end military products, Rosoboronexport, and supplies are endorsed by the president and the government. There is a licensing system and control over end users of the supplies, he said.
"We know precisely who gets what and we always demand the end user certificate - a document certifying that weapons are delivered to lawful defense or law enforcement structures," he said.