July 9, 1999

The Honorable James P. McGovern

United States House of Representatives

Washington, DC 20515-2103

Dear Representative McGovern,

As chair of the Arms Transfer Working Group, I am writing to you on behalf of myself and the other ATWG participants to thank you for your work in promoting a U.S. Arms Transfer Code of Conduct. The Arms Transfer Working Group is an alliance of around 40 arms control, disarmament, human rights, development, economic conversion, and religious organizations concerned about the spread of conventional weaponry around the world.

In particular, we were very pleased that you sent around Oscar Arias’ op-ed to fellow Members of Congress on June 23rd. More Members need to be informed of both the moral and national security imperatives of a Code. Your help in circulating Mr. Arias’ article does our cause a great service and is highly appreciated.

Please let me know if our organizations can be of any help to you in your efforts to control the arms trade. Keep up the great work!

Sincerely yours,

Tamar Gabelnick

Director, Arms Sales Monitoring Project