Post date: Jun 03, 2013 11:22:44 PM
More than 60 nations sign the first international treaty to regulate the global arms trade, but the U.S. holds off.
UNITED NATIONS (JUNE 3, 2013) (UNTV) - Delegates from dozens of countries gathered in New York on Monday (June 3) and signed the first treaty to regulate the $70 billion (USD) global conventional arms trade, but the United States was not among them.
On April 2, the 193-nation U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly approved the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty that aims to keep weapons out of the hands of human rights abusers and criminals.U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon attended the meeting and urged nations to fully implement the treaty.
"I particularly appeal to major arms trading countries to be first movers. The eyes of the world are watching arms traders, manufacturers and governments as never before. I call on all governments to bring national legislation and procedures in line with the requirements of the treaty so it becomes a strong force for security and development for all. The ATT is substantive and robust but its effectiveness will depend on the willingness of states to ensure its full implementation."
The United Nations said 62 countries from Europe, Latin America, Asia and Africasigned the treaty in the morning. German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle was on hand to sign, making Germany the 63rd nation to join the pact.
Westerwelle said Germany was proud to sign the treaty, but pointed out that merely signing wasn't enough.
"Our efforts must continue. The Arms Trade Treaty can only make a real difference if it is fully implemented on a global scale. Our first task is to push for its early entry into force. My government already adopted an early ratification law. The German parliament will start its deliberation this week. Germany will strongly advocate the arms trade treaty. We acknowledge that for many nations the implementation of the treaty can represent a challenge. Germany is ready to assist those countries. To inject life into the treaty we must all join forces. Millions of people suffering from the consequences of unregulated trade with conventional arms place their hopes in us. We must work together to seize historic opportunity and make this treaty a success."
U.N. officials said several more states would likely be signing in the coming days, taking the initial tally to roughly 66.
The United States, the world's No. 1 arms exporter, will sign the treaty as soon as all the official U.N. translations of the document are completed, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement.
"The United States welcomes the opening of the Arms Trade Treaty for signature. We look forward to signing it as soon as the process of conforming the official translations is completed satisfactorily. The treaty is an important contribution to stem weapons trade which fuels conflict, empowers violent extremists and contributes to violations of human rights. The treaty will require the parties to implement strict controls, of the kind the United States already has in place on the international transfer of conventional arms to prevent their diversion or misuse and to create greater international cooperation against black trade merchants. The ATT will not undermine legitimate international trade of conventional weapons, interfere with national sovereignty or infringe on the rights of the American citizens including our second amendment rights."
The National Rifle Association (NRA), a powerful U.S. pro-gun lobbying group that opposed the treaty from the start, criticized the U.S. delegation in April for being among the 154 U.N. member states that voted in favor of the pact.
The NRA has vowed to fight to prevent the treaty's ratification by the U.S. Senate when it reaches Washington. The group says the treaty will erode citizens' right to bear arms, an interpretation the U.S. government disputes.
Arms control activists and rights groups say one person dies every minute as a result of armed violence and the treaty is needed to halt the uncontrolled flow of arms and ammunition that they say fuels wars, atrocities and rights abuses.
The Arms Trade Treaty aims to set standards for all cross-border transfers of conventional weapons ranging from small firearms to tanks and attack helicopters. It would create binding requirements for states to review cross-border contracts to ensure that weapons will not be used in human rights abuses, terrorism, violations of humanitarian law or organized crime.
Iran, Syria and North Korea cast the only votes against the treaty in April. The same three states had prevented a treaty-drafting conference at the U.N. headquarters in March from reaching the required consensus to adopt the pact.
The treaty will enter into force 90 days after 50 nations have ratified it. Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja said the treaty could come into force in "slightly more than a year" depending on how quickly national ratifications come.
Russia, China, India and 20 other countries abstained in the April 2 vote. Many nations that abstained criticized the treaty as discriminatory. U.N. diplomats say the treaty's effectiveness could be limited if major arms exporters and importers refused to sign it.