UN adopts landmark treaty regulating global arms trade

The UN General Assembly today overwhelmingly approved the first UN treaty regulating the multibillion-dollar international arms trade, a goal sought for over a decade to try to keep illicit weapons out of the hands of terrorists, insurgent fighters and organized crime.

The resolution adopting the landmark treaty was approved 154-3, with 23 abstentions. As the numbers appeared on the electronic board, loud cheers filled the assembly chamber.

A group of treaty supporters sought a vote in the 193-member world body after Iran,North Korea and Syria blocked its adoptionby consensus at a negotiating conference last Thursday. The three countries voted "no" on Tuesday's resolution.

Many countries, including the United States, control arms exports. But there has never been an international treaty regulating the estimated $60-billion global arms trade.

Australian Ambassador Peter Woolcott, who chaired the negotiations, said the treaty will "make an important difference by reducing human suffering and saving lives.

"We owe it to those millionsoften the most vulnerable in societywhose lives have been overshadowed by the irresponsible and illicit international trade in arms," he told the assembly just before the vote.

Regulations to control arms transfer to brokers

The treaty will not control the domestic use of weapons in any country, but it will require countries that ratify it to establish national regulations to control the transfer of conventional arms, parts and components and to regulate arms brokers.

It covers battle tanks, armoured combat vehicles, large-caliber artillery systems, combat aircraft, attack helicopters, warships, missiles and missile launchers, and small arms and light weapons. A phrase stating that this list was "at a minimum" was dropped, according to diplomats, at the insistence of the United States. Supporters complained that this limited the treaty's scope.

The treaty prohibits states that ratify it from transferring conventional weapons if they violate arms embargoes or if they promote acts of genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes. It also prohibits the export of conventional arms if they could be used in attacks on civilians or civilian buildings such as schools and hospitals.

In considering whether to authorize the export of arms, the treaty says a country must evaluate whether the weapon would be used to violate international human rights or humanitarian laws or be used by terrorists or organized crime. They must also determine whether the weapons transfer would contribute to or undermine peace and security.

The treaty also requires parties to the treaty to take measures to prevent the diversion of conventional weapons to the illicit market.

Ammunition had been a key issue in negotiations, with some countries pressing for the same controls on ammunition sales as arms, but the U.S. and others opposed such tough restrictions.

The final text calls for each country that ratifies the treaty to establish regulations for the export of ammunition "fired, launched or delivered" by the weapons covered by the convention.