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UN initiates arms trade treaty | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A committee of the UN General Assembly has voted to begin work on an international arms trade treaty. | |
A total of 139 states voted for the motion, with one against and 24 abstentions. | |
The treaty would close loopholes in the existing laws which mean guns still end up in conflict zones despite arms embargoes and export controls. | The treaty would close loopholes in the existing laws which mean guns still end up in conflict zones despite arms embargoes and export controls. |
Nobel peace prize winners, including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, have backed the idea of such a treaty. | Nobel peace prize winners, including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, have backed the idea of such a treaty. |
A treaty setting international standards for arms deals could block weapons sales that supply an on-going war or violate a UN arms ban or undermine a country's development because it spends so much of its money on guns. | A treaty setting international standards for arms deals could block weapons sales that supply an on-going war or violate a UN arms ban or undermine a country's development because it spends so much of its money on guns. |
Suppliers club | Suppliers club |
Existing export controls often do not work because arms manufacturers that have their headquarters in one country make the parts in different places where the controls are less strict. | Existing export controls often do not work because arms manufacturers that have their headquarters in one country make the parts in different places where the controls are less strict. |
Some developing countries fear a treaty will just create a cartel or a suppliers' club for the major weapons exporters. | Some developing countries fear a treaty will just create a cartel or a suppliers' club for the major weapons exporters. |
Britain, a big manufacturer of arms, is backing the treaty, saying it is time to set responsible international standards. | Britain, a big manufacturer of arms, is backing the treaty, saying it is time to set responsible international standards. |
It is not clear how Russia, China and the US, also major exporters of arms, will vote. | It is not clear how Russia, China and the US, also major exporters of arms, will vote. |