M A I N   N E W S

UN adopts treaty to regulate global arms trade, India abstains
Ashok Tuteja/TNS

New Delhi, April 3
Even though India abstained from voting, the global Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) was passed by the UN General assembly yesterday by an overwhelming margin.

The treaty, the first ever aimed at limiting illicit arms trade, was passed with 154 votes in favour, three against and 23 abstentions. Iran, Syria and North Korea voted against the treaty while Russia and China, who are among the world's biggest arms exporters, too abstained from voting in New York.

The 28-article treaty seeks to establish the highest possible common international standards for the annual $70 billion business in arms. The adoption follows the failure last week of the final UN Conference on the ATT to reach a consensus on the text. The treaty will now open for signature on June 3 and enter into force 90 days after being ratified by the 50th signatory.

In India's explanation of vote, its Permanent Representative to the Conference of Disarmament in Geneva Sujata Mehta asserted that New Delhi could not accept the treaty being used as an instrument in the hands of exporting countries to take unilateral measures against importing nations without consequences.

Official sources here said India's opposition stemmed from the fact that the treaty was heavily loaded in favour of the exporting countries rather than the importers of arms.

Mehta also stated that the treaty was weak on terrorism and non-state actors. It is understood that India wanted the treaty to regulate arms transfer to non-state actors like terrorist and insurgent groups. However, much to India's surprise, its concerns in this regard were not taken on board in the draft text.

The Indian representative said from the very beginning of the ATT process, India has maintained that such a treaty should make a real impact on illicit trafficking in conventional arms and their illicit use, especially by terrorists and other unauthorised and unlawful state actors. India also stressed that the ATT should ensure a balance of obligations between exporting and importing states.

However, Mehta assured the UNGA that India would undertake a full and thorough assessment of the perspective of the country's defence, security and foreign policy interests.

Pakistan was among those who voted in favour of the treaty, saying it was not an arms control or a disarmament treaty but one aimed at promoting responsible arms trade.

Expressing happiness over the adoption of the ATT, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said it would make it more difficult for deadly weapons to be diverted into the illicit market and would also help to keep warlords, pirates, terrorists, criminals and their likes from acquiring deadly arms.

The treaty

• The treaty, the first ever aimed at limiting illicit arms trade, was passed with 154 votes in favour, three against and 23 abstentions
• The 28-article treaty seeks to establish the highest possible common international standards for the annual $70 billion business in arms
• The treaty will now open for signature on June 3 and enter into force 90 days after being ratified by the 50th signatory.

India's objections

• The treaty is heavily loaded in favour of the exporting countries rather than the importers of arms
• It is weak on terrorism and non-state actors. India wanted the treaty to regulate arms transfer to non-state actors like terrorist and insurgent groups. However, its concerns in this regard were not taken on board in the draft text
• India said the treaty should ensure a balance of obligations between exporting and importing states