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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| UN General Assembly to vote on global arms treaty | UN General Assembly to vote on global arms treaty |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The UN General Assembly has gathered to vote on what would be the first treaty to regulate the $70bn (£46bn) global trade in conventional arms. | The UN General Assembly has gathered to vote on what would be the first treaty to regulate the $70bn (£46bn) global trade in conventional arms. |
| The vote comes a week after Iran, North Korea and Syria blocked the treaty's adoption by consensus. | The vote comes a week after Iran, North Korea and Syria blocked the treaty's adoption by consensus. |
| The treaty aims to prevent abuses against civilians and keep weapons out of the hands of terrorists and gangs. | |
| While the draft is expected to be passed, Russia, the world's second-biggest major exporter, will abstain. | |
| The treaty would prohibit states from exporting conventional weapons in violation of arms embargoes, or weapons that would be used for acts of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes or terrorism. | The treaty would prohibit states from exporting conventional weapons in violation of arms embargoes, or weapons that would be used for acts of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes or terrorism. |
| It would also require states to prevent conventional weapons reaching the black market. | It would also require states to prevent conventional weapons reaching the black market. |
| Reporting to the General Assembly, Australia's ambassador to the UN, Peter Woolcott, said the final draft of the treaty was a compromise text to bring together the broadest range of stakeholders. | Reporting to the General Assembly, Australia's ambassador to the UN, Peter Woolcott, said the final draft of the treaty was a compromise text to bring together the broadest range of stakeholders. |
| Syrian concerns | Syrian concerns |
| Russia's ambassador to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, said it was a significant shortcoming that there was no clause in the draft treaty about banning the supply of weapons to non-state entities. | |
| Syria's envoy, Bashar Jaafari, said his country did not object to regulating the international arms trade, but opposed the draft treaty because it did not refer to the arming of "non-state terrorist groups". | Syria's envoy, Bashar Jaafari, said his country did not object to regulating the international arms trade, but opposed the draft treaty because it did not refer to the arming of "non-state terrorist groups". |
| Some of the countries behind the draft treaty, he said, were "fully engaged in supplying terrorist groups [in Syria] with all kinds of lethal weapons". | Some of the countries behind the draft treaty, he said, were "fully engaged in supplying terrorist groups [in Syria] with all kinds of lethal weapons". |
| Cuba's envoy, Rodolfo Reyes Rodriguez, said his country would abstain in the vote because the draft treaty contained "ambiguities" which gave it "serious limitations". The draft, he said, favoured the interests of arms exporters. | Cuba's envoy, Rodolfo Reyes Rodriguez, said his country would abstain in the vote because the draft treaty contained "ambiguities" which gave it "serious limitations". The draft, he said, favoured the interests of arms exporters. |
| But Costa Rica's ambassador, Eduardo Ulibarri, said the treaty showed the UN was an "indispensable organisation in the 21st Century". | |
| The BBC's Paul Adams, in Washington, says the Syrian government, which depends on arms imports from Russia and Iran, is clearly worried about its ability to continue fighting its civil war. | The BBC's Paul Adams, in Washington, says the Syrian government, which depends on arms imports from Russia and Iran, is clearly worried about its ability to continue fighting its civil war. |
| Diplomats have worked for nearly a decade to agree on a set of principles to control the flow of such arms. | Diplomats have worked for nearly a decade to agree on a set of principles to control the flow of such arms. |
| Attempts to agree the treaty last year broke down after the US, followed by Russia and China, said they needed more time to consider the issues. | Attempts to agree the treaty last year broke down after the US, followed by Russia and China, said they needed more time to consider the issues. |
| Last week, a UN treaty-drafting conference failed to reach consensus after objections from Syria, Iran and North Korea. | Last week, a UN treaty-drafting conference failed to reach consensus after objections from Syria, Iran and North Korea. |
| Iran said the treaty was full of flaws and loopholes and North Korea said it was unbalanced. | Iran said the treaty was full of flaws and loopholes and North Korea said it was unbalanced. |
| The draft was then sent to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who was asked on behalf of nations backing the treaty to put it to a vote in the General Assembly on Tuesday. | The draft was then sent to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who was asked on behalf of nations backing the treaty to put it to a vote in the General Assembly on Tuesday. |
| Our correspondent says several other countries still have concerns about the treaty, including Russia, China, India and Pakistan. | Our correspondent says several other countries still have concerns about the treaty, including Russia, China, India and Pakistan. |
| However, its backers believe it will easily achieve the simple majority of votes needed to pass the General Assembly, he adds. | However, its backers believe it will easily achieve the simple majority of votes needed to pass the General Assembly, he adds. |
| After that it will need to be ratified by at least 50 members in order to come into force. | After that it will need to be ratified by at least 50 members in order to come into force. |
| In the US, the biggest pro-gun lobby group, the National Rifle Association, has vowed to fight against ratification by the Senate, although the UN says the treaty does nothing to interfere with domestic firearms legislation. | In the US, the biggest pro-gun lobby group, the National Rifle Association, has vowed to fight against ratification by the Senate, although the UN says the treaty does nothing to interfere with domestic firearms legislation. |