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UN initiates arms trade treaty UN initiates arms trade agreement
(about 1 hour later)
A committee of the UN General Assembly has voted to begin work on an international arms trade treaty. A United Nations committee has voted overwhelmingly to begin work on drawing up an international arms trade treaty.
A total of 139 states voted for the motion, with one against and 24 abstentions. The measure would close loopholes in 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. It could also stop the supply of weapons to countries whose development is being hampered by arms spending.
Only the US - a major arms manufacturer - voted against the treaty, saying it wanted to rely on existing agreements.
A total of 139 states voted for the motion. There were 24 abstentions.
Major weapons manufacturers such as Britain, France and Germany voted to begin work on the treaty, as did major emerging arms exporters Bulgaria and Ukraine.
Russia and China, also major arms manufacturers, were among the countries to abstain.
'Suppliers club'
The UN secretary general has one year to produce a report on how to introduce common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms.
A new treaty would close loopholes in existing lawsThe BBC's Laura Trevelyan at the UN says it could be years before an international arms trade treaty is actually agreed - but this vote is an important first step.
Globalisation has made existing export controls inadequate. Often, a weapons company with its headquarters in a country with strict export controls will manufacture components in nations with lax laws, our correspondent says.
Some developing countries fear a treaty will just create a cartel or a suppliers' club for the major weapons exporters, our correspondent adds.
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.
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.
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.
It is not clear how Russia, China and the US, also major exporters of arms, will vote.