In Unreal Session, U.N. Promises to Press Ahead with Arms Trade Treaty

Ted Bromund / October 29, 2010

The First Committee of the United Nations General Assembly, which focuses on disarmament and international security, has for the past month been hearing statements from U.N. member states, U.N. officials, and NGOs on a wide range of subjects, from outer space to chemical and biological weapons.

But a central focus of many statements is the U.N.’s proposed Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). The supposed purpose of this treaty is to establish “common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms.” The U.S. agreed to participate in the negotiations on the ATT on October 14, 2009, but only if the negotiations were conducted on the basis of consensus. The Administration hopes this will “ensure that all countries can be held to standards that will actually improve the global situation.” (more…)