TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Delegates from many countries gathered in New York, the United States, on Monday, to sign the first international treaty on global conventional arms trade.
On April 2, the 193-nation U. General Assembly approved the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty which aims to prevent human rights abusers and criminals from acquiring weapons.
Hector Timerman, Argentina's foreign minister, was the first to sign the treaty, which was followed by a large round of applause. A total of 62 countries from Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Africa signed the treaty. German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle is scheduled to sign the treaty soon, which will make Germany the 63rd nation to sign.
Angela Kane, U.N. High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, told reporters that several more states would likely be signing in the next few days.
US Secretary John Kerry said that the country will join the treaty as soon as all the official UN translations of the document are completed.
Reuters | Abdul Manan