NEW YORK: The UAE last night signed the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty, becoming one of the 79 nations to sign so far.
The treaty was signed by Ambassador Ahmad Abdul Rahman Al Jarman, the UAE Permanent Representative to the United Nations, and counter-signed on behalf of the United Nations by the director of agreements in the presence of a number of international officials involved in the United Nations and members of the diplomatic corps’ missions to the United Nations.
Following the signing, Ambassador Jarman expressed his pleasure to be signing on behalf of the UAE, calling it an important treaty and the first international mechanism for the organisation of international trade in conventional arms without prejudice to the sovereign rights of states in regulating weapons within its territory.
The agreement also protects the right of access to necessary types of conventional weapons for the purpose of self-defence and the protection of both national and regional security according to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the resolutions of international legitimacy and relevant conventions.
With 154 states voting in favour and only 23 abstentions, the treaty gained overwhelming approval in April this year.
Iran, Syria and North Korea remained in opposition to the agreement which needed to be approved by at least 50 member states.
Signatures are the first step towards ratification, and the treaty will only take effect after 50 countries have fully ratified it.
