Kerry voices conditional U.S. support for U.N. arms treaty

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Kerry voices conditional U.S. support for U.N. arms treaty

By Louis Charbonneau
UNITED NATIONS | Fri Mar 15, 2013 6:23pm EDT

(Reuters) - Secretary of State John Kerry voiced his support on Friday for an international treaty to regulate the $70 billion global arms trade, but restated Washington's "red line," affirming that it will not accept limits on U.S. domestic gun ownership.

The U.N. General Assembly voted in December to hold a final round of negotiations March 18-28 on what could become the first international treaty to regulate international weapons transfers after a drafting conference in July 2012 collapsed because the United States and others wanted more time.

Arms control campaigners say one person every minute dies worldwide as a result of armed violence and a convention is needed to prevent the unregulated and illicit flow of weapons into conflict zones fueling wars and atrocities.

"The United States is steadfast in its commitment to achieve a strong and effective Arms Trade Treaty that helps address the adverse effects of the international arms trade on global peace and stability," Kerry said in a statement.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/15/us-arms-treaty-usa-idUSBRE92E12N20130315

[dipsydoodle]

1. Would it follow from that

any international aid the US provides would no longer be in the from of arms of any description ?

[bemildred]

2. That would depend on what "regulate" means, I doubt it means no arms trade at all.

It's probably more about trying to put the free-lancers out of business, always a noble goal for current rulers, as protection of incumbency is for the currently elected in our politics.

[dipsydoodle]

3. I meant

aid that is supplied in the form of military equipment such as to Israel.