Arms treaty conference agrees decisions by majority

Arms treaty conference agrees decisions by majority

 2015 CSP Press Clippings Arms treaty conference agrees decisions by
majority in Mexico
BY ISELA SERRANO
Countries behind a treaty to regulate the international arms trade have agreed future decisions
will be made by majority vote, avoiding the risk of veto, and picked Geneva as the seat of the
body to police the accord, Mexico's government said on Wednesday.
Officials from 121 governments have been meeting in the Mexican resort of Cancun to agree
details of how the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) will oversee the multi-billion dollar industry.
Jorge Lomonaco, Mexico's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, said state parties to
the ATT had agreed unanimously that if no absolute consensus could be agreed, votes to
enable decisions would be passed by two-thirds majority.
On procedural matters, a simple majority would suffice, said Lomonaco, who is also his
country's permanent representative to other international organizations in Geneva.
"This is really important because it guarantees that we can take decisions, that decisions aren't
blocked," he said.
The participants had agreed that future meetings of the ATT would be open to civil society
groups, Lomonaco added.
Anna Macdonald, director of Control Arms, a lobby group, welcomed the agreements reached,
which also included how the secretariat of the ATT would be financed, saying that it recognized
the role played by civic groups.
A major issue still pending is whether countries would agree on transparency rules for
publishing arms sales, a complex point that arms control lobby groups say has met w
ith resistance from some European exporters unwilling to provide full disclosure.
Lomonaco said it was possible there would not be an agreement for outright transparency at
the Cancun meeting, which ends on Thursday. But if not, the door to a deal on full disclosure
would still be open to future meetings, he added.
"We will achieve it - sooner or later," he said.
Mexico's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Geneva had been chosen as the seat of the
permanent secretariat for the ATT, which came into force in December 2014.
The United States is one of some 130 countries to sign the ATT, but it has not ratified the treaty
so far. Only 72 countries have completed ratification.
2015 CSP Press Clippings Geneva to host Arms Trade Treaty secretariat
By swissinfo.ch
The city of Geneva has been chosen as the seat of the permanent secretariat of the Arms
Trade Treaty (ATT), a new convention that aims to regulate the international arms trade.
On Thursday it was announced that states party to the ATT attending a four-day meeting in
the Mexican resort of Cancún had picked Geneva as the seat of the body to police the
convention. The office in Geneva will house five people but numbers are expected to grow.
“Switzerland will support the setting up of the secretariat in Geneva and will actively
implement the treaty,” Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter said.
The Swiss authorities are reportedly paying the secretariat’s rent for four years and also
paying for administrative services and fitting out the premises. Geneva had been up against
Vienna, in Austria, and Port of Spain in Trinidad and Tobago.
Burkhalter said in a statement: “We also welcome the clarifications regarding the decisional
procedures which should allow things to advance and avoid blockages.”
Officials from 121 governments attending the meeting in Cancún also agreed on the details
of how the ATT will oversee the multi-billion dollar industry.
Countries agreed unanimously that if no absolute consensus could be agreed, votes to
enable future decisions would be passed by a two-thirds majority. On procedural matters, a
simple majority would suffice. The participants also agreed that future meetings of the ATT
would be open to civil society groups.
One important outstanding issue is whether states would agree on transparency rules for
publishing arms sales, a complex point that arms control lobby groups say has met
resistance from some European exporters unwilling to provide full disclosure.
Booming trade
The agreement comes as the international arms trade, both non-military and military, is
flourishing. Since 2009, the global arms trade has booked annual sales of $30 billion-$40
2015 CSP Press Clippings billion (CHF28.8-CHF38.5 billion), while military spending has come in at $1.7 trillion a year,
the equivalent of 2.6% of global gross domestic product.
The United States is one of 130 countries to sign the ATT, but it has not ratified the treaty.
Only 72 countries have completed ratification, including Switzerland.
So-called International Geneva is home to the European headquarters of the United Nations
as well as 32 other international organisations, such as the World Health Organization, the
World Trade Organization and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
In all, some 40,000 international diplomats and civil servants are based in Geneva. In
addition there are around 2,400 staff working for 250 non-governmental organisations.
Conferencia sobre tratado de armas acepta en
México decisiones por mayoría
Los países que forman parte de un tratado para regular el comercio internacional de
armas acordaron el miércoles que futuras decisiones serán tomadas por mayoría de
votos, evitando el riesgo de veto, y que Ginebra será la sede permanente del
organismo que supervisa el pacto.
Los países que forman parte de un tratado para regular el comercio internacional de
armas acordaron el miércoles que futuras decisiones serán tomadas por mayoría de
votos, evitando el riesgo de veto, y que Ginebra será la sede permanente del
organismo que supervisa el pacto.
Funcionarios de 121 gobiernos se reúnen en el puerto turístico de Cancún para
acordar los detalles de cómo funcionará en el futuro el Tratado de Comercio de Armas
(TCA), unos ocho meses después de que el pacto entró en vigencia.
El embajador de México ante Naciones Unidas en Ginebra, Jorge Lomónaco, dijo que
los Estados Parte del TCA aceptaron que si no hubiera un consenso absoluto en una
decisión, ésta podía ser adoptada mediante dos terceras partes de los votos.
En cuestiones de procedimiento, la mayoría simple sería suficiente, agregó el
2015 CSP Press Clippings embajador, quien también es representante permanente de su país ante otras
organizaciones internacionales en Ginebra.
"Esto es importantísimo porque nos garantiza el que podamos tomar decisiones, que
no se bloquee la toma de decisiones", dijo Lomónaco.
Los participantes acordaron que futuras reuniones del TCA estarían abiertas a grupos
de la sociedad civil, añadió.
Anna Macdonald, directora de Armas Bajo Control, un grupo de presión, dio la
bienvenida a los acuerdos, que también incluyeron cómo se financiaría la secretaría
del TCA, diciendo que se reconocía el papel desempeñado por grupos civiles.
Un tema destacado pendiente es si los países estarán de acuerdo en reglas de
transparencia para la publicación de la venta de armas.
Este es un punto complejo porque según grupos de control de armas, hay resistencia
de algunos exportadores europeos que no están dispuestos a proporcionar
información completa.
Lomónaco dijo que era posible que no haya un acuerdo en la reunión de total
transparencia, pero que la puerta permanecerá abierta.
"Lo vamos a lograr - tarde o temprano", agregó.
Por otra parte, los Estados Parte del Tratado eligieron a la ciudad de Ginebra, Suiza,
como sede de la secretaría permanente, la cual estará encargada de asistir a los
países en la ejecución de las disposiciones de este instrumento internacional, dijo la
cancillería mexicana en un comunicado.
Hasta el momento unos 130 países han firmado el tratado, pero sólo 72 de ellos lo han
ratificado. Estados Unidos es uno de los países que aún no lo ha hecho.
Debate sobre transparencia frena acuerdo de
armas
Por Ciro Pérez Silva
El debate sobre los niveles de "transparencia" que deberán adoptar los países que han
ratificado el Tratado sobre el Comercio de Armas (TCA), ha obstaculizado un acuerdo entre los
121 delegados que participan en la Primera Conferencia de Estados Parte del TCA.
2015 CSP Press Clippings Esta mañana, antes del arranque de los trabajos, una veintena de representantes de la
sociedad civil organizada se manifestaron a las afueras de la sede de esta Conferencia, para
exigir que los reportes sobre venta y compra de armas sea "totalmente transparente y
accesible para todo aquel que lo quiera consultar".
Anna Macdonald, directora del secretariado de Control Armas, con sede en Nueva York,
advirtió que de no haber transparencia, los 10 años de trabajo para alcanzar un acuerdo "no
servirán de anda, ese es el punto central de este acuerdo".
Macdoland destacó que este es un Tratado internacional que se debe aplicar internamente en
los países. "Nuestra principal preocupación es la transparencia. El Tratado requiere que todo
país entregue un reporte anual en el que informe hasta dónde ha cumplido con el mismo. Es
fundamental que el informe sea público, de otra forma nadie sabe qué está pasando, que
operaciones de compra y venta de armamento se han llevado a cabo y cuáles son los países
que cumplen con este Tratado y quienes buscan la forma de darle la vuelta ".
Subrayó en que, por tratarse de la primera ocasión en la que los Estados parte se reúnen, toda
decisión que se tome en este momento va a crear un precedente para las próximos
encuentros.
En este sentido destacó que uno de los primeros avances es que, al establecerse las reglas
para las próximas reuniones, se logró que las organizaciones de la sociedad civil, medios de
comunicación y legisladores puedan acceder y participar en estos encuentros ministeriales,
"algo que es muy importante para una rendición de cuentas pública".
A su vez María Pía Devoto, directora de la Asociación de Política Publica de Argentina,
convino en que "el problema de nuestra región (América Latina) es la triangulación en la
compra y venta de armas pequeñas. Es muy poco probable que un tanque o un avión no se
registre, pero estamos hablando del desvío de armas pequeñas, que es lo que nos preocupa".
Refirió, a manera de ejemplo, "un caso famoso en Argentina de un cónsul que fue a verificar la
empresa de una persona que estaba adquirir armas y era una lavandería. A veces las cosas
son tan sencillas como esa, verificar al comprador".
Por ello se ha propuesto también la creación de un padrón de intermediarios en el negocio de
la compra y venta de armas, con el propósito "de evitar, como ha sucedido, que armas
vendidas por Argentina a Paraguay, terminen en manos de las pandillas en las favelas de
Brasil. Aunque el primer intercambio comercial entre países fue legal, en algún momento hubo
actos de corrupción que derivaron en el desvío de estas armas".
Para la organización ATT Monitor (Monitoreo del TCA), "el tema de la transparencia sobre
transferencias de armas está causando polémica, ya que varios Estados europeos buscan
limitar el acceso público a esta información".
Deep Basu Ray, el coordinador del proyecto que evaluará anualmente el cumplimiento del
Tratado, señaló que "la manera en la que se interprete y aplique el tratado en sus primeros
años será vital para su efectividad a largo plazo. Para que el Tratado logre su objetivo
humanitario, es fundamental la aplicación plena y efectiva en esta primera etapa. Cada año
2015 CSP Press Clippings vamos a utilizar una estricta metodología para rastrear el cumplimiento de los Estados en
materia de transparencia".
Insistió en que "el éxito del Tratado reside en la existencia de información completa y abierta al
escrutinio público. No debe haber espacio para comerciantes irresponsables de armas".
Las negociaciones continúan. Mientras los países de América Latina presionan fuertemente
por una transparencia total, otras naciones como Francia -uno de los principales países
productores junto a China, Rusia o Estados Unidos- han sugerido que los informes se hagan
sólo entre gobiernos.
Argumento frente al que las Ongs proponen que no sea necesario divulgar información
"sensible". No obstante, confían en que se acerquen posiciones ya que, por tratarse de un
negocio globalizado, en algún momento productores y compradores estarán obligados a
informar sobre toda transacción, "desde Wikileaks, ya no hay secretos, la cosa es que haya
una regla que aplique para todos".
Africa: Regulating Weapons Where It Matters
Most
By Nelson Alusala
The First Conference of States Parties to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) will take place in
Cancún, Mexico, from 24 - 27 August this year. This conference is the first of its kind, bringing
together relevant stakeholders to discuss a common framework and setting the tone of how the
treaty will be implemented.
The conference is especially important for African states - not only because of their contribution
in having the treaty adopted, but also because Africa remains vulnerable to poorly regulated
trade in conventional weapons, including small arms and light weapons.
The ATT is the first multilateral treaty regulating the international trade in conventional arms. It
opened for signature on 3 June 2013, and entered into force on 24 December 2014.
African states have been a driving force in negotiating the treaty. The African Union (AU)
spearheaded a continental initiative that led to the continent's common position, adopted in
January 2013, where African states agreed to a set of shared objectives. It represents a
landmark achievement for African states and shows their commitment to influence and shape
the international security and arms control agenda.
Africa remains vulnerable to poorly regulated trade in conventional weapons
While African states were at the forefront of campaigning for the treaty to be adopted, the
process of ratifying the ATT on the continent has been comparatively slow.
2015 CSP Press Clippings Some experts believe this could be due to the bureaucratic ratification process, but also
because countries have more pressing priorities - such as managing ongoing conflicts.
Of the 69 states that have ratified the treaty, only 10 are African - Burkina Faso, Chad, Côte
d'Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and South Africa. Interestingly,
eight of the 10 African states parties are from the Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS), while only Chad and South Africa are non-ECOWAS member states.
By comparison, most states from Latin America and the Caribbean have ratified the treaty, as
well as all members of the European Union. It is hoped that this delay will prove temporary, and
that Africa will reclaim its position on the frontline.
During a recent AU-hosted meeting of senior government officials in Addis Ababa attended by
40 African states and key organisations, it was made clear that the Cancún conference would
provide an opportunity for states that have not acceded to the treaty to participate as
observers. As one delegate put it, '... when someone speaks in a room [whether as an observer
or as a full member], others have no choice but to listen'.
African states have been a driving force in negotiating the ATT, but only 10 have ratified it
Thus, in addition to the 10 African states parties with voting rights, all African states
participating in the conference will be able to voice their concerns or suggestions. This could
have a strong and positive influence on the discussions and ensure that African views and
interests are fully taken on board.
During the preparatory process, two issues have, however, become unnecessarily politicised:
the location of the secretariat, which must be established to assist states in implementing the
treaty; and the individual who will head it. These two issues should always have remained
technical, not political.
The candidate cities are Geneva, Port-of-Spain and Vienna. Regardless of where the
secretariat is based, what matters is the quality of the infrastructure, accessibility and the
services provided by the host country. As for the choice of the director, skills and expertise
should be the main criteria. States from the Global South will only benefit if a technical
approach is used. In this way, suitable individuals are given a chance to apply for positions in
the secretariat.
To be fully effective, international instruments like the ATT need support from all states
Given that the ATT is now in force, the next step is to promote its objectives and encourage
states to actively participate in implementing the treaty. In Africa, as in other parts of the world,
states will face a number of challenges in implementing the treaty: human and technical
resources remain scarce and are subject to competing priorities. Fortunately, the treaty calls for
cooperation among states and has also established an assistance mechanism.
One of the tasks of the secretariat will be to match offers with requests for assistance in both
implementing the treaty and promoting international cooperation. At the national level, the
treaty calls for mechanisms that control relevant trade activities. Various measures are
therefore expected from states to efficiently control activities related to the import, export,
brokering, transit and trans-shipment of conventional weapons.
2015 CSP Press Clippings A trust fund has been established under the United Nations to mobilise resources and improve
assistance in support of the ATT. Since the fund started in 2013, 26 projects have already been
funded at a cost of approximately US$4 million. The fund also aims to improve coordination,
monitoring and increased sustainability.
African states should remain committed to fully implementing the ATT with the same vigour and
determination shown in adopting the treaty. Until this happens, Africa will remain more
vulnerable than any other continent to illicit trade in conventional weapons.
Comercio de armas está en la sombra, afirma red
global
Norma Anaya / Corresponsal
26.08.201
2015 CSP Press Clippings Durante la primera Conferencia de los Estados Parte del Tratado sobre el Comercio de Armas
que se realiza en Cancún, la coalición Armas Bajo Control consideró que el comercio de estos
instrumentos está en las sombras.
Para la coalición Armas Bajo Control, el comercio dearmamento está en las sombras, en
medio de la secrecía que de estos instrumentos llegan fácilmente a las manos equivocadas,
con las que se violan derechos humanos y se cometen actos ilícitos.
Ante ello, el organismo instó a los delegados de la Conferencia de Estados Parte del Tratado
sobre Comercio de Armas a apoyar la transparencia.
Anna Macdonald, directora de la agrupación civil, dijo que el éxito del tratado reside en qué tan
transparentes –y accesibles al público- serán los reportes. “Los Estados no han sido llamados
a rendir cuentas por mucho tiempo y eso debe parar”, expuso.
“Por el momento, la transparencia está en riesgo, dijo, pero no es tarde para arreglar la
situación”, señaló durante la primera Conferencia de los Estados Parte del Tratado sobre el
Comercio de Armas.
Los Estados, indicó, deben comprometerse a presentar sus informes públicamente y a trabajar
en los próximos 12 meses en las mejoras del formato.
Los reportes finales deben mostrar la forma en la que los Estados están implementando el
Tratado y lo que en realidad está pasando con el comercio de armas, afirmó Macdonald.
En Cancún, apuntó, los Estados han estado discutiendo cómo deberán ser los reportes que
entregarán anualmente sobre la implementacióndel Tratado. La recomendación de que un
formato provisional se adopte por 12 meses es recibida positivamente por la Coalición Armas
Bajo Control, "es un buen punto de inicio ya que este formato deberá ser mejorado en ese
mismo periodo de tiempo".
Pacific states critical in fight against arms trade
Strong new measures to tighten regulations on arms trade estimated at $100 billion worldwide
is expected to be made during the first Conference of States Parties (CSP) for the Arms Trade
Treaty (ATT) in Cancun, Mexico on 25 August.
Canpaigners say tha the Pacific has a critical role to play at the first conference where
representatives from around 120 states including Palau, Fiji, Australia, New Zealand and
Samoa meeting to make practical decisions on how to ensure the new treaty which entered into
force in December 2014, transforms the global arms trade and save lives for years to come.
Tonga is neither a state party nor a signatory to the Arms Trade Treaty.
2015 CSP Press Clippings Arms Control Manager Laura Spano of the Pacific Small Arms Action Group as the regional
coordinator for the Control Arms Coalition, the global civil society network that led the decade
long campaign for the ATT, is also attending the Cancun conference.
Campaigners for the coalition fear negotiators attending the four-day meeting may fail to
maximize this chance to create the highest standards, which will ensure the ATT, will be
robustly implemented. They are urging the Government of Mexico, the chair of the conference
to take a tough approach to negotiations to ensure decisions at the conference radically
transform the global arms trade and prevent future crises around the world, including in
the Pacific.
She said the Pacific will play a large role in preserving the peaceful societies that already exist
ensuring their hard work to control arms continues.
“Arms in the Pacific have recently intensified tribal tensions. The treaty will therefore also play a
role in preventing violence in Pacific states, such as Papua New Guinea from increasing.”
“If Pacific states fail to ratify the treaty, the region could become a hotspot for arms dealers and
other illicit commodities. We therefore, call on all Pacific states to learn from other small islands
states, most specifically the Caribbean who experience armed violence and avoid large flows
of weapons in the region by ratifying/acceding the treaty,” she said.
Director of the Control Arms Coalition Anna Macdonald said no one should forget the horror
that armed violence is causing around the world. This conference comes at a critical moment
and decisions taken in Cancun will dictate how the treaty is implemented for years to come,
she said.
ATT currently has 130 signatories, 72 countries have ratified including three Pacific states,
New Zealand, Australia and Samoa while signatories Vanuatu, Kiribati, Nauru, Tuvalu and
Palau have not yet ratified the treaty.