Talks resumed on Monday on a United Nations treaty to regulate the sale of conventional arms amid roadblocks put up by some of the world’s key players.
After four weeks of negotiations failed in July, the 193 members of the global body once again are attempting to hammer out an accord that could force states to assess, before making a sale, whether weapons will be used for human rights violations, terrorism or organised crime.
But hurdles loom large since major arms producers and buyers have fought to chip away at the sales conditions and even to exclude whole categories from the treaty.The United States, for one, refuses to include ammunition.
China wants to protect its small arms, and Russia opposed including gifts and transfers of arms that could be made to an ally.
The US State Department reaffirmed Friday that it opposes any treaty that includes ammunition because of the financial and administrative burden of keeping checks.
After four weeks of negotiations failed in July, the 193 members of the global body once again are attempting to hammer out an accord that could force states to assess, before making a sale, whether weapons will be used for human rights violations, terrorism or organised crime.
But hurdles loom large since major arms producers and buyers have fought to chip away at the sales conditions and even to exclude whole categories from the treaty.The United States, for one, refuses to include ammunition.
China wants to protect its small arms, and Russia opposed including gifts and transfers of arms that could be made to an ally.
The US State Department reaffirmed Friday that it opposes any treaty that includes ammunition because of the financial and administrative burden of keeping checks.