ARMS-TREATY/MEXICO Arms treaty conference agrees decisions by majority in Mexico

Record ID: 142210

  • Title: ARMS-TREATY/MEXICO Arms treaty conference agrees decisions by majority in Mexico
  • Date: 28th August 2015
  • Summary: CANCUN, QUINTANA ROO, MEXICO (AUGUST 27, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PEOPLE ON BEACH CARIBBEAN SEA PEOPLE ON BEACH EXTERIOR OF MOON PALACE ARENA OFFICIALS AT ARMS TREATY CONFERENCE GENERAL VIEW OF CONFERENCE IN SESSION NORWEGIAN DELEGATES AT CONFERENCE GENERAL VIEW OF STATE AT CONFERENCE MORE OF DELEGATES AT CONFERENCE JORGE LOMONACO (CENTRE), MEXICO'S AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES IN GENEVA, SPEAKING AT CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) MEXICO'S AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES IN GENEVA, JORGE LOMONACO, SAYING: "What we're doing here is to translate the words into action, into actually creating the regime that will make possible the implementation of the treaty. This is what the conference is for and so in Cancun we're giving birth to the regime for many years to come." LOMONACO AND OFFICIALS AT CONFERENCE OFFICIALS AT CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) MEXICO'S AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES IN GENEVA, JORGE LOMONACO, SAYING: "It was very important that we were able to agree by consensus to take decisions to by vote if necessary and therefore allow the regime to move forward as well need. And the second decision that was very complicated was the permanent seat of the secretariat." GENERAL VIEW OF CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS NIGERIAN DELEGATE AT CONFERENCE CONFERENCE LOGO
  • Embargoed: 12th September 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Mexico
  • Country: Mexico
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVACJY1F27UF1UMH2B2XYWXNYJOR
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Countries backing a treaty to regulate the international arms trade agreed Thursday (August 27) that 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 reported.
    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.
    "What we're doing here is to translate the words into action, into actually creating the regime that will make possible the implementation of the treaty. This is what the conference is for and so in Cancun we're giving birth to the regime for many years to come," said Jorge Lomonaco, Mexico's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva.
    According to Mexico's ambassador 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, to ensure progress is made at the body.
    "It was very important that we were able to agree by consensus to take decisions to by vote if necessary and therefore allow the regime to move forward as well need. And the second decision that was very complicated was the permanent seat of the secretariat," added Lomonaco.
    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 with resistance from some European exporters unwilling to provide full disclosure.
    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.
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