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Tuesday, 2010-07-13 Morning Session |
Zunaira Choudhary
At Tuesday's morning session of the ATT Preparatory Committee, Bangladesh, Belgium, Suriname, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Mexico were among the seventeen states that contributed to a discussion on the elements that should comprise a meaningful future ATT and the principles upon which it should stand.
Bangladesh stressed that a strong ATT should encompass imports, exports, and other transfers of arms in order to constitute a truly comprehensive system to contain the movement of these weapons, a claim echoed by many of the other states speaking at the session. Bangladesh noted that a proper implementation system must be established in order for the treaty to prove successful. An assertion unique to the Bangladeshi representative was that a clause prohibiting the exchange of weapons for food or essential minerals should be included in the outcome document.
Speaking on behalf of the European Union, Belgium welcomed the "gradual, incremental" work of the PrepCom and encouraged the widest possible participation in discussions over the next two weeks. Belgium encouraged the inclusion of provisions defining the purpose of the treaty, clauses articulating the national implementation of the treaty by states party, and items devoted to international cooperation in the interest of transparency. Additionally, the representative noted that a future ATT should not in any way "imply lowering the level of standards to which states are already committed."
Suriname, speaking on behalf of CARICOM, cited that fact that many of its member states are "used in transit of illicit weapons." Highlighting the ways in which the illegal arms trade has contributed to a growing culture of violence and impeded regional development, the representative emphasized that a treaty establishing international standards is of the utmost importance.
New Zealand began its statement by underlining that this treaty should be concerned with setting "minimum, not maximum" standards to all states. In noting the necessity of establishing implementation mechanisms, of safeguarding national arms ownership systems, and of considering the principles of IHL and human rights, New Zealand was in the company of several other states speaking at the session. Lastly, the representative stated that smaller states, such as some of New Zealand's neighboring states, should be given capacity-building assistance to implement the provisions of a future ATT effectively.
In the most distinct statement of the session, Pakistan questioned why the feasibility of an ATT has been understood as a "foregone conclusion" and recommended avoiding this assumption. Pakistan stated that though the discussion thus far had demonstrated a desire to "universalize certain UN mechanisms," it was important to remember that those mechanisms can not currently claim universal membership. The representative expressed disapproval of a tendency to advocate that the ATT make up for the deficiencies of other UN forums, specifically the call for a provision on the sale of arms to terrorists. Stating that certainly no states could be transferring arms to terrorist actors, Pakistan wondered about the reasons for the call for the inclusion of this nuance in a future ATT. The South Asian country recommended against an "intrusive mechanism," doubted that the UN has the funding for a monitoring agency, and asserted that the defense needs of a state should not be left to third-party deciders. Pakistan concluded by noting the lack of universal agreement on defining human rights violations.
Mexico expressed the sentiment that manufacturers and consumers share responsibility in regards to the illegal use of weapons. Noting that "this is not an exporter's agreement," Mexico recommended that the ATT take into consideration not simply the "holders of arms, but the potential users of arms."
Zunaira Choudhary is an intern with the NGO Committee on Disarmament, Peace and Security. Martin P. Slawek, an intern with the NGO Committee on Disarmament, Peace and Security, contributed additional reporting. |
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