Russia's UN envoy has warned that Moscow might not sign the? first treaty on? the global arms trade after it was overwhelmingly approved by? the UN General Assembly.
Russia, the? world's second-largest arms supplier with an? estimated $8 billion in? sales last year, abstained in? Tuesday's vote.
The? final vote tally for? the treaty meant to? regulate the? $70 billion business in? conventional arms and? keep weapons out of? the hands of? human rights abusers was 154 in? favor, three against and? 23 abstained.
Russia's ambassador to? the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin, complained that the? draft treaty lacked a? clause banning the? supply of? weapons to? non-state entities.
"Despite persistent appeals from? many states, it still does not contain a? ban on? arms supplies to? unauthorized non-state entities," Churkin told reporters. "This is a? considerable systematic flaw that will unavoidably affect the? effectiveness of? the implementation of? the Arms Trade Treaty.
He said Moscow would take a? hard look at? the treaty before deciding whether to? sign it.
China, the? world's third-largest arms supplier with $1.8 billion in? sales, according to? the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, also abstained Tuesday.
The world's No. 1 arms supplier, the? United States, voted in? favor despite fierce opposition from? the National Rifle Association, a? powerful U.S. pro-gun lobbying group.
U.S. Secretary of? State John Kerry said in? a statement that the? UN adopted the "strong, effective and? implementable Arms Trade Treaty that can strengthen global security while protecting the? sovereign right of? states to? conduct legitimate arms trade."
But it was unclear whether the? U.S., whose arms sales totaled $8.8 billion last year, would be able to? win congressional approval to? join the? treaty.
Several UN delegates said the? treaty's effectiveness would be limited if major arms exporters refuse to? sign it.
The? Iranian, Syrian and? North Korean delegations cast the? sole votes against the? treaty.
Iran, which is under a? UN arms embargo over its nuclear program, is eager to? ensure that its arms imports and? exports are not curtailed, while Syria's government is embroiled in? a two-year civil war and? relies on? arms from? Russia and? Iran, envoys said.
North Korea is also under a? UN arms embargo due to? its nuclear weapons and? missile programs.
Echoing Churkin, Syrian UN Ambassador Bashar Ja'afari said his government opposed the? Arms Trade Treaty because it does not ban the? sale of? weapons to? non-state actors. He, however, was referring specifically to? what his government describes as "terrorists" active in? Syria.
The? treaty does not ban transfers to? armed groups but says all arms transfers should be subjected to? rigorous risk and? human rights assessments first.
The? treaty will be open for? signature on? June 3 and? will enter into? force 90 days after the? 50th signatory ratifies it. Mexican UN Ambassador Luis Alfonso de Alba told reporters that it normally takes two to? three years for? a treaty to? come into? force, but said he hoped it would happen sooner in? this case.
Material from? Reuters is included in? this report.
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