UN arms trade talks finally get under way

Pressenza- Posted by: Radio Netherlands Posted date: 04 July 2012 In: Europe, International, International issues

Three weeks of UN talks aimed at hammering out a draft treaty to regulate the $70 billion a year global arms trade finally got under way on Tuesday, a day late because of a diplomatic tussle over Palestinian representation.

*”It is with great pleasure that I declare open the UN conference on an arms trade treaty,”* declared UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. There had been a chaotic start to the conference on Monday when Arab demands that Palestinians be allowed to take part led to a threatened Israeli walkout.